AKAI MPK Mini Plus

GovernorSilver · 2022-10-20T19:38:17.604Z

I’d been contemplating picking up MPC Studio for the autosampler, and for the MPC pads, which I prefer over the MC-707 pads for entering drum parts.

Might go with this instead, since it also comes with MPC Beats and its autosampler.

colectivo_triangular · 2022-10-21T05:46:49.844Z

169 $? It’s 216 € (199 € Street price) here in Europe. I wonder where this difference comes from - maybe due to the different routes of the shipping containers.
Well, at least it’s immediately available and still not bad for the price. I’d wait for a dark edition, though.

Musikhaus Thomann

AKAI Professional MPK mini Plus – Thomann Sverige

CCMP · 2022-10-21T06:30:02.626Z

colectivo_triangular:

169 $? It’s 216 € (199 € Street price) here in Europe. I wonder where this difference comes from - maybe due to the different routes of the shipping containers.

US prices are always shown pre-tax and it’s added at checkout.
European prices always include the tax.
It’s a cultural thing. Relatively, these prices are the same.

colectivo_triangular · 2022-10-21T06:52:11.137Z

ah! That makes sense.

natehorn · 2022-10-21T07:00:06.729Z

It’s also due to the exchange rate.

A year ago the prices could be roughly ‘equal’ as $400 without tax was about the same as €400/£400 when including tax. Give or take.

But it’s shifted far enough now that those economics don’t work anymore.

Elek4 · 2023-07-28T21:26:26.131Z

Only 9 posts since October 22. Ouch!
Is it really that bad or?

frekvencia · 2023-07-29T06:12:57.522Z

I don’t know to be honest. I have not tried one. Maybe people just don’t care?

Bilansley · 2023-07-29T07:35:28.837Z

I have one and for the price its decent. Its basically a travel midi keys for me that fits in a backpack and is powered by usb.

The keys are very “mini”, more like micro. The feel of them is not awesome. There is no aftertouch. The sequencer works, its nothing special. The arp mode/chord mode is useful since its nearly impossible to fit more than two fingers on the keyboard at once. The pads are typically MPC and feel pretty good.

It CAN do quite a bit, but the set up is kind of a pain. To make it easier there is an app, but uggggh another set up app…gross.

Ultimately its like ~$200 so its a good value and gets the job done nicely as a backup/travel companion. If I had to use it on a daily basis, I wouldnt.

holonology · 2023-07-29T08:29:52.027Z

From what I read and saw (I was looking around at the time) the reviews on this one were quite mixed. A lot of people were really positive about how (for example) the new Arturia Minilab really gave folks a lot of DAW control, where AKAI had done the bare minimum. Others mentioned how it’s this wierd size that’s got unsatisfyingly small keys but it’s quite big, so it’s not that portable. So then your natural competition is more like a 37 key full size.

I actually think the idea is kinda stellar though, it’s a nice balance of quick input device for casual desk bashing but also a serious music making tool. You got enough pads, enough keys and plenty of options in terms of plugging it into gear if that’s your thing. I think Arturia could have nailed something like this but they went down the 25 key route again.

Elek4 · 2023-07-29T11:56:48.837Z

I was thinking getting one because:

it’s small in the sense that it’s the same size as my pedalboard and fits the case I got.
It has 8 encoders which map nicely to the smart controls within Logic Pro.
It got pads which suppose to be better than what the competition is offering.
It has MIDI over DIN which a lot of small MIDI keyboards in that size don’t offer.
Not the worse mini keys if I have to believe the reviews. Still mini keys though.
Built in sequencer and the arp might be handy sometimes.
CV might be handy at some point.
Seems like a cheap deal with all those features.

nightshift2020 · 2023-07-29T21:13:58.404Z

They don’t seem to be available new anywhere, in the US at least, which is unusual w/ Akai. That combined with the relatively widespread complaints about the pads double-triggering makes me think they may be doing a hardware revision…

Elek4 · 2023-09-01T10:17:32.733Z

So there’s a 1.13v apparently but I can’t ^$%^#@ look into it on AKAI’s website cause the ^#^&# website won’t allow it.

Edit: I was wrong you can download it but there’s no readme file included. So no clue what’s changed.

Has anyone got a clue what’s changed, added, fixed in the latest firmware?

I thinking about getting one but I’ve read you can’t change the MIDI to different channels, meaning you can only one 1 piece of gear at a time. That would be a dealbreaker for me and I’m hoping they changed that in the latest firmware.

Elek4 · 2023-09-01T13:00:37.790Z

How do you change MIDI channels on this thing?
Is it like SHIFT + STOP and then scrolling through some menu?

bibenu · 2023-09-01T13:57:01.493Z

Did you try the manual ? akai mpk mini plus user manual pdf - Sök på Google

Elek4 · 2023-09-01T15:00:10.083Z

Yes I did and it’s something like I mentioned. Shift + Stop and then using the encoder to scroll through a menu. Not a fast or the easiest way.

I ordered one just to be frustrated. To be continued…

Elek4 · 2023-09-04T17:23:37.484Z

Got it, unpacked it and here’s my first reaction:

The built quality already feels a lot better than I was expecting it to be.
The minikeys (which I hate in general) are quite good. Compared to lets say the Novation mini keys its like night and day and feels way less flimsy. The modwheels are small but useable as well. The buttons all have a nice clickadiclack sound and the encoders aren’t too tiny and feel sturdy. The display looks tiny af so hopefully it’s very sharp. The pads are stiff but I’m guessing they’ll be fine as it’s an AKAI product after all.

Tonight I will hook it up and see if it everything works like it should. If anyone has questions let me know and I’ll try to answer them.

Elek4 · 2023-09-04T19:00:48.611Z

Seems like we got a bug or something is broken.

The ARP button does work but the red LED looks dead.

ARP LED.HEIC4032×3024 2.38 MB

chapelierfou · 2023-10-15T13:39:30.541Z

Hi there !
Does anyone know if/how I can light up pads with MIDI messages ?

I use pad lightning a lot to display informations, mostly a visual metronome on my MPK 261, but I can’t make it work on the MPK mini plus. Any trick ?

KaOsphere · 2024-05-04T07:55:48.297Z

Considering this or the minilab to pair with my m8…What do you think if any of you tested both ?

SoundsAwful · 2024-06-19T03:03:47.803Z

Of those two, I only have experience with the MPK Mini Plus. Everything about it is pretty good. It really feels good, and the keys and pads are both excellent for the price range. It’s also relatively easy to configure the midi mappings, and manage profiles without even using the app. HOWEVER…

If you intend to use it in a DAWless setup to control something like an Elektron box, or even an actual MPC, be warned: the transport control buttons (Play, Stop, Record, etc) send Midi CC messages, not Midi MMC messages like, oh… 99% of devices expect, and there’s currently no way to remap them to send MMC messages. Doesn’t even work with Akai’s own MPC devices (at least not my Live Mk2).

Not a deal breaker for me, but it’s such a stupid design flaw that needlessly reduces the value of an otherwise excellent piece of gear. No idea if it can, or will be fixed by a firmware update.