AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 – 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8 Knobs and Music Production Software Included
Introducing MPK mini mk3
Your Hit Song Starts Here
Your entry-point into a world of pro production starts here. Introducing the MPK mini mk3, the 3rd iteration of the world’s legendary best-selling USB MIDI 25-key mini keyboard controller that redefined how a generation of creators make music.
-
Gen 2 Enhanced Dynamic Keybed
MPK mini delivers a key performance fit for the world’s finest keyboard players. From grand pianos to searing synth leads. This keybed gets the best of any playing style.
-
MPC Pad Power
Add that human touch to your drum tracks with 8 pads pulled from our flagship MPC series. These velocity-sensitive backlit MPC pads deliver the perfect touch for precise drumming and sample playback.
-
Get Hands-On with Your Production
MPK mini’s rotary knobs give you total control of any assignable parameter in your DAW. Tweak that EQ or change-up your synth sounds on the fly – whatever you want to control, is ready to be assigned.
-
Every Tool You Demand
Note repeat, arpeggiator and the omni-directional joystick are the trusted features no MPK mini would be complete without. You guessed it, it’s all here in MPK mini mk3.
-
Feedback Where You Need It
MPK mini’s OLED display places core visual feedback of DAW mode selection, velocity, CC, and more, right where you need it. Spend more time focusing on your music and less on your computer screen.
-
Superior Design, Robust Build
With a rock-solid, go-anywhere design, plug & play connectivity and a layout that puts your workflow firmly in the driving seat, MPK mini removes all barriers to your creativity.
-
Complete Music Production Starter Kit
MPK mini’s Complete Music Production Starter Kit features all the tools for immediate creativity from the get-go, including MPC Beats software, 6 virtual instruments and an expansive sample collection
-
MPC Beats Software
MPC Beats features all the essential tools for pro production. Start with MPC Beats with the full confidence it will take your music wherever you need it to go.
| Weight: | 900 g |
| Dimensions: | 21.34 x 36.58 x 7.62 cm; 900 Grams |
| Model: | MPKMINI3 |
| Colour: | Standard |
| Colour: | Standard |
It deserves the accolades given by professional musicians.
The perfect mini mobile controller to complement my Hoton Ampero Multi Effects Pedal and BOSS RC-30 Loop Pedal.
My principal instrument is electric violin, but also play guitar, mandolin, and ukulele.
This Akai mini controller is perfect for creating rhythms and backing loops for my solo performance as a busker.
It’s fun to play with but also a serious piece of high quality kit for any musician using pedals, or a composer who needs a mini keyboard that’s compact and has a rich pallette of sounds.
The keyboard feels well made. It’s NOT a guitar pedal that’s used on the ground. The AKAI is an instrument that will be used and treated with care and respect like any other keyboard. So, it’s build quality is comparable to larger keyboards like my Yamaha.
I had no problem connecting the AKAI to my Smartphone and Tablet using a Piano App.
Whilst the controller is designed to be used with a DAW on MAC or PC, I like being able to learn, practice, and experiment with chord inversions and progressions on the go, as I recently started learning keyboard with Pianote. The AKAI is not a substitute for a digital piano or keyboard but it’s a very useful tool with a lot of potential.
IMPORTANT! Don’t use Bluetooth to connect to a smartphone or tablet as you’ll have latency problems. Use a cable and there’s no latency issue. (The age and quality of your PC, smartphone or tablet could issues. But it works fine with my Huawei P20 Pro, DELL XPS 17, and Neocore Tablet.
There are plenty of YouTube videos that provide excellent instruction and reviews by professional musicians who give in depth, hands on analysis of the keyboard. Every review I’ve watched and read is full of praise for this MIDI Controller. Another ‘best buy’ for me.
This item arrived today. I knew I had a steep learning curve but I also knew that I could play it straight out of the box using the three included software addons one of which is a flashy piano apparently. Well I didn’t get very far with this because the first thing I had to do was make an account with Akai which included wanting my date of birth — WHY? I didn’t give the right one, never do. This allows you to download the MPC Beats software — which I don’t need but did it anyway — and the other special instruments. This all went pretty well but wasn’t as straightforward as they imply. The software has to be downloaded, not too painful. The software is downloaded, now you have to install it. Five different things, five different installs. Once it’s installed you’d think that was good enough, think again. Now I have to activate it, easier said than done. The MPCBeats software wasn’t a problem but to use the added instruments you have to download a licence manager from iLOK and to get the licence from iLOK you have to, you guessed it, create and account. OK, I’ve got this far, let’s keep going. A whole lot of messing around later with activation codes and logins I get my instruments up and running — ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY EXPIRE IN 15 DAYS!!! All that effort for just about nothing because they didn’t tell me at the beginning (as far as I know anyway, it was probably buried in the small print). I didn’t bother anymore, I deleted the extra instruments, deleted the iLOK licence manager and deleted MPCBeats too, just out of spite — I use Presonus Studio One anyway and Studio One has a present for the Akai MPKmini so it was easy to get working.
I’ve only had this a few hours and so far it’s been fine, apart from all the above crap I didn’t need, and I’m sure it will do what I want it to do with the software I already have.
If you buy it, just plug it into your computer, use your favourite DAW package and completely ignore everything else. Don’t register it, don’t bother downloading anything, it works fine on it’s own.
EDIT: After much messing about I now have the software on an unending licence so the 15 day thing above is wrong. Software acquisition could be a whole lot easier with a bit of thought but hey ho, it’s done now.
This item arrived today. I knew I had a steep learning curve but I also knew that I could play it straight out of the box using the three included software addons one of which is a flashy piano apparently. Well I didn’t get very far with this because the first thing I had to do was make an account with Akai which included wanting my date of birth — WHY? I didn’t give the right one, never do. This allows you to download the MPC Beats software — which I don’t need but did it anyway — and the other special instruments. This all went pretty well but wasn’t as straightforward as they imply. The software has to be downloaded, not too painful. The software is downloaded, now you have to install it. Five different things, five different installs. Once it’s installed you’d think that was good enough, think again. Now I have to activate it, easier said than done. The MPCBeats software wasn’t a problem but to use the added instruments you have to download a licence manager from iLOK and to get the licence from iLOK you have to, you guessed it, create and account. OK, I’ve got this far, let’s keep going. A whole lot of messing around later with activation codes and logins I get my instruments up and running — ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY EXPIRE IN 15 DAYS!!! All that effort for just about nothing because they didn’t tell me at the beginning (as far as I know anyway, it was probably buried in the small print). I didn’t bother anymore, I deleted the extra instruments, deleted the iLOK licence manager and deleted MPCBeats too, just out of spite — I use Presonus Studio One anyway and Studio One has a present for the Akai MPKmini so it was easy to get working.
I’ve only had this a few hours and so far it’s been fine, apart from all the above crap I didn’t need, and I’m sure it will do what I want it to do with the software I already have.
If you buy it, just plug it into your computer, use your favourite DAW package and completely ignore everything else. Don’t register it, don’t bother downloading anything, it works fine on it’s own.
EDIT: After much messing about I now have the software on an unending licence so the 15 day thing above is wrong. Software acquisition could be a whole lot easier with a bit of thought but hey ho, it’s done now.
Delivered to me in an, “Amazon,” robust protective cardboard box. My, “AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 25 keys USB MIDI,” keyboard controller, was on arrival, contained in a dynamically, aesthetically and positively pleasing to look at, manufacturer’s box. See it in my eight included images. The unit is well packaged, inside a clear polythene bag and securely held by two polystyrene end pieces. Additionally, the keys are also protected by a thin, peel off sheet of clear plastic film. This is a fantastic MIDI keyboard. “AKAI,” have created this newest MIDI instrument, which has a plethora of practical and very useful controls with adjustable settings. This is perfect for musicians, composers and arrangers, such as myself. Among these are, eight pads and assignable controls, which I find to be of perfect integration with my music DAW recording and production software. I use, “Reaper” and “PreSonus Studio One,” recording software. I am a musician, composer and arranger and I find playing the keys and pads on my, “MPK Mini MK3,” have a positive and smooth travel action and the keybed is perfect and reassuringly stable. My, “MPK Mini MK3,” works out of the box with my DAW’s and does not require any software drivers. However, in addition, “AKAI,” have provided a vast amount of free downloadable software to use with this unit. To obtain these downloads, I went to the, “AKAI Pro Download,” website, to create an account, to register my product. Once registered and signed in, I selected my, “MPK Mini MK3,” from the list. Then it was a case of clicking on and running the corresponding installer icon, obtaining a serial number in order to unlock the software. The serial number is used to unlock the software, once the downloads have completed. A set of printed instruction etc and a USB cable are also included along with the,”MPK Mini MK3.” “My, “MPK Mini MK3,” is a fantastic addition to my other MIDI controller and Synth keyboards. I give this keyboard, “Five Stars” and recommend it enthusiastically.
