Akai ProfessionalMPK 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), Black

I've been using the Akai MPK Mini MK3 for a few weeks now and I have to say—I'm seriously impressed. As someone who travels a lot but still wants to create music on the go, this controller is perfect. It's super compact and lightweight, but still feels solid and well-built.The keys are mini-sized, so it takes a bit of getting used to, especially if you're coming from a full-size keyboard. But they’re surprisingly responsive and great for sketching out ideas. The pads are a real highlight—very responsive and satisfyingly clicky. I've been using them for finger drumming and triggering samples, and they perform great.The rotary knobs are smooth and endless, which is amazing for tweaking synth parameters or mixing on the fly. The little OLED screen is a nice touch—it’s small but gives you just enough feedback to make it useful. The 4-way joystick for pitch/mod control is cool too, though I prefer the classic wheels for more precision.One of the biggest wins is the bundled software. You get MPC Beats (which is a solid DAW, especially for beat-making) and some really good virtual instruments. It’s practically a full studio-in-a-box.If you're a beginner or a producer looking for a portable solution, this thing delivers big time. Would absolutely recommend!

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.

I’ll be a hundred percent real with you I had this midi keyboard stolen I looked away for one second and it was gone. My bad I guess. I love this keyboard it works well with GarageBand and Logic Pro well, I had a fun time making projects and messing around with this thing, I will get a bigger one because I like to have more octaves. I liked that the keyboard was easy to press. It connected well and was lightweight and small, exactly what I needed for my portable needs. 5 stars I had a great time with this and I’m sure someone else is too 🥲

WE are brand new to music making. I got this for my son who is 11 but likes to randomly beat box and I think he has a good ear for music (he also takes drum lessons). I wanted to get him involved in something more productive and creative than video games which he can spend 12 hours a day on if I don't unplug them....1. This thing does not have a speaker2. It's NOT plug and play: it requires a computer or tablet for power and that is where your audio will come from unless you use headphones, it has a jack in the back maybe for external speakers or headphones?3. Super cheap right?! WRONG: you have to LOAD different sound packs (different beats/ instruments) but the best ones are in their store and can add up easily to hundreds of dollars...that is probably where they make most of their money, not from this little device4. Installation was a PAIN!!! My son has a windows PC (i use a mac) so I really couldn't stand figuring out how to install first the software that manages plug ins and packs and then the ACTUAL MUSIC MAKING software called MPC beats5. This thing does work with different audio programs besides the one Akai makes so you just have to do some research6. We learned A LOT FROM YOUTUBE !!!! They have their own youtube as well but many people post tutorials which help a lot.7. Using a tablet (like an ipad mini) does not give the device any power so you have to get external power for it if you want to use it with certain tablets8. They have their own beats academy but the links don't work so we resorted to youtube, plenty of good tutorials9. The square buttons (pads) have to be programmed to different sounds / instruments / packs. We couldn't get any sound to come out of this thing and didn't understand it until we watched a bunch of videos that you have to really customize it (in the MPC beats program)10. My son didn't want to deal with all this he just wanted to play and very quickly told me he hates it and to return it. I told him we have 30 days lets at least make the effort to figure it out. I found a bunch of tutorials on youtube and sent them to him to watch. I said watch them and do everything they tell you. Only if u STILL can't figure it out or if the thing doesn't work we can then assume it's broken....11. After he watched some tutorials, he very quickly figured a lot of stuff out and FINALLY I WAS HEARING SOME BEATS!!! he learned how to record and we are currently figuring out how to load / program the pads to different sounds and trying to see if we can find any good free packs or if we should buy some....12. My son definitely spent some time playing around with sounds even after I told him we can finish the rest tomorrow and he can go play his games.13. BE PATIENT, WATCH TUTORIALS once you do all that it will be worth it.14. Be ready to invest some money into expansion packs on their website / explore other software15. Great way to get your kids to feel like they are playing / gaming without them wasting their life away on gaming. My son also likes to code where he imports music from youtube and now he can make his own music for his coding projects so it's a win/win.4 stars only because it was quite complex to install and learn there was no easy instructions included I had to google everything. They should include a video tutorial QR code