It is expensive, but it is a good centerpiece to a set up. Great sequencer and a good sampler. Realtime midi record! Two midi inputs and outputs, individual audio outputs. I'm going to go for that instead of a Korg sx1, I'm thinking. Waiting for reviews in the future.

I don't think they have direct audio manipulation on any akai product. They have input to record samples.

This is all general information of what I know about Akai above.