AKAI Professional MPK mini Play MK3

150

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Mini USB Keyboard Controller with Speaker

More than 100 internal drum and instrument sounds
Gen 2 keyboard with 25 velocity-sensitive mini keys
8 Backlit MPC pads with note repeat and full level function (x2 banks)
4 Controls for editing internal sounds or MIDI parameters (x2 banks)
Supports Native Instruments NKS (Native Kontrol Standard)
Built-in speaker
OLED display
Pitch / modulation joystick
Arpeggiator
Sustain pedal input: 6.3 mm jack
USB-B port
Headphone output: 3.5 mm jack
Dimensions (W x D x H): 317 x 178 x 58 mm
Weight: 860 g
Includes software package (downloads): MPC Beats, virtual instruments (Electric, Stage Piano, Hype), 2GB of sound content and your choice of Native Instruments Komplete Select 15 (Select Beats, Select Band or Select Electronic)

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

3-Year Thomann Warranty

Available since February 2022

Item number 535185

Sales Unit 1 piece(s)

Aftertouch No

Pitch Bend / Modulation Yes

Rotary Encoder 4

Fader (Amount) 0

Pads 8

Display Yes

MIDI interface No

Sustain Pedal Connection Yes

USB-port Yes

Mains Operation Yes

Battery Operation Yes

Bus-Powered Yes

Number Of Keys 25

Touch-Sensitive 1

Modulation Wheel 1

Sound Engine Samplebased

Storage Medium Internal

Effects Yes

Arpeggiator 1

Number of Analog Outputs 2

Width in mm 317 mm

Height in mm 58 mm

Pedal Connections 1x Sustain

Depth in mm 178 mm

Weight in kg 0,9 kg

Dimensions 317 x 178 x 58 mm

Special Features -

Weight 0,9 kg

$99

The shipping costs are calculated on the checkout page.

Sales Rank

in Master Keyboards (up to 25 Keys)

Bundles & offers

AKAI Professional MPK mini Play MK3 Bag Bundle

$125

For music-makers and composers

The compact Akai Professional MPK mini Play MK3 makes it all possible: Producers and musicians can compose wherever they are with this device, which comes equipped with a selection of more than 100 drum and instrument sounds, as well as an arpeggiator. The variety of styles that the MPK can be used to create is almost endless, and in combination with a DAW, users can also control virtual instruments and record their ideas via the USB port. Running on four AA batteries, the Akai Professional MPK mini Play MK3 will let users compose for over 14 hours, wherever they are: In addition to the internal loudspeaker, the keyboard will also output sounds silently to headphones. Twelve keys, four rotary knobs, and eight MPC pads offer countless functions for every creative musical mind - in short, this USB keyboard is a great piece of compact hardware for true freedom when composing music.

Instantly intuitive controls

Musicians play their melodies on the MPK using Akai's Gen 2 keyboard, which comprises 25 velocity-sensitive keys with a precise, accessible playing feel. The eight drum pads - taken from the familiar MPC series - are velocity-sensitive as well, and are responsible for the unit's rhythms and samples, while also providing visual feedback thanks to their RGB colour backlighting. The four rotary encoders control the parameters of the internal sounds, and can also be used to control virtual instruments via MIDI if a DAW is connected to the keyboard using the rear-mounted USB port on the back. The Akai MPK mini Play MK3 can output sound via either its internal speaker or external headphones, and for sustain, a pedal (sold separately) can also be connected.

Effects by design

The MPK's internal sounds can be selected using the detent encoder and the buttons below the OLED display. One or more of the 100+ sounds is bound to end up being a particular favourite, so fortunately they can be saved and reused effortlessly. The MPC pads and the rotary encoders are dual-banked, giving users access to double the sounds and parameters: The rotary controllers can also be used to edit any sound made by the Akai MPK mini Play MK3, adding a whole series of internal effects, including filter, resonance, attack, release, reverb, chorus, and EQ. On the far left of the device, creative musicians can modify their sound with additional functions: The X/Y joystick controls pitch bend and transmits MIDI-CC commands in four axes, and the arpeggiator has a variety of modes, including octave and swing settings.

