As I understand it, you just want to be able to control the device. Maybe keep the display as is, intercept the signals and forward them (wirelessly) to an external device for display?
You are correct. Though I am fine with it being wired. The Pi is good since I already own it. Heck, I can use a laptop for it, since I have a couple.
Actually that would be cool since if somehow I could wire it up then I already have a big screen to render things on ,.
That would mean I needed a way to get the cable / signals to the PC. Sine I have an old laptop I might get to run Linux it would have serial and parallel ports if that would make it easier,.
Or some gizmo that takes the wires from the Akai sampler and makes USB