YouTuber/Musician, Teatro, put together this awesome tutorial on how he uses his MPK Mini II in Ableton Live. I have one of these myself and really found his videos inspiring and helpful. The MPK Mini MkII is a really nice little controller that is very affordable, and if you map controls intelligently, it’s quite capable for live performance.
- AKAI Professional provides the best keyboards and keyboard controllers in the industry including the top selling MPK MIni. To ensure this, Mac and iOS! Buy AKAI Professional LPK25, Portable USB-powered MIDI Keyboard with 25 Velocity-Sensitive Keys with Synth Action for Laptops Mac & PC, Editing Software Included.
- MPK Mini MKII - Editor (Mac OS X) Mapping Out The Pads. The best way to use the included sample content is with the pads on your MPK Mini MKII. In order to make sure that your hardware pads will trigger the pads in the software, we want to load a new preset on to your MPK Mini MKII. Here's how: Download The MPK Mini MKII MPC Mapping file from.
MPK mini is an ultra-compact keyboard with an impressive array of buttons, knobs and pads that provide hands-on performance and production control over your music software. With a 25-key velocity-sensitive keyboard, 8 backlit MPC-style pads and 8 Q-Link knobs, the MPK mini.
How to set up akai mpk mini mk2 on ableton liveAkai Mpk Mini Mk2: up the akai mpk mini mk2 on ableton is pretty easy; you jus. I can't get Ableton to sync ARP to the mini. In ableton preferences. Control Surface MPK mini mkIII. Input: MPK mini 3. Output MPK mini 3. Input: MPKminimkIII Input (MPK min3., Track On, Sync Off, Remote On. Output: MPKminimkIII Output (MPK min. Track On, Sync On remote On. Velocity is nearly zero when. The Akai MPK Mini is a very cool midi controller already for it’s compact size, many controller options, built-in arpeggiator, and note repeat functions. It weighs under 2 lbs and can be used with a wide range of software and recording applications. The Akai MPK 261 is an extremely popular MIDI keyboard controller that has been crushing it since it came out. Akai has been a household name for music producers and keyboardists as their MIDI keyboards are some of the highest quality choices you can choose from.
Above is the tutorial, then below is the actual performance of he’s talking about in the tutorial. Great stuff! Free unrar software.
If you want to pick up an MPK Mini Mkii for yourself you can get one with the link below from Amazon.
- Controllers >MIDI Controllers
The tiny MPK25 goes beyond knobs and buttons alone, offering MPC-style drum pads for added versatility.
Our last encounter with Akai's MPK range of USB/MIDI controllers was back in the February 2008 issue of SOS, when we came face to face with the knob‑ and slider‑laden, 49‑key MPK49.
The MPK49 must have been a success for Akai, as it has since been joined by three new additions to the MPK family: the MPK88 (with a full‑sized, 88‑key, hammer‑action keyboard), the MPK61 (very similar to the MPK49, but with a 61‑key, semi‑weighted keyboard), and the MPK25 (reviewed here).
The MPK25 is essentially a smaller, cut‑down version of the MPK49. To say it's 'smaller', however, is a bit of an understatement. Comparing pictures of the two keyboards you don't really get a sense of just how compact the MPK25 is.. It's small. It has full‑sized keys, like the MPK49, but half as many of them; the same percussion pads; and many of the same assignable controls, all of them squeezed into a case measuring 477 x 359 x 88mm. In terms of its 'footprint', the MPK is just over an inch deeper than my laptop and about four inches wider. If it were a tea‑tray, it would be large enough to eat your dinner off — but only just!
Akai Mpk Mini Driver
The MPK25 is supplied with a printed quick‑start manual, a PDF version of the same, and a more extensive PDF reference manual. The PDFs and bundled software packages (see the 'Software' box) arrive on two installation CDs. A standard USB cable is also provided, for connecting to a host computer. The MPK25 is a genuine 'plug and play' device: neither Windows nor Mac OS X requires a driver to be installed, and once plugged in, the keyboard will work almost immediately.
Keys & Controls
The MPK's rear panel is where we find all of its socketry. This includes (from left to right) an input for a 6V PSU (not included), USB port, MIDI I/O and sockets for sustain and expression pedals.