Les A. G. Durno. My Amazon UK review on, Tuesday 20th July 2021. At: 17.22.hrs. GMT
The AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 A Fantastic MIDI Controller Keyboard
Delivered to me in an, “Amazon,” robust protective cardboard box. My, “AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 25 keys USB MIDI,” keyboard controller, was on arrival, contained in a dynamically, aesthetically and positively pleasing to look at, manufacturer’s box. See it in my eight included images. The unit is well packaged, inside a clear polythene bag and securely held by two polystyrene end pieces. Additionally, the keys are also protected by a thin, peel off sheet of clear plastic film. This is a fantastic MIDI keyboard. “AKAI,” have created this newest MIDI instrument, which has a plethora of practical and very useful controls with adjustable settings. This is perfect for musicians, composers and arrangers, such as myself. Among these are, eight pads and assignable controls, which I find to be of perfect integration with my music DAW recording and production software. I use, “Reaper” and “PreSonus Studio One,” recording software. I am a musician, composer and arranger and I find playing the keys and pads on my, “MPK Mini MK3,” have a positive and smooth travel action and the keybed is perfect and reassuringly stable. My, “MPK Mini MK3,” works out of the box with my DAW’s and does not require any software drivers. However, in addition, “AKAI,” have provided a vast amount of free downloadable software to use with this unit. To obtain these downloads, I went to the, “AKAI Pro Download,” website, to create an account, to register my product. Once registered and signed in, I selected my, “MPK Mini MK3,” from the list. Then it was a case of clicking on and running the corresponding installer icon, obtaining a serial number in order to unlock the software. The serial number is used to unlock the software, once the downloads have completed. A set of printed instruction etc and a USB cable are also included along with the,”MPK Mini MK3.” “My, “MPK Mini MK3,” is a fantastic addition to my other MIDI controller and Synth keyboards. I give this keyboard, “Five Stars” and recommend it enthusiastically.
Les A. G. Durno. My Amazon UK review on, Tuesday 20th July 2021. At: 17.22.hrs. GMT
Keys sensitivity had to be adjusted
Good size keyboard. Easy to install and setup..keys sensitivity had to be changed.
Perfec
It’s exactly what it says it is and it’s a grwat bit of kit, well worth the money
Best deal
Looking at the price, this product is really a best deal with lots of features and more samples then the previous akai mini kits. And it’s portable so you can care it around wherever you go.
Best deal
Looking at the price, this product is really a best deal with lots of features and more samples then the previous akai mini kits. And it’s portable so you can care it around wherever you go.
Good quality produc
Very nice product – worked immediately with logic pro x – clearly has many features that it will take me some time to explore
Der akai mpc mk 3 ist absolut sein Geld wert. Ich habe nun mehrmals eine ausfhrliche Rezension hierzu geschrieben doch ohne Begrndung wurden diese von Amazon nicht akzeptiert. Deshalb halte ich es jetzt krzer. Wer so sich so etwas kauft hat sich meist bereits mit der Materie befasst, fr unschlssige kann ich nur eine Empfehlung aussprechen. Es macht enormen Spa damit zu arbeiten. Zum Schutz empfiehlt es sich ein Hard case anzuschaffe
For several years I have fancied dabbling in music production and I wanted a MIDI controller that would be easy to use and have as much versatility as possible. For me this I meant having both pads and keys.
I looked at several options but settled on the MPK mini as it appeared to offer the best combination of features and value for money.
Firstly, it really looks the part, I have the black and white version which has a cool simplistic look with inverted black and white keys. Aesthetically I preferred this to the black/red or white/black options.
Setup was easy but this is where a few people will find some difficulty.
This is a MIDI keyboard which means that it will work ‘out of the box’ with almost ant DAW (digital audio workstation) software with no almost no configuration. Personally I use Ableton Intro and it is simply a case of plugging in the keyboard and selecting the MPK mini as the input device in the options. This of course, will vary depending on your software. The keyboard can then be further programmed when you have a bit more experience with your DAW.
The keyboard does come with several software synthesizers and the basic version of Akai’s own DAW, MPC Beats. The synthesizers can be a little tricky to set up as you will need to set up the authorisation system that they use. All I can advise is that you read the instructions carefully and it is fairly easy to do. You will need to register your keyboard with Akai but then you will have access to the installer which will help you install everything you need to get started. It is worth noting that these synths are not required for the use of the keyboard but will give you a really nice variety sounds to play with and I really do recommend you taking the time to install these.
Personally, I use several Native Instruments synthesizers and sample players and this keyboard works really well with all of them also with little to no configuration.
Both the keys and pads are velocity sensitive so the volume of my notes/drums will vary depending on how hard I press them.
The infinite knobs (meaning the rotation doesn’t have a start and end point) are really nice to use and can be configured to control almost anything within your DAW. The built in arpeggiator is a nice touch and is easy to use to create some cool note repeats, a great tool for use in EDM.
The pitch/bend joystick control feels a little different to the traditional wheel controls but is really useful when you get the hang of it.
The 8 drum pads are really nice to use, they have a really positive feel and react well to being tapped. You can also program a second bank of drums which can be switched easily giving you access to 16 different drum sounds. In my opinion the pads are on par with the pads on the (more expensive) Native Instruments Maschine Mikro beat maker. (I also own this controller and if you’re into beatmaking I highly recommend it).
This is a really great controller for the beginner, which I very much am. I really enjoy playing with it and I am constantly impressed with the quality and the features of the keyboard.
Once you get past the installation of the synths, which is easy if you follow the instructions carefully, you can start making music almost immediately
Spend the time to learn how it works – there are literally hundreds of helpful videos on Youtube that will assist you in getting started.
I honestly believe that this is the best MIDI keyboard you can buy as a beginner and can’t be beaten at the price.
Perfect beginners controller!
For several years I have fancied dabbling in music production and I wanted a MIDI controller that would be easy to use and have as much versatility as possible. For me this I meant having both pads and keys.
I looked at several options but settled on the MPK mini as it appeared to offer the best combination of features and value for money.
Firstly, it really looks the part, I have the black and white version which has a cool simplistic look with inverted black and white keys. Aesthetically I preferred this to the black/red or white/black options.
Setup was easy but this is where a few people will find some difficulty.
This is a MIDI keyboard which means that it will work ‘out of the box’ with almost ant DAW (digital audio workstation) software with no almost no configuration. Personally I use Ableton Intro and it is simply a case of plugging in the keyboard and selecting the MPK mini as the input device in the options. This of course, will vary depending on your software. The keyboard can then be further programmed when you have a bit more experience with your DAW.
The keyboard does come with several software synthesizers and the basic version of Akai’s own DAW, MPC Beats. The synthesizers can be a little tricky to set up as you will need to set up the authorisation system that they use. All I can advise is that you read the instructions carefully and it is fairly easy to do. You will need to register your keyboard with Akai but then you will have access to the installer which will help you install everything you need to get started. It is worth noting that these synths are not required for the use of the keyboard but will give you a really nice variety sounds to play with and I really do recommend you taking the time to install these.
Personally, I use several Native Instruments synthesizers and sample players and this keyboard works really well with all of them also with little to no configuration.
Both the keys and pads are velocity sensitive so the volume of my notes/drums will vary depending on how hard I press them.
The infinite knobs (meaning the rotation doesn’t have a start and end point) are really nice to use and can be configured to control almost anything within your DAW. The built in arpeggiator is a nice touch and is easy to use to create some cool note repeats, a great tool for use in EDM.
The pitch/bend joystick control feels a little different to the traditional wheel controls but is really useful when you get the hang of it.
