Akai Professional LPK25 - USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 25 Responsive Synth Keys for Mac and PC, Arpeggiator and Music Production Software,black

I don't impress easily, but when I do, I use Amazon reviews. :) I bought this keyboard as a way to save space and maximize my ability to use FL Studio for music production. What I got was something even more amazing. Usually companies will bundle hardware with some gimmicky software just to make it easy to market, but they don't expect people to use the software. Akai did things differently, and instead they provided awesome quality software I think I'll be using for a while as I get into music production. Some of the stuff included are: 1. Melodic 30-day trial to learn how to pay the keyboard. (I think 30 days is all I'll need to get going, but who knows, I might subscribe at the end.) 2. Hype (Synth) - I've played around with some of the synths that come with FL Studio, but Hype is really easy to use, comes with all kinds of knobs, LFO, loads of presets that you can tweak, and so much more. I'll be using it for a while and if there comes a need for Serum, I'll get that later on. Hype really is badazz. 3. Lots of downloadable sound kits. (Haven't looked into them yet.) 4. BFD Player (Drum kit) - I'm still downloading the hefty library for it, but it looks like it'll be cool. It says it's for real drum sounds, so I imagine a drumline studio type of deal. There's dozens of other software I haven't mentioned, and most of it is free to download. If I'm looking for new tools, I'll use their "InMusic Software Center" to find some cool stuff. Well worth the tiny price tag, and don't let the nay sayers fool you. Yes, the USB socket feels loose, but it's not falling apart, nor is it disconnecting. The cable itself looks normal or even premium, but the socket seems to have some give. (The plug is just a tad smaller than the socket is all.) I was worried about the socket when I read that, but wow am I glad I bought this thing. It's exactly what I wanted. Oh, and about the keys being smaller, if you curve your fingers and put them on the keys, they'll fit easily. I'm new to playing, so I might not notice what the pros do, but my giant manly hands do just fine on them. I'm 235lb and under 6', so yes my hands are a bit fat as well. If you're a dainty girl or someone my size, then you should do just fine.

Having the old Line 6 Toneport KB37 as my midi controller for the last 10 years, I was super excited to get a new and super small keys controller. The Toneport served its life well, helping me write 4 albums of instrumental music and 7 movie scores for PBS. I used it with an 08 Mac laptop using garageband and an 2010 imac with protools for many years, but now it seems to not interface with any of my 3 rigs and actually crashed my Protools rig. After setting up the new Garageband and on a new imac, it wouldn't interface and the time to update equipment has arrived! So easy to use! I turned on garageband and connected usb and BHAM! it loads automatically. If you've used a DAW before, usually you have to select in a special window which is fine, just digging the new garageband and the seamless connectivity this controller offer. I'm a musician not a engineer, so I want to spend my time recording and not tinkering. Ive recorded a few songs and loved the feel of the keys. Good response and has a good feel. Touch sensitivity is not as good as my much bigger keyboard, but for under $60 compared to the $300 spent in 2008 that makes sense! Also the user reviews here have a ton of complaints about a faulty usb connector, but seems rock solid to me. I don't travel with my gear or abuse it so I never have those problems that many seem to have with their gear...As always the bottom line is take care of your stuff and it will last!!! Final Verdict: Couldn't be happier. Perfect piece of equipment and can't wait to write and use it! That's what I like in my equipment. Works well and inspires. Excelsior!!!