Along with its 25‑key, semi‑weighted keyboard, the MPK25 provides 12 MPC‑style drum pads, 12 assignable controller knobs, four assignable buttons, a of assignments can be made (for a total of 24) while the MPK49 allows three (giving the same total).
On the back panel is a pair of standard MIDI ports (one in, one out) and a standard USB socket. The MPK25 is designed to be powered via USB, which assumes firstly that you'll be using it in conjunction with a computer (rather than, say, as a controller for hardware MIDI sound modules) and secondly that your computer's USB port will be capable of supplying sufficient current, which it probably will be. No mains adaptor is supplied, although there is a socket for connecting a third‑party adaptor (6V, 1A). There are also quarter‑inch jack sockets for connecting sustain and expression pedals (which aren't included).
The MPK25's keyboard is both velocity and aftertouch sensitive, but both sensitivities can be toggled on and off. Velocity sensitivity is linear in its response, and this is fixed (a choice of velocity 'curves' is not available). The 'semi‑weighted' keys feel solid and reliable, and are slightly springy, while octave Up and Down buttons can shift the keyboard's range up and down in two‑octave increments, over a 10‑octave range.
The large, rubberised pitch‑bend and modulation wheels are similar to those on the MPK49, and are very comfortable to use. The pitch‑bend wheel is spring‑loaded in the usual way, while the modulation wheel, again in the usual way, is not. The modulation wheel can have different Continuous Controllers assigned to it, although the pitch‑bend wheel only sends pitch‑bend data.
The MPK49 has a large, bright-blue, backlit display, which is clear and easy to read. Beneath it sit two rows of buttons. A knob to the right of the display allows you to change between 'presets', a preset being simply a record of all the current controller assignments. There are 30 preset slots available, all of which can have user presets saved to them. The first 16 come with useful pre‑programmed templates for software including Ableton Live Lite (included with the MPK), Reason, Cubase, Sonar and various other applications.
The 12 controller knobs are endless rotary encoders, whose two banks, as mentioned earlier, allow a total of 24 controller assignments. These can be used to send control-change or aftertouch data, and can also be set up to function as increment/decrement controls via NRPNs (Non-registered Parameter Numbers). The knobs are large and comfortable, and they feel sturdy and not at all crowded. Making and editing controller assignments is simple and straightforward, thanks, in part, to the MPK25's large display.
Beneath the knobs are the four freely assignable buttons, which illuminate when activated, and also double up as Time Division controls (more on which in a moment). As with the knobs, two banks are available. The Control Bank button works a bit like a Caps Lock key: one set of controller assignments is accessible when it is activated, the other when it is deactivated.
The MPK25 also has a Tap Tempo button, which can be used manually to set the unit's tempo, with an LED beside it that flashes to indicate the current setting. The keyboard can generate its own tempo internally or follow an external source, such as a sequencing application running on the host computer.
Beat This
The heavy‑duty drum pads (borrowed from the Akai MPC5000) are positioned above the left‑hand end of the keyboard, in four rows of three. Drum pads of this kind are by no means unique to the MPK range, but Akai's implementation of the idea seems like a particularly good one. The pads feel solid and playable, with just a small amount of 'bounce'. Although they're not large, there's enough room on each one to allow simple, two‑finger 'rolls' to be played.
The pads are velocity sensitive, which you'd expect, and pressure (ie. aftertouch) sensitive, which you might not. The threshold for the minimum force to trigger a note‑on is adjustable, and whereas keyboard velocity response is linear, the pads offer a choice of four velocity curves. Sounds can be assigned to the pads in four banks, allowing a total of 48 assignments, accessible in groups of 12. Pads can send MIDI notes or Program Change messages, and can operate in one of two modes: Momentary (normal drum-pad behaviour) or Toggle (a note‑on is sent on the first hit, a note off on the next, and so on).
The MPK25, like the MPK49, incorporates a Note Repeat function borrowed from the MPC‑series workstations, which is simple but surprisingly effective. Using Note Repeat, pads can be hit and held down to trigger repeated playback of the assigned sound. The interval between repetitions is controlled by the Time Division parameter, which can be set to 1/4 (quarter notes), 1/4T (quarter note triplets), 1/8, 1/8T, 1/16, 1/16T, 1/32 and 1/32T.