The 8 drum pads are really nice to use, they have a really positive feel and react well to being tapped. You can also program a second bank of drums which can be switched easily giving you access to 16 different drum sounds. In my opinion the pads are on par with the pads on the (more expensive) Native Instruments Maschine Mikro beat maker. (I also own this controller and if you’re into beatmaking I highly recommend it).
This is a really great controller for the beginner, which I very much am. I really enjoy playing with it and I am constantly impressed with the quality and the features of the keyboard.
Once you get past the installation of the synths, which is easy if you follow the instructions carefully, you can start making music almost immediately
Spend the time to learn how it works – there are literally hundreds of helpful videos on Youtube that will assist you in getting started.
I honestly believe that this is the best MIDI keyboard you can buy as a beginner and can’t be beaten at the price.
Love i
Great keyboard, good quality and im enjoying learning on it.
Brilliant little midi keyboard and pads
Awesome piece of kit and perfect for any musicians looking to add keys or strings to their work.
It’s important to know that this is not a standalone keyboard and you need to connect it to an additional device such as a PC with relevant software.
Brilliant little midi keyboard and pads
Awesome piece of kit and perfect for any musicians looking to add keys or strings to their work.
It’s important to know that this is not a standalone keyboard and you need to connect it to an additional device such as a PC with relevant software.
Very nice
Very good bit of kit could be abit more help for total beginnersbut I’m very impressed with i
It’s ok
It’s a really nice Midi. I found it was hard to set up , I didn’t know how to connect it to Logic Pro x , I ended up returning it as it was hard to set up , I’m a beginner so it was really confusing for me.
It’s ok
It’s a really nice Midi. I found it was hard to set up , I didn’t know how to connect it to Logic Pro x , I ended up returning it as it was hard to set up , I’m a beginner so it was really confusing for me.
brillia
I bought it for my husband and he loves it. It comes with loads of free software. It has everything you need to start producing music straight away. It’s his first attempt and he already wrote some nice pieces ( not yet ready for publishing 😉 though ) . It’s very well built too
brillia
I bought it for my husband and he loves it. It comes with loads of free software. It has everything you need to start producing music straight away. It’s his first attempt and he already wrote some nice pieces ( not yet ready for publishing 😉 though ) . It’s very well built too
So I got this today, and started using it. I write software for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. So I had real concerns about the keyboard. I downloaded the manual, which amounts to a one page product brochure that then gets repeated in several languages. I wanted to make sure it was useful with my software, especially Linux, where none of the provided programs will run. To fulfil that, I just needed the controls to output general MIDI and there you go.
The first issue is the manual does not go into what the controls or pads actually SEND, other than “MIDI CC messages”. Which ones? It does not go into it. Are they preprogrammed? The Amazon page talks about needing to set it up with the software. Bad sign. I asked the maker if they provided programming instructions to set it up with my software. “Its proprietary” was the (very unsatisfactory) answer. Are you charging software developers? Getting part of their profits? IIIII doubt it. But you go girl.
After more research, I found other keyboards that DID go into what midi messages their keyboards provided, how to reprogram them, everything. For example, M-AUDIO does that. Now for the odd part. They are owned by the same company, InMusic!
I decided that this keyboard had what I wanted, if I could just make it work on all systems. My main worry is that it would not function at all without the software. I asked another question: If I program it, with the provided software on, say, Windows, would it say programmed even with the power removed. That way I could at least program it on one system and move it to others. The answer was yes, so I decided to risk it.
Now that I have the keyboard, I see that there is no problem at all. The display tells you exactly what it is sending, what CC messages and what numbers. In fact, in case you need to know, it sends CC 70 to CC 77 for the rotary controls, and drum channel notes 36 to 43 on the drum pads. This is nowhere in the manual (and much better than the frankly snotty “proprietary” answer I got).
Now on to the software provided. They give you a lot, and the basics are in MPC beats, which I am happy with. They also give you three programs that say “get activation code”. I went through a signup process to download these. Then asked for an activation code. They take you to another, unrelated site and you have to sign up AGAIN with them. then they sent a verification code to my email. Apparently I didn’t get to it fast enough, and now their site says “my email is invalid”. And gives me no option to fix it. Thanks.
Now, how about the unit itself. I’m pretty happy with that. I am not a musician, I use this to make sounds for games and other programs. I have a 49 key controller and a 61 key full synth, both of which are unwieldy to use at my computer desk. So having a very short and compact keyboard was a good idea. Plus, the pads and controls give me the means to control DAWs and test out my software. The keys and pads have a very nice feel to me, and I like the infinite range controls. The whole thing takes up very little space on my desk and thus can remain there, instead of me taking out one of my larger keyboards to play with.
To sum up, AKAI, fix your documentation. Look at the M-AUDIO docs for your example. And get someone competent to do the activation code thing. My 2 cents.
amazing
lovlye compact and surprisingly sturdy! the pads are just grea
Good produc
Got this to compliment my mpc one. If you haven’t got a lot of room its great…It’s never gonna replace a keyboard/piano. Too many good things to mention..it’s worth it just for the Arpeggiator…hours of fun. It’s a midi controller you can’t load samples into it and it has no sounds in it.
Good produc
Got this to compliment my mpc one. If you haven’t got a lot of room its great…It’s never gonna replace a keyboard/piano. Too many good things to mention..it’s worth it just for the Arpeggiator…hours of fun. It’s a midi controller you can’t load samples into it and it has no sounds in it.
Nice strong uni
Very nice sturdy unit not cheap looking plastic, takes a bit of getting used to so read the instructions or you won’t get the benefit of all functions.
Great keyboard with annoying software signups
The build quality is great, it’s compact but still a breeze to play, even with fat fingers. The biggest drawback is all of the software signups you have to endure, not to mention the barrage of special offer emails that follow. Garage band integration is a bit fiddly and doesn’t work as well as I hoped out of the box, but it is possible. There is no midi output only a single usb socket, used for both power and data transfer. Overall I’m happy with it and I’m glad I purchased it.
Great keyboard with annoying software signups
The build quality is great, it’s compact but still a breeze to play, even with fat fingers. The biggest drawback is all of the software signups you have to endure, not to mention the barrage of special offer emails that follow. Garage band integration is a bit fiddly and doesn’t work as well as I hoped out of the box, but it is possible. There is no midi output only a single usb socket, used for both power and data transfer. Overall I’m happy with it and I’m glad I purchased it.
Meine Tochter wollte unbedingt Musik machen, also legte ich ihr nahe, sich dieses Tool von Akai zu besorgen da ich selbst den MPC X besitze und somit wusste was sie dort erwartet. Nach dem Registrieren auf der Akai Website, bekommt man zugriff auf die Software wie eine DAW und noch Synthesizer mit der sich eigentlich schnell Sachen erstellen lassen, und zwar Professionell. Man kann auch die anderen Sachen von Akai, wie die MPC One MPC live MPC X etc, ber diese Software laufen lassen und es lassen sich auch andere VST Instrumente sowie Effekte ansteuern bzw. Integrieren was eine unzhlige Anzahl an Tools hinzufgt. Natrlich ist eine Version von Ableton auch nicht zu vergessen, wer das kennt wei was da zu erwarten ist 🙂
Ich lese in den Bewertungen das sich die Anschlagsdynamik nicht verndern lsst, was natrlich nicht stimmt. Lasst euch nicht davon abschrecken, das ist ein Astreines Produkt mit dem man definitiv Professionelle Lieder erstellen kann und wer mal nicht weiter wei, fr diesen Menschen gibt es die Hilfe rechts im Programm mit Links zu Tutorial Videos.
Das einzige was ich bemngeln wrde wre, das fr mich die Tasten zu klein wren und die Oktav zahl nicht hoch genug geht ohne umschalten zu mssen, aber das ist eine andere Sache die den Controller nicht schmlern soll.
Vergessen sollte man auch nicht dass es kein Standalone Gert ist, womit ein Computer mit Internet Zugang vorhanden sein sollte (z.B. Win 64bit da sonst die DAW nicht Installiert).
Von mir eine klare Kaufempfehlung
Very good keyboard...
Everything is fine – the keys, the drums, the knobs. Good product!!!
The software – see if you will like it. The design is a bit odd.
If you are looking to use the Korg Gadget – better buy a KORG made equipment.
Very good keyboard...
Everything is fine – the keys, the drums, the knobs. Good product!!!
The software – see if you will like it. The design is a bit odd.
