Akai MIDI Controllers
Akai has been making digital products since 1984 with their own velocity-sensitive MPC drum machine pads to synthesizers, controllers, studio monitors and much more. One of the top and most respected names in MIDI controllers, they have a model for any use and budget… check em out below!
Full Product Names and List Price:
- Akai LPK25 Laptop Performance Keyboard – $129
- Akai MPK88 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller – $999
- Akai MPK61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller – $699
- Akai MPK49 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller – $599
- Akai MPK25 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller – $499
- Akai Pro MPK Mini – $199
Company/Manufacturer: Akai Professional
Official Company Website: www.akaipro.com
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list price: $129
Get a 60% discount here
4 star rating average from well over 50 customers.
Nothing extravagant with the Akai LPK25 but if you just want to take advantage of the virtual instruments that came with your recording program this thing is compatible with pretty much all of them.
It was designed to go with a laptop and has a width that is equal across to most common size laptops. It's light and small to take with you with out a hassle.
User Complaints:
"…arpeggiator and sustain buttons are nice but you have to hold down the sustain button while you are playing"
"… I hate the packaging. it makes the keyboard looks like a toy"
"…The keys certainly aren't the greatest "
"… A size warning to those with large hands/fingers"
User Comments:
"…same Arppegiator that Akai uses in their MPK series comes with this"
"… keys are small but the feel is good enough that you can get melodic"
"… Unlike the Nanokey, which feels like Korg put a bunch of spacebars side by side, Akai actually made an effort to make this thing feel like a keyboard"
"… room for improvement but it is still the best in its class"
"… Much higher quality than the Korg Nanokey"
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list price $999
Get a 20% discount here
4 star rating average from 10 customers.
The Akai MPK88 is the best pro model made by Akai. Setting it apart from the other models are the full keyboard and real hammer action keys. Another feature is the pressure and velocity sensitive MPC drum pads which can really help create realistic sounding drum tracks. Works with virtually all MIDI recording, sequencing, and performance software.
User Complaints:
"…the ONLY downside is its weight"
"… I can't record with a microphone because I pickup keyboard noise"
"…i was bummed to find no power supply "
User Comments:
"…The biggest selling point for me on this was the action"
"… Compared to the Oxygen 88, I felt this had better feeling keys"
"…If you are looking for a hammer-action MIDI controller with lots of controllability, this is a great buy"
"… Very good bang for the buck if you want a midi controller that is very very sturdy and can do it all"
"… I am very pleased with the hammer-action touch on this keyboard"
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list price $699
Get a 43% discount here
4 star review from 8 customers.
If you don't really need the full 88's this is the next choice with 61 keys for a full 5 octaves. It doesn't have the full hammer weighted keys like the 88 model but has the semi-weighted and does have the aftertouch feature too as well as most of the top features that are on the 88 like MPC pads etc.
Main Features:
- 61-key semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch control
- 16 genuine MPC pads with pressure and velocity sensitivity
- MPC pads access four banks each for access to 48 samples
- MPC Note Repeat, MPC Swing, and arpeggiator
- Comes with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition software
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list price: $599
Main Features:
- 49-key, semi-weighted full-sized keys with aftertouch control
- 8 full-sized, 360 degree rotation pots, each with 3 banks for 24 pots total
- 12 genuine MPC pads with velocity and pressure sensitivity
- 8 full-sized sliders with 3 controller banks for each for 24 sliders total
- MMC/MIDI Start Stop transport buttons
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list price – $499
Get a 50% discount here
3 stars from 4 customers
The Akai MPK25 does most of what the bigger models do but obviously has some less pads, buttons etc. This is the one for portability next to the LPK25 of course which is not in the same league.
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list price – $199.00
Click for 55% discount from Amazon.com
4 star rating average from 19 customers.
Main key here is portability. No drivers needed – 2.0 compliant and USB powered. No pitch or mod wheels but still very programable. The MPK Mini is bit of a combination between the LPD8 and LPK25.
Main Features:
- Portable software MIDI controller
- 25-note, velocity-sensitive keyboard
- Eight backlit, velocity-sensitive MPC pads (2 banks, 16 total)
- Pads can send note information, MIDI CCs and program changes
- Eight assignable Q-Link knobs to adjust virtually any parameter
