Soon, many Akai devices will be compatible with Native Instruments sound packs.

Akai and Native Instruments have begun a collaboration that could change the landscape of music production. These two brands, long-time competitors, have been recognized for their similar products, with many musicians choosing between the workflow of Akai's MPCs or Native Instruments' Maschine platform. The news is that soon, Native Instruments’ sound packs will be available on the MPC platform.

This means that users of devices like the MPC Live II or Key 61 will be able to access Native Instruments sounds directly from their equipment. This development is significant, as the MPC workflow has shaped the evolution of many musical genres. Native Instruments is known for its high-quality instruments and sounds, and this collaboration seeks to integrate both offerings. Simon Cross, CPO of Native Instruments, commented that "this collaboration brings together two iconic brands to provide creators with a completely integrated ecosystem."

Roger Linn, the legendary designer who created the MPC platform in 1988, has also expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership. Although he is no longer officially associated with Akai, Linn stated that incorporating NI instruments into Akai products will be beneficial for both parties. He also highlighted that this integration could position MPC devices as a new standard in musical instrumentation, similar to the guitar or piano.

Linn, who introduced modern concepts in digital music creation such as swing and quantization, praised the latest MPC products, noting that they have evolved from the MPC60. In his view, devices like the Live II maintain classic appeal while aligning more closely with digital audio workstations (DAWs). The integration with Native Instruments promises to make these products even more attractive.

However, there is a limitation: MPC devices will only be able to access instruments from the Play series and specific expansions, meaning that full synthesizers like Massive X or Kontakt will not be usable. It is expected that five instruments and five expansions, all specially designed for the MPC platform, will be released in mid-February, with more updates likely to follow depending on user feedback.

Regarding integration in the opposite direction, there are currently no plans for Native Instruments' Maschine+ groovebox to access Akai’s plugins and sound packs, which has been a disappointment for some.

Additionally, the collaboration extends to Akai’s MPK controllers, which will soon incorporate Native Instruments' Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) standard. This will enable Akai controllers to wirelessly control all NKS-compatible plugins, facilitating the use of pre-mapped controls and intuitive navigation.

At the end of February, a software update will broaden the controller compatibility to over 1,800 new instruments and plugins. The NKS standard is also expected to reach third-party controllers from brands like M-Audio, Novation, and Korg.

As part of this new partnership, all current owners of the MPK series will receive a free copy of Komplete 15 Select, a curated package of instruments and effects from Native Instruments.

Roger Linn continues to innovate in creating expressive MIDI controllers like the LinnStrument, which captures finger movements in various ways to achieve expressiveness similar to that of acoustic instruments. He also co-designed the popular drum machine Tempest alongside Dave Smith, who passed away in 2022.