If you are looking to use the Korg Gadget – better buy a KORG made equipment.
Wow speechless.
Presentation is amazing, packaging on point, very professional sleek design can I just say I’m amazed for the value of this product you get an amazing product and you can start mixing and making beats like a pro.
Excellent choice for Ableton Live
I purchased this to make drum programming, keyboards and ambient samples much easier as backing for guitar and bass in Ableton Live. It’s taken a few independent Youtube tutorials to get there but after a few sessions I think it’s a great tool, especially for 82. I can record rough drums or keyboard live then tidy them up later, also using the akai encoders to set levels. It even makes it sound like I can play keyboard, which I can’t. Tried the MPC beats software and that’s ok but I don’t really need it. The free keyboard programs are nice but one glitches if I move it to the large monitor, making it useless, I’ll try reloading. Overall very pleased, this was the right decision for an old guy trying to use technology. Now to write music that doesn’t sound like a Youtube holiday resort review. Amazon, what the hell do you mean by thickness and sheerness in the review categories?
Excellent choice for Ableton Live
I purchased this to make drum programming, keyboards and ambient samples much easier as backing for guitar and bass in Ableton Live. It’s taken a few independent Youtube tutorials to get there but after a few sessions I think it’s a great tool, especially for 82. I can record rough drums or keyboard live then tidy them up later, also using the akai encoders to set levels. It even makes it sound like I can play keyboard, which I can’t. Tried the MPC beats software and that’s ok but I don’t really need it. The free keyboard programs are nice but one glitches if I move it to the large monitor, making it useless, I’ll try reloading. Overall very pleased, this was the right decision for an old guy trying to use technology. Now to write music that doesn’t sound like a Youtube holiday resort review. Amazon, what the hell do you mean by thickness and sheerness in the review categories?
The perfect midi in a small package
Amazing product easy to carry and move about and build quality is amazing. The first thing to note is the amazing pads and endless nobs is a big game-changer which is perfect for finger drumming definitely a 10/10 buy
The perfect midi in a small package
Amazing product easy to carry and move about and build quality is amazing. The first thing to note is the amazing pads and endless nobs is a big game-changer which is perfect for finger drumming definitely a 10/10 buy
Simple to use for someone new to beat creation.
A great midi for creating tracks.
I got this to learn with and it’s about perfect for my level. I’ve been able to use and progress with various beats using the MPC beats software (free download)
A great produc
Super necessary
Brilliant piece of kit for the bedroom beats maker.. Makes th e most of your daw of choice
AMAZING
Product was great for money, this is the best MIDI board you can buy for beginners it directly links into AKIAs free MPC beats or any software u wanna use it with, in conclusion I would highly recommend this for beginners.
AMAZING
Product was great for money, this is the best MIDI board you can buy for beginners it directly links into AKIAs free MPC beats or any software u wanna use it with, in conclusion I would highly recommend this for beginners.
Initial impressions of are keyboard were good, it seems pretty robust and decent quality at this price point.
Its clear they are trying their very best to force you to use with their supplied free software, and users should note that the free instruments come with the hated and dreaded Ilok software, which is a big shame as this software often cause issues all by itself.
The installation files and guides are all out of date on Akai’s site, meaning you can scramble around for information with little hope of finding something relevant to the latest release and I followed one tutorial on knobs to functions on studio one that no longer works.
Akai use their own software manager, which for some reason doesn’t show you one of the most basic bits of software you need. You need a program editor to set up this unit with your DAW and to manually change and assign midi data, pretty essential on a midi controller. By default this essential software is hidden and not offered for download. To see it as an option you need to hit the gear cog in the top left of the window, which shows three lines. You are looking to ‘Show Advanced Software’ – there should be a check box for you to tick! As Akai are total muppets, the check box is exactly the same colour as the background and therefore invisible. This has cost me almost a day of trawling the web and leaving service tickets, but if you click madly somewhere on the right hand side of the menu in line with the text, you’ll eventually hit the checkbox by luck at which point you can download the program editor, which should never have been hidden.
So, hardware is OK and works out of the box for the included software. Support is horribly out of date and quite frankly, all over the place and not updated for current models eg tutorials that don’t work any more.
Setting up for other Daws is a pain and nothing like the Nektar offering which has specific maps to match their keyboards to your Daw of choice, and templates to match many 3rd party instruments.
I wish I bought from another supplier to be honest. I bought this to make music not to see how inadequate Akai’s software tools are.
Initial impressions of are keyboard were good, it seems pretty robust and decent quality at this price point.
Its clear they are trying their very best to force you to use with their supplied free software, and users should note that the free instruments come with the hated and dreaded Ilok software, which is a big shame as this software often cause issues all by itself.
The installation files and guides are all out of date on Akai’s site, meaning you can scramble around for information with little hope of finding something relevant to the latest release and I followed one tutorial on knobs to functions on studio one that no longer works.
Akai use their own software manager, which for some reason doesn’t show you one of the most basic bits of software you need. You need a program editor to set up this unit with your DAW and to manually change and assign midi data, pretty essential on a midi controller. By default this essential software is hidden and not offered for download. To see it as an option you need to hit the gear cog in the top left of the window, which shows three lines. You are looking to ‘Show Advanced Software’ – there should be a check box for you to tick! As Akai are total muppets, the check box is exactly the same colour as the background and therefore invisible. This has cost me almost a day of trawling the web and leaving service tickets, but if you click madly somewhere on the right hand side of the menu in line with the text, you’ll eventually hit the checkbox by luck at which point you can download the program editor, which should never have been hidden.
So, hardware is OK and works out of the box for the included software. Support is horribly out of date and quite frankly, all over the place and not updated for current models eg tutorials that don’t work any more.
Setting up for other Daws is a pain and nothing like the Nektar offering which has specific maps to match their keyboards to your Daw of choice, and templates to match many 3rd party instruments.
I wish I bought from another supplier to be honest. I bought this to make music not to see how inadequate Akai’s software tools are.
Great little midi :)
Great midi keyboard. Unfortunately I paid full price but have seen it on here since for a little over 50!
I use it with an iPad using camera adapter and it works really well.
Only issue I had was with the key velocity, I really had to hit the keys to get them to play. Fortunately it turns out you can adjust the velociy by holding down the “full level” key which brings up a menu where you can adjust the levels (there is a post on intua beatmaker3 forums about this).
Aside from that blip it’s been great, decent quality keys, pass, seems reasonably robust. I’ve really enjoyed using it.
Great little midi :)
Great midi keyboard. Unfortunately I paid full price but have seen it on here since for a little over 50!
I use it with an iPad using camera adapter and it works really well.
Only issue I had was with the key velocity, I really had to hit the keys to get them to play. Fortunately it turns out you can adjust the velociy by holding down the “full level” key which brings up a menu where you can adjust the levels (there is a post on intua beatmaker3 forums about this).
Aside from that blip it’s been great, decent quality keys, pass, seems reasonably robust. I’ve really enjoyed using it.
Superb sounds
I would say this product is working great so far ,I bought it for my son and he’s been at it day by day with no problems so far , making beats after beats makes music sound much more beautiful .
J’ai achet un MPK Mini MK3 aprs avoir renvoy un Arturia Minilab MK2 25 qui avait les boutons rotatifs qui envoyaient des donnes erratiques (un problme rcurrent, voir Jumpy Knobs sur Google)
Le Akai a moins de boutons rotatifs (8 au lieu de 16). Ce sont comme sur l’Arturia des boutons “endless” et EUX fonctionnent trs bien. Le petit afficheur indique le valeur du contrle en cours et permet un rglage prcis.
Les pads renvoient une information de vlocit et ont un aftertouch global, ils peuvent tre assigns des touches ou des contrles.
Le seul bmol est sur la documentation et en particulier l’accs au programme qui permet de reconfigurer les paramtres MIDI du contrleur. Aprs avoir cherch un moment, j’ai fini par trouver ; pour avoir accs celui-ci, il faut :
– lancer “MPK Midi software manager”
– cliquer dans la “petite roue” et haut gauche (Settings)
– slectionner “Show Advanced Software”
– et l, le programme “MPK mini Editor-mk3” devient visible et tlchargeable (c’est le seul programme vraiment utile, et il est bien cach !)
Le programme permet de rassigner les paramtres Midi des diffrents contrles -y compris le joystick-, les valeurs min et max, etc. INDISPENSABLE !
