KVR Audio

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Sat Oct 22, 2022 12:07 am

Akai have just relased this bad boy and it looks great. It's got proper mod and Pitch Bend wheels, plus a joy stick, plus drum pads plus transport controls, plus an extra octave of keys, so I can see why they've called it "Plus". Yet it still manages to remain very compact. If the keys had aftertouch, it would be perfect. As it is, though, it's probably the closest to perfect for my needs that I have seen. At the moment I flit between a KeyStep and a Korg controller with proper Pitch/Mod wheels but one of these will be the perfect companion to my Erae Touch.

Constructed Identity · Sun Oct 23, 2022 1:28 am

Just checked this out in the store.
Imagine a toy, but not just any toy, one made to be sold at the local drug store to poor kids that have a total of five toys.
That is the feel here. Pretty to look at and priced to sell at $120...but I wouldn't buy one.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Sun Oct 23, 2022 11:30 pm

That's my impression of all Akai gear but, despite that, it seems to sell OK. And are you sure you saw the same thing, because it's supposed to retail at $169 and I can't imagine it being more than 25% off in its first week of availability.

Scotty · Post by **Scotty** » Mon Oct 24, 2022 1:20 am

Can you chain sequences on this? Didn’t see that covered on the YouTube videos.

Constructed Identity · Mon Oct 24, 2022 2:48 am

BONES wrote: Sun Oct 23, 2022 11:30 pm That's my impression of all Akai gear but, despite that, it seems to sell OK. And are you sure you saw the same thing, because it's supposed to retail at $169 and I can't imagine it being more than 25% off in its first week of availability.

I don't remember the exact price, it was 100-something, but it was the AKAI MPK Mini alright.
Wanted to like it with those red plastic sides and big-sh knobs... the joystick is adorable, thumb sized - a video game controller!

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Mon Oct 24, 2022 6:28 am

This is the MPK Mini PLUS, it's a bigger and badder version of the Mini.

AdvancedFollower · Post by **AdvancedFollower** » Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:56 am

I've owned the MPK Mini Mk2 and currently own a Mk3. They massively improved the build quality and design of the Mk3. It feels much heavier and more solid, and it has a properly sprung keybed instead of those bendy plastic tabs they used on the Mk1 and Mk2. I'd be surprised if the Plus went back to those bendy plastic tabs for a keyboard.

Btw Akai are part of inMusic so it's essentially the same brand as M-Audio and Alesis.

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:37 am

Amazing vale for the street price. I have a Keystep 37 which does have aftertouch, but to be honest with mini keys it isn't a great help, you are probably not going to be using this for subtle expressive playing. the Gen 2 Dynamic Keybed is supposed to have a wider velocity range (more travel?) which is far more important for most people I suspect when using mini keys...some mini keys that claim to be velocity sensitive still feel a bit 'on' 'off' due to the lack of travel.

The Modwheel + Joystick and 8 encoders (with a display) is more than enough for real time tweaking, real MPC pads and transport control, sequencers, CV etc a bonus- I just don't think you could have squeezed more into that form factor!

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:56 am

Looks like a good set of features for the price (wheels *and* joystick) as long as the keyboard is ok. I hear they've been improved? I had an original lpk25, honestly worst mini keyboard I've used, more like little plastic flippers, much prefer Arturias take on small keys.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Mon Oct 24, 2022 9:48 am

I think the original mini MS-20 controller Korg shipped with the first Legacy bundle was the worst keyboard I ever felt. It was like it was sprung with old kitchen sponges or something.

AdvancedFollower wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:56 amBtw Akai are part of inMusic so it's essentially the same brand as M-Audio and Alesis.

None of the InMusic brands seem to talk to each other at all so I can't see what difference that makes. Akai and M-Audio are essentially competitors but they each seem to do their own thing. It's a very strange situation.

Constructed Identity · Mon Oct 24, 2022 10:57 pm

BONES wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 6:28 am This is the MPK Mini PLUS, it's a bigger and badder version of the Mini.

Yes, it was the MPK mini PLUS just did a google image search to confirm!
The thing is bigger and badder LOLOLOL

SO much bigger and badder

Constructed Identity · Mon Oct 24, 2022 11:00 pm

GaryG wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:56 am Looks like a good set of features for the price (wheels *and* joystick) as long as the keyboard is ok. I hear they've been improved? I had an original lpk25, honestly worst mini keyboard I've used, more like little plastic flippers, much prefer Arturias take on small keys.

Yes, plastic flippers - good description of the "keyboard" on the new MPK Mini Plus

AdvancedFollower · Post by **AdvancedFollower** » Tue Oct 25, 2022 9:19 am

Constructed Identity wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 11:00 pm
GaryG wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:56 am Looks like a good set of features for the price (wheels *and* joystick) as long as the keyboard is ok. I hear they've been improved? I had an original lpk25, honestly worst mini keyboard I've used, more like little plastic flippers, much prefer Arturias take on small keys.
Yes, plastic flippers - good description of the "keyboard" on the new MPK Mini Plus

Have you tried the keyboard? Did they go back to bendy plastic tabs from the LPK/MPK Mini mk2 and earlier, rather than actual sprung keys like on the Mini Mk3 (similar to those on the Minilab Mk2)?
That would be a pretty big step back.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Tue Oct 25, 2022 11:01 pm

I doubt it. From the price he mentioned, I think Constructed IDentity was looking at the Mk II or Mk III, not the Plus. THey ar emaking a big fuss about the improved keybed so I can't see them going backwards.

pekbro · Post by **pekbro** » Tue Oct 25, 2022 11:11 pm

Hopefully the build quality is good, personally I would rather pay more for a pro level model, than getting a cheapy one. By Pro level I mean rugged, metal chassis, quality knobs, pads, buttons etc. Anyway, will wait and see. I never owned any recent Akai stuff, but in the past the stuff was always very good at least.

AKAI MPK Mini Plus MIDI Controller