Expected to get a compact midi keyboard which is recommended for beginners, works well with most music production softwares, and it's just plug and play.

I'm not satisfied with this product, nor am I with the software it comes with.

• MPC Essentials

• AIR Hybrid

• SONiVOX Wobble

Maybe it's just me expected too much of a 100 dollar keyboard. But here is what I don't like as a newbie.

I expected to play like "melodies" on the keys and "drums" on the pads, due to it's good to plug-and-play with the given software, but it was not even close. I did the exact same installation process as the official source page described, and the only sound I got was a very annoying electric buzzy sound. That happened so far.

So then I went back to my old Cubase LE 4 software. With that I was at least able to produce some sound through the keyboard but I still had some delay or latency in response.

Maybe I'm not a master of midi and its software but that's the reason I choose plug and play. I thought it will be so easy to produce some instrument sounds like drum kit, guitar, piano, strings, and only the electric sounds.

If you music makers don't mind, I'd leave some questions to you as I think some of you are most educated in the fields of MIDI music than I. So...

• For non-electric, non-house, non-minimal music production: did I get the proper midi device with the proper midi software?

• Why am I having that annoying latency when I play? My machine has 8GB of ram with an i5 Intel Core.

• Am I doing it the wrong way if I want to essentially just 'play' on a keyboard and don't want to modify and amplify and flange the sounds?

• If the problem is not the keyboard but the software: please recommend me some instrument-related software.

Thank you music makers of reddit

EDIT (after 2 days of research): Thank you for all the comments. It turns out I did misinterpret plug-and-play. It also turned out my built-in audio device is quite much not for this kind of work. If I want to record MIDI with this computer, I will want to buy an external sound card. Maybe a Mac would handle the simplicity of the plug-and-play feeling, which, in my definition means that you connect only one keyboard to your only one computer, making it that simple to work together with your DAW.

Thanks for the technical support

Hi guys, I have been producing beats only in FL Studio only with my mouse and keyboard (no external midis) and I want to step up the game a little bit.

Any experiences with this midi? Is it worth buying? It perfectly fits my budget, I would not like to spend more money on gear (for now).

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional-MPK-MKII-Ultra-Portable/dp/B00IJ6QAO2

Hey, I wanted to ask about the software when buying a used Akai mini. While searching for information about this pad (im completely new to making music) I've discovered that it has some sort of downloadable software - the only condition to meet is typing in the product number (key?) on their website. So, if I have no way to check if this code has already been used (got an offer off a pawn shop), is it still worth buying it? Also, can someone help a beginner out with what other software (preferably free, windows 10) to use to make this pad work? I'm too broke for FL

The box doesn't say it anywhere and I can't see anything about it on the keyboard itself, what's the way to tell??

I've so many reviews of people who either don't succeed with the setup phase, or say that their computer doesn't recognize the keyboard (mostly pc users), among other things. There seem to be a LOT of softwares/drivers to install, and I'm just wondering if it would be better just to buy some other keyboard, because I'm not looking forward to having to contact AKAI or to return my product.

Can anyone who has this keyboard share their experience ?

I've been torn for days. Anyone have good or bad experiences with either? Thanks!

EDIT: It should be the MPK Mini MK2, but I can't edit the title on mobile

Hello there,

after many years I picked up my MPK mini MKII again and I wanted to set the pads. Thought I might be able to do this directly on the device, but seems like I need to do this on a Mac/PC with the Editor app.

I downloaded the Editor on the product page, but it crashes non-stop and I guess it’s not compatible with M1 macs. I hoped I might be able to do this with the Beats app, but I didn’t find the option.

Is there any way to set the pads with a currently supported Mac software?

I was looking for a controller under 100 hundred bucks and the two that stand out the most is the launchpad mini and the Akai mini mk2. I don't know any other good controller that got food reviews except these two. I also wanted to ask if you can remap joystick to move up and down channels during looping.

so i am trying to become a producer and i have already tried fl studio and i kinda suck at it and i believe that i would be better if i buy a midi controller but what if not? i mean 100$ are a lot for me and if im not good at it than i have maybe wasted 100$ so do you think it's worth it or not?

I've been looking for the main differences for a while but I still couldn't find anything. Maybe the materials used?

Hello everyone! I am thinking of buying the MIDI keyboard mentioned in the title, and would it be good for me to learn playing even some basic stuff? And is it a good keyboard overall? I'm looking forward to using it in productions to make the workflow easier for me in the future, and i'd also like to learn new stuff.

This is the first time I've ever touched a midi device. I've recorded my guitar, via usb cable, once or twice in the past using something like Cakewalk, CoolEdit or ProTools, but I'm fairly clueless when it comes to Reaper as well.

My basic desire (maybe I'll expand if I ever get a grasp on this thing) is to record some drum tracks to accompany my guitar.

Also, the MPK mim MkII came with the following software that I'm not fully sure what it even does:

• AIR Hybrid 3 Virtual Instrument

• MPC Essentials Software 1.6.1

• SONiVOX Wobble 2.1 Virtual Instrument

• MPK Mini MKII Editor 1.0.5 <~ this is the only one I'm pretty sure I understand what it does (and that it is over my head at this point)

• MPC Essentials Sound Content - Elements Of UK Dance

• MPC Essentials Sound Content - Elements Of House

• MPC Essentials Sound Content - Elements Of Dystopia

If anyone can give me a brief walk through from "open the box" to "now when you press a key, it will make a sound" that would be great!

I'm totally new to hardwares, and it'll be my first one. I use Ableton to make acid/industrial techno.

I would like to be able to have nice improv jam/live sessions with loops and all. I know synths are better for live sessions, but if one is better at it than the other, I'd get that one. Help me choose my first MIDI. Thanks! Please elaborate on your suggestions :D

EDIT: 49 keys would definitely help me get more range but how drastic will the change be? If it's likely that I will outgrow 25 keys fast, which 49 key controllers do you suggest?

Both are pretty much the same price online ($99 currently). I thought the original mpk mini would be good because it's simple and also has the easy preset editor that you can download online for it. The mpk mini mk2, on the other hand, has all these cool doohickeys that I would love to play around with. There aren't many sources online about the mpk mini mk2 that go into detail as much as for the mpk mini.

My Akai MIDI (MPK Mini mk2) controller used to connect automatically and using it was a breeze. I've never had any problems with it. Was just using it two days ago. Now it no longer connects to Ableton. When I plug it in to my computer the BANK A/B button lights up green on the midi controller so I don't think the hardware connection is faulty. But when I go to trouble shoot in the Ableton preferences half the settings options aren't there that I'm reading about. The Input/Output options currently read "None" because there are no other options to choose from? And all the MIDI Port sections (Track, Sync etc) are completely inactive? Can anyone help me with this? Using a Mac computer btw.

I'm looking to buy a launchkey to play around with and make some music while I'm bored. The MPK mini looks like almost exactly what I want, only I wonder how portable it exactly is? Do I have to hook it up to a Laptop, pc or IOS device to play it or is it also possible to load your tracks on to it and take it to the park or something without any of those devices?