Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII

This is a great piece of equipment for a beginner musician, but there IS a learning curve, so please be aware of that when buying. What you are purchasing is a MIDI controller (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). Unlike a synthesizer, MIDI controllers do not produce sound without software. It's basically just a tool to control computer software. So after you've downloaded the software and plug it in, you will still not have any sound generated until you've set everything up properly and loaded sounds onto the pads. So I feel it is slightly inaccurate to call it a "plug-in and go", as some people do. Pros: - Its easy to use AFTER you have learned how to set up and use it. - Its fun. - A good way to get into digital music making. - Budget friendly. Cons: - The software setup is kind of intimidating but luckily there are easy-to-find tutorials to help you. - Akai itself doesn't seem to have much assistance in actually using the controller. Every useful tutorial I found was by someone else, not the company. It would be nice for them to take the time to make more tutorials. Unless I just didn't find them? Everything I found just had to do with setting up the software, nothing really about HOW to actually use it. -The software that is included is limited. You can't use the knobs with MPC Essentials, you need Ableton or something similar for that. Or rather, I should say, you can't use the knobs for effects in your track. I believe you can use it for other things but I still don't quite understand that part. I am still learning to use this but it has gotten significantly funner to use as I have learned more about it and found sounds I like. Just as a tip: - Make sure you know where all your files are saved when you setup the software. You will need to know where your VST stuff is so you can load it into MPC Essentials. -Use Program 2 when you're finally ready to start loading sounds in. Program 2 has the pads laid out in order in the software, so everything correlates properly. -Read the manual and do a lot of research if you are new to it. It's worth the time, trust me.

This is a seriously sweet controller! Not perfect, but excellent for portable work with a MacBook or an iPad. I would say I don't understand why there are so many negative reviews, but I do. They are mostly from folks who just didn't understand what they were getting into... This is a MIDI controller. As such, it must be attached to a device that can interpret it and produce sound (Logic/GarageBand on a Mac, or GarageBand on an iPad, for instance). If you just want to tinkle the keys it'll work out of the box with either, but to really get some use out of it you're going to have to load the Editor software and dig in a little bit. I did a bit of research, and was able to map out the things I wanted to do. As it turns out, Apple has 16 drum sounds that are available for the drum kits (not drum machines) in both GarageBands (Mac & iOS) and Logic. Better yet, they share 16 note numbers to trigger them. So I was able to setup the 8 pads with all 16 sounds using the A/B switch, and was able to group the sounds physically on the pads so it worked for me. I used two different "Prog"s, so I could have 2 different layouts, and then used my P-Touch label maker on the smallest font to create labels that tell me which sounds are where. I had to cut the labels with scissors to make them fit between the pads, but it worked and now I can see exactly what's where even when I haven't used it for weeks or months. I did the same thing with the knobs. Assigned basic values (Channel Vol, Pan, Modulation) to the most convenient knobs, then picked some of the more esoteric MIDI CC values so I could play with them for the other knobs. And labelled the whole mess so I would remember it. The sensitivity of the keys and the pads is great; better than the LPK25 or the LPD8 I think. Doesn't have aftertouch, but that's about all I can see missing (and that isn't a reasonable expectation at this price point). My only problem was connecting it to an iPad Pro, but I think I've got that figured out. Using just the Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter didn't work; I got "Cannot Use Device. MPKmini2: The connected device requires too much power." Turns out I needed to connect it through a USB hub. I used an unpowered Satechi hub I had handy and it worked. That's got a long cord, though, so I'm going to try using a very inexpensive Sabrent 4-port unpowered USB 2.0 hub with a 6" cord. That should do the trick. The AmazonBasics 4-port 2.0 hub would be another option... The Editor software for this is MUCH easier to use than many I have tried. It's more straightforward than the editors for the LPK25 or the LPD8, and beats the Korg nano editors shamefully. And don't get me started on the Roli BLOCKS editor... Overall, this is the nicest portable MIDI controller I've found. Get the Khanka case for it and you'll be all set. Just make sure to put some dryer sheets or something in the Khanka case before you put the MPKmini in there; the case smells like something died... :)