Note Repeat makes it easy to create drags and rolls that would be impossible to play live on the pads, and fiddly to step‑program in your sequencer. Combined with the pads' pressure sensitivity, this opens up a range of possibilities. For example, where a sound source has filter cutoff modulated by MIDI note velocity, you can play real‑time filter‑sweeps by holding down a pad and varying the pressure. If the sound source is a 'one‑shot' sample, the result will be a rhythmically gated sweep, its phrasing determined by the tempo and Time Division settings. There's also a 'gate' parameter, for controlling the duration of the repeated notes, and a 'swing' parameter offsets alternate repeats to 'loosen up' the phrasing.
Like the MPK49, the MPK25 has a built‑in arpeggiator, which is easy to use and works well. As with Note Repeat, the Time Division setting controls its phrasing, and there are adjustable gate and swing parameters. Six arpeggio types are available: Up (from the lowest to the highest note held); Down (the opposite of Up); Inc (Inclusive, going from lowest to highest notes and back again, with lowest and highest notes retriggered when the arpeggio changes direction); Exc (Exclusive, like Inclusive, except that the lowest and highest notes aren't retriggered); Rand (Random); and Chrd (which repeats the held notes as a chord). The arpeggio's range, in octaves, can also be adjusted.
Conclusion
In spite of its small size, the MPK25 manages the neat trick of not seeming at all cramped. The full‑sized keys and drum pads are every bit as playable as those of the MPK49, and the controller knobs are large and well‑spaced enough to avoid being fiddly. Overall, the MPK25 feels like a serious, grown‑up MIDI controller, rather than a scaled‑down toy keyboard.
Its compact size might make the MPK25 a good choice for the smallest home studio setups, or for musicians on the move seeking a powerful, professional‑quality MIDI controller that's small enough to travel with. Its two‑octave span limits its usefulness as a live performance keyboard, but for studio‑based programming, or simple triggering of sounds in a live situation, the MPK25 could be ideal.
Akai Mpk Mini Ableton Live
Alternatives
Novation's Remote SL25 is probably the MPK25's closest competitor, offering a set of drum pads alongside its other assignable controls. Edirol's PCR range includes several keyboards that might rival the MPK25 for compactness and portability, although none quite matches it for features. Emu's Xboard controllers would also be worth a look.
Bundled Software
Included with the MPK25 is a useful Vyzex MPK25 preset editor and librarian application, for Windows and Mac OS X. The software is developed by PsiCraft and based on Sound Quest's highly‑regarded MIDI Quest universal editor and librarian. The editor does what you'd expect, connecting to the MPK49 via USB and/or MIDI, providing a point‑and‑click user interface via which all imaginable preset‑editing tasks can be accomplished, and allowing banks to be written to and read from computer. It works well, and is definitely a useful addition to the bundle.
A special 'Akai Edition' of Ableton's Live Lite software is also supplied, including custom presets for Live's Impulse virtual drum machine. Asyou may know, Live Lite is a cut‑down version of Ableton's popular Live sequencing application, and Live Lite users are offered an upgrade path to the full version. A serial number must be entered during installation and the software activated via an Internet connection before it can be used.
Pros
- Well built and extremely compact.
- MPC‑style pads and Note Repeat function are a winning combination.
- Easy‑to‑use arpeggiator.
- Editor/librarian software is a welcome bonus.
Summary
A well‑built, playable and powerful MIDI controller in an unusually small package.
Akai Mpk Mini Ableton Live
information
£269 including VAT.Numark UK +44 (0)1252 341400.
$399.Akai Mpk Mini Ableton
Akai +1 401 658 4032.
Akai Mpk Mini Setup
Test Spec
Akai Mpk Mini Software Download
- Vyzex MPK25 v1.00.
- Ableton Live Lite v7.07.
- PC with 1.5GHz Intel Celeron CPU and 1GB RAM, running Windows Vista.
