Finally someone gets it! I've been waiting for something like this forever, I have to do a deep dive into the manual to see what limitations it might have (2 track sequencer is... well, VERY underwhelming, but I need to see if those tracks can hold the whole 16 MIDI channel data and if there's a way to mute each of them in real time - plus, sending SysEx messages through the encoders would be amazing), but I don't want to have separate keyboard and then a dedicated sequencer for all my gear and this solves exactly that problem. Hope this will sell like hot cakes so that other manufacturers will follow Akai's example and start doing MIDI keyboards with built-in sequencers. Well done!
Great demo! You guys have all the latest gear, first the minilab 3, now the MPK mini plus. I miss a sequencer on my MIDI controller and was considering one of the the keysteps, but the Akai MPK mini plus seems like the better product now with the pads, the wheels, 2-track sequencer and price wise than the keystep or keystep37.
Crazy cool demo and actual music creation inspiration highlighting what can be done here. Thank you so much and wow to to vibe and personalities here. Super talented with a smile!
And just when I was looking for a small midi controller with midi functionality to control my synths via midi in/out I see this video pop up on my yt feed! I have the mpk25 and now need this keyboard!!!
AKAI did it again .... great little device which fits well into about any DAW ecosystem by offering all you need - for a long time 🤣👍 Me want one ... maybe Xmas ... 🎄
Would have been nice to know the signal flow to all the hardware. I just bought one and can’t even figure out how to get it to work with my Behringer wasp.
I just got the Keystep 37 and I am still ordering this. This just offers so much more for the money in a smaller and more efficient form factor, it's hard to turn down. DAW integration is big one for me, I was disappointed to find out the Keystep has very poor DAW integration. The MPK seems way more intuitive with its display, while using the Keystep is clunky to say the least. Also the Keystep is a little heavy and large for easy portability. You could easily throw the MPK in a backpack. Add full transport controls, 8 MPC pads and 8 endless encoders and I am more than sold. I think the only thing I will miss from the Keystep are the LEDs over the keys.
@@tomstewart995 I like the keyed on the key step 37. There is less of a chance of the keys getting pulled up when putting it in and out of a bag. It will definitely need is own cover.The keys also look like they may be shorter than the Keystep. Im not sure i would want to go shorter or smaller. I would need to see it in person. This is definitely a buy though.
@@GospelMusic4Life They're definitely smaller keys. I would never put any keyboard in a bag without some type of cover or case, even just wrapping a towel around it will do fine. I'm curious how the keys feel, they seem pretty playable. I wouldn't be surprised if the Keystep still has the better feeling keys but who knows with this new keybed design.
@@tomstewart995 Totally agree with the poor DAW integration. Was really not happy with working with the KS37 in Ableton and triggering my modular. I'm also considering the Novation Launchkey 37 now because of it full size keys, but on the other hand, the Akai Mini has a CV/Gate port which is nice for my hardware. It's though when you got a hybrid DAW/Modular setup.
Do you need to switch midi channels for the different gear or are there user saved presets for each gear including the channel so whenever you play it knows the channel to use?
In order to make all those sound one would need all three external gear also I'm assuming. The mini is the central Hub.The tr 09 is for the drum beats. the 08 is for automation etc and model D too.
Surprisingly does Not integrate out of box with the AKAI MPC one. Weird. The transport doesn’t work at all. Works great with the mpc beats software but not the MPC Hardware. Shame opportunity missed
If one sequence needs to be programmed on the keys and the other on the pads, and you can't program both on the keys, sorry, but Arturia is still unbeatable.
I really like this, but the luck of USB-C, no black version and the fact that it's overly expensive at 180€ kills it for me. If they come up with a better version in the future, I would like to see Bluetooth added as well. But as it is now, it's a hit and miss for me.
