Comprehensive Guide To Free Sample Packs And Expansions For Akai Mpc Touch

The Akai MPC Touch is a powerful sampling instrument that can be enhanced with a variety of free sample packs and expansions. This guide explores the numerous options available for users to expand their sonic palette without cost. From orchestral instruments to hip hop breaks, numerous developers and sample providers offer high-quality content compatible with the MPC Touch platform.

Types of Free MPC Touch Samples Available

Free samples for the MPC Touch come in various formats and categories, catering to different musical genres and production styles. These resources can significantly enhance the capabilities of the MPC Touch without requiring additional investment.

Drum Kits and Breaks

Several websites offer free drum kits and break samples specifically formatted for the MPC platform. These include:

  • Acoustic drum breaks made with Pad Pimps' 'The Downbeat Kit' expansion, providing 14 vintage-style drum breaks suitable for chopping and looping in any MPC
  • Rusty Drums acoustic drum kit expansion, featuring 8 velocity layers and 4 round robins per layer
  • Free drum samples from the Underground Hip Hop Breakz Vol.1 Collection, offering 16 free MPC Sounds
  • Masadas s2400 vintage vinyl drum loops, featuring crunchy drums sampled through an Isla s2400

Instrument Samples

A wide range of instrument samples are available for free, including:

  • Hammond B3 & Vox Continental loops, riffs, and hooks in WAV format
  • Electric piano samples containing Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and Pianet-N loops in WAV format
  • Acoustic piano performances in 14-bit WAV format, perfect for modern MPCs
  • Double bass expansion suitable for all modern MPCs and most legacy MPCs
  • 52 free bass lines and loops created with the 'Electric Bass' MPC instrument expansion
  • Two free patches of MPC String Sounds taken from the GN String Collection Vol.1&2
  • Four free patches of MPC Sounds from the GN South Hop Pianos
  • Horn Sounds from the GN Horn Collection Vol.1&2

Orchestral Samples

For producers seeking orchestral textures, the following free resources are available:

  • MPC Orchestral (Free Edition) from MPC-Samples and Pad Pimps team
  • This taster pack contains four multisampled orchestral instruments:
    • Trumpet
    • Oboe
    • Cello (section)
    • Violin
  • Features dynamic layers, round robins, velocity sensitive filtering, and mod wheel controlled vibrato
  • Expertly mapped into MPC Keygroup programs for realistic orchestral performances

Synth Expansions

Free synth expansions are available for users interested in electronic sounds:

  • MPC DX7 Free Edition from MPC-Samples and Pad Pimps team
  • Contains 12 instruments combining multisampled Yamaha DX7 FM synthesis tones with analog oscillators, sample layers, and MPC FX
  • Suitable for all modern MPCs running MPC 2.10+
  • Designed to produce a unique range of expressive MPC instruments

Genre-Specific Sample Collections

Various genre-specific sample collections are available for free:

Hip Hop Samples

Multiple sources offer hip hop-oriented samples:

  • UK Hip Hop Sounds containing 16 free MPC Sounds from the U.K Hiphop Vol.1 Collection
  • Underground Hip Hop Breakz Vol.1 – Riffz Addon Collection
  • Underground Hip Hop Breakz Vol.1 Collection with 16 free MPC Sounds
  • GN South Hop Pianos offering 4 free patches of MPC Sounds

Other Genre Samples

Additional genre samples include:

  • Rock vocals with 7 MPC Banks of rock vocals from personal album collections
  • Japanese vocal chops with 8 extracted vocals from personal album collections
  • A lonely Nite free sample pack containing 14 royalty-free phrases

Compatibility with MPC Touch

Understanding compatibility is crucial when selecting free samples for the MPC Touch:

  • Most free samples are compatible with all modern MPC models, including the MPC Touch
  • The MPC Orchestral (Free Edition) is optimized for the latest generation of MPCs, including MPC Software & MPC Beats, and the Akai Force
  • The MPC DX7 Free Edition is suitable for all modern MPCs running MPC 2.10+ or greater
  • The Free Cycle kit from TheCycleKit.com specifies compatibility with modern MPCs including the Mpc-x, Live, Touch, Studio, & Renaissance Software or Standalone and Akai Force
  • Some samples may require specific MPC software versions (2.10 or greater) for full functionality
  • Legacy MPC compatibility varies by sample pack, with some supporting older models while others are limited to newer hardware

How to Obtain and Install Free MPC Touch Samples

The process for acquiring free samples varies by provider but generally follows these steps:

Download Process

  • Most free samples are available through official provider websites
  • Typically requires adding the item to a virtual shopping cart
  • Checkout is completed with no charge and no payment details needed
  • Download links are sent directly to the provided email address
  • Some sites require completing an order form even though the price is $0.00

Installation Methods

Free MPC Touch samples can be installed using different methods:

  1. Standalone Installer Method:

    • Many expansions include a dedicated standalone installer
    • Users can drag and drop the expansion files to their MPC Touch
    • Full installation instructions are included with the download
    • This method is particularly common for MPC Orchestral (Free Edition) and MPC DX7 Free Edition
  2. XPN Installer Method:

    • Some samples include an XPN installer for MPC Software & MPC Beats
    • This method is used for software-based MPC applications
    • The XPN format allows for easy integration with MPC Software
  3. Direct File Transfer:

    • Some samples may require manual file transfer
    • Files are typically in WAV format or MPC expansion format
    • Users must place files in the appropriate directory on their MPC Touch

Technical Requirements

  • Modern MPCs require MPC 2.10+ software for certain expansions
  • Some samples may require specific storage space on the MPC Touch
  • Internet connection is required for downloading samples
  • Email access is necessary to receive download links

Sources for Free MPC Touch Samples

Several websites specialize in providing free MPC samples compatible with the MPC Touch:

  1. MPC-Tutor (mpc-tutor.com):

    • Offers a wide range of free MPC sounds and samples
    • Features drum kits, instrument samples, and expansion packs
    • Provides samples in MPC format compatible with all MPC models
    • Includes free acoustic drum breaks and various instrument samples
  2. MPC-Samples (mpc-samples.com):

    • Specializes in MPC-formatted samples and expansions
    • Offers the MPC Orchestral (Free Edition) with orchestral instruments
    • Provides the MPC DX7 Free Edition with FM synth sounds
    • Includes standalone installers for easy integration with MPC Touch
  3. Gotchanoddin (gotchanoddin.com):

    • Focuses on hip hop and urban MPC samples
    • Offers free UK Hip Hop Sounds and Underground Hip Hop Breakz
    • Provides string and horn samples pre-programmed for Akai MPC
    • Features samples from various collections with no charge
  4. TheCycleKit (thecyclekit.com):

    • Offers 13 free MPC instrument expansions and 1 free mixtape
    • Includes diverse instruments like piano, guitar, bass, organ, and synths
    • Provides vocal samples and drum kits
    • Specifies compatibility with modern MPCs including the MPC Touch

Conclusion

The MPC Touch can be significantly enhanced with numerous free sample packs and expansions available from various providers. From orchestral instruments to hip hop breaks, these resources offer producers high-quality sounds without cost. Compatibility with the MPC Touch is generally good across most modern sample packs, with installation methods including standalone installers and XPN installers. By exploring the sources mentioned in this guide, MPC Touch users can expand their sonic palette and enhance their productions with professional-grade samples at no expense.

Sources

  1. MPC-Tutor Free MPC Sounds & Samples
  2. MPC Orchestral Free Edition
  3. Gotchanoddin Free MPC Sounds
  4. TheCycleKit Free MPC Expansions
  5. MPC DX7 Free Edition