Mar 13, 2017 We made a beat from scratch using Garageband and it accidentally turned disney LOL! We used the akai mini mpk ii and an iMac with garageband. MPK mini Editor is an editing program for mini-keyboard Akai Pro MPK. The Akai Pro MPK mini is an ultra-compact mini-keyboard with an impressive array of buttons, knobs and pads to provide 'hands-on' performance and production control no matter your location. The MPK mini keyboard is ideal for quickly entering notes and phrases into your computer.
The MPK mini mkII is an ultra-compact controller designed for the traveling musician and desktop producer. In this guide and video, we cover setup with the MPK mini mkII with the included MPC Essentials software and the AIR Hybrid plugin. We walk through downloading, installing, and authorizing the software and how to quickly get up and running and making music.
Feb 20, 2020 Hi there, I bought a mpk mini 2 a week before and i really find it difficult to use with MPC Essential.I have watched dozens of videos and tutorial on youtube but none of them are that helpful. I request the helpful brothers out here especially Mr Dan R to make a video of composing music using MPC essential. I mean the video covering MPC software tutorial which includes from begining to end. Our website provides a free download of Vyzex MPK25 10.0.5. Vyzex MPK25 lies within Multimedia Tools, more precisely General. The actual developer of the free software is Akai Professional, LP. The most popular versions among the software users are 10.0 and 1.0. The MPK Mini MKII is a class-compliant MIDI device. A class-compliant device is one that doesn't require extra drivers to connect your Windows or Macintosh computer. Class-compliant devices use drivers which are built into the host (i.e. The computer) operating system. Begin by connecting the MPK Mini MKII to a free USB port on your computer.
Guide Contents
Video Walkthrough
Akai Pro MPK mini MKII – How to Download, Install and Setup the Included Software (Mac Overview)
Akai Pro MPK mini MKII – How to Download, Install and Setup the Included Software (Windows Overview)
Driver Installation
The MPK Mini MKII is a class-compliant MIDI device. A class-compliant device is one that doesn't require extra drivers to connect your Windows or Macintosh computer. Class-compliant devices use drivers which are built into the host (i.e. the computer) operating system.
- Begin by connecting the MPK Mini MKII to a free USB port on your computer. We recommend going into the back of your computer, as this is closest to the power supply. This will provide the most power necessary to the controller for optimum performance.
- After connecting the controller to your computer, Windows will install the driver necessary for the MPK Mini MKII to communicate with your computer.
Registration
1. Launch your web browser and go to www.akaipro.com.
2. Go to the top right-hand corner of the web site and click on Sign In, you will be prompted to a new page to either Create a New Account or Sign In.
3. If you are a new customer, click on Create an account or Sign In if you are a previous customer.
Fill out the necessary information to register as a new user and click Create Account. The minimum length of the password must be equal or greater than 8 symbols.
4. You have successfully made an account! Click on your name at the top right-hand corner of the website and you will see a drop-down menu. Select My Account.
5. On the left-hand side of your Account page you should see My Dashboard. Go to the bottom of this section and select My Registered Products.
6. This is where you register your new Akai controller. Please make sure that you are entering the complete serial number as it appears on the bottom or back of your product. The serial number will be located on a bar code and will begin with a “(21).”Please be sure to include the “(21)” when entering your serial number. Neglecting the '(21)' and failing to capitalize the 'A' will result in a rejected serial number. If you are entering the parentheses around the (21) and the product is still not registering, try clearing the cache in your web browser and try again. Select Register Product to complete registration.
7. You have successfully registered your Akai controller! All of your registered products will show up under Product Registrations. Scroll down in your Registration Page to see all of your available Software Downloads.
Downloading, Installing and Unlocking MPC Essentials
After successfully registering the controller, you will be presented with the serial numbers and download links for MPC Essentials, Hybrid 3, and Wobble. To download, install and unlock MPC Essentials:[
1. Select MPC Essentials 1.8.2 (PC) or MPC Essentials 1.8.2 (Mac) depending on your operating system. This will download as a file called Update-MPC-Essentials-1.8.2. Save this zip folder to your desktop.
2. After the download is complete, you will need to extract the files before installation. To do this, right-click on the Update-MPC-Essentials-1.8.2-WIN on your desktop and select Extract All.
