Akai MPC Key 61 - Honest Review - Is it Worth Getting?

How does the Akai MPC Key 61 stack up to the competition and is it worth getting? In this video I walk through my likes and dislikes of the MPC Key 61 and provide some my thoughts on how the keyboard stacks up to other keyboards. I highlight some of my favorite things about the keyboard as well as one big gripe...the keybed!

What do you think? Is the Akai MPC Key 61 worth getting? How do you like the keybed, am I crazy to not like it?

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Thanks for watching and comment below with any questions you have and I will answer them as soon as I can!

[thegoldenamerican]

I have no complaints about this keyboard. However, I did at first did not like the stiffness of the key bed but it was because I was subconsciously comparing it to another key bed. After spending more time with the 61 Key, I fell more in love with everything and it wasn’t an issue at all because I got so caught up in all that has to offer. I had a lot of workstations in the past and this one just leaps and bounds ahead of all of the others. No workstation will satisfy everyone s needs & it’s subjective in my opinion. I love it more the more that I play it…

[nolmpc]

Thank you for your explanations, I have been using the mpc method since the release of the 2000XL for more than twenty years, the KEY 61 is really in the same spirit intact, having a lot of ideas and being able to put them in place quickly.
Respect for your valuable work

[ANDREGILKEYSr]

AMAZING review! I bought the key 61 a few weeks ago and have yet to take it out of the box, but doing my research before diving in. Your vidoes are VERY helpful and informing, and just wanted you to know I appreciate the time and effort you put into educating fellow musicians! #YouROCK!

[DavidGHobson]

Thank you! Very informative for someone like me who is thinking of the key 61.

[REMRODFILMS]

I love the 61! Traded my X for it, I think that's been fixed with the keys

[DJWOLFLIVE]

This may be the most productive workstation keyboard I’ve ever owned. Definitely increased my productivity by 75% real talk!

[fullmoonrecordshop]

thanks for doing this review, it was really useful!

[XavierHunter]

This was SUPER helpful. This might have tipped me towards a decision on getting one.

[christianthompson]

The key 61 clickiness is a dream compared to the bang clankiness of the fantom 6 i owned

[Mopantsu]

Just ordered one. It's for home use to try and make songs. I am not a trained musician. But in the past was able to sequence tracks into songs with an old S700 sampler, Juno 106, DX10, TX81z and 8 track with mixing desk. Even took some stuff into professional studios and put out vinyl in the 90's. After a long time away from music production this seems like my dream keyboard as I hate sitting at a computer to make music. Thanks for the videos as it helped me decide between this and the Fantom 06.

[markbaker]

I think the keybed is actually ok. I also have a Nord 88 and obviously it’s not as good as that but it’s easily as good as my Roland Fantom 6 keyboard.

[antwonanderson]

I love the new update and work flow. I can sit down and make a beat in 15 minutes. Plus recording vocals are fun and easy. The way the effect plugins work make you better at listening to adjustments and understanding what your doing rather than just turning knobs. Definitely worth the purchase

[fredflintstone]

Great honest review. Portability is a real plus for me. The keyboard weighs next to nothing but gives you a full studio in a box. Now I've renovated my motorhome, the 60W power draw of the Key 61 is nothing and will allow me to compose for hours every day with it in the motorhome.

[davart]

speaking of the 8 plugs in limit : youcan actually use the bounce to sample function once you are done with a midi track and always come back to adjust as it holds the midi data ...

[mhxv]

I love it. But… why oh why is there so little ram. It starts complaining about low memory after just 8 tracks, without anything fancy going on and only 8 bars long. How is one ever gonna come close to the over 100 tracks that’s advertised. I actually like the keybed in all it’s klicky glory, and I’m picky regarding keybeds (own a montage 6 which has a great keybed). By the way Douglas, what e-piano was that you showed of in the beginning of the vid? Thanks for sharing and making these videos. All the best /M

[joonglegamer]

I've had it for 2 months too now, and I have to agree - the keybed is not great. Mine had the velocity bugs (meaning velocity always on/too high on a few keys) but they got better the more I used it so I've not returned it for that reason yet. My Montage literally wipes the Akai to the floor with the quality difference.

Other than that, it's kinda what I wanted and expected, I wanted an "record as you play" all-in-one unit, and that's what we got.

But there's a lot to take in, it's still a complex beast and I haven't even scratched the surface yet. Design wise though it's a "hot" looking piece, and always the one that catches everyones eyes here when they visit, it really looks so modern design wise compared to most other keyboards.

[audiobunny]

I think this is just as you said, a great way to develop a song idea and then recording into a computer DAW.

[adamb.]

I like this board after about a week in . I prefer the Keybed on my komplete s61. But I had no issues adjusting

[martinlander]

I appreciate the critiques. They're very helpful for a purchasing decision. But comparing the keys to a unit that costs over three times more? Cmon dude, I can't afford a Stage 3. I would appreciate knowing whether the keys feel good at the PRICE RANGE. Surprised you didn't compare the piano plug-in to a steinway.

[nucentury]

No Complaints still have my Live2 took back my X for the Key61! Love that I don’t have to go to my Komplete Kontrol S49Mk2 but I still do for the integration with Native instuments!! I do find the work flow almost in comparison to machine almost being able to get sounds spread out across the keys with one button something I’ve been waiting for for a long time from them instead of having to go to a menu and set it up to do that whereas Native instuments any sound on any pad is automatically stretched across all keys.