AKAI Black Sun Empire — Free Download
MPC-ready expansion pack from Akai Professional featuring 48 kits and over 700 samples of heavy drum & bass and neurofunk sounds, crafted by Black Sun Empire.
Purpose and Content
This expansion pack delivers a collection of drum & bass and neurofunk sounds developed by the influential group Black Sun Empire. It is designed for use with MPC hardware, providing direct access to a large set of professionally mixed and mastered samples. The core of the pack lies in its drum kits and bass elements.
The sounds are organized into 48 ready-to-use kits, each built from a selection of punchy kicks, dirty snares, driving percussion, rides, hi-hats, and complex bass loops. The source material draws from over 700 individual samples, reflecting the group’s trademark aggressive and science-fiction-inspired style. This makes it suitable for producers seeking powerful, energetic textures.
Key Capabilities and Sound Design
A notable strength of this pack is its focus on neurofunk and aggressive bass music. The kits are crafted to provide a strong rhythmic foundation, with drums that emphasize punch and dirt. The bass sounds and loops are designed to be complex and evolving, adding depth and movement to tracks.
Beyond the main drum and bass elements, the pack includes a variety of atmospheric sounds that fit the science-fiction theme. These can be used to build tension, create transitions, or add unique textures. All samples are professionally mixed and mastered, so they can be dropped into a project and used as-is, reducing time spent on processing.
Workflow and Integration
The pack is built for seamless integration with MPC hardware. Users can load the kits directly into their MPC, allowing for immediate playability and manipulation. The kits are structured to make it easy to trigger individual sounds, arrange patterns, and perform live.
The included loops and bass sounds can be assigned to pads or used within the MPC’s sequencer, enabling a hands-on workflow. This is ideal for producers who prefer to work away from the computer screen or who want to incorporate hardware-based performance into their production process. The master-ready sound also means less time on mixing and more on creative arrangement.
Practical Applications and Suitability
This expansion is best for producers working in drum & bass, neurofunk, and related subgenres. It provides a comprehensive palette for building beats and basslines with a heavy, polished character. The kits work well for track production, live sets, and sketching ideas quickly.
The atmospheric and experimental sounds broaden its use to other bass-heavy genres like dubstep. The pack contains everything needed to lay down a full rhythmic foundation. For MPC users looking for high-quality, genre-specific content, this offers a convenient and creative solution.
Key features
- 48 MPC-ready drum kits
- Over 700 individual samples
- Includes kicks, snares, percussion, rides, hi-hats
- Complex bass sounds and loops
- Neurofunk and sci-fi atmospheres
- Professionally mixed and mastered
- Requires MPC hardware
Best for
Best for producers creating drum & bass, neurofunk, or dubstep, especially those using MPC hardware who want instant access to aggressive, polished drum kits and bass sounds. Ideal for track production, live performance, and quick beat sketching without extensive mixing effort.