By default, the program that is used to unzip files in your computer should be Windows Explorer.
Follow this link for additional information on how to extract files on Windows operating systems:
3. After the files are extracted, go into the Update-MPC-Essentials-1.8.2-WIN folder and select the Installer Assets folder. Select the Install_mpc. application to run the setup for MPC Essentials.The software may notify you that a previous version of MPC has not been installed.
4. Follow all of the prompts to proceed with the installation. Important: While some MPC Essentials products do require drivers, this one will not. Please ignore any prompts to install drivers.
5. After the installation is completed, you will be prompted to unlock your software. Select Unlock Now to continue.
To unlock the software, make sure you're entering the serial number for MPC Essentials found within your Akai Professional account. This will be a 15-digit code containing a mixture of capital letters and numbers, preceded with a '(21)'. Do not use the serial number on the back of your product.
6. You will want to make sure you're entering this number exactly as it appears in your account. To make the process easier, we recommend copy/pasting the code from your account into the software. Fill in the rest of the information and select Unlock Now.
After this, you will see a box saying you've successfully unlocked your MPC!
Congratulations, you have successfully installed the latest version of MPC Essentials!
Installing Hybrid and Wobble
1. Return to your Akai Professional account, and select AIR Hybrid (PC) to download Hybrid. Repeat with the download link for Wobble to download Wobble. The license for each plugin will be located on the right-hand side of the download.
2. After the download is complete, we will need to extract the files before installation. To do this, right-click on the zip folder and select Extract All.. . Make sure you remember this location so we can retrieve it afterward.
After the file is extracted, select Hybrid_3.0.7_Setup to run the installer for your plugin.
Follow all of the prompts to proceed with the installation.
Hybrid Installer :
Wobble Installer :
3. For Windows users, pay attention to the location where the 32 and 64-bit Hybrid and Wobble are being installed. You will need to know this later on in order to scan the plugins into MPC Essentials. By default, these will install to:
Hybrid
32-bit: Program Files(x86) / Steinberg / vstplugins
64-bit: Program Files / Steinberg / vstplugins
Wobble
32-bit and 64-bit: Program Files (x86)SONiVOXVST
4. It is common practice to put all of your plugins into a single folder in order to keep track of your plugin library, so you may want to consider changing the install location of one or both of the plugins to a single location. Note: It is ok to install both 32 and 64-bit versions to the same folder, but be aware that your DAW will only be able to recognize one and may fail the other.
5. Restart your computer once the plugins have been installed.
Authorizing Hybrid and Wobble
Before scanning and opening the plugins in MPC Essentials, authorize Hybrid and Wobble with the iLok License Manager:
1. If you do not have an Ilok account, make sure to go to ilok.com and click on Create Free Account. Fill out all of the necessary fields in the Free Account Setup page and select Create Account.
2. Once you have created your account, go back to the home page of the web site, you will find the License Support Installers. /update-konica-minolta-printer-driver-mac-os/. Download the appropriate installer for your operating system.
3. After installing the application, find and open the iLok License Manager from your Programs or Applications folder.
4. Click on Sign-In in the top left corner. If you have used iLok before with other products and have an account, sign-in to your account.
Please note: We recommend using an iLok account. Signing in is not always necessary to utilize an iLok license, but having and using an account to keep track of your licenses is free and provides additional features and options for managing and moving your licenses when necessary. You can see our Managing Authorization Codes and Licenses guide for more information.
5. Once you are logged in, click on Licenses at the top of the window and choose Redeem Activation Code.
A window will appear with space for you to enter an authorization code.
6. Navigate to your Akai Pro account page, highlight and copy the Authorization Code for Hybrid. Paste this code into the first box on the left and the code will fill out the remaining fields. When you're ready, click Next. Repeat this process when authorizing the Wobble plugin.
7. You will be prompted to choose a location for your license. You are free to choose an iLok dongle if you have one, but for most users, just choose your computer (this will be the option with the computer icon on the left) and click Activate.
8. You will be asked to confirm this one more time. Click Activate.
Finally, iLok will notify you when the activation is complete!
This process (steps 3 - 8) can be repeated for any other plugins that utilize an iLok license.
