Akai Professional
Akai Professional, a brand of inMusic Brands, designs and sells MPC standalone production workstations, MIDI keyboard controllers, and pad controllers, along with MPC software and AIR Music plugins, serving individual music producers, beat makers, DJs, and home studio enthusiasts worldwide through dealers and its MPC Store.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersCumberland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Akai Professional does
Akai Professional is a music production hardware and software brand owned and operated by inMusic Brands, Inc., headquartered in Cumberland, Rhode Island. Founded in 1984, the company designs and sells the MPC (Music Production Center) line of standalone sampling and sequencing workstations (MPC X, MPC Live III, MPC Key 37 G2, MPC One, MPC Studio MKII), MIDI keyboard controllers (MPK series), and pad/DAW controllers (MPD, APC). Underlying technology centers on the MPC workflow — an integrated environment for sampling, sequencing, synthesis, and audio recording — backed by proprietary silicon-level features such as MPCe pads with 3D-sensing technology and a G2 8-core CPU delivering 4x prior-generation processing power. Software offerings include MPC 2/3 Desktop, MPC Beats, AIR Music Technology synth plugins (Hype, Jura, Fabric, OPx-4, Odyssey, Solina, Mellotron, Sub Factory), and exclusive Spitfire Audio MPC Edition plugins, all managed through the inMusic Profile account system.
The company's customers are individual music producers, beat makers, DJs, live performers, and home studio enthusiasts, with no named enterprise accounts. Akai Professional monetizes primarily through hardware sales distributed via a global authorized dealer network, direct e-commerce on akaipro.com, and the MPC Store for digital content (expansions, plugins, beat packs), supplemented by software subscriptions bundled with hardware (e.g., 6-month Reason+ promotions). Go-to-market combines product-led growth (the hardware-as-acquisition model), channel partners, and event-driven demand generation, with a horizontal segmentation approach spanning beginners to professionals. Recent product cadence (MPC Live III, MPC Key 37 G2, MPC Sample) and partnerships with Reason Studios and Spitfire Audio indicate continued investment in expanding the integrated hardware-software-content ecosystem.
Akai Professional firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Akai Professional
- Legal name
- inMusic, Inc.
- Website
- https://akaipro.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Akai Professional, a brand of inMusic Brands, designs and sells MPC standalone production workstations, MIDI keyboard controllers, and pad controllers, along with MPC software and AIR Music plugins, serving individual music producers, beat makers, DJs, and home studio enthusiasts worldwide through dealers and its MPC Store.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Akai Professional industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Production Hardware
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341)
- SIC
- Musical Instruments (3931), Computer Peripheral Equipment, Nec (3577)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Production Hardware (Synthesizers, Drum Machines, Samplers, MIDI Controllers) (MPAIAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX) (MPAIAIAB), DJ & Performance Gear (Controllers, Turntables, CDJs, Mixers) (MPAIAJAC)
Keywords
Where Akai Professional is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cumberland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Akai Professional business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Primary revenue stream from sale of MPC production units (standalone and controller variants), MIDI keyboard controllers (MPK series), pad controllers (MPD series), and accessories. Hardware products range from portable samplers to full studio production workstations.
- Software Licenses: Revenue from standalone software sales including MPC 2 Desktop, MPC Beats, and plugin instruments. Software uses iLok License Management for authorization and inMusic Profile for activation.
- MPC Expansions and Beat Packs: Additional sound content and instrument collections sold through the MPC Store (thempcstore.com). Expansions include drum kits, synth presets, and genre-specific sound collections.
- Subscription Services: Partnership with Reason+ offering 6-month free subscription to registered product owners, with automatic renewal at $0.00 for promotional period. Also includes software subscription offers for bundled content.
- Plugin Sales: Revenue from MPC Edition plugins including Spitfire Audio Originals, available for purchase on the MPC Store. Licenses allow up to 3 activations across MPC hardware signed into the same account.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Reason+ 6-Month Free Promotion |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Spitfire Audio MPC Edition Plugins |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | MPC 3 Desktop Beta |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Akai Professional product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Akai Professional designs, manufactures, and sells music production hardware and software, including MPC (Music Production Center) standalone workstations and samplers, MPK MIDI keyboard controllers, and MPD/APC pad and DAW controllers, complemented by bundled and standalone production software such as MPC Beats and AIR Music Technology synth plugins. Hardware products are sold through a global authorized dealer network, the company's own e-commerce site (akaipro.com), and the MPC Store (thempcstore.com) for digital content and expansions.
