Akai Pro has unveiled an all-new standalone controller and integrated production tool called ‘Force’. The new unit offers a similar experience to the Ableton Push and Native Instruments’ Maschine, however, it’s DAW-style workflow is fully integrated and can be used without the need for a laptop.

Use the Force! With a 7-inch touch screen and velocity sensitive pads, Akai’s new standalone controller offers an integrated workflow for producers.

The Akai Force has 64 velocity sensitive pads which can be used to activate clips, play instruments and map sequences. The 7-inch touch screen allows users to browse sounds, edit MIDI and samples and adjust and customise various parameters. Other knobs and buttons enable a performance and production workflow completely void of the need to touch a mouse.

The Force comes standard with four plugin instruments, ‘Hype’, a multi-engine synthesiser, ‘Bassline’, a mono bass synth, ‘Tubesynth’, a vintage synth emulator and ‘Electric’ an electric piano. The unit does not currently run third-party plugins, however, this may change, as Akai states Ableton integration is on the horizon.

There’s a range of usual inputs and outputs on the back of the unit, offering connections for MIDI, audio, USB, SD cards and headphones. The Force has 16GB of memory, however, this is easily expandable.

Akai Professional Product Manager, Dan Gill says the “Force is aptly named, since this unit truly delivers a new level of creative force and energy to the music production/DJ performance world.”

“With its Ableton Live-style workflow, 8×8 clip-launch matrix, touch-sensitive knobs with graphical OLED displays and 7-inch multi-touch display and total freedom from the computer, users will experience a degree of creative expression and spontaneity they simply can’t find anywhere else.”

For more information about the Force Pro, visit Akai’s website.