Akai just officially announced the MPC Key 37, a standalone workstation and a groovebox. It is the last standalone MPC device, following last year's biggest Key 61. The Key 37 has everything you need to create a beat or song from scratch without having to use a real computer and DAW, with some limitations.
There are 37 full-size keys, with aftertouch. There aren't many standalone devices with a full keyboard, so this should excite musicians who lack experience with Akai-style pads. This device has 16 velocity-sensitive pads for laying down drum parts and triggering samples, so it's a “best of both worlds” type situation.
The Key 37 comes with 32GB of onboard storage, although 10GB is used by the operating system and included sound packs. Luckily, there's a slot for an SD card to expand the storage – these standalone devices fill up quickly.
You get the same 7-inch color multi-touch display and four assignable Q-Link buttons as the company's Key 61 workstation. This is ideal for making system adjustments and controlling effects plugins etc. In fact, the whole configuration is reminiscent of the Key 61, although this new version is slightly less powerful.
The Key 37 has 2 GB of RAM, compared to 4 GB with the Key 61. This will limit the number of tracks that will be played simultaneously without any problem. It also lacks the two microphone inputs and associated preamps. There are, however, 1/4-inch stereo inputs and outputs, USB Midi, 5-pin MIDI In/MIDI Out, 4 TRS CV/Gate output jacks, and a USB host port. This keyboard also features Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity for wireless streaming with platforms like Ableton Link.
Beyond the iconic 16-pad layout, the highlight of any MPC machine is the software. To that end, the Key 37 comes with Akai's MPC2 desktop software and its standalone suite. You get eight ready-to-use instrument plug-ins and a voucher for a premium plug from the company's ever-growing collection. You even understand that cool stem separation software, although it is not yet available on Key 37.
Akai's latest and greatest may not be as feature-rich as 2022's Key 61, but it's about half the price. The Key 37 costs $900 and can be ordered now through parent company inMusic and authorized retailers.