AKAI Professional MPK Mini– 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8 Knobs and Music Production Software Included

Product Information

Full Level plays everything at maximum velocity; handy when trying not to wake the rest of the house. I use it as a small and mobile input to my MIDI setup and to create short melodies and sometimes just to have fun. Also, shoutouts to the small but highly effective decision to add illuminated lights to the text on the Mk3’s buttons, rather than the entire buttons itself (which was a little hard to read in the past). The Novation MK3 comes with a pitch-bend strip and a modulation strip, whereas, the Akai MPK2 Mini MK2 comes with a wheel. Akai meanwhile takes a different approach with a four-way mini joystick control for both pitch and modulation.

Despite its small size, it feels incredibly sturdy, and the keys and pads have a satisfying tactile feel. The Software Manager will show you all Instruments, Apps, and Sample Packsthat are available for download to your computer.With Class Compliant, plug-and-play capability, MPK mini Play doubles as a powerful MIDI controller and instantly connects to your favorite DAW for immediate music production duties. This intuitive instrument distills all of the key tools required by a producer into one compact unit. It’s quite useful for basic MIDI input in an instructional setting, as well as basic typesetting in notation programs like Finale, Sibelius or Dorico.

In the drum kit department, you get all the usual suspects from your standard, room and jazz drums, through your ’80s power ballads, a rather nice TR‑808, orchestra and a suitably silly special effects kit. Further settings and behaviours including MIDI channel, specific CC assignments, knob behaviour and aftertouch are set in the desktop editor app (MPK mini 3 Program Editor). I don’t play “real” piano, so I don’t care much, but my significant other, who’s a pianist, absolutely hates the size of the keys. The Mk3 syncs quickly and easily to your DAW of choice with a very easy key combo of ‘Program Select + ‘Pad’.A durable construction, user-friendly layout and plug in and play connectivity ensures there are no barriers to getting stuck-in whatsoever - no matter where you might find yourself! You don’t need any drivers or special software to plug it in and start controlling your existing audio software. This will expand your MPK Mini mk3 product listing to include available promotional offerings and the included software downloader.