AKAI Professional announced a makeover of its portable MPK mini Play keyboard controller, the MK3 with a better keybed, improved speaker, and more.
There are many portable MIDI keyboards on the market. Every big player (Akai, Arturia …) has at least one in their portfolio. Often these have very similar features: mini keys, pads, some knobs, DAW transport controls…And they are designed so that even beginners can easily connect them to a DAW.
A portable MIDI keyboard, however, stands out from the crowd. With the MPK mini play, Akai has a tiny MIDI keyboard in its product range with built-in sounds and a speaker. Today, Akai has updated it with the new MK3 version.
Akai MPK mini play MK3
Now it is the turn of the MPK mini play. After Akai recently renewed their MPK series, the keyboard with sound and speaker has been given a new look. The new MPK mini play MK3 now features the new Gen 2 keybed as the current MPK mini MK3. It offers more precise velocity response and better playability says the developer.
Many features remain unchanged: it comes with 25 mini keys, eight velocity-sensitive drum pads, four assignable knobs, a big red joystick for pitch bend and modulation, an OLED display and the beloved integrated arpeggiator. And of course, it comes with 128 internal sounds with which you can jam even without a computer connected.
The MPK mini play MK3 also features an internal battery with 14+ hour battery life (official info) making it perfect for mobile music production. Alternatively, you can run it on USB bus power. According to Akai, it also features a new speaker that provides more volume and a fuller bass than the predecessor. That would have to be tested, but doubts that it delivers stunning results.
Akai ships the new version with a large software package including the MPC Beats software three VST/AU plugins and more: Hybrid 3 Synthesizer plugin, Mini Grand acoustic piano instrument, Velvet vintage electric piano and Practice software Melodics (60 free lessons).
At first glance a nice update for the portable MIDI keyboard. Definitely a design improvement and thank you Akai to continue to rely on the big, solid USB.
Akai MPK mini play MK3 will be available soon for 155,99€ (MSRP)
More information here: Akai Pro
The original MPK Mini Play was panned as worse than the plain controller version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU5zVEFR0kU
Sounds like Akai may not have added sequencing features to this one, which was one of Taetro’s points of contention.
Any word on improvements to those onboard sounds?
I think they are same sounds but no clear infos about them, sorry