InMusic to open hardware platforms to modding community

InMusic, the parent company behind brands such as Akai, Moog, and Native Instruments, is shifting its strategy to support independent developers and the modding community. The company plans to provide tools and technical access to its hardware, allowing users to create custom modifications for its devices.

CEO Jack O'Donnell stated that the company intends to provide a toolbox to the community, offering insight into the inner workings of products like the MPC and Sample. As part of this initiative, Akai has begun seeding early units of the unannounced MPC Sample Key—a 37-key version of the MPC Sample—to independent developers. The device is expected to feature open-source firmware.

The broader strategy includes the release of a Software Development Kit and the potential for open-sourcing certain software components. InMusic is also exploring the use of sandboxing environments, which would allow custom code to run on hardware without disrupting core device operations.

This move follows a series of social media teases from Akai in late October 2026, which showcased custom operating systems and synths running on company hardware. These demonstrations highlighted the potential for user-created modifications, often referred to as vibe-coded mods.

Further details regarding this initiative are expected to be showcased at the NAMM show in January.