Sorry, but that was the worst presentation on your channel so far! The man only showed half of what the device can really do! Not a word about the arpeggiator, which can run in addition to the sequencer, hardly a word about the connection options or the power supply! and the synth sounds were really terrible! 🥴
Totally agree. I'm also yet to come across any videos that clarify how the CV/gate/mod outputs work when hooked up to a DAW. Would it turn the MPK into a CV/gate interface for triggering eurorack from DAW? Does the keyboard also stop triggering CV/gate when powered via computer USB like midi does? :)
Really like this to use it with my Ableton/Modular setup and combining it with my KORG SQ64. Was not happy with the Keystep 37, really bad DAW integration imho. So maybe I should give Akai a try with the MPK Mini Plus...
I love mine, and it comes with a staggering amount of great, free software, including Ableton Live Lite, MPC Beats and tons of free sounds. If I had one suggestion for Akai, it would be to make a version with full size keys and a larger screen (like the one on the MPK225) called the MPK Plus
So if i am right you can sequence 2 devices via midi simultaneously, provided you have either a midi splitter or one of the devices has midi through. New to this but want to make sure the control can run 2 boxes simultaneously...
Agreed. This and the serato stems situation with dedicated controllers. I think Serato is not done. Yet. Denon with gear built in speaker. Everything is becoming more into one. It's because competition forces other companies to offer more or at least par even with the innovator
honestly super impressive, i ordered one today because I've been on the verge of a keystep 37. I have a beatstep pro and I use that to connect multiple devices but i wanted a keyboard sequencer that i could link to my beatstep pro and hook up more devices. This will be that device. I use my mpc one alot and this should work hand and hand!
Not something I would personally uses when I have a KSP which offers more imo. More expensive but it can also do more. I have an og MPK25 which has more knobs so seems redundant to get one. Sometimes I think companies are re-releasing legacy products with less offerings (not the sequencer or cv out). I wish we could as customers be surveyed to what we want, not what companies think we want.
Finally someone gets it!
I've been waiting for something like this forever, I have to do a deep dive into the manual to see what limitations it might have (2 track sequencer is... well, VERY underwhelming, but I need to see if those tracks can hold the whole 16 MIDI channel data and if there's a way to mute each of them in real time - plus, sending SysEx messages through the encoders would be amazing), but I don't want to have separate keyboard and then a dedicated sequencer for all my gear and this solves exactly that problem.
Hope this will sell like hot cakes so that other manufacturers will follow Akai's example and start doing MIDI keyboards with built-in sequencers.
Well done!
Wow. Great piece of kit. Just when I was looking for a dedicated MIDI controller for my set up. Great video
Thanks for sharing Jack and Falcon. Also, having Andy is always awesome 🙌🏻
Great demo! You guys have all the latest gear, first the minilab 3, now the MPK mini plus. I miss a sequencer on my MIDI controller and was considering one of the the keysteps, but the Akai MPK mini plus seems like the better product now with the pads, the wheels, 2-track sequencer and price wise than the keystep or keystep37.
Crazy cool demo and actual music creation inspiration highlighting what can be done here. Thank you so much and wow to to vibe and personalities here. Super talented with a smile!
This is a while new world of music making, very cool
We need the play version of that 37 key toy! Batterie powered! Please! Quickly! :-)
I would love the Play version too. Please also make some space for 2 built-in speakers.
Great demo for dawless jammers. Pretty much sold.
And just when I was looking for a small midi controller with midi functionality to control my synths via midi in/out I see this video pop up on my yt feed! I have the mpk25 and now need this keyboard!!!
Hello . I’m a very beginner . What is a synth you are referring to ? Thnx
@@sinasho6530 synth I use is Roland JU06A, I can plug this keyboard into the synth and control it using the keyboard.
Sick demo!
AKAI did it again .... great little device which fits well into about any DAW ecosystem by offering all you need - for a long time 🤣👍
Me want one ... maybe Xmas ... 🎄
perfect for performing live with hardware sound modules too
Looks like a VERY cool upgrade from my keystep mk1
Would have been nice to know the signal flow to all the hardware. I just bought one and can’t even figure out how to get it to work with my Behringer wasp.
Yo Andy Mack is the illest Yo!
great content as always guys!
