inMusic, the parent company behind major music technology brands including Akai, Moog, and Native Instruments, is taking a welcoming approach to the modding community. CEO Jack O'Donnell told The Verge that the company wants to provide “the inner workings” of devices such as MPC hardware so people can build what they want.
The positive shift includes plans to make code for products like the teased MPC Sample Key open source, alongside a developer SDK designed to make modifications easier and reduce the risk of bricking hardware. That could be especially powerful as more creators use AI-assisted coding tools to prototype features, interfaces, and workflows.
Why it matters
Music hardware has long inspired passionate communities of tinkerers, but modifying devices can be difficult without official support. By giving developers better access and safer tools, inMusic could help turn experimental ideas into practical upgrades for producers, performers, and sound designers.
- More creativity: Musicians may gain custom workflows and new performance features.
- Lower barriers: AI coding tools can help non-experts participate in software creation.
- Safer experimentation: Official SDKs can reduce the risks of unofficial hacks.
This is a promising example of how AI-assisted development and open ecosystems can expand what creative hardware can do, putting more power in the hands of the artists who use it every day.