Adquirí este producto en febrero y después de utilizarlo durante 4 meses seguidos puedo decir que en efecto la calidad es excelente, el teclado sigue respondiendo igual que desde el primer día al igual de los knobs y los pads. No hay duda de que resistirá todavía mucho tiempo, su respuesta es muy rápida con el DAW que se esté utilizando y con cualquier Plugin VST, tiene controlador de Pitch en forma de palanca y puede alcanzar todo tipo de notas con los botones de Octave Up y Octave Down. Recomiendo este controlador ampliamente! Es muy ligero para poderse transportar con facilidad (realmente no pesa casi nada) ADJUNTO FOTOS PARA QUE PUEDAN APRECIAR SU CALIDAD DESPUÉS DE 4 MESES DE USO COTIDIANO, una maravilla para todos los que producimos música!. Lo recomiendo y no te defraudará.

Compré el Akai MPK mini para facilitar el trabajo en composiciones y mezclas. Me ha sorprendido gratamente ya que por el precio que tiene es muy versátil y funcional. Me esta ayudando mucho a la hora de componer y realizar automatizaciones en los instrumentos virtuales, además de que permite aportar un grado de humanidad sobre el parámetro velocidad bastante útil. En resumen, muy contento con la compra, lo recomiendo al 100% si estas pensando en comprar un controlador MIDI de tamaño reducido y portátil. PROS: -Compacto y fácil de transportar -Funcional desde el primer momento -Permite controlar los valores que quieras si lo configuras adecuadamente -Estéticamente es bonito CONTRAS: -Se nota que es un teclado para "principiantes", lo cual no significa que no sea de calidad -El cable USB es bastante corto

Akai mpk mini is the best midi controller at present in the market. All the knobs and built quality are of premium quality. You'll not feel that cheap plastic body. The keys are velocity sensitive, the knobs are smooth and the touch pads are responsive and are of good quality. On an all you get a great deal for this price . It's worth penny.I have been using it and its really helpful in projects. note :- midi controllers are mainly helpful to make beats and for chords purpose. Hope this review helps you.

Produto entregue bem antes do prazo, novo e em otimas condiçoes, custo beneficio excelente...

Hallo, ich habe mit vor dem Kauf so meine Gedanken gemacht, taugt das was, soll ich das Geld ausgeben, bringt das was? Diese Fragen sind mir so durch den Kopf geschwirrt. Und mit einmal dachte ich genau ein Versuch bringt alles an's Tageslicht. Alle Fragen und alle skepsis waren im nu dahin als ich den Midi Controler in den Händen hielt in der Sonder - Edition in Weiß. Kurz Zusammengefasst: AKAI Professional MPK Mini MKII White - Portables 25 Tasten USB MIDI Keyboard, 16 hintergrundbeleuchteten Performance Ready Pads, 8 Q Link Regler, Vier Wege Thumbstick, VIP 3.0 & Software Paket(MPC Essentials,VST's: Wobble 2 & Hybrid 3 in der Vollversion) nach der Registirerung. Mit dem beigelegten USB Kapel mit dem PC verbunden die Software installiert & die Virtuellen Instrumente diese dann registriert und schon ging es los. Ich bin überwältigt wie vielseitig das Gerär ist und mit dem Editor des MPK Mini kann man alles schnell umändern ohne Ahnung von Programmieren haben zu müssen oder irgendwelche professionellen Lehrgänge gemacht zu haben. Man muss sich mit beschäftigen aber einmal den Dreh raus ist alles ein Kinderspiel und schnell und einfach zu bedienen. Die Verarbeitung ist wie man es von AKAI kennt sehr genau mit vie Liebe zum Detail. Die Beleuchtung ist angenehm in Rot und Grün gehalten. Der Midi Controler lässt sich schnell integrieren in eine DAW(Digitale Audio Workstation) zum Beispiel: FL Studio oder Reason. Jedes virtuelle Instrument lässt sich über dem MPK Mini steuern und macht echt laune auf mehr. Ich bin sehr zu frieden mit diesem Produkt und es ist jeden Cent wert. MFG Marcel Zu dem Produkt