I believe 37 keys and no less is the sweet spot for mobile music. If I had not recently bought the arturia keystep 37 I would have considered this.
I just got the Keystep 37 and I am still ordering this. This just offers so much more for the money in a smaller and more efficient form factor, it's hard to turn down. DAW integration is big one for me, I was disappointed to find out the Keystep has very poor DAW integration. The MPK seems way more intuitive with its display, while using the Keystep is clunky to say the least. Also the Keystep is a little heavy and large for easy portability. You could easily throw the MPK in a backpack. Add full transport controls, 8 MPC pads and 8 endless encoders and I am more than sold. I think the only thing I will miss from the Keystep are the LEDs over the keys.
@@tomstewart995 I like the keyed on the key step 37. There is less of a chance of the keys getting pulled up when putting it in and out of a bag. It will definitely need is own cover.The keys also look like they may be shorter than the Keystep. Im not sure i would want to go shorter or smaller. I would need to see it in person. This is definitely a buy though.
@@GospelMusic4Life They're definitely smaller keys. I would never put any keyboard in a bag without some type of cover or case, even just wrapping a towel around it will do fine. I'm curious how the keys feel, they seem pretty playable. I wouldn't be surprised if the Keystep still has the better feeling keys but who knows with this new keybed design.
@@tomstewart995 Totally agree with the poor DAW integration. Was really not happy with working with the KS37 in Ableton and triggering my modular. I'm also considering the Novation Launchkey 37 now because of it full size keys, but on the other hand, the Akai Mini has a CV/Gate port which is nice for my hardware. It's though when you got a hybrid DAW/Modular setup.
Woowww is really cool for the experience 🎉🎉🎉❤👍
I’m stuck how on Earth can I connect this thing to a set of monitors?!
How many sequences has Andy Mack made in his time? All of them, probably.
Does anybody know how he can switch from drums to melodies during the sequencing part. I want to be able to do it using logic
Seems to me there were some latency or quantize issues in this demo possibly due to the live sound mixed in.
Do you need to switch midi channels for the different gear or are there user saved presets for each gear including the channel so whenever you play it knows the channel to use?
I'm looking for the answer to this too, along with...how do you change midi channels?
Any plans for plug and play Bitwig integration?
Does the keys have after touch or only pads?
Do you have a basic demo for Hammond B3 organ? Tia
Genius device- akai gets me
In order to make all those sound one would need all three external gear also I'm assuming. The mini is the central Hub.The tr 09 is for the drum beats. the 08 is for automation etc and model D too.
yeah its just a controller/sequencer...no synth engine in there
@o- it is
or you can just use soft synths!
What is that Rolland thing ?
You’ve got to have one of the best jobs in the world!
Ps, i’d love to win one of these synths 🤞
The Transport controls don't work in FLStudio21 does anybody know how?
Not even joking, I want one.
BUt can you control 3 behringer modules, Model D,Wasp, Pro1 lets say ?
Surprise, surprise Any MAC under 14.1 it will not work with the softwear! I just got a Akai MPK mini and it's dead in the water!!! cheers Mac...
where's the audio coming out?
Great that Akai have started listening but What the hell is going on with Akai Force?? Where’s our updates and bug fixes Andy???
crazy
Surprisingly does Not integrate out of box with the AKAI MPC one. Weird. The transport doesn’t work at all. Works great with the mpc beats software but not the MPC Hardware. Shame opportunity missed
"you don't know where its going"... but you should.
Damn, early xmas...
I won’t be surprised if this is not at $199 soon. I guess people better grab it while they can.
timing seems way off in parts..or is that mic bleed?
Slight mic bleed in the room
Something mad going on with the audio in this. it's doubled the audio when playing music? Sounds like a trainwreck dj mix hah
Whenever he's talking you can hear the bleed-through from the vocal mic/lavalier.
If one sequence needs to be programmed on the keys and the other on the pads, and you can't program both on the keys, sorry, but Arturia is still unbeatable.
