I am a mpc user myself (got the 4000 and the 1000) ans i really must say this product is ridicolous. I use ableton extensively and i love vst and all that. but i love also hardware. and akai mpcs are beautiful pieces of equipment that were reliable ,solid and inpependent from computers. that was always there strength and will ever be. now i sold them because i have software with better workflow for me. but im waiting for an REALLY mpc for the new decade. because the 5000 was rubbish.
and now they copy the maschine and do nothing creative.
elektron showed akai with the octatrack how hardware samplers should be nowadays. so im waiting another 5 years for a new mpc. sooo sad…
If anyone cares, Akai seems to be counting down to th release of an “MPC Studio music production controller” and “MPC fly” which seems to be an iPad app. Not sure if anyone noticed, but it’s a banner at the bottom of the revolution’s page.
impressive that nukai managed to produce something as advanced as this… I thought they were going to stick with dumb midi controllers catering to the budget market.
I miss the old Akai that used to make stuff like the S6000, MPC4000 and Z8 samplers 
i wonder if they changed the pads to not be complete garbage. have they mentioned it at all?
So I think the real question here is still if this can be used without a computer. Some people seem to think so.
They’re talking about ‘tight integration between hardware and software’, which leads me to suspect it needs a computer.
it would be really strange for Akai to release an MPC that couldn’t be used standalone. If it was just a ‘dumb’ midi controller then they wouldn’t call it an MPC (imo).
Also, Akai has a history of integrating software with hardware going way back before Maschine or even NI existed as a company:
http://www.forthosewholiketogroove.com/gear-notes/akai/wiki/index.php?title=Ak.Sys&redirect=no
I have to say though that the software looks pretty bad and if they can’t design visually friendly software I can’t imagine how it performs.
quote from another site
its definetly a controller. look at the video mpc = music production controller
then the price had better be sub-$1000 
No way.
no one is gonna pay $2000+ for a midi controller with a built in soundcard.
(we’ll I’m not!)
No way this unit is going to cost 2k.
what’s up with the handrest?
looks stupid and cheap, like something you find on a bus seat.
seriously.
if this thing costs anywhere near $2000 then Akai are idiots.
you can buy an mpc5000 for around $1500… and it can be used standalone or as a midi controller. The electronics required to build an mpc5000 are clearly gonna be more expensive than building a midi controller with a built in soundcard.
they’ve at least gotta try and compete with Maschine… haven’t they? 
that said, if it’s a proper mpc, that can be used standalone, then it looks a sufficient upgrade over the mpc5000 (in terms of controls) that a $2000 price tag would be about right.
You guys are silly. It’s an MPC, Music Production Center… meaning it’s an MPC just like the old ones. If it were a controller only it would be called MPD or MPK, etc.
Besides, why would a controller have Vinage Mode to emulate the output… of what? Your DAW? No…
This looks like a beast of an MPC. Light up pads, LED infinity knobs, tilt up screen, vintage mode (god I always wanted this), and VST support. And personally I like the hand pad. I’m sure there’ll be a rubber replacement for those of you that don’t like public transportation 
Except it is just a controller. With a soundcard.
True dat!
A big letdown for me though.
At least we’re talking sub-800$ now.
You’re dreaming. This is going to be at or over 1k even if it doesn’t work without a pc.