For ideas on the go

The Akai MPK mini Play MK3 is ideal for beginners to music production, but many more advanced users will also appreciate its incomparably compact size, thanks to which it will fit easily into a day-bag or backpack, and yet still has a full complement of internal sounds, meaning that users can make music wherever inspiration strikes. The huge variety of functions provided by this little device's buttons and controllers make it easy to create unique tracks on the go – and record them too, when used with a DAW, where the four rotary encoders can be used to precisely adjust automated plugins such as filter sweeps. The price includes a comprehensive software package, making it even easier for newcomers to jump right in.

About Akai Professional

Akai Professional has its origins in the long-established Japanese company Akai, founded in 1929, which initially manufactured electric motors, soon to be followed by high-quality tape recorders and hi-fi products. Since 1988, Akai has also become a household name like no other on the Hip-Hop scene. With the development of its first MIDI Production Centre (MPC for short), created in collaboration with Roger Linn, Akai wrote history by decisively influencing the sound of Hip-Hop and Electronic music, which it continues to do to this very day. Famous exponents of the MPC series include DJ Shadow, Eminem, and Kanye West. Today, Akai is also well known for its robust and versatile USB MIDI controllers, not least of which is the bulletproof APC range of Ableton controllers.

Some software to get started

The Akai MPK mini Play MK3 includes the MPC Beats software suite, which can be used to record and mix new tracks and contains a versatile selection of virtual instruments and effects for a wide range of genres. The instruments include the polyphonic analogue synth emulator Hybrid 3, the acoustic piano package Mini Grand, and the vintage electric piano Velvet from AIR Music Technology, with the latter two using real samples. To make it even easier to get started with the MPC workflow, the MPC Beats Academy software is also included, covering the essentials - from creating one's first beats to mixing and exporting full tracks. For even more practice sessions, the Melodics learning package comprises 60 lessons, helping new users learn how to play MIDI keyboards and drum pads.

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Review guidelines

86 Reviews

A great musical device to enhance creativity & learn theory

Mina Maria The 30.09.2022

Creating music at times can seem daunting but this little keyboard is perfect for all levels of creation.
The best part about it is the fact that it can be used without a DAW, while the speaker isn't the best, the fact that you can plug your headphones in is perfect.
I first bought the midi keyboard to practice music theory on the go and now the greatest thing about it is that I can easily advance to using it onto a DAW.

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Good for what it is, compact and fun

Housumies 15.08.2023

I got this more as something you can chuck in a bag (fits nicely, smaller than my 13" laptop, if thicker) and jam with or doodle ideas outside/on the go - think old Casiotone keyboards, just with a bit more functionality.

I wish AKAI had put a little effort into the sounds (it's the same old miditones familiar from every other beginner keyboard since at least the 80's), but being able to change the attack and release, in addition to the onboard reverb and chorus really save a lot and bring a lot of welcome mileage to the sounds. Those really save this keyboard as a keyboard.

Build quality seems fair, although the ball the modulation joystick is made out of this weird, scratchy foam that honestly looks like it's meant to stay in a prototype. I wish they'd gone with a 1/4" jack for the headphone jack, seems like a weird decision to go with 3.5mm jack on music equipment in this day and age.

The keys are fine, they can seem a bit stiff if you're used to other minikeys, but personally I like these. The velocity settings are fine and get better if you twiddle with them a bit to suit your preference, but out of all the minikeys I've tried these have a great response. If you can stand mini keys this'll do just nicely, they're quite plastic, but that's to be expected.

Overall, for a mini keyboard, it's good for what it is. If you have no need for the onboard sounds, definitely go for the regular MPK mini as it has better knobs (infinite vs. the 270° ones this has because of the features) and no real estate is lost to the speaker - plus you get other colors! I wish these were available in the different colors the regular MPK mini - I really don't like the color of this thing and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna paint the plastic case.

This thing would be great if AKAI gave the possibility to actually change the sounds or just went for better sounds. There's a lot of very usable, good sounds, but it's not exactly going to blow your mind. If they'd slap a sequencer or something on this thing to quickly whip up some ideas (chords + lead + drums) remotely, this would be a really awesome little beast. Maybe some day.

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Jamming keyboard

Duval 04.09.2022

Good quality. You can use effect processor and loop pedal whith this keyboard for live performance. Speaker just for fun.

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Amazing little device

Biblical 10.08.2022

Wanted something for lessons with my 3 year old niece... Got this delivered a few days ago, amazed with quality of it... put in some batteries to try out the standalone feature first, great sounds actually... and it controls my ableton well

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AKAI Professional MPK mini Play MK3

Mini USB Keyboard Controller with Speaker

For music-makers and composers