I really like this, but the luck of USB-C, no black version and the fact that it's overly expensive at 180€ kills it for me. If they come up with a better version in the future, I would like to see Bluetooth added as well. But as it is now, it's a hit and miss for me.
Overly expensive is pushing it..I think it seems very fairly priced for it's features and quality
Sorry, but that was the worst presentation on your channel so far! The man only showed half of what the device can really do!
Not a word about the arpeggiator, which can run in addition to the sequencer, hardly a word about the connection options or the power supply!
and the synth sounds were really terrible! 🥴
Totally agree. I'm also yet to come across any videos that clarify how the CV/gate/mod outputs work when hooked up to a DAW. Would it turn the MPK into a CV/gate interface for triggering eurorack from DAW? Does the keyboard also stop triggering CV/gate when powered via computer USB like midi does? :)
Imagine having a Akai MPK Mini Plus Play
That would be the game changer!❤
probably have to wait until mk5 release
So is it standalone or justa controller
@@nicholasmanig7190 both
It’s only a matter of time…✊🏾
Awsome - Especially the “transpose” function. That means you can record some bass sequence and then shift it “live” during a live performance 😃😃😃😃
so why would I want this over the Arturia keystep pro?
No metronome on the built in sequencer. How did they mess that up?
Great video! Wish I could find a decently priced TR-09 on the after market. Now that I picked up house music. I need it badly
Thank you so much for your kind words Ave. I frickin’ love your videos, music and what you’re building - sending lots of Manly love ❤️
It’s rough out here Ave. Paid about 700$ bucks for one in decent shape w/ box
This can work with roland mc 101 ?
I don’t buy a Roland synth to turn knobs on a cheap minikey Akai controller, it’s like whatever next🤷♀️😂
Really like this to use it with my Ableton/Modular setup and combining it with my KORG SQ64. Was not happy with the Keystep 37, really bad DAW integration imho. So maybe I should give Akai a try with the MPK Mini Plus...
Is it a good option if i use reason??
I love mine, and it comes with a staggering amount of great, free software, including Ableton Live Lite, MPC Beats and tons of free sounds. If I had one suggestion for Akai, it would be to make a version with full size keys and a larger screen (like the one on the MPK225) called the MPK Plus
So if i am right you can sequence 2 devices via midi simultaneously, provided you have either a midi splitter or one of the devices has midi through. New to this but want to make sure the control can run 2 boxes simultaneously...
Looks like a nice Luxman amp in the background ?
Just what I wished for. Thank you for this very enticing demo!
There is so much good stuff around at the moment!
Agreed. This and the serato stems situation with dedicated controllers. I think Serato is not done. Yet. Denon with gear built in speaker. Everything is becoming more into one. It's because competition forces other companies to offer more or at least par even with the innovator
Man! I've been wishing my akai had another octave! Glad they made this. Need to get this
Worlds best selling keyboard hmmmm🤔
Yeah, shame there are no built in sounds.
honestly super impressive, i ordered one today because I've been on the verge of a keystep 37. I have a beatstep pro and I use that to connect multiple devices but i wanted a keyboard sequencer that i could link to my beatstep pro and hook up more devices. This will be that device. I use my mpc one alot and this should work hand and hand!
Picked one up today and totally loving it using it with Dorico and Studio One
I need one 😮
How did you setup all these?
Does the transport control work with reason DAW?
is this a multichannel sequencer?🎉
AKAI has managed to reinvent the workflow from the 90’s. 😂
pick me ;)
Can you change midid channel ?
Yes
Not something I would personally uses when I have a KSP which offers more imo. More expensive but it can also do more.
I have an og MPK25 which has more knobs so seems redundant to get one.
Sometimes I think companies are re-releasing legacy products with less offerings (not the sequencer or cv out).
I wish we could as customers be surveyed to what we want, not what companies think we want.
Very nice!
How can we set the velocity on Akai MPK Mini Plus??
Nice demo
Can the Akai synchronize with the clock (bpm) from let's say Logic Pro?