The Akai MPC60II MIDI Production Center is a samplers / sequencing workstation released circa 1991 as a modest update over the original Akai MPC60. It retains the core architecture designed by Roger Linn, while making a few ergonomic and design changes. The Akai MPC60II uses a metal chassis (replacing portions of plastic in the Mk I), includes a built-in headphone output, and replaces the tiltable display with a fixed LCD, though retaining contrast adjustment.
Under the hood, the Akai MPC60II remains a 12-bit sampler operating at a fixed 40 kHz sample rate, with a maximum of 16-voice polyphony. It offers 16 velocity-sensitive pads, a 16-track internal sequencer, and multiple sync options including MIDI, SMPTE, and trigger. Sample storage is handled via a 720 kB floppy drive; internal memory is 750 kB (with possible expansion). Its CPU core is an Intel 80186, ADC is PCM77P, DAC is PCM54HP.
The onboard operating system of the Akai MPC60II later improved (up to version 3.10) allowed for removal of earlier sampling time limits and introduced a pseudo-stereo mode despite the hardware’s monophonic sampling path.
Its performance features include real-time controls such as Full Level mode, Note Variation (for decay, tuning, attack), 16 Levels (parameter variation across 16 pads), Note Repeat, and a Drum Mix overview screen. In the sequencer domain, it supports quantise, swing (50–75 %), multiple time signatures, loops, solo, overdub, punch in/out, and can sync to a wide BPM range or external sync sources.
Though the Akai MPC60II is often considered a subtle revision, from a workflow perspective many of the enhancements were welcome, especially the headphone jack and sturdier case, while removing the tilting display was a controversial trade-off.
Features
- 16 velocity-sensitive dynamic pads
- 12-bit sampling at 40 kHz
- 16-voice polyphony
- Internal memory 750 kB (expandable)
- 720 kB floppy disk storage
- 16-track internal sequencer supporting 99 sequences, 99 tracks, 60 000 events (or equivalent capacity)
- Multiple sync options: MIDI, SMPTE, external trigger
- Real-time control functions: Full Level, Note Variation, 16 Levels, Note Repeat
- Swing adjustable between 50 % and 75 %
- CPU: Intel 80186
- ADC: PCM77P; DAC: PCM54HP
- Onboard headphone output
- LCD display (fixed, 240×64 or similar resolution) with contrast adjustment
- Metal / more robust chassis vs earlier plastic elements
- OS version enhancements (up to 3.10) to remove sample length limits and add pseudo-stereo mode
