Akai Announces MPK mini 25 key USB Mini-Controller

[oblique strategies]

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2010/10/ ... ontroller/

The MPK mini keyboard is ideal for quickly entering notes and phrases into a computer and is also velocity-sensitive. Dedicated Octave Up and Down buttons instantly access different pitch ranges and a Sustain button provides further performance options. The MPK mini also has a built-in arpeggiator to create sparkling, staccato leads and driving bass lines in a variety of time signatures and patterns.

The MPK mini will be available from musical instrument and professional audio retailers Q4 2010. MPK mini has a U.S. Retail Price of $199.00 and an estimated street price of $99.00.

[joshspoon]

NICE!!!!

[Tarekith]

I really wish this had regular midi port as well, would be cool to use with certain hardware synths or the iPhone MIDI interfaces.

[rosti]

This looks NICE! I think i have to get one for my travel setup.

[agent314]

I've got the LPD8 and LPK and this would be the perfect 1-port solution for those

I just wish it had pitch bend/mod wheels

[oblique strategies]

I just wish it had pitch bend/mod wheels

Me too. That's why I might be more interested in the Alesis Q25 & Q49, & the Korg microKEY keyboards.

[condra]

Just perfect for music on the move. Bravo AKAI.

[Pitch Black]

I just wish it had pitch bend/mod wheels

+1, but you'll just have to map a couple of the knobs to those - not quite as playable, but still...

I think I'll be picking one of these up. Keys, Drums, and a little bit of live dub mixing for those trip-out moments in headphones on the road.

I sweep therefore I am.

[oblique strategies]

All in all, my thoughts exactly.

Mapping mod & pitch to knobs is OK, but not as expressive as two wheels that you can manipulate at the same time.

It's a bit of a toss up as to which of these mini keyboards will be on my shopping list...

[squelcht]

Awwwww it soo cuuuttee

[mholloway]

it reaaaaaaally needs a mod wheel! that's always my main complaint with the mini-keyboards, without a mod wheel they are seriously crippled to me.

still though, it looks cool.

-M

[5meohd]

who wants to buy my nanopad?

this and the apc40 pretty much complete my live rig.. laptop, interface, eurorack modular.

[IP]

looks nice but i guess the knobs are not endless right?

i hate the pickup mode

[davepermen]

i hate endless knobs. but i'd love a mod wheel..

[Pitch Black]

I hate endless knobs too. give me hardware 1-to-1 movement boyee

just have to assign a knob for the mod... I'll take the ability to do dubbing as a tradeoff.