Two Industry Pioneers Join Forces

Akai Professional and Native Instruments, two industry pioneers, have announced an unprecedented collaboration designed to redefine music creation and performance. Central to this groundbreaking partnership is the integration of Native Instruments’ powerful sounds and tools into Akai Professional’s iconic MPC platform, a revolutionary step that enhances the MPC’s legendary status as the cornerstone of music production. By merging Akai Professional’s hardware innovation with Native Instruments’ software expertise, this collaboration empowers musicians, producers, and creators with unmatched creative possibilities.

“For over forty years, Akai Professional has set the standard for music production and performance tools, beginning with the revolutionary MPC series that transformed sampling and music creation,” said Joe Richardson, EVP, Chief Commercial Officer of inMusic, owner of Akai Professional. “This collaboration with Native Instruments marks a new era for our users, seamlessly integrating our hardware with their renowned software to deliver unmatched compatibility, creativity, and inspiration for the next generation of artists and producers.”

“This collaboration bridges two iconic brands to provide creators with a fully integrated ecosystem,” said Simon Cross, Chief Product Officer of Native Instruments. “By combining Akai Professional’s legendary hardware with our expansive sound libraries and tools, we’re pushing the boundaries of music creation. This partnership represents a milestone in our commitment to offering musicians an open, interconnected platform that unlocks new pathways for creativity and makes professional-grade technology more accessible than ever.”

For more than four decades, Akai Professional has led the way in music production, sequencing, and sampling technology, forever transforming the industry with innovations like the groundbreaking MPC series introduced in 1988. This innovation not only reshaped music creation but gave rise to new genres and cemented the brand’s legacy as a trusted partner for top producers, beatmakers, and performers worldwide. Native Instruments will introduce its acclaimed Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) technology to Akai Professional’s MPK keyboard controllers starting late February, enabling seamless compatibility and offering unparalleled creative flexibility. At the same time, M-Audio’s current-generation Oxygen Series keyboards will also become NKS-compatible, providing cutting-edge music creation tools for both stage and studio use. MPK Series owners will also gain access to Komplete 15 Select, the entry point to Native Instruments’ flagship bundle, offering a gateway to professional-grade sound. For the first time, Native Instruments’ genre-defining sounds and instruments have also been specially adapted for Akai Professional’s iconic MPC groovebox, further enhancing its workflow and expanding creative possibilities for producers and performers alike.

A New Era of Integration and Inspiration
With this landmark collaboration, Akai Professional’s iconic MPC platform takes center stage, seamlessly integrating with Native Instruments’ creative tools to deliver an unprecedented toolkit for musicians, producers, and audio creators. This collaboration redefines what’s possible in music production by combining the MPC’s hands-on workflow with Native Instruments’ expansive sound libraries and innovative features.