First of all, don't be "oversold" by the "extraordinary value" that some reviewers claim this fifty-buck inputting device to be. Akai is considered a budget-priced version of, and a step down, from Sony, which in the minds of some has dropped a few steps lower itself. But it's the ideal solution for many of us who may be working at a desktop computer with Garageband, Band-in-the-Box, Finale, Sibelius, Audacity or a similar program. The last thing I would do is lug a 50-pound PC or SP Kurzweil model (plus AC power transformer) upstairs to place on an over-crowded desk. Even the 12-pound Yamaha NP-30, with its 76 notes, is awkward to use for this purpose. Make it nothing longer than a 41-note keyboard, but if you can get one at half the price of the E-Music 41-note, that may be the handiest, most practical device for your needs. Sure, there are alternatives. You can click at a "virtual keyboard" that Garageband makes available for a mouse--but it's slow. Or you can download a virtual keyboard to your iPad (or iPod) for a couple of bucks, but it's limited to no more than an octave and a "touch screen" which, though superior to mouse-clicking, still isn't as satisfying or "immediate" as inputting by pressing down on actual, physical keys. This cheaply-made--even "cheap"--but effective Akai keyboard fits the bill very nicely, especially for someone who's working in congested space. It's regrettable the company refers to it as a "performance" keyboard. It's nothing of the sort, nor should it be. That's the reason I initially went with the NP30, only to find that the bi-purpose instrument I had in mind was impractical for either intended use. Take a look at the Korg "Nano" piano, and if you're a pianist, you'll immediately see the superiority of the Akai. But be careful not to be lulled into purchasing the deluxe model of either the Akai or the E-Music, or you'll be close to spending as much as you would for a keyboard that lives up to the name "Performance." This Akai model looks and feels like a kindergartner's ten-dollar toy, but it's the best compromise I've been able to turn up for my crowded work area.

I bought my Akai LPK25 used and was very happy with the condition my keyboard arrived in! The USB wasn't original and was replaced with an Amazon Basics cable, but the board itself looks and feels brand new! I've recently gotten into learning music production and needed a budget-friendly keyboard without a lot of extra bells n' whistles to simplify learning my DAW/how to play keys. This Akai is perfect on both fronts. The board is compact enough that it doesn't take up much space on my work desk, the installed features are both easy to use and versatile, and the price is VERY hard to top. If you're in a similar position as me, or just looking for a reliable portable keyboard, this is a superb option!

Nice, high quality unit which integrates well with my music production software and other devices.

Had this product for over 2 years. I bought this to help me transcribe music into Sibelius (Mac), and it saves me sooo much time. Product feels sturdy, keys are responsive, buttons are intuitive. I wish I bought a keyboard with more keys, but that is not an issue with this keyboard, per se. It is ultra portable, and works like a charm! The only issue I have with this keyboard is the mini-usb port. It is very cheap and was some wiggle in the port when I bought it. After carrying it in a laptop bag with the cable still inside the port (for a year or so), it stopped working. Apparently this is a common issue. Luckily, I am an engineer with just enough soldering experience to be dangerous. I followed the steps here:[...] and got it back up and running in a matter of an hour or so. I now have a USB cable hard-wired into the keyboard. Used some JB PlasticWeld to keep the joint stiff, and it has been going strong ever since. I think akai should genuinely consider hardwiring a cable as opposed to leaving an exposed port, but that's just my opinion. Regardless, I would still recommend this keyboard.

Basically, you get what you pay for. This is an excellent keyboard for someone who has music writing software (lots of which you can get for free online) and who wants to compose melodies, drum beats, bass lines, etc. I would say this is primarily a composition keyboard. With only two octaves...you won't be playing too many Chopin nocturnes.... It has some fun arpeggio features - good feel, ability to go up and down multiple octaves through the use of a button. The one downside is that the USB/micro USB connector on the side of the keyboard itself is extremely flimsy and not well-made. After having this keyboard for a year and a half...the connector broke on the inside. So unfortunately I can no longer play this thing anymore, even replacing the cord won't do me any good. So it is about $70...lasted less than 16 months, that's about $4/month. I would have rather spent $145 on a keyboard that would have lasted me 3 years. And per month, it would cost the same. Just something to think about... ;)

Wow! This little keyboard is exactly what I was hoping for. I am a band teacher so I compose/arrange on the road a lot with sibelius, so this was a must have, and it's does it's job perfectly! I did purchase a sturdy case for it thanks to review suggestions of the keyboard breaking. It is definitely not a rigid keyboard that could handle being roughed up so the case was a MUST, but my keyboard get's used often, travels permanently in my backpack, and has held up well now for 9 months. As other reviewers have suggested, it does not have weighted keys so it's action is nothing like a real keyboard, and the keys are a bit plastic feeling and on the small side for my fingers, but for me it is perfect. I only compose melodies though so I would not suggest it for chordal/harmonic playing, the keys are much too small to efficiently play simultaneous notes. Otherwise, very light-weight, very easy to take anywhere, zero latency issues with sibelius, very easy to use (just plug-n-play!), and really great quality for the value!