Hi Diki,

I see your point. I agree the price is too steep. The AKAI MPC boxes do make the process of sequencing music a lot more intuitive, faster and easier. When I compare the sequencer built into the Korg Kronos3 with the MPC workflow I can see right away why the MPC has such a large following.

There is no need to buy an MPC XL. Even the MPC One+ model that retails for $630 can be a great addition to a hardware workstation for replacing its basic sequencer.

It is interesting to note that the first MPC 60 was released back in 1988. It retailed for $5,000. That would be $13,700 in 2026.

MPC boxes are geared towards making beats. They are used to generate loop based music that is the backbone of Hip Hop.

This style of laying down basic loops has little relevance or appeal to the Arranger Keyboard Community. When someone buys an Arranger like the Yamaha Genos2, it comes loaded with thousands of loops all professionally designed by skilled musicians. In addition to the loop for the drums, you get a loop for the bass, pads, guitars, choirs, strings, organ and piano ranging from 2 to 32 bars.

The real magic of Arranger Keyboards happens when these loops change in real time to the chords you play with your left hand. Many of these Styles have been programmed to play a different arrangement based on whether you play a Major, Minor or 7th Chords. We are talking about a whole new level of sophistication.

Simple beat boxes like the MPCs just cannot do that. They excel in creating a basic drum loop.

Yes, it is technically possible to transpose a basic drum loop with added melodies using a piano or guitar and transpose them to different chords creating different clips and string these clips into a sequence that follows the chord changes of your target song. However, this is a painstaking process. It would be foolish and pointless to explore this path on an MPC when one can buy an arranger that comes with all the ready made STYLES.

The reason the younger crowd gravitates towards these MPC boxes is because it lets them create their own beats with minimal effort. The STYLES on the Arranger Keyboards do not conform to the music they listen to. They associate Arrangers Keyboards and Organs with the older retired crowd. They would be embarrassed to own an Arranger. However, they would gladly pick up an MPC One+ and spend hours entertaining themselves.

Perhaps one day we could marry of the process of making custom beats on MPC boxes to the sophistication of modern arrangers with their wide palette of chords that trigger fully orchestrated STYLES in real time.

Oh, and one last thing. It takes years of training to become a good arranger player. One must learn how to sightread fake books, have some knowledge on music theory, master hand coordination and develop piano skills. This takes time, effort and commitment.

No such skills are necessary to begin finger drumming on the 4x4 grid on an MPC device. It is full on enjoyment the moment you get your hands on one. The KOALA sampler drives home this point.

Best,

David