IS THIS THE BEST KEYBOARD FOR BEGINNERS? | Review and walkthrough of the Akai MPK Play MK3

I'm taking a closer look at the new MPK mini Play MK3, which is a full midi keyboard that also includes internal sounds and an internal speaker, letting you quickly play hundreds of different piano, synth, and drum sounds.
I'll walk you through the different sounds and show you some different uses for the keyboard, and I'll also make a little looping cover of the new Harry Styles song, As it Was.

Equipment in this video (affiliate):

Time stamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:08 - Akai MPK mini Play MK3
00:58 - Device overview
03:28 - Internal speaker
04:12 - Sound demo keys
11:18 - Synth patches
15:24 - Sound demo drums
16:19 - Manipulating sounds and synthesis
18:08 - How can this device used
19:11 - Looping with internal sounds
20:17 - Conclusion

[woka_kawanua-hwhj]

finally! after tons of youtube channels, this is the only one video make me understand what this piece is, the video is simple but all in. thank you very much, thumb-up 👍 and like.

[ONEPLAYERMODE]

Finally someone who showed all the drum sounds, thank you! I hoped there were more world/percussion sounds.

[gaborb]

Just waited 1 year till someone really demoed the sounds. Thanks

[sanchamillion]

My 7 year old is taking piano lessons and very interested in music production (she loves bands like tame Impala and gorillaz) so after a lot of research the PLAY is nearly perfect for a beginner kid as a stand-alone keyboard with more than enough internal sounds and encoders to learn the basics. Next step is usb to computer for more library sounds and multitracking. Until she grows out of it and takes her music career to the next level. Thanks for the video.

[zelazowy]

Really appreciate moving through every built in sound, great review!

[elfandre]

I watch many review this model and must say its best👍

[kingjammus]

Great run through for us beginners, many thanks!

[ilikeitdark]

I dont know what they don´t add a looper in these updates. Would make this unit so much better, and top of the game.

[alanh]

Great demo of what the Akai MPK Play MK3 can do

[dingdong]

Overall a nice video! However, you can do a lot more with the built-in sounds using the rotary controls! Also from the “normal” ones such as vibraphone, organs, strings, etc.

The sawtooth sounds can sound like a 303 if you put your mind to it!

Together with a lopper pedal or a multi-effect with a built-in lopper you can make very nice ambient music live!

I recommend, for example, one of the zoom pedals (Zoom b1on and others)

It definitely sounds better than the similar Yamaha PSS a50! it has no controls and only 40 very bad sounds that you can't change!

It's very good that Akai finally made the rotary potentiometers on the right side! Most musicians play with their right hand and the previous pots were on the wrong side!

I would like Akai to finally release a version with 3 or 4 octaves and with better sounds!

[mistrustmusic]

Thanks for the video, really useful. I bought the Mini Play MK3 a while ago and really like it.

[tommycahill]

Love the Seinfeld riff on the Slap Bass, great vid!

[jerrodwatts]

Such a great variety of test songs, you used. Great job, lol Awesome

[tad]

Sounds just like Miles Davis (9:25). Good one!!! 😂 It is a cool little midi controller though with a few decent built in tones. Thanks for the run through of all the sounds!

[Grasklipparmannen]

Thanks for a great overview makes me realise how much can be done with just a cheap keyboard

[shahenohanjanyan]

in-build speakers is something honestly almost redundant, but in-build sounds is a nice touch

[darwiniandude]

The sounds are most deffinitely samples. Just a basic GM set. It's not synthesized from scratch.

[ladauphine]

Thank you for all the tips in this video. It actúa opened my eyes on a lot of small details but so helpful. I am planning on buying but wasn't sure which one to get. 🙏🎵

[Aptmusicuk]

Really great video, I love my mini play 👍

[lumpichu]

I'm convinced there are samples, it's not everything synthesized, probably even all sample based. What makes you think otherwise?