AKAI MPC Live 3 Retro | Standalone Music Production Center

MPC LIVE III RETRO

Standalone Music Production Center

Some instruments shape music. Others shape culture. MPC Live III Retro honors the innovation and influence of music‑making machines that do both. The original MPCs of the late 1980s set the visual and creative foundation for modern beatmaking and hip‑hop culture, helping to define the art of sampling.

The Foundation of Beatmaking

With expressive pads, a hands‑on workflow, and a clean layout, these machines shaped how music has been created and celebrated for nearly four decades. MPC Live III Retro pays tribute to that legacy, reimagining the soul of the originals through the lens of a powerful new standalone MPC, finished in the classic Akai Professional colorway. Vintage attitude meets modern performance in a special retro edition built for today’s creators.

Born from the MPC legacy 

From early hip‑hop studios to bedroom setups, MPCs have always been more than music production tools. Their look is unmistakable, their workflow legendary, and the culture they represented when they first came on the scene set the stage for a whole new lifestyle built around the artist experience.

Retro MPC Style

MPC Live III Retro honors the innovation and influence of music‑making machines that do both. The original MPCs of the late 1980s set the visual and creative foundation for modern beatmaking and hip‑hop culture, helping to define the art of sampling.

Made for Modern Standalone Productions

Under the retro exterior lives everything that makes MPC Live III a true studio and stage centerpiece: powerful standalone performance, a streamlined workflow, and complete freedom from your computer.

MPC Live III Retro delivers the same flagship experience as the MPC Live III, running MPC3 OS on next‑generation hardware for a fast, fluid, and deeply expressive creative flow. Whether you're sketching ideas, building full productions, or performing live, it's designed to keep your process focused and uninterrupted.

A True, Hands‑On MPC Experience

MPC has always lived right at the physical connection between idea and sound. MPC Live III Retro is built for hands‑on creativity, combining expressive pads, intuitive controls, and a vibrant multitouch display into an instrument that feels alive under your fingers. From finger‑drumming and sampling to sequencing and performance, every interaction is organic and immediate.

With a built‑in battery, speakers, and mic, it’s ready for your next creative session whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.

Specifications

• Digital Audio System
  • ADCs 24-bit @ 44.1, 48, or 96 kHz
  • DACs 24-bit @ 44.1, 48, or 96 kHz
  • Digital Signal Processing 32-bit floating point
• Mic Inputs 1–2
  • (2) balanced XLR+1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS
  • Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0.2 / -1.2 dB)
  • Dynamic Range 110.0 dB (A-weighted)
  • SNR 101.8 dB (1 kHz, +4 dBu, A-weighted)
  • THD+N 0.002% (1 kHz, +4 dBu, -1 dBFS)
  • Preamp EIN -131 dBu (max gain, 40 Ω source, A-weighted) -127 dBu (max gain, 150 Ω source, unweighted)
  • Maximum Input Level +13 dBu (XLR-Pad ON), -1 dBu (XLR-Pad OFF)
  • Sensitivity -46 dBu (XLR-Pad ON), -60 dBu (XLR-Pad OFF)
  • Gain Range 59 dB
• Line Inputs 1–2
  • (2) balanced XLR+1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS
  • Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0.2 / -1.1 dB)
  • Dynamic Range 110.6 dB (A-weighted)
  • SNR 98.6 dB (1 kHz, +4 dBu, A-weighted)
  • THD+N 0.002% (1 kHz, +3 dBu, -1 dBFS)
  • Maximum Input Level +16 dBu
  • Sensitivity -20 dBu
  • Gain Range 36 dB
• Phono Inputs
  • (2) unbalanced RCA
  • Dynamic Range
  • 92 dB (A-weighted, 135 mVrms @ 1 kHz, -1 dBFS, 20 Ω source)
  • SNR 79 dB (A-weighted, 4 mVrms @ 1 kHz, 20 Ω source)
  • THD+N 0.002% (1 kHz, +3 dBu, -1 dBFS)
  • Maximum Input Level +16 dBu
  • Sensitivity -20 dBu
  • Gain Range 36 dB
• Line Outputs 1–6
  • (6) impedance-balanced 1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS
  • Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0.03 / -0.18 dB)
  • Dynamic Range 113.8 dB (A-weighted)
  • THD+N 0.003% (1 kHz, -1 dBFS)
  • Maximum Output Level +12 dBu
  • Output Impedance 100 Ω
• Headphone Output
  • (1) 1/4” (6.35 mm) stereo headphone
  • Dynamic Range 111.2 dB (A-weighted)
  • THD+N 0.006% (1 kHz, -1 dBFS, 10 mW/channel into 32 Ω headphones)
  • Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0.03 / -0.19 dB)
  • Maximum Power Delivered +50 mW (<1% THD, 32 Ω headphones)
  • Maximum Output Level +11 dBu
  • Output Impedance 32 Ω
• Pads
  • (16) velocity- and pressure-sensitive pas with 3D-sensing technology
  • (8) banks accessible via Pad Bank buttons
• Knobs
  • (4) 360° touch-sensitive Q-Link Knobs
  • (4) Q-Link Knob columns accessible via Q-Link button
  • (1) 360° encoder for display navigation and selection via push
  • (1) 270° volume control
• Buttons
  • (60) dedicated function buttons; red-, amber-, or green-backlit
• Display
  • 6.9” / 176 mm (diagonal)
  • 5.9” x 3.7” / 150 x 93 mm (width x height)
  • Full-color LED-backlit display with touch interface
• CPU
  • Processor: 8 x Core ARM® processor
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 128 GB, expandable via SATA connections
• Connections
  • (2) 1/4” (6.35 mm) Combo XLR/TRS inputs (1 stereo pair)
  • (6) 1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS outputs (3 stereo pairs)
  • (1) 1/4” (6.35 mm) stereo headphone output
  • (2) RCA inputs (1 stereo pair)
  • (2) 5-pin MIDI inputs
  • (2) 5-pin MIDI outputs
  • (4) Stereo 1/8” (3.5 mm) CV/Gate outputs
  • (2) USB Type-A ports
  • (1) USB Type-C® port 
  • (1) SD card slot
  • (1) power adapter input 
  • (1) drive bay for 2.5” (635 mm) SATA drive
• Power
  • via power adapter: 19 V, 3.42 A, center-positive, Included
  • via battery: lithium-ion, rechargeable, up to 3 hours of battery life with typical use
• Dimensions
  • 17.2” x 10.1” x 2.6” 435.9 x 256.0 x 67.1 mm
• Weight
  • 8.6 lbs. 3.9 kg