Product overview
Akai Professional is a music production hardware and software company offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered around the MPC (Music Production Center) line of standalone workstations and samplers, MIDI keyboard controllers (MPK series), pad controllers (MPD series), and production software. The flagship MPC Series includes desktop units (MPC X, MPC XL), portable models (MPC Live III, MPC One), keyboard variants (MPC Key 37 G2, MPC Key 61), and compact studio controllers (MPC Studio MKII). The controller line spans the MPK keyboard series (ranging from 25 to 61 keys with MPC pads) and MPD pad controllers. Software offerings include MPC Beats DAW, AIR Music Technology synth plugins (Hype, Jura, Fabric, OPx-4, Solina, Mellotron, Sub Factory), and Spitfire Audio MPC Edition plugins. Products support Windows 10/11, macOS, and integrate with major DAWs including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, and Reason+.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MPC Sample A standalone portable sampler inspired by the classic MPC60, featuring 16 MPC pads and a rechargeable battery, designed for music producers at all skill levels to make beats and samples on the go.
- MPC Key 37 G2 A standalone music production workstation with 37 keys and 16 MPCe pads with 3D-sensing technology, powered by a G2 8-Core CPU with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, supporting up to 32 plugin tracks and 16 stereo audio tracks with Ableton Live project import.
- MPC Live III A standalone production workstation with 16 MPCe 3D-sensing pads, built-in studio microphone, touch strip, 16-button step sequencer, Gen 2 multi-core processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, and up to 3 hours of battery life for mobile production.
- MPC Key 61 A 61-key MPC workstation bundled with MPC 2 software and integrated synth plugins for professional music production.
- MPC Studio MKII A streamlined MPC production system with 16 RGB pads, bundled MPC software, and a compact design suited for studio and mobile use.
- MPK Mini Plus A 37-key MIDI keyboard controller with an encoder knob, modulation/pitch wheels, transport controls, chords/scales modes, built-in step sequencer, CV/Gate outputs, and 5-pin MIDI ports, bundled with MPC Beats and Reason+ promotion.
- MPK249 / MPK261 MIDI Keyboard Controllers MPK249 (49-key) and MPK261 (61-key) MIDI keyboard controllers with 16 MPC pads and 8 Q-Link controllers, compatible with macOS (including Apple Silicon M1/M2) and Windows.
- MPC Series (MPC X, MPC XL, MPC One, MPC Studio) Flagship line of standalone music production workstations and samplers including MPC X, MPC Live, MPC One, MPC Key, and MPC Studio variants with bundled software and bundled AIR Music Technology plugins.
- MPD and APC Pad and DAW Controllers Pad controllers (MPD series) and Ableton Live DAW controllers (APC series) designed for beat production, finger drumming, and clip-launching performance.
- MPC Beats A free digital audio workstation (DAW) software bundled with MPK Mini Plus and other Akai products for creating beats and samples, distributed via the MPC Store.
- Spitfire Audio MPC Edition Plugins MPC Edition Spitfire Audio plugins (Cinematic Pads, Intimate Strings) sold exclusively for MPC3 standalone hardware and desktop through the MPC Store, with perpetual licenses allowing up to 3 activations across MPC hardware on the same account.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4x processing power improvement with G2 8-core CPU compared to previous generation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Akai Professional
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Akai Professional technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature11 records
Akai Professional partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- MPC SamplecoreThe MPC Sample is a new portable sampler device launched by Akai Professional, inspired by the classic MPC60. Features 16 MPC pads, rechargeable battery, and controls suitable for music producers at all skill levels.
- inMusic BrandscoreAkai Professional is a brand owned and operated by inMusic Brands, Inc. The partnership provides access to shared distribution infrastructure, cross-brand software integration (AIR Music Technology, BFD, Sonivox), and centralized customer account management through the inMusic Profile system.
- AIR Music TechnologycoreAIR Music Technology provides plugin instruments and effects bundled with MPC hardware, including Hype, Jura, Fabric, OPx-4, Odyssey, Solina, Mellotron, and Sub Factory synthesizers. Part of the inMusic Brands family.
- Spitfire AudiostrategicSpitfire Audio provides MPC Edition plugin instruments (Cinematic Pads, Intimate Strings) exclusively for MPC3 hardware and desktop. These are exclusive editions specifically built for MPC3 and must be purchased separately through the MPC Store.
