The MPK Mini MK II offers 8 velocity- sensitive pads which are also backlit. Though it may seem a bit strange at first, as many other models utilize wheels for this parameter, we found that the thumbstick is quite fun and easy to use.ĭefinitely, an important part of any good MIDI keyboard is the pads. The synth- action keys certainly don’t aim towards the natural piano feel, but they still feel great and give a solid response.Ī neat way of controlling the pitch and modulation of the sound is done by the, once again, bright red colored thumbstick. If you didn’t have a chance to use a 25- key MIDI controller so far, getting used to one can be a bit tricky, as playing with two hands can be confusing at first. The solid plastic body rocks a black and red design, making it stand out in the crowd of gray and bland looking studio equipment. However, somewhat surprisingly, it holds a wide variety of features. A model with more keys would be even betterĪkai Professional MPK Mini MK II – Best Professional MIDI KeyboardĬompact and easy to fit in your backpack, the MPK Mini MK II certainly screams portability.There are similar models for less money.

All things considered, we would say that this MIDI keyboard offers the best environment for any kind of extensive recording sessions. User experience suggests that the MPK49 is definitely a durable device, as it stands to its performance levels even after a few years of use. What makes the MPK49 stand out the most are probably the two ‘sequence generating’ modules, the arpeggiator capable of clocking from a MIDI or internal source, and the Note Repeat, which is controlled via the pads. The 24 assignable controls include switches, knobs, and faders, 8 of each. If assignable buttons are your thing, you will definitely like what this keyboard has to offer. Even the most drum- hungry musicians will find this number quite satisfying. You can even cycle through four different pad banks, for a total of 64 different sounds. The 16 RGB backlit trigger pads correspond to different percussion presets. The MPK49 features 49 not only semi-weighted keys but also includes Aftertouch for optimal control. As it is a 49 key model, the dimensions are a bit larger, but still, make it a MIDI controller you can easily fit on your desk. Akai Professional MPK249 – The Best Midi Keyboard 2017Ī quick glance at this keyboard reveals the neatly organized layout of the buttons as well as the sturdy build.

Alesis v49 presets