Akai MPK Mini Plus: More than meets the eye in this MIDI keyboard // Full review & tutorial

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Gear in this video:

► East Beast by Cre8audio
► LED Meter module by Happy Nerding

► A comparison to KeyStep 37:
Pros for KS37:
- The keys are wider and deeper (see the comparison in the video) - obviously this is subjective
- Aftertouch
- Strum mode
- Custom chords and scales
- LEDs on above the keys make editing the sequence easier than the small screen on MPK Mini Plus
- You can transition between the stored sequences seamlessly as part of a performance - they stay in time whereas on the MPK they do not
- Live recording into the sequence saves ties (as opposed to not recording them on the MPK)
- USB power and regular power (as opposed to just USB on MPK)
- Metal base may make it sturdier but it's heavier too.
- Can send MIDI out the MIDI port when plugged into a computer (as I mention in the video, MPK Mini Plus disconnects the keyboard from the ports for some reason, and you have to route MIDI through your computer back to the ports to send MIDI out)
- Knobs can be configured to go to different MIDI channels (pads and knobs can only go to one channel each on the MPK)

Pros for MPK Mini Plus:
- It can control 3 instruments at once - sequence 2 tracks + arp or playing the keyboard. KS37 is only either/or on the arpeggiator/sequencer
- 8 Pads, joystick, physical mod/strip controls transport for DAW control (KS37's transport is just for the internal arp/sequencer
- Screen allows for easier customization and operation
- DAW integration
- 8 physical encoders as opposed to 4 knobs (though there are 4 banks on KS37 for a total of 16 parameters)
- Note Repeat mode for the pads

Other places I hang out:

My music:

TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:35 This setup
4:00 The hardware
4:45 Pads
6:00 Encoders
6:25 Keybed
7:00 Connectivity
7:50 Arpeggiator
10:05 Sequencing
11:40 Step seq
12:30 TR-style seq
13:55 Live rec
15:00 Ties
15:45 Transpose
16:15 Scales, chords
17:30 Note repeat
17:50 Configurability
18:50 Programs
19:35 Editor
20:20 MPC Beats
21:20 Ableton Live
22:00 Pros & cons
24:15 Outro jam

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NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links to stores like Amazon, Sweetwater, Thomann and others. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.

[loopop]

Hey! For those of you asking for a more in-depth comparison to the KeyStep 37 - please see the description!

[daveyleeriot]

First channel I've ever seen hold the time stamps conveniently to side of our screen instead of making us scroll down to the description or comment box. More content creators needa pick up on this foreal. Salute brother

[ktvbeatz]

Akai is sooo sneaky for this haha I THOUGHT I wanted the new Arturia Minilab 3 yesterday lol

[RunarStokkeMusic]

All of the last three you’ve shown have me really excited I’m glad to see new versions of these finally. Especially the minifreak.

[autonomic_pilot]

I always appreciate this about your gear videos: you aren't just here to shill for anyone. This certainly isn't a unique quality on yt but it's not as common as it should be either. Of all the videos I watched on this controller, yours is the only one that didn't sound like boot-licking fawning. Thanks for keeping it genuine.

[silversurfer]

You can edit the keys velocity curve in the editor software by changing the values in the 4 time parts. Then the curve will change. To get full level I set all 4 values on highest possible. But you can also create a curve with the time values. A bit complicated, maybe fixed with an update, to change the velocity directly and maybe direct on the keyboard then, like a generation before. There you had to press the full level button for 5 seconds, to change the velocity. In the editor today it would be easier to grab and change the 4 velocity time positions with mouse, instead of changing values by "hand". Maybe they can fix that. By the way, to get (download) the Editor, you have to open the mini plus software manager. Up on the left click the preferences button and set a mark on "Show advances software". Then the Editor appears in the software manager for download.

[TeleporterM]

Nice job Akai. Keep including scales and chords features to your products and I’ll keep recommending and buying them.

[aseomg]

2 mini midi keyboards releases in one week?

Christmas must be right around the corner.

[TeleporterM]

I am buying this baby, I love progressive new features like the included scales and chords features on this keyboard.

[TheLexikitty]

Love your reviews, definitely see way more use for the MPK line with Dawless now even alongside a Keystep 37. Sweetwater link doesn't seem to show it yet, excited to see when it comes out!

[JohnTrasher]

I initially had the impression that this is sort of a beatstep/keystep in 1? Also the cv outs seem to make it a must have for me, perfect combo for the deluge

[tragicwill]

They really are running with these new midi controllers. Great video.

[scouthanamura]

I just love the mpc mini workflow it's a pleasure to work with

[devids]

Who wants to bet Mr loopop has his hands on a Octatrack mk3 like device for a while now waiting for the embargo to end

[geoffjoyner]

man oh man as soon as i saw this thing i had the exact same impression: "what other ultra portable keyboard at this price does more than this?". i just got mine today as an early christmas gift and i am overjoyed.

the joystick gets a lot of flack, but i plan on using it for vector synthesis. just gonna set the volume of 4 different synths all tied to the keys to the x+ x- Y+ y- and roll that sucker around when i put on some chords. your imagination truly is the limit with the joystick, and i welcome weird peripherals on my midi keyboards.

im also using sunvox and i can confirm that this midi keyboard works nicely with it. cant wait to go indepth with the knobs and the FMX module.

[AleXianFPV]

this combined with the built-in sounds of the Mini Play would be so nice for beginners.

[ptechlead]

Thank you so much for arguably the best MPK mini plus demo online ! On top of that, you sound a whole lot like Carl Sagan which is very convincing to me.

[sandyturner]

I just bought the Arturia Minilab 3 before I knew this existed. I didn't like it, at all. Returned it, and found this. Go figure. Thanks! Great Demo, as usual!

[TheOneMonk]

Bought it yesterday, based on your review ;-)

[JohnTrasher]

So many keyboard reviews in this short time! 👍