Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3-25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8 Knobs, Music Production Software and Native Instruments Sound Package (NKS Integration), White

This Akai MPK Mini MK3 completely exceeded my expectations. The keys have a very comfortable sensitivity, and the pads respond quickly with no delay—great for creating beats on the spot. Setup was extremely easy; it was literally plug-and-play with my computer and music software. The size is perfect if you don’t have much space, yet it still feels professional and sturdy. The knobs work smoothly for controlling effects and automations. Whether you’re just starting in music production or need a high-quality portable keyboard, this is definitely a great investment. Highly recommended.

The Akai Professional MPK Mini Keyboard has to be one of the best in the market, having a beat pad, keyboard, and customizable knobs. As someone who produces music, I could not ask for anything more. It has a very reasonable price, and they even include some plug-ins with the keyboard and a DAW if you don’t already have one. Not only is the price great; the quality is even better. There is rubber on the drum pads to make sure your fingers don’t slip while playing, keys that make it feel like you are playing a real piano, and knobs that move smoothly yet have amazing precision. With the keyboard having 25 keys, which span a full 2 octaves (with buttons to change the octaves), it is compact and easy to bring wherever you like without compromising usability. Without a doubt, this keyboard is the best MIDI keyboard out there.

I've been using the AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 for a few months now, and I must say, it has exceeded my expectations in many ways. As a clinical laboratory scientist with a passion for music production, finding the right MIDI keyboard was crucial for my creative process. Firstly, the quality of materials and build is impressive. The keyboard feels solid and durable, with keys that are responsive and smooth to the touch. The pads are firm yet sensitive, making it easy to achieve the perfect velocity for drumming and sampling. It's clear that AKAI put a lot of thought into the design, ensuring that every component feels premium and built to last. The seamless connection is another standout feature. I use it with various DAWs, and it has never failed to integrate flawlessly. Whether I'm plugging it into my laptop for some late-night sessions or setting it up in my home studio, the MPK Mini MK3 connects instantly without any hassle. The plug-and-play functionality is a lifesaver, allowing me to dive straight into my music without dealing with tedious setup processes. Finally, the price point is fantastic. Given the high quality and robust features, it's hard to believe how affordable this keyboard is. It offers incredible value for money, making it accessible for both beginners and more experienced producers. I've tried other MIDI keyboards in the same price range, and none come close to the performance and reliability of the MPK Mini MK3. Overall, the AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 is a superb MIDI keyboard that combines quality materials, seamless connectivity, and affordability. It's been an essential tool in my music production journey, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable and versatile MIDI controller.

From the husband: "I absolutely love this controller. The keys have good pressure sensitive feedback and the setup was super easy. I use Ableton and FL Studio and they both recognize the controller with simplicity and I didn't have much issues setting it up. Another awesome thing is that AKAI comes with some downloadable sample packs and VSTs for you to use in your DAW. I'm very happy with this device in assisting me produce music with much more ease and control than a computer keyboard. It's a good size that fits on your desk and is no wider than a computer keyboard. Highly recommend for entry level producers."

If you’re looking to become a producer this is all you need practically. The keyboard itself is nice, the drum pad is satisfying to use, and it just so happens it comes with beat making software. It has so many cool little features, like arpeggiation and looping, that make it a production powerhouse. It is also sleek and portable. Functions well

I waited a couple of months before writing this review. There's a lot to dive in and I wanted to write a review short enough to read that contains everything you need to know. For your money you get two things, the hardware (the MK3) and some free software, MPC Beats. The MK3 is a 25-key USB MIDI keyboard. In addition to the 25 keys, there are selection buttons on the left and right, a joystick/knob, 8 drum pads, 8 knobs, and a teeny-tiny LCD for younger users with better eyeballs than mine. They keyboard has a tiny bit of weight to it, but you won't mistake it for a paperweight. Keep in mind that on its own, the keyboard does nothing, It only works when plugged into a computer, running software. The free DAW software Akai provides is MPC Beats. MPC Beats has approximately 9 million buttons and options, so don't expect to figure it out in an hour or even a day. There are so, so many features. You can of course make tracks, loops, patterns, and so on. There are tons and tons of free instruments available. It can get confusing as to which can be assigned to the keys and which are assigned to the drum pads. Fortunately there are tons of video MPC Beats tutorials online, which can teach you the ropes. The free version of MPC Beats has one major limitation in that songs are limited to 8 MIDI tracks and 2 "audio" tracks (which could be used for vocals or samples). If you're just wanting to create loop based music, 8 tracks are actually quite a bit. If you do eventually outgrow MPC Beats, you can upgrade to the pay version, MPC 2.0, which allows 128 tracks, all of which can be MIDI or digital audio. So, what's to say? There's a bit of a learning curve with the software and figuring out what all the buttons on the keyboard do. It has been a while since I played around with a DAW and so it took me a couple of days to wrap my head around everything. Again, there are lots of YT tutorials out there that will point you in the right direction, and the more you play around with things, the better you'll get. Physically the keyboard's looks may not impress your studio friends, but there's no reason why you couldn't create a hit song with this thing.

I use it every time I make beats, this is my first MIDi keyboard previously I was just clicking notes this is a game changer for finding melodies and it is basically plug in play atleast for FL Studio, it is plastic but doesn’t feel cheap, they keys press flawlessly and have a pressure sensor. If using in FL studio to add it and make it play go to top left to OPTIONS -> MIDI SETTINGS -> MPK mini 3, then at the bottom middle there is a tiny option that says Enable click that and it’s good to go

Nice product!