Akai MPK Mini Play mk3 is a compact MIDI controller and a portable keyboard with 128 built-in sounds.
Akai Professional MPK Mini Play mk3 is a super-compact MIDI keyboard controller and also a self-contained portable keyboard that offers 128 built-in sounds.
The New model promises improved playability and a more powerful speaker
These include acoustic/electric pianos, synths, pads, drum kits and more, and the fact that there’s a built-in speaker – a better, more powerful one than was in the original MPK Mini Play – means you can jam away without any other hardware.
Portability is further aided by a battery power option, which promises to give you more than 14 hours of runtime. You can also power the keyboard via USB.
The 25-note keyboard is said to be more playable before, with improved velocity response. With just two octaves to work with, though, there’s not going to be a great deal of scope for giving two-handed performances.
The eight velocity-sensitve drum pads, meanwhile, are now officially ‘MPC-style’ ones, while the four parameter control knobs have been moved above them. There is an arpeggiator onboard, as well, along with an OLED display, and also a 1/8-inch headphone jack.
MPK Mini Play mk3 ships with both MPC Beats, Akai’s own DAW, and three plugins from Air Music Technology: the Hybrid 3 analogue synth, the Mini Grand acoustic piano, and Velvet, a vintage electric piano instrument. You also get the Melodics educational package, an interactive music learning resource.
Find out more on the Akai Pro website. The MPK Mini Play mk3 costs $149.