Scanning Hybrid and Wobble into MPC Essentials
1.Open MPC Essentials and navigate to the Preferences menu.
MAC: Select MPC > Preferences
PC: Select EDIT > Preferences
Choose the Plugins tab.
2. Add a check to the first available box on the left, then click on the browse box at the end of that row to browse to your plugin installation location.
3. To scan for the Hybrid plugin, click on the drop-down menu to browse and then select your C:[Hard Drive], double click on Program Files (not Program Files (X86,) double click on your Steinberg folder, and finally click on VSTpluginsonce and press Open on the bottom right-hand corner of the window.
In order to scan the second folder in MPC Essentials for Wobble, go back to the Plugins tab in the Preferences window and repeat steps 1 & 2 on the next empty field.
To scan for the Wobble plugin, click on the drop-down menu to browse and then select your C:[Hard Drive], double click on Program Files (x86,) double click on your SONiVOX folder, double click on the VST folder, and finally click on SONiVOXonce and press Open on the bottom right-hand corner of the window.
Hybrid
32-bit: Program Files(x86) / Steinberg / vstplugins
64-bit: Program Files / Steinberg / vstplugins
Wobble
32 & 64 bit : Program Files (x86) / SONiVOX / vstplugins / SONiVOX / VST
4. Click on Rescan All, allow the MPC Essentials software to scan all plugins in the selected location and then press OK.
Opening Plugins in MPC Essentials
1. First, navigate to the Preferences menu, find the MIDI tab and check off the box next to your MIDI controller (i.e. your MPK Mini MKII). This will tell the software to listen to incoming midi data from that device.
2. Exit the Preferences window and go to the center of the MPC Essentials software, to the right of the pads, you'll find your Sequence section. Click on the drop-down menu next to Typeand change it to Plugin.
3. You will then see a drop-down menu labeled Plugin. Click on this menu to browse for your VST plugins.
Akai Professional Mpk Mini Software Download
4. To open Hybrid or Wobble, click on the '+' next to VST to view your available VST plugins. Drop down the AIR Music Technology folder to open Hybrid, or the SONiVOX folder to open Wobble. You can load either of these plugins by double-clicking on them or clicking on them once then the Select button on the bottom right.
5. To view the plugin interface (GUI) and change sounds, click on the 'E'
button next to the Plugin drop-down menu.
Do not change plugin presets from the preset drop down in MPC Essentials.
Hybrid GUI :
Wobble GUI :
And that's it! You are ready to make some noise with Hybrid and your MPK Mini MKII.
Installing MPC Expansions
Expansion packs are samples that are organized into drum kits. They’re formatted specifically for MPC and can be quickly loaded to trigger from the MPK’s pads.
1. To install an Expansion, open your Akai account and scroll to the Software Download section. Under MPC Essentials Sound Libraries you’ll see Elements of UK Dance, Elements of House and Elements of Dystopia.
2. Click on Elements of UK Dance to download the installer packet.
Akai Mpk Mini Software Mac
3. Once the download completes, go to your Download folder. Mac users can double-click on the zip file to extract the installer. PC users, right-click on the zip file and select Extract All.
4. Once the file extracts, double-click the installer for your OS.
Mac users should select the DMG file.
PC users can run the Setup Application.
5. Follow the prompts to complete the installation. By default, The Expansion will install in the MPC content folder which will be automatically added to the MPC Essentials Browser. But, more on that to come!
6. For now, repeat this same process for Elements of House and Elements of Dystopia.
Beats Akai Mpk Mini
Loading an MPC Expansion to a Drum Program
Expansions are automatically added to the Browser during installation and can be easily loaded to a Drum Program.
1. First, make sure that your Program type is set to Drum.
2. Open the Browser by clicking the X icon at the bottom left of the screen.
3. Each Expansion pack is represented by a thumbnail image. Click the thumbnail to view its contents.
4. To add a sample, program or sequence to your Drum Program click on the file and drag-and-drop it into the software. Keep in mind, samples will need to be dropped on to a specific pad.
What's Next?
- Downloading, Installing and Using the Sample Content - Also included with your MPK mini MKII are three content packs full samples and loops to help you get started producing beats and making music! Check out this guide for a full introduction and walkthrough.
