The Beatin' Path

Akai's MPC series has set the standard in high-end beatboxes for decades. The company's latest offering, however, is designed for portability: The battery/AC-powered XR20 boasts more than 700 pre-loaded sounds targeted primarily at hip-hop and R&B production, with a range of drums, percussion, effects and instrument samples. Onboard effects include reverb, EQ and compression, while a microphone input lets users add vocal and instrumental sounds to the mix. Akaipro.com [$499]