Akai has launched the MPK Mini Plus II 37-key mini controller keyboard, four years almost to the day since the original Mini Plus II came out.
Apparently it offers “everything you never knew you needed from a MIDI keyboard controller“, which I hope isn’t speak for “we ran out of obvious things to add so we stuck a few more bits on and will convince users they want it”. Well anyway…
The keyboard is still compact, but the keybed is supposed to be improved over the last model.
Onboard functions, which of course transmit over MIDI rather than generating their own sound, include an expanded arpeggiator, chord, and note repeat modes with creative functions such as glitch, mutate and strum.
The keyboard still has eight velocity-and pressure-sensitive pads and eight assignable controllers, but an upgraded display to full colour OLED. It’s primarily designed for performance-first use, with easier viewing and editing of parameters, workflows and creation.
Integration with the Akai MPC ecosystem has been beefed up, offering deep connectivity to MPC Standalone and MPC Desktop environments. This gives you direct access to transport controls, plugin presets, pads, Q-link controls, track functions, mixing controls and clip launching.
As you’d expect it also plays nicely with most modern DAWs, including MPC 3, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase and FL Studio. Also full NKS compatibility with Native Instruments‘ Komplete Kontrol ecosystem.
Connections include MIDI via USB-C, standard MIDI ports, CV/Gate outputs, and sustain pedal.
Although it’s a controller, it comes with the Studio Instrument Collection software which gives access to over a thousand