Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
The MIDI out option is such a great addition to this controller as there aren’t many options that have this. You can control your favorite hardware synthesizers from your controller with this feature and a lot of synth players will appreciate this. The Novation Launchkey Mini Mk3 is a small but perfectly formed MIDI controller that works great with or without Ableton Live. One thing I particularly appreciate about the design is that there’s no Shift button. The only secondary functions are the Arpeggiator settings. If I was looking for things that are missing, I’d say a regular MIDI output. I’d never normally expect this on a mini controller, but Novation changed that rule with the Launchkey Mini III. Pads & Encoders
The arpeggiator can adjust in three ways: resolution, range and mode. You can get a surprising variety of lines out of it, enhancing your creative potential.Further settings and behaviours including MIDI channel, specific CC assignments, knob behaviour and aftertouch are set in the desktop editor app (MPK mini 3 Program Editor). MusicRadar verdict: A very decent upgrade with genuinely pro features, that cements its position in the top handful of mini keyboard controllers available. The web says Now that we’ve gotten the basics out of the way, let’s dive into each of the major feature areas of theAkaiMPK Mini MK2. Keyboard The whole purpose of mini controllers is to be portable and convenient for beginners or producers on the go. I know a lot of musicians who carry mini controllers with them when they’re traveling or on tour with their band. Software That aside, the actual pots themselves are a nice hefty size, a tad wider than previous iterations. They feel robust and intuitive to handle.
The inMusic Software Managerwill be saved as an application in your computer's Application or Programs folder. Just open the inMusic Software Manager to access your software and installers at any time!Would’ve loved to see aftertouch, but I totally get that not a lot of mini controllers have this feature yet. To be clear, these drum pads aren’t at the same level of quality as Akai’s dedicated drum controllers (nor other higher-end brands). But as a basic set of pads on a device that’s also a more than capable keyboard controller, they do the job quite nicely. Knobs I personally usually prefer a wheel over strips, however, strips are more convenient for travel as you don’t have to worry about damaging or snapping your mod wheel. Talking of the pads, they can’t be faulted. Lifted straight from Akai’s category-leading MPC range, one glance at the Mini Play’s sharp OLED screen with its accurate, real-time readout of velocity and values shows just how sensitive they are, both to velocity and aftertouch. In this respect, the MPK Mini Play all but warrants its price tag with its pads alone, and indeed Akai has enjoyed success with pad-only mini-controllers such as the LPD8.
Yes! These three software titles are separate plugins and can be used in different DAWs like Garageband, Ableton, and more. Each plugin comes with VST, AU, and AAX (Pro Tools) versions to be used in your favorite software. The MPK mini is a class-compliant, plug-and-play device that does not require a driver and will function with all major Windows and Mac operating systems. Besides the upgrades, there are a few other things worth mentioning in the review that are quite unique to the Akai MPK Mini series. I figured I should include them as they may help you decide whether or not the device is a right fit for you. Truly Compact & Portable Keep in mind that this code will license Hybrid, Mini Grand, and Velvet so you only need to redeem it once in iLok.
If you need a backpack-ready controller keyboard, there’s almost too much choice, but Akai's latest is pretty special
Overall, I believe the Novation actually slightly edges out the Akai. I think the addition of the MIDI out is the main reason why. Overall, they’re very comparable keyboards, with the Akai being a little bit cheaper.
Great Deal 
New Comment