Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3 - 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8 Knobs and Music Production Software and Native Instruments Sound Package (NKS Integration)

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 it, still trying to figure out everything, its fantastic, does what its meant to do, definately recommend

Oh AKAI and the ongoing drum pad problem. In allover is a good cheap MIDI Keyboard, but you will more likely have to open it and place some additional tape on each drum pad to make it more responsive. Apart from that will once you buy it, you know you did not pay much as this is not premium quality product.

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.

Works well on my sons macbook no complaints!!!

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.

Amazing bit of kit …… really top class!

My first one turned up with some keys not working. Replaced it and this one works fine. I’m still finding myself with it but so far I now have better options for midi through my garage band DAW on my MacBook. I’ve tinkered a bit with the key settings as guided by initial set up videos on YouTube and now will be looking at the drum pads for some unique beats.