- AbletonstrategicAbleton Live is a recommended DAW partner with preset mapping for Akai Pro controllers. The MPC Key 37 G2 and MPC Live III support direct import of Ableton Live projects including launch matrix, arrangement view, and clip conversion.
- Logic Pro (Apple)strategicLogic Pro is listed as a compatible DAW with preset mapping for Akai Pro MIDI controllers. Tested for macOS compatibility including latest Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe releases.
- Reason (Reason Studios)strategicReason Studios partnership offers 6 months free Reason+ subscription to registered owners of select Akai Pro products. Reason+ includes Reason DAW, Reason Rack Plugin, and 80+ devices with 39,000+ presets.
- iLok (PACE)coreiLok License Management system used for authorizing MPC 2 software and select Akai Pro software titles. Some Sonivox software uses iLok authorization and may be subject to iLok transfer fees.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Akai Professional competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Korg: Broad incumbent in synthesizers, grooveboxes, and music production hardware, with product overlap in standalone production and pad-based controllers relevant to Akai's MPC and MPK lines.
- Roland: Established incumbent in music production hardware with standalone workstations (MV-8800), grooveboxes, and the SP-series sampling legacy that directly competes with the MPC standalone category.
- Music Tribe (Behringer): Diversified music equipment conglomerate offering lower-priced synthesizers, controllers, and audio gear that competes with Akai on price-sensitive tiers of MPK and entry-level MPC buyers.
Direct peers
- Pioneer DJ: Strong overlap in DJ and live performance controllers and pads (DDJ, XDJ series), competing with Akai's APC controllers and serving an overlapping live performer and producer segment.
- Arturia: Produces MIDI controllers (MiniLab, KeyLab) and software instruments/effects that overlap with Akai's MPK line and AIR plugin bundles, targeting similar indie and prosumer producers.
- Native Instruments: Direct peer offering music production hardware (Maschine, Komplete Kontrol) and software instruments, targeting the same beat-making and producer workflow that defines the MPC ecosystem.
- Novation (Focusrite): MIDI keyboard controllers and the Launchpad/Launchkey lines compete directly with Akai's MPK, MPD, and APC controllers across the same producer and live performer segments.
- Ableton: Developer of Live DAW and Push hardware, the most direct competitor in the hardware-DAW controller space; also an Akai integration partner, illustrating the partner-versus-competitor overlap.
Emerging players
- Teenage Engineering: Emerging player in portable synthesizers, samplers, and creative production devices (OP-1, EP-133 K.O. II) that overlap with Akai's portable/standalone MPC Sample positioning.
- Elektron: Specialist in standalone samplers, sequencers, and grooveboxes (Octatrack, Digitakt, Analog) that compete with Akai's MPC standalone lineup for the hardware-centric producer niche.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Akai Professional social profiles
Digital presenceAkai Professional financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Akai Professional leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Akai Professional funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Akai Professional M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Akai Professional
What does Akai Professional do?
Akai Professional designs, manufactures, and sells music production hardware and software, including MPC (Music Production Center) standalone workstations and samplers, MPK MIDI keyboard controllers, and MPD/APC pad and DAW controllers, complemented by bundled and standalone production software such as MPC Beats and AIR Music Technology synth plugins. Hardware products are sold through a global authorized dealer network, the company's own e-commerce site (akaipro.com), and the MPC Store (thempcstore.com) for digital content and expansions.
Is Akai Professional a public or private company?
Akai Professional is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Akai Professional founded?
Akai Professional was founded in 1984. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Akai Professional based?
Akai Professional is headquartered in Cumberland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Akai Professional make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Licenses, MPC Expansions and Beat Packs, subscription Services and plugin Sales.
Who are Akai Professional's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Korg, Roland and Music Tribe (Behringer). Direct peers are Pioneer DJ, Arturia, Native Instruments, Novation (Focusrite) and Ableton. Emerging players are Teenage Engineering and Elektron.
Does Akai Professional have an API?
No public API is recorded for Akai Professional.
What industry is Akai Professional in?
Akai Professional's product category is Music Production Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAJAE, Music Production Hardware (Synthesizers, Drum Machines, Samplers, MIDI Controllers), with a secondary code of MPAIAIAB, Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX). Its NAICS code is 33431 and its SIC code is 3931.