Le seul point perfectible, mon got, est le joystick pitch/modulation. Deux commandes spares (comme sur l’Arturia) aurait sans doute t prfrable pour une utilisation pitch/modulation, mais en mme temps (!), on peut raffecter le joystick d’autres paramtres que le pitch et le modulation, et du coup, le fait d’avoir un joystick peut avoir un intrt…
Great piece of ki
I have no complaints, nothing more to add, I love i
Ich finde das AKAI MPK mini 3 sehr gut.
In den Rezessionen steht sehr oft das die Anschlagdynamik schlecht ist. Was aber viele nicht wissen ist das man die Anschlagdynamik einstellen kann. Man muss dazu nur die “Full Level”- Taste ein paar Sekunden drcken. Dann erscheint auf dem Bildschirm eine Anzeige mit v1:24.2 v3:04.0 … . Mit den drehbaren Knpfen kann man die Anschlagdynamik dann ndern. Ich habe einfach nur v2 auf 12.0 gestellt. Seitdem funktioniert alles ohne Probleme.
Ich finde die Gre perfekt. Die Tasten sind kleiner als bei einem normalen Klavier, man gewhnt sich aber daran.
Das Drumpad ist auch gut.
Mit dem Controller erhlt man die Software MPC Beats von AKAI. Ich fand die ok.
Ich benutze aber inzwischen den Controller nur noch mit FL Studio (da ich schon immer mit FL Studio arbeite).
Die Anbindung mit FL Studio ist ok. Das Drumpad und das Keyboard funktionieren ohne Probleme. Die Drehbaren Knpfe haben erstmal keine Funktion in Fl Studio. Ich habe aber gehrt das man den Knpfen auch Funktionen zuweisen kann.
Ich bin mit dem Controller sehr zufrieden. Es ist genau das was ich wollte und erwartet habe.
Amazing product for the price!!!
Hours and hours of music created already- only getting used to all the features and the abilities of this amazing midi tool.
Fantastic !
Everything about this midi controller is amazing. The only thing that should have been designed a little better is the joystick as its quite difficult to control the pitch modulation with this form factor in such a small keyboard. 2 wheels would have been better or a slider for the pitch and modulation. The modulation will always return to the same position which is not always wanted when producing music or playing live. Everthing else about this keyboard is real good and great looking too.
Fantastic !
Everything about this midi controller is amazing. The only thing that should have been designed a little better is the joystick as its quite difficult to control the pitch modulation with this form factor in such a small keyboard. 2 wheels would have been better or a slider for the pitch and modulation. The modulation will always return to the same position which is not always wanted when producing music or playing live. Everthing else about this keyboard is real good and great looking too.
Grea
Great piece of kit. Looks awesome. Easy plug in and play, included software is excellent (massively increases the value IMO). Keys feel great and the arpegiator is good fun. Drum pads are prone to double triggering, but not bad. Could have used better instructions for the deeper user options.
Grea
Great piece of kit. Looks awesome. Easy plug in and play, included software is excellent (massively increases the value IMO). Keys feel great and the arpegiator is good fun. Drum pads are prone to double triggering, but not bad. Could have used better instructions for the deeper user options.
As with any product of this type, make sure it fits your intended usage before you buy. For me, this product is excellent for the following reasons:
– Build quality is solid
– Small size is perfect for a minimal home studio (photo attached for indication of product size)
– 25 keys ideal for simple leads and bass lines (you can switch up and down octaves with one touch to find the best range)
– Plug and play is instant, works with stand alone synths or your DAW of choice (for me that’s Cubase and it works great as expected).
– 8 pads that are touch sensitive like the keys, great for drums/percussion (and can easily switch between 2 banks so effectively you’ve got 16 presets)
– Control knobs can be assigned to DAW
– Excellent synth bundled with the product (Hybrid3)
Factors that were relevant to me:
– I’m mainly interested in rock/metal and guitars, I just wanted the Akai to be a simple tool to control the rest
– I’m not an expert on piano/keyboards, so I don’t mind fewer keys and I’m perfectly happy with the feel of the keys on the Akai
I also had to weigh up the Akai against an alternative product that offered potentially better out-of-the-box integration with Cubase (but that had less of a software bundle). In the end I decided I wanted the Hybrid3 synth more than the instant integration, as I’m happy to map the controllers myself (it’s easy enough) so I went with the Akai. I’m glad I did as Akai feels perfect, and Hybrid3 is actually worth a few quid in itself. There are some excellent freeware synths out there, and I expected it to be like a good one of those, however it surprised me with just how good it is and how much I enjoy using it. It’s a great synth offering modern blended sounds (effectively it’s 2 synths blended together), it really takes things up a level.
There is other bundled software:
– Mini Grand and Velvet are 2 decent VSTs, but not necessarily my go-to instruments (Velvet’s interesting, Mini Grand is fine but just doesn’t really fit with what I’m trying to produce musically)
– MPC Beats is a loop-based DAW and there are some sound/sample packs to support it. This could be a great beginner software kit if you’re just starting out with loops, it has some interesting tools but doesn’t really suit the rock/metal vibe I’m playing with, and my tool of choice is Cubase as mentioned earlier. Having said that, MPC will open as a VST in Cubase so it’ll link in neatly if needed.
– Also worth mentioning is ‘MPK mini Editor’ is available to download too (it’s hidden in the download manager settings under “Advanced Software”). It will help with all the detailed controller mapping; as yet I’ve not explored in to too much detail here, for now I’m satisfied just using basic controls and it’s good to know the functionality is there for when I’ll want it later.
Couple of points to bear in mind particularly if you’re very new to digital music production:
– This is a midi controller and it needs separate software to generate sounds. You get Hybrid3 and a couple of other VSTs which is an excellent start, so once you install them you can get on and make loads of sounds immediately with this package. You will need a DAW to record and mix the sounds (there are plenty at all price points -including free- out there if MPC Beats doesn’t quite give you what you need).
– The download and install process for the software is a bit extensive if you want all the associated products, but it’s only a one-off, and is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to make an Akai account online, and also as part of the install you need to create (or log-in with existing) iLock account to validate install.
Overall:
– Great plug and play product (with VSTs/DAW)
– Excellent supporting software synth (Hybrid3)
– A real no-brainer 5 stars from me as the MPK mini suits my needs perfectly, and the quality of the supplied synth exceeded my expectations.
As with any product of this type, make sure it fits your intended usage before you buy. For me, this product is excellent for the following reasons:
– Build quality is solid
– Small size is perfect for a minimal home studio (photo attached for indication of product size)
– 25 keys ideal for simple leads and bass lines (you can switch up and down octaves with one touch to find the best range)
– Plug and play is instant, works with stand alone synths or your DAW of choice (for me that’s Cubase and it works great as expected).
– 8 pads that are touch sensitive like the keys, great for drums/percussion (and can easily switch between 2 banks so effectively you’ve got 16 presets)
– Control knobs can be assigned to DAW
– Excellent synth bundled with the product (Hybrid3)
Factors that were relevant to me:
– I’m mainly interested in rock/metal and guitars, I just wanted the Akai to be a simple tool to control the rest
– I’m not an expert on piano/keyboards, so I don’t mind fewer keys and I’m perfectly happy with the feel of the keys on the Akai
I also had to weigh up the Akai against an alternative product that offered potentially better out-of-the-box integration with Cubase (but that had less of a software bundle). In the end I decided I wanted the Hybrid3 synth more than the instant integration, as I’m happy to map the controllers myself (it’s easy enough) so I went with the Akai. I’m glad I did as Akai feels perfect, and Hybrid3 is actually worth a few quid in itself. There are some excellent freeware synths out there, and I expected it to be like a good one of those, however it surprised me with just how good it is and how much I enjoy using it. It’s a great synth offering modern blended sounds (effectively it’s 2 synths blended together), it really takes things up a level.
There is other bundled software:
– Mini Grand and Velvet are 2 decent VSTs, but not necessarily my go-to instruments (Velvet’s interesting, Mini Grand is fine but just doesn’t really fit with what I’m trying to produce musically)
– MPC Beats is a loop-based DAW and there are some sound/sample packs to support it. This could be a great beginner software kit if you’re just starting out with loops, it has some interesting tools but doesn’t really suit the rock/metal vibe I’m playing with, and my tool of choice is Cubase as mentioned earlier. Having said that, MPC will open as a VST in Cubase so it’ll link in neatly if needed.
