The Novation Launchkey MK3 Mini has a sleek design that is similar to its predecessor, the MK2 Mini. With this being said, there definitely are some difference and improvements that Novation has made. As producers, you struggle to get inspired if you're using the same thing. A lot of times, a piece of analogue gear can break you out of that rut" – Shaun Lopez on crafting synth sounds for the long-awaited second album from Crosses In need of some fresh new instruments and effects? Our friends at Reason Studios have you covered. Registered customers can now get a 6-month FREE subscription to Reason+. The MPK mini Play comes bundled with MPC Beats, the powerful music-making and recording desktop software DAW for Mac and PC, based on the iconic MPC hardware. This DAW features a full array of musical instrument

The MPK mini mk3does not have a low power mode to operate with an iOS device, though many users have reported success using a powered USB hub to interface the MPK with their phone or tablet. Preset 1 on the MPK mini mk3 is configured to align with MPC Beats. To load the MPC preset, press and hold down the Prog Select Button and press Pad 1. Now, your MPK's pads will line up perfectly with MPC Beats! On the other hand, Akai has found a cheeky way to work within limitations more effectively than anything else I’ve been exposed to recently. Absolutely! The MPK mini mk3is compatible with virtually any DAW or music production software that will work with USB/MIDI keyboards. Refer to your DAW's documentation for more information on how to interface an external controller with the software.Yes! The AIR plugins will install their own standalone applications that can be used on their own without MPC Beats or a DAW. You can access the standalone Hybrid, Velvet, or Mini Grand software in your computer's Application or Program folder. Additionally, the mk3's keybed is a reimagined Gen 2 enhanced dynamic keybed, delivering a piano key performance fit for the world's finest keyboard players. From grand pianos to searing synth leads and lush electric pianos, this keybed guarantees to get the best out of any playing style and virtual instrument.

The arpeggiator can adjust in three ways: resolution, range and mode. You can get a surprising variety of lines out of it, enhancing your creative potential. Akai began with the first model of its MPC (Music Production Centre) range in 1988 with the MPC60. Since then, they’ve consistently innovated and further developed their product range into all sorts of nifty gadgets, and the MPK range is no exception.It has a bit of a split personality: by itself it’s a cool little musical keyboard, while connected to a computer it becomes a MIDI controller. There is a bit of crossover, but it’s odd and slightly confused to the point that it’s perhaps easier to see the Mini Play as one thing or the other, rather than both. Mini Piano

Note: Keep in mind that this code will license Hybrid, Mini Grand, and Velvet so you only need to redeem it once in iLok to authorize all of your AIR plugins. The OLED screen on this keyboard is extremely small but hey, its a screen, and that’s a really welcome addition to the AKAI MPK range. The screen is bright and legible, giving you a really clear and concise HUD to manage various parameters and settings within the DAW and the keyboard hardware itself. Why I Love The Akai MPK Mini Mk3There’s not a lot happening here as far as inputs and outputs. Everything is controlled and powered over a single USB MIDI connection, using a standard cable you probably already have lying around. There’s also a quarter-inch sustain pedal input. With Class Compliant, plug-and-play capability, MPK mini Play doubles as a powerful MIDI controller and instantly connects to your favorite DAW for immediate music production duties. 4 assignable rotary encoder knobs Classical musicians or music teachers might want to keep a device like this one handy, as well. It’s quite useful for basic MIDI input in an instructional setting, as well as basic typesetting in notation programs like Finale, Sibelius or Dorico. This intuitive instrument distills all of the key tools required by a producer into one compact unit. From a range of pads and assignable controls, to immediate integration with your preferred music production software and a new and improved Generation 2 enhanced dynamic keybed, this controller punches well above its weight.

Controller-wise, both keyboards offer the same amount of drum pads – eight in all, assignable in two banks for a total of sixteen – but in different layouts. The MiniLab lays all eight pads out in a single row, while the MPK prefers a 4 x 2 layout. This layout allows the pads on the MPK to be larger than those offered by the MiniLab, despite the MPK’s smaller overall footprint. The pads on both machines are illuminated, and both pressure and velocity-sensitive, but Akai has a serious pedigree when it comes to pads, and these examples, derived from the famous MPC product family, offer a greater degree of sensitivity, giving the MPK the edge in this regard.You have a pretty standard arp with the MK3, however, there aren’t too many mini controllers with arps out there. At the heart of the MPK mini Play is the new Gen 2 keybed. This new keybed delivers dynamic performances and accurate velocity response with a feel that players will certainly appreciate. While it maintains its sleek, assignable controls let you take complete command of every aspect of your production; the new Gen 2 enhanced dynamic keybed guarantees your performance is captured with every subtle infection of your delivery.