Akai ProfessionalMPK Mini MK3 - 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8 Knobs and Music Production Software and Native Instruments Sound Package (NKS Integration), Black

For several years I have fancied dabbling in music production and I wanted a MIDI controller that would be easy to use and have as much versatility as possible. For me this I meant having both pads and keys.I looked at several options but settled on the MPK mini as it appeared to offer the best combination of features and value for money.Firstly, it really looks the part, I have the black and white version which has a cool simplistic look with inverted black and white keys. Aesthetically I preferred this to the black/red or white/black options.Setup was easy but this is where a few people will find some difficulty.This is a MIDI keyboard which means that it will work 'out of the box' with almost ant DAW (digital audio workstation) software with no almost no configuration. Personally I use Ableton Intro and it is simply a case of plugging in the keyboard and selecting the MPK mini as the input device in the options. This of course, will vary depending on your software. The keyboard can then be further programmed when you have a bit more experience with your DAW.The keyboard does come with several software synthesizers and the basic version of Akai's own DAW, MPC Beats. The synthesizers can be a little tricky to set up as you will need to set up the authorisation system that they use. All I can advise is that you read the instructions carefully and it is fairly easy to do. You will need to register your keyboard with Akai but then you will have access to the installer which will help you install everything you need to get started. It is worth noting that these synths are not required for the use of the keyboard but will give you a really nice variety sounds to play with and I really do recommend you taking the time to install these.Personally, I use several Native Instruments synthesizers and sample players and this keyboard works really well with all of them also with little to no configuration.Both the keys and pads are velocity sensitive so the volume of my notes/drums will vary depending on how hard I press them.The infinite knobs (meaning the rotation doesn't have a start and end point) are really nice to use and can be configured to control almost anything within your DAW. The built in arpeggiator is a nice touch and is easy to use to create some cool note repeats, a great tool for use in EDM.The pitch/bend joystick control feels a little different to the traditional wheel controls but is really useful when you get the hang of it.The 8 drum pads are really nice to use, they have a really positive feel and react well to being tapped. You can also program a second bank of drums which can be switched easily giving you access to 16 different drum sounds. In my opinion the pads are on par with the pads on the (more expensive) Native Instruments Maschine Mikro beat maker. (I also own this controller and if you're into beatmaking I highly recommend it).This is a really great controller for the beginner, which I very much am. I really enjoy playing with it and I am constantly impressed with the quality and the features of the keyboard.Once you get past the installation of the synths, which is easy if you follow the instructions carefully, you can start making music almost immediatelySpend the time to learn how it works - there are literally hundreds of helpful videos on Youtube that will assist you in getting started.I honestly believe that this is the best MIDI keyboard you can buy as a beginner and can't be beaten at the price.

As with any product of this type, make sure it fits your intended usage before you buy. For me, this product is excellent for the following reasons:- Build quality is solid- Small size is perfect for a minimal home studio (photo attached for indication of product size)- 25 keys ideal for simple leads and bass lines (you can switch up and down octaves with one touch to find the best range)- Plug and play is instant, works with stand alone synths or your DAW of choice (for me that's Cubase and it works great as expected).- 8 pads that are touch sensitive like the keys, great for drums/percussion (and can easily switch between 2 banks so effectively you've got 16 presets)- Control knobs can be assigned to DAW- Excellent synth bundled with the product (Hybrid3)Factors that were relevant to me:- I'm mainly interested in rock/metal and guitars, I just wanted the Akai to be a simple tool to control the rest- I'm not an expert on piano/keyboards, so I don't mind fewer keys and I'm perfectly happy with the feel of the keys on the AkaiI also had to weigh up the Akai against an alternative product that offered potentially better out-of-the-box integration with Cubase (but that had less of a software bundle). In the end I decided I wanted the Hybrid3 synth more than the instant integration, as I'm happy to map the controllers myself (it's easy enough) so I went with the Akai. I'm glad I did as Akai feels perfect, and Hybrid3 is actually worth a few quid in itself. There are some excellent freeware synths out there, and I expected it to be like a good one of those, however it surprised me with just how good it is and how much I enjoy using it. It's a great synth offering modern blended sounds (effectively it's 2 synths blended together), it really takes things up a level.There is other bundled software:- Mini Grand and Velvet are 2 decent VSTs, but not necessarily my go-to instruments (Velvet's interesting, Mini Grand is fine but just doesn't really fit with what I'm trying to produce musically)- MPC Beats is a loop-based DAW and there are some sound/sample packs to support it. This could be a great beginner software kit if you're just starting out with loops, it has some interesting tools but doesn't really suit the rock/metal vibe I'm playing with, and my tool of choice is Cubase as mentioned earlier. Having said that, MPC will open as a VST in Cubase so it'll link in neatly if needed.- Also worth mentioning is 'MPK mini Editor' is available to download too (it's hidden in the download manager settings under "Advanced Software"). It will help with all the detailed controller mapping; as yet I've not explored in to too much detail here, for now I'm satisfied just using basic controls and it's good to know the functionality is there for when I'll want it later.Couple of points to bear in mind particularly if you're very new to digital music production:- This is a midi controller and it needs separate software to generate sounds. You get Hybrid3 and a couple of other VSTs which is an excellent start, so once you install them you can get on and make loads of sounds immediately with this package. You will need a DAW to record and mix the sounds (there are plenty at all price points -including free- out there if MPC Beats doesn't quite give you what you need).- The download and install process for the software is a bit extensive if you want all the associated products, but it's only a one-off, and is pretty straightforward. You'll need to make an Akai account online, and also as part of the install you need to create (or log-in with existing) iLock account to validate install.Overall:- Great plug and play product (with VSTs/DAW)- Excellent supporting software synth (Hybrid3)- A real no-brainer 5 stars from me as the MPK mini suits my needs perfectly, and the quality of the supplied synth exceeded my expectations.