– Also worth mentioning is ‘MPK mini Editor’ is available to download too (it’s hidden in the download manager settings under “Advanced Software”). It will help with all the detailed controller mapping; as yet I’ve not explored in to too much detail here, for now I’m satisfied just using basic controls and it’s good to know the functionality is there for when I’ll want it later.
Couple of points to bear in mind particularly if you’re very new to digital music production:
– This is a midi controller and it needs separate software to generate sounds. You get Hybrid3 and a couple of other VSTs which is an excellent start, so once you install them you can get on and make loads of sounds immediately with this package. You will need a DAW to record and mix the sounds (there are plenty at all price points -including free- out there if MPC Beats doesn’t quite give you what you need).
– The download and install process for the software is a bit extensive if you want all the associated products, but it’s only a one-off, and is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to make an Akai account online, and also as part of the install you need to create (or log-in with existing) iLock account to validate install.
Overall:
– Great plug and play product (with VSTs/DAW)
– Excellent supporting software synth (Hybrid3)
– A real no-brainer 5 stars from me as the MPK mini suits my needs perfectly, and the quality of the supplied synth exceeded my expectations.
About the best you'll get in this price range.
This controller is suitable for someone who’s going to be using a DAW on a laptop – It doesn’t take up too much space on the desk, and has enough features to satisfy most producers. Nice action on the keys and other controller parts. One thing I don’t like is the placement of the USB port on the top of the unit – makes it that bit more difficult to set up in limited space. It would be much better on the side, although I guess that’s mostly a personal preference. All in all a very nice piece of kit, and certainly worth forking out for ahead of the 30-40 range.
It works
Easy to setup and use works well with garageband on a macbook pro
About the best you'll get in this price range.
This controller is suitable for someone who’s going to be using a DAW on a laptop – It doesn’t take up too much space on the desk, and has enough features to satisfy most producers. Nice action on the keys and other controller parts. One thing I don’t like is the placement of the USB port on the top of the unit – makes it that bit more difficult to set up in limited space. It would be much better on the side, although I guess that’s mostly a personal preference. All in all a very nice piece of kit, and certainly worth forking out for ahead of the 30-40 range.
Really Good!
I would highly recommend this keyboard to anyone who wants to start with music production. Really like the feel of the keys and the pads!
Great device
Boyfriend loves it to make simple tunes on. Was easy to set up and connect to his computer.
Total novice buys this device and it works great!
As a total beginner with this kind of thing and wanting something to use with GarageBand, I was a little bit apprehensive as to how difficult it would be to get this thing going! However, having ordered the item in the morning, I watched a few YouTube vids for inspiration in the afternoon, by 10pm the same evening I had it plugged in and on the go.
Even for a total beginner with midi devices like me, this was very easy to use and play around with straight out of the box.
Would highly recommended for somebody like me, who would like to get more from GarageBand on their Mac and would like a midi device to play around with and get used to the functionality.
Very impressed.
Total novice buys this device and it works great!
As a total beginner with this kind of thing and wanting something to use with GarageBand, I was a little bit apprehensive as to how difficult it would be to get this thing going! However, having ordered the item in the morning, I watched a few YouTube vids for inspiration in the afternoon, by 10pm the same evening I had it plugged in and on the go.
Even for a total beginner with midi devices like me, this was very easy to use and play around with straight out of the box.
Would highly recommended for somebody like me, who would like to get more from GarageBand on their Mac and would like a midi device to play around with and get used to the functionality.
Very impressed.
Looooooove
I love it!! Small but not to small. Perfect for beginners and no
5*
Very useful, easy to carry around and use. Would recommend, well worth the money!
++++Confezione++++
Scatola ben curata e d’impatto
Al suo interno si trovano:
– il prodotto tenuto fermo dall’imballaggio e protetto ulteriormente da una busta in plastica
– plastica protettiva applicata ai tasti della tastiera
– cavo di connessione usb
– manuale di istruzioni
In aggiunta sul sito di AKAI:
– software gratuito di produzione musicale MPC BEATS
– tutorial gratuiti sull’utilizzo del software
– pacchetti di preset musicali a pagamento/grautiti aggiuntivi
++++AKAI MINI MK3++++
Il prezzo pagato vale fino all’ultimo centesimo: la tastiera, anche se non ricopre materialmente tutte le note del piano, consente l’opzione di scalare tra i toni musicali, cos da avere a disposizione tutte le varie tonalit.
Sull’utilizzo del Joystick avevo qualche dubbio inizialmente ma mi sono ricreduto l’attimo che l’ho provato: ottima maneggiabilit e precisione che permette di modificare la lunghezza e il tono del suono mentre si suonano le note.
I pad per creare i beat sono comodissimi e retroilluminati e, come anche le note della tastiera, funzionano a pressione, cosa che garantisce un migliore raccordo tra ci che vuoi creare a ci che registri.
In aggiunta, ai pad attraverso l’utilizzo di MPC BEATS possono essere settati con i suoni che meglio preferite.
Le 8 manopole presenti sulla destra non solo garantiscono le classiche funzioni (es: alzare il volume della traccia), ma se usate insieme al software di AKAI (MPC BEATS) permette anche altre funzioni supplementari, che nel complesso favoriscono il corretto utilizzo dell’MK3 correlato al software MPC.
Inoltre l’MK3 dotato anche di un piccolo schermo su cui controllare le operazioni che svolgi sulla tastiera, come l’aumento delle tonalit, del volume, dell’arpeggio.
Infine, questo prodotto supporta anche un pedale che pu essere collegato dietro, vicino alla porta usb.
++++MATERIALE++++
L’unica piccolissima “pecca” risiede nel materiale utilizzato per la creazione dei tasti delle note, perch si macchier molto facilmente dopo qualche utilizzo.
Baster pulirlo con un fazzoletto, non niente di eccessivo.
Diversa considerazione per il resto del prodotto, infatti realizzato con una plastica che non viene improntata e non si sporca facilmente.
++++SOFTWARE E COMPATIBILITA’++++
Il programma offre di poter scaricare tramite il suo sito internet un software gratuito chiamato MPC BEATS, al 100%.
Sempre attraverso questo programma possibile accedere a dei tutorial in lingua inglese sull’utilizzo dell’MK3, utile soprattutto a chi si avvicina a questi strumenti per la prima volta e non ha la minima idea di come utilizzare un software di produzione musicale.
ATTENZIONE: L’MK3 pu essere compatibile con altri software di produzione musicale, sia gratuiti che a pagamento (es: LMMS, FL STUDIO), per non si ha lo stesso utilizzo totale del prodotto, in quanto MPC BEATS un software sviluppato direttamente da AKAI, la casa di produzione dell’MK3.
++++CONCLUSIONI++++
Il prodotto fantastico, sia per chi si avvicina la prima volta a questo mondo sia per chi ha gi esperienza pregressa.
Una delle qualit che questo prodotto garantisce la totale compatibilit appunto con un software di produzione TOTALMENTE GRATUITO, che sar oro per chi ha iniziato con la produzione ma non ancora del tutto convinto di portarla avanti a lungo, risparmiando su eventuali software professionali e a pagamento.
Inoltre, come gi detto, AKAI mette a disposizione tutorial gratuiti su come sfruttare al meglio il programma e il prodotto.
Personalmente sono molto soddisfatto dell’acquisto e lo consiglierei soprattutto a chi si sta avvicinando al mondo della musica o che ha tutto sommato poca esperienza, in quanto non una spesa eccessiva e il rapporto qualit/prezzo decisamente uno dei migliori in questo campo.
Good price for quality product.
Present for my older son for Christmas. He is writing some music like the hobby and ordered one from us. Good price for quality product with quick delivery option.
I bought this one Friday night while watching YouTube videos on how to remake great hits in 6 minutes. Knowing nothing about music I did the manly announcement of enthusiasm and stating to the wife I’ll have hits by summer.
Day 1 – item feels great and software looks ok albeit the installation was a bit buggy. Loving tapping drums like Phil Collins.
Day 2 – Tried copying a YouTube vid creating a Drake song. Assume the 6 minute video has 4 hours of undocumented things I needed to do as the results are upsetting the dogs.
