SampQOL OS is a free mod for the Akai Professional MPC Sample. It adds up to 16 drum tracks, a step sequencer, a mixer with inserts, 128-slice chop, stem export and more to the stock app.

• It starts from the SD card. It does not change the stock firmware.
• With the SD card in, SampQOL OS starts by itself. Without the SD card, the MPC starts as stock 1.3.0.
• Tested only with MPC Sample firmware 1.3.0 (full version number 1.3.0.12). MPC One, Live and X are not tested yet.

This is beta software. Back up your projects before you use it. A failed project load can delete samples. Read "Project safety net" in the manual.

Sequencing

• Up to 16 drum tracks, each with its own 8 banks
• Step Edit: a Pad View with a step sequencer, and a Track View with one row for each track
• Record pad mutes and track mutes into a sequence. Each sequence keeps its own track mutes, as on the MPC Live
• Note Repeat, Cut and Paste in Step Edit
• Automate: fade the volume, low-pass or high-pass filter in or out (Linear, Log or S-Curve), erase all automation at once
• Select, name, explode and delete tracks and sequences. Duplicate a track
• Mute groups for tracks and submixes. Mute Type: Audio (stops at once) or Event (the notes ring out)
• Move a track: hold PAD BANK and push - or +

Mixing and export

• Mixer with inserts on pads, tracks, 8 submixes and the master (PAD FX)
• A 3-band kill EQ for each pad, with a live spectrum
• Sidechain with the Mother Ducker. More insert effects: AIR Compressor and AIR Stereo Width
• Export the mixdown and stems
• Resample one pad, with or without its Pad FX

Sampling and chopping

• Chop Mode with 128 slices, Link Slices and Extract
• Chop guard: after you edit slices by hand, a new Chop Type asks first. You do not lose your chops by accident.
• Sample Tail
• To Seq and Looper in Sample Record
• Record the rear inputs and the USB audio at the same time
• Tuner: tune a sample and set its root note
• Preview samples with their own preview volume, also next to the sounds of your kit, and make new folders in Sample Select

Playing

• 16 Levels with Scale, Chord and Arp
• Keys mode for a MIDI keyboard, with a root note
• MIDI out for each track, on its own MIDI channel

Workflow

• Undo and Redo with a counter ("Undo 2/7")
• Settings page, Knob FX List and Insert FX List
• Change the Knob FX on any screen: hold KNOB FX and turn the encoder
• Template for a new project, random project names

This list shows only the main features. SampQOL OS has many more: see Manual and changes.

• SHIFT + SAMPLE opens the Pad View. Stock: Input Config.
• PAD FX opens the Mixer. Stock: Pad FX.
• Pad FX: SHIFT + PAD FX (Flex Beat), then B2. Or set Settings > Shortcuts > Shift+PAD FX to Pad FX.
• Select a track: hold PAD BANK and turn the encoder.
• Or select a track with SHIFT + PAD BANK + pad 1-16.
• Settings > Shortcuts gives back the stock screens.

Download the zip from Releases. Use the file with the highest version number. The release notes show the SHA256 of the zip.

Download SampQOL OS only from Releases or from beatops.io. Do not upload or share the zip (see LICENSE).

1. Make sure that the MPC Sample has firmware 1.3.0. Start the MPC without the SampQOL card. Push SHIFT + PAD 8 (MIDI Config). The top right of the display must show v1.3.0. The full version number is 1.3.0.12. The display shows only v1.3.0. This is the correct firmware. (When SampQOL OS runs, it shows the SampQOL OS version there.)
2. Unzip the zip file. Copy the folder autorun to the root of an exFAT microSD card.
3. Set the MPC off. Put the card in the MPC. Set the MPC on.
4. SampQOL OS starts by itself. You do not push a button.

Update from an earlier version: replace the folder autorun on the card with the new one. Your settings stay: mpcqol.conf is on the top level of the card, not in the folder autorun.

Go back to stock: set the MPC on without the card. To use the card on stock, rename the folder autorun (for example to autorun-off), or move it into a different folder on the card. Name it autorun again to start SampQOL OS.

If the MPC hangs at start-up: hold the power button until the MPC goes off, then remove the card. See Troubleshooting in the manual.

• Manual: all features, the safety net and troubleshooting. The zip also has the manual (Manual.html).
• Release notes and CHANGELOG: what changed in each version.

Open an issue. Give the firmware version, the SampQOL OS version and what you did.

SampQOL OS is closed source for now. When Akai shares more about its open firmware plans, I will decide about the source.

SampQOL OS is freeware, not open source. See LICENSE.

You may study and modify SampQOL OS for your own use. Made a modified version and want to share it? Ask first: open an issue.

SampQOL OS (c) 2026 Snare Bes. All rights reserved. Akai Professional, MPC and MPC Sample are trademarks of inMusic Brands, Inc. SampQOL OS is not affiliated with, endorsed by or supported by inMusic Brands, Inc. or Akai Professional.