Run VST plugins on the Akai MPC OS standalone (MPC/Force)

Run VST plugins (Linux) on the Akai MPC OS standalone (MPC Live/One/Key, Force) using sd88me’s new workaround.

MPC OS is the proprietary operating system found on all standalone Akai MPCs and the Force. Every MPC/Force is bundled with various MPC plugins included right out of the box.

You can also easily expand the hardware with compatible plugins like synths, effects, and more. So far, however, this was only possible with official Akai/AIR plugins. Now, developer sd88me has found a way in the MPC OS to load native VST plugins.

native VST MPC OS

An important note: standalone MPCs and Force run on Linux-powered custom ARM hardware that runs the MPC OS. Simply put: a Linux computer inside an MPC controller.

Several developers have already demonstrated in recent years that the system is hackable, promptly developing their own operating systems for the MPCs and Force. 

Developer sd88me took a different approach. One without hacking. Using the AI ​​tool Claude and pre-leaked info on the MPC forums,  he found a way to load plugins in the official, proprietary MPC OS.

According to sd88me, the MPC OS has a built-in plugin host that copies the JUCE framework and can load Linux VST2 plugins. This repo builds plugins for it, and they behave like MPC’s own instruments and effects. 

Better: you can use them like the official ones. Add them to a track, play them from pads or the sequencer, turn them with Q-Links, and even save them with the project. Each one even gets its own native MPC touchscreen page.

There’s no bridge, no background app, no LD_PRELOAD: the plugin runs inside MPC. And all this without hacking the hardware. It works on the real hardware 

sd88me says that it was tested on a Force (September 2026), and other Gen1 MPC OS devices. Interestingly, the Gen2 devices are reported to be more locked down. Too bad, it would be more exciting to use these, given the better CPU and increased RAM.

First Custom MPC Plugins

sd88me, who exposed the VST capabilities for MPC OS, has already released a few sample plugins.

This includes Maze Voice, a Moog Labryinth-style west-coast synth, DX7 a Dexed FM synth port, the JV-880 port, Crate Digger (Digs Discogs), and Euclidier, a 8-lane Euclidean MIDI note/CC sequencer.

He even works on a port of the new Monomodule (Monomachine emulator) plugin. According to the developer, you can create synths, samplers, drum machines, port plugins for Ableton Live’s Schwung host, MIDI generators, and more.

Installation is straightforward and doesn’t require any third-party software that hacks the system or anything like that. The plugin is a small Linux library that the MPC OS detects on a microSD card. GitHub has a detailed explanation.

First Impression

Until now, Akai or inMusic held a monopoly on offering plugins for MPC OS. This would change everything and open things up to everyone—but only for owners of the first generation of MPC hardware.

This possibility was already being discussed on the MPC forums back in mid-September. sd88me has put it into practice. Let’s see how long Akai leaves it open before patching it in a future update. If they were cool and open-minded, they’d leave it as is, like Ableton did with Schwung.

sd88me is available now as an open-source project on GitHub.

More information here: sd88me 

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