Day 3 – Realised I don’t know what a progression is or where E# is on the keys it ain’t happening.
Day 4 – illusion shattered and am all good again. Makes a lovely gift to my 1 year old to go with her Xylophone.
I bought this one Friday night while watching YouTube videos on how to remake great hits in 6 minutes. Knowing nothing about music I did the manly announcement of enthusiasm and stating to the wife I’ll have hits by summer.
Day 1 – item feels great and software looks ok albeit the installation was a bit buggy. Loving tapping drums like Phil Collins.
Day 2 – Tried copying a YouTube vid creating a Drake song. Assume the 6 minute video has 4 hours of undocumented things I needed to do as the results are upsetting the dogs.
Day 3 – Realised I don’t know what a progression is or where E# is on the keys it ain’t happening.
Day 4 – illusion shattered and am all good again. Makes a lovely gift to my 1 year old to go with her Xylophone.
Small, tidy and works with Logic Pro X just fine
I was reading reviews for a couple of months before I decided to go for this Particular model. For me it worked out perfect for use with Logic Pro X and setup was so simple. It comes with mapping for – MPC (free software it comes with, Logic ProX, fruity loops, ableton live and GarageBand. The buttons work as they are labelled (which was a nice surprise) oct +/- etc, even the arpeggiator is now just a click away.
Cons – the build isn’t amazing but it’s good, the pads have a nice response rate and knobs turn forever so brilliant for mapping to software, it’s 80-90 so for this price it’s a very nice sized bag friendly keyboard (it’s smaller than you think but in a good way)
Excellent.
Very useful mini keyboard. I am using it on my desk with my PC, instead of a full size keyboard taking up loads of room. Ideal for working out chords and data entry. Latency very good with no noticeable midi lag.
Seems to be very well made. Good value for the money. Was tempted to get the full sized one but this does the job fine. Lots of programmable knobs and pads, but not tried any yet. It does just what I want it to do.
Excellent.
Very useful mini keyboard. I am using it on my desk with my PC, instead of a full size keyboard taking up loads of room. Ideal for working out chords and data entry. Latency very good with no noticeable midi lag.
Seems to be very well made. Good value for the money. Was tempted to get the full sized one but this does the job fine. Lots of programmable knobs and pads, but not tried any yet. It does just what I want it to do.
This product is very easy to use and connects to any DAW that you own, it comes with the additional AKAI professional software which for some reason doesn’t want to sync with my DAW, but that’s the only issue. There is nothing wrong with the product itself and is probably the best cheap midi keyboard you can find for this price.
Love it the possibilities are endless
I love it easy to use and looks good so many options only thing I would say is the software that comes with it is is not so easy to use but works on my other software so all good and I learn its software at a later date as it dose have tutorials
Love it the possibilities are endless
I love it easy to use and looks good so many options only thing I would say is the software that comes with it is is not so easy to use but works on my other software so all good and I learn its software at a later date as it dose have tutorials
This product is very easy to use and connects to any DAW that you own, it comes with the additional AKAI professional software which for some reason doesn’t want to sync with my DAW, but that’s the only issue. There is nothing wrong with the product itself and is probably the best cheap midi keyboard you can find for this price.
Ottimo prodotto, tempi di consegna rispettati e pacco arrivato in condizioni perfette. Controller midi consigliato a tutti i musicisti non. L’unica pecca, non possibile suonare Ceesthethenight, Doney o altri grandi classici di Domenico Bini per mancanza di estensione. Il tutto comunque corredato da un software e suoni di tutto rispetto.
Llevo ya ms de un mes con l tanto en mi home studio como movindome por sitios, y estoy bastante contento con l. El software incluido (MPC Beats) es muy cmodo de utilizar, aunque al principio choca un poco como cualquier DAW. Adems, las libreras que trae para todo tipo de msica son cremita.
Eso s, despus de comerme cientos de reviews, comparaciones y vdeos recomendara el MPK Mini slo si os interesa mucho la calidad de los pads o sois fans acrrimos de Akai, ya que la Arturia MiniLab MKII es “mejor” en el resto de cosas (en software me imagino que no).
Plug and play immediately
I was given this as a gift for my birthday and am a total newbie with all things music production. This is literally plug and play out of the box. Ableton immediately recognized it and changed its own settings which I was incredibly relieved for having spent a LOT of time previously trying to get it to recognize other things. I love the feel of it, the aesthetics of it and am going to enjoy working and learning with it.
Reviewes that say you need to install the software to even get it working are just clueless about how creating music on a computer even works.
This is a perfect MIDI controller that works ‘plug n’ play’ style with most production softwares such as Cubase, Logic, Garage Band, FL Studio, Ableton, Pro Tools etc. Some music software are simple, suitable for simply playing and recording MIDI from your keyboard for example. Others are full-on production suites with many tools and instruments that you can pull up and use this keyboard to play, Cubase 10.5 Pro will run you 500 atm and Cubase 11 is coming I hear. Its not a must to have software like that if all you want is to jam about, but you should have 1 of these programs installed if you want to use this product and most of them do cost money. I’ll say it again, this is a MIDI keyboard!! It won’t magically make piano sounds appear from your computer, it needs a program to work with, to send the MIDI commands to, which is then turned into sparkly piano sounds from the software. Which software is up to you!
As for this MIDI keyboard maps itself out for the software automatically but is also configurable.
The build itself is fantastic, looks and feels. The 25-keys are nice and small for a laptop/small studio setup, yet gives you the functionality of a full size keyboard.
The added production software it came with sounds alright but I’m a Cubase user and thats what I bought it for. Cant say for the program itself since I didnt install it.
Highly recommended as a MIDI controller for any production software
Reviewes that say you need to install the software to even get it working are just clueless about how creating music on a computer even works.
This is a perfect MIDI controller that works ‘plug n’ play’ style with most production softwares such as Cubase, Logic, Garage Band, FL Studio, Ableton, Pro Tools etc. Some music software are simple, suitable for simply playing and recording MIDI from your keyboard for example. Others are full-on production suites with many tools and instruments that you can pull up and use this keyboard to play, Cubase 10.5 Pro will run you 500 atm and Cubase 11 is coming I hear. Its not a must to have software like that if all you want is to jam about, but you should have 1 of these programs installed if you want to use this product and most of them do cost money. I’ll say it again, this is a MIDI keyboard!! It won’t magically make piano sounds appear from your computer, it needs a program to work with, to send the MIDI commands to, which is then turned into sparkly piano sounds from the software. Which software is up to you!
As for this MIDI keyboard maps itself out for the software automatically but is also configurable.
The build itself is fantastic, looks and feels. The 25-keys are nice and small for a laptop/small studio setup, yet gives you the functionality of a full size keyboard.
The added production software it came with sounds alright but I’m a Cubase user and thats what I bought it for. Cant say for the program itself since I didnt install it.
Highly recommended as a MIDI controller for any production software
I’ve been producing on a full-size midi keyboard for a few months and decided to get the MPK Mini III as a more compact solution. The build quality is great and it does have fantastic features like out-of-the-box compatibility with mainstream DAWs like Ableton. The keys and drum pads are very velocity sensitive which is nice, but if you’re more used to light-touch midi keyboards then the high sensitity keys are quite annoying to deal with.
For a starter production keyboard, it’s pretty great for writing melodies where you don’t have to traverse a large range of keys at once. The drum pads are very useful, and the keyboard itself is very intuitive to use. If you’re more used to using full-size keyboards, I would instead recommend a slightly larger keyboard or a compact 66-key instead of this.
I’ve been producing on a full-size midi keyboard for a few months and decided to get the MPK Mini III as a more compact solution. The build quality is great and it does have fantastic features like out-of-the-box compatibility with mainstream DAWs like Ableton. The keys and drum pads are very velocity sensitive which is nice, but if you’re more used to light-touch midi keyboards then the high sensitity keys are quite annoying to deal with.
For a starter production keyboard, it’s pretty great for writing melodies where you don’t have to traverse a large range of keys at once. The drum pads are very useful, and the keyboard itself is very intuitive to use. If you’re more used to using full-size keyboards, I would instead recommend a slightly larger keyboard or a compact 66-key instead of this.
Great, good quality midi controlle
This little keyboard is perfect as a midi controller. Responsive, nice feel to the keys, plug and play.
The potential of this keyboard is phenomenal. Even just the ease of being able to digitalize notes and then edit them after you play is alone worth the purchase of something like this. However, I just got the hang of basic recording, and this was a huge leap in skill level. I got the basic plugging in and using the keyboard, but with the pads always changing sounds, the software that comes with MPK, and trying to somehow weave that into garage band, it’s safe to say I’m drowning in youtube tutorials. Definitely overwhelming but I’m slowly gaining an understanding. If you’re ready to take that on, I definitely recommend this product! If you already know about buses, tracks, sequences and all the fancy stuff, then you’re way more prepared to enjoy this powerful mini keyboard.
Great gadge
I loved the plug and play using an adapter with USB/ lightning ports I can use Garage Band on my iPhone 11 much quicker.
Laptop size but feels sturdy.
I own MPK Mini 2 in the past. Impressed by the performance of Mk2 I was curious to see if Mk3 would perform even better. Well, just as I expected it did exceed my expectation once again. The MK3 is by far more durable and the pads are way better than the Mk2. The interesting feature I love about the Mk3 is the infinity knobs which are super cool and convenient. Also, the LCD display is such a useful feature.
Happy with the purchase- works flawlessly…
If you wanna know further details you can ping me at my Instagram: min_genaa
Diciamo che molto valido e ben fatto. Questo mk3 viene presentato come migliorato rispetto alla precedente versione e da mie ricerche effettuate sul web devo dire che vero. Ho ordinato questo piccolo gioiellino per mio figlio che guarda sempre su youtube i video di persone che l’utilizzano e vedendo cosa fanno si direbbe un piccolo prodigio dell’elettronica. Francamente la cosa ha entusiasmato in primis me stesso ma… tra il dire e il fare c’ davvero il mare. Non critico il prodotto perch molto ben recensito ed anche il pi consigliato tra tutti quelli esistenti sul mercato, purtroppo l’unico problema che se non si ha almeno una minima conoscenza ed esperienza in questo genere io credo che si debba considerare bene di fare l’acquisto. La speranza che almeno mio figlio, che pi giovane, riesca a capirci qualcosa ed usarlo meglio di me.
Essendo un entry level e per tanto economico, un altro fattore da considerarsi, nonostante a corredo ci sia anche un bel pacchetto di softwares gratuiti, il fatto che si comunque limitati e per dover fare quello che uno vorrebbe si poi costretti a spenderci sopra altri soldi in hardware che non sono di certo i 99 euro del MPK mini. Altrimenti vuol dire accontentarsi cos. Sia ben inteso che sto parlando di un uso non professionale ma creativo amatoriale.
Excellent mini controlle
Perfect little keyboard controller. Sturdy and well built. It even has a display.
Bonjour, j’ai commenc utiliser le clavier Aka MPK Mini MK3 dans l’optique de dcouvrir ce que l’on peut faire avec un clavier midi. Je suis donc novice dans son utilisation et ne matrise pas encore l’instrument ni le programme MPC Beatmaking fourni avec.
Le clavier est trs intuitif de par son minimalisme: on retrouve toutes les fonctions importantes que l’on peut modifier souhait, autant sur les pads que sur les potentiomtres. Leurs ractivit est trs satisfaisante, et c’est trs amusant de jouer avec.
Les possibilits de sons sont dj trs varies avec le programme.
Pour un dbutant je recommande ce produit. Il est simple et pur, c’est facile de faire ses premiers pas.
Just starting more seriously with music production and being on a tight budget I wanted to get something versatile and fun. This small controller feels very well build and sturdy and i will be taking it everywhere with me in my backpack. These keys feels really nice and the pads are responsive and fun, but i really appreciate the infinite knobs. The setup was super easy, you just follow the instructions, get signed up for free and you get a downloader tool which manages all your sound packs, apps and updates, it took 10 minutes to download and install everything and the controller was ready to go. I am really impressed with the hardware as well as the software and i can’t recommend it enough, it just feels very solid.
Excellent clavier !
Esthtique : trs lger et compact, trs pratique pour le transport, le design est propre et les lments sont facile d’accs ! Excellent pour commencer le Mao je trouve
Performance : le clavier rpond au tac au tac si on rgle bien la latence donc pas de souci,en plus avec une alimentation par usb c’est est plutt pratique ! Les pad ragisse bien et on a une sensibilit un rpondant trs correcte. Pour le clavier il ne faut pas plus je trouve, pour faire des mlodies des accord pour faire essentiellement du beatmaking. La possibilit en plus de faire des rglages avec les potard a ct. Et tout est rtro-clairer donc tout est clair avec le petit cran guide pour savoir et rgler la prcision et la pression des lments du clavier. Avec la molette de navigation pour faciliter la tche est un plus !
Tout a avec le programme akai pro inclus dans pack qui permet en mme temps de composer tout et n’importe quoi et de faire du live ! mais aussi de pouvoir l’utiliser comme VST avec vos autre logiciel comme ableton, reason, pro tools etc… !
Conclusion : de manire gnrale le mpk mini mk3 est parfait pour dbut ou intermdiaire et tout fais sa place dans un home studio pour faire du beatmaking ! Solide, portable, prcis,et ne prend pas trop de place. vous de voir mais je recommande !
Just starting more seriously with music production and being on a tight budget I wanted to get something versatile and fun. This small controller feels very well build and sturdy and i will be taking it everywhere with me in my backpack. These keys feels really nice and the pads are responsive and fun, but i really appreciate the infinite knobs. The setup was super easy, you just follow the instructions, get signed up for free and you get a downloader tool which manages all your sound packs, apps and updates, it took 10 minutes to download and install everything and the controller was ready to go. I am really impressed with the hardware as well as the software and i can’t recommend it enough, it just feels very solid.
Excellent min keyboard
I use this with Apple Logic and works great as a keyboard allowing user to pay chords unlike virtual keyboard. Worked straight away with Logic after plugging in USB. Solid design and performace
Excellent min keyboard
I use this with Apple Logic and works great as a keyboard allowing user to pay chords unlike virtual keyboard. Worked straight away with Logic after plugging in USB. Solid design and performace
Nifty little fella
I bought this as a begginer and to be honest it’s the best thing I’ve had for ages, eat little machine ,plug it in to your computer and run fruity loops or other programmes alike and this baby will sing for you.it helps to have prior knowledge of music DAWS .fast delivery.i also night a rock jam sustain peddle and works a treat .
Nifty little fella
I bought this as a begginer and to be honest it’s the best thing I’ve had for ages, eat little machine ,plug it in to your computer and run fruity loops or other programmes alike and this baby will sing for you.it helps to have prior knowledge of music DAWS .fast delivery.i also night a rock jam sustain peddle and works a treat .
Ordered this in the morning already delivered same day, thats crazy. Anyways I’m a novice when it comes to music production but this was very straight forward to get started, all the included software is installed from a single app so it didnt take me long until I was all set up.
I’m still working out how to use the software included (mpc beats) but I’ve still been having fun making janky beats! There’s even some free sounds included which is nice & tutorial videos built into the app which helps alot.
In regards to the hardware, it feels sturdy with a good weight to it. Keybed feels good, nice and responsive, same with the pads as well. All in all its a great package if you’re looking to get into production 🙂
Ordered this in the morning already delivered same day, thats crazy. Anyways I’m a novice when it comes to music production but this was very straight forward to get started, all the included software is installed from a single app so it didnt take me long until I was all set up.
I’m still working out how to use the software included (mpc beats) but I’ve still been having fun making janky beats! There’s even some free sounds included which is nice & tutorial videos built into the app which helps alot.
In regards to the hardware, it feels sturdy with a good weight to it. Keybed feels good, nice and responsive, same with the pads as well. All in all its a great package if you’re looking to get into production 🙂
After searching for a new MIDI Controller, I finally found this one, which is the newer version of the one I currently have and I’ve gotta say this one feels sturdy and the keys are so much better! I admit installing the previous software was a nightmare, but this one was super easy, with just one installer and you also get mpc software for free! Been playing with it for a few hours now and it’s a blast!
After searching for a new MIDI Controller, I finally found this one, which is the newer version of the one I currently have and I’ve gotta say this one feels sturdy and the keys are so much better! I admit installing the previous software was a nightmare, but this one was super easy, with just one installer and you also get mpc software for free! Been playing with it for a few hours now and it’s a blast!