- Difficulty Loading Wobble and Hybrid 3 in MPC Essentials - Having trouble getting Hybrid and Wobble to appear in Essentials? The plugins aren't coming up when you scan for them? This guide walks through this process more in-depth, pointing out common misconceptions and how to overcome them. If you're feeling lost, this guide will point you in the right direction.
- AIR Hybrid Overview and Tutorial Videos - Want to learn more about how Hybrid works? Check out these videos!
- MPK Mini MKII Knowledge Base - Find more guides and tutorials on using your MPK Mini and MPC Essentials here!
Further Technical Support
Whether you are a customer or dealer, if you already own an Akai Pro product, or if you just have pre-sales questions, the Akai Pro technical support team is available to help!
Akai Mpk Mini Software For Mac
Visit the link below to connect with any of the following support options: online community support, phone support, email support.
The MPK mini mkII is an ultra-compact keyboard controller designed for the traveling musician and the desktop producer. If you just picked up on one of these handy controllers, you may be wondering: what do I do next? Look no further! This guide compiles all of the best articles and tutorials to help you get completely up and running, and take your productions to the next level.
Contents
Getting started with the included software: MPC Essentials, Hybrid, and Wobble
If you're new to the MPK mini mkII, the first thing you may want to do after opening your new keyboard is get started with all of the included software. To do this, simply create an account at AkaiPro.com and register your MPK mini mkII. After successfully registering your product, you'll find downloads and authorization codes for all of the included software and content.
For a complete walkthrough on setting up your MPK mini mkII with MPC Essentials, Hybrid, and Wobble, check out the guide below:
Important: You do not need to use your MPK mini mkII with MPC Essentials, and for a lot of our users, you may prefer not to!
MPC Essentials is an introductory software to MPC, with a focus on beat production. If that's not your thing, there are plenty of alternative software titles from a variety of developers that are free or inexpensive and may fit your needs a little better. Most will even come with a free trial and plenty of sounds and instruments so you can try before you buy!
If you're interested in expanding to a new DAW software, check out our section below on DAW Setup.
Mapping the pads with MPC Essentials and using samples
If you're using MPC Essentials with your MPK mini mkII, you're probably interested in using the pads to trigger samples. But, you may notice that the pads do not automatically trigger the corresponding pads in MPC Essentials.
To do this, all you'll need to do is install a preset onto your MPK Mini so the pads will send the right MIDI notes to hit the right triggers. The guide below walks through installing the MPC Essentials preset as well as how to download and use all of the included sample content provided in your akaipro.com account.
Akai Mpk software download, free
Using multiple sounds or tracks in MPC Essentials
The MPC Essential's software is a one instrument DAW. This means you can only use one sound at a time when using MPC Essentials in a stand-alone mode.
However, with the use of another DAW, you can open multiple instances of MPC essentials as a plugin, expanding how many instruments you can open using the MPC Essentials. For a more detailed description and walkthrough, see the guide below.
DAW Setup
Being that the MPK mini mkII is a midi controller, it can be used in virtually any DAW. If MPC Essentials isn't quite what you're looking for, there are plenty of free or inexpensive DAW and music creation software titles available from a variety of developers. We've put together several walkthrough guides to help you get started with some of the more popular software alternatives. Click the link for your DAW below, for a full setup walkthrough:
MPK mini mkII and MPC Essentials Training
Once you have set up your MPK mini mkII and MPC Essentials software in standalone or as a plug-in, you are ready to begin creating! For an introduction to the included MPC Essentials software, click the link below.
For an introduction and training to the included MPC Essentials software, check out some of our articles and videos below:
The MPK mini mkII Editor - What it does and how to use it
Using the MPK mini Editor, you can map your pads to whatever function you want. In some cases, this can mean mapping the pads to line up with the pads on your screen. For a complete guide, please refer to the link provided below.
Additional Guides & Videos
Further Technical Support
Akai Mpk Mini Software Download Mac Free
Whether you are a customer or dealer, if you already own an Akai Pro product, or if you just have pre-sales questions, the experienced Akai Pro technical support team is available to help! Visit the link below to connect with any of the following support options: online community support, phone support, email support.