AKAI Professional LPD8 MKII B-Stock

With its eight pads and eight rotary controls, the AKAI Professional LPD8 MKII provides a compact solution for triggering samples and loops, as well as adjusting parameters such as volume and panning. Combined with the included software bundle, which features AKAI's own MPC Beats DAW, expansion packs, and virtual instruments such as Hybrid 3 and MiniGrand, it offers a complete starting point for music production in a portable format. And if the factory settings do not provide the desired workflow, the controller can be customised in detail using the free software editor available from AKAI. Individual functions can be assigned according to personal preference, and up to four programme settings can be stored directly on the controller for quick access without requiring the editor.

Akai Professional has its origins in the long-established Japanese company Akai, founded in 1929, which initially manufactured electric motors, soon to be followed by high-quality tape recorders and hi-fi products. Since 1988, Akai has also become a household name like no other on the Hip-Hop scene. With the development of its first MIDI Production Centre (MPC for short), created in collaboration with Roger Linn, Akai wrote history by decisively influencing the sound of Hip-Hop and Electronic music, which it continues to do to this very day. Famous exponents of the MPC series include DJ Shadow, Eminem, and Kanye West. Today, Akai is also well known for its robust and versatile USB MIDI controllers, not least of which is the bulletproof APC range of Ableton controllers.