Awesome Akai MPC

Ask for a video powering on, every pad triggering (pressure-sensitive, no dead/weak pads), the encoders/screen working, and that it boots to the current OS without errors. Confirm the storage (internal SSD/SD) is healthy and there are no account-locked expansions. Pad sensitivity wear and screen/encoder issues are the main used-unit problems.

Standalone runs the MPC OS on the hardware with no computer. Controller mode connects to the MPC software on a computer for more CPU, plugins, and audio tracks. Many features (third-party plugins, and higher, host-dependent audio-track/plugin capacity) only exist in software/controller mode, while standalone has fixed per-model limits — a huge share of "why can't I do X" is "X is software-only."

USB host limitations apply — the MPC's USB ports are particular about class-compliant devices and you generally can't freely chain an interface + iPad + everything. Check the model's supported-class-compliant-device behavior; a powered USB hub helps for some combos, but expect constraints vs a computer.

Expansions install via the MPC software (or the standalone's expansion install from storage). Free third-party "expansions" are often just sample/program folders — drop them in your project/sample storage and browse to them, vs official .xpn installers. Account-locked official expansions need to be authorized in your inMusic account first.

Autosampler plays a connected synth (or plugin) chromatically and captures each note into a keygroup program automatically, turning hardware/plugins into sampled instruments. Set the MIDI out to the synth, define the note range/velocity layers, and let it render — great for getting an external synth "into the box."