Akai unveil standalone APC-inspired production station, Force

Hybrid music production/performance platforms – think NI’s Maschine – have been with us a while now, so there’s been speculation that, one day, someone would eliminate the need for a computer and produce a completely standalone device. Well, meet Akai Pro's Force, a self-contained ‘production instrument’ that adheres to the clip-based workflow many of us are so drawn to; a natural next step for Akai, who released a couple of standalone MPC devices – MPC Live and X – in 2017, but it’s still a bold one.

So what does it offer? As well as clip launching, via an 8x8 RGB matrix, the Force also has step sequencing, sampling, effects and a selection of built-in synths, while everything can be controlled from a 7-inch multitouch display. The eight touch-sensitive knobs have graphical OLED displays, while connectivity comprises two audio inputs, four audio outputs, MIDI and CV I/O. Therefore you can record directly into Force and hook a MIDI controller up, while the CV/Gate support means it can be integrated with modular gear, too. There are eight stereo tracks (realtime timestretching and pitchshifting are supported) and 16GB of onboard storage, which can be expanded thanks to the SD card slot and USB 3.0 ports. There’s also a 2.5-inch SATA drive connector, for even more storage. Although Force is completely standalone, Akai say Ableton Live integration is on the roadmap. This functionality will include “total visibility and command of Ableton’s clip matrix, tactile control of core mixer parameters including crossfader assignments, and control of device parameters instantiated in Ableton Live’s workspace via the touch user interface and Force’s rotary encoders/ OLED displays”. Integration for Splice, the online soundware resource, is mooted, too.

Nonetheless, if Force is to succeed, it’ll need to be able to stand on its own two feet. There are benefits to making music on a self-contained device, but it remains to be seen how many of us are willing to forego the flexibility that a computer-based setup affords – plugin support is just one example – and go standalone.

Force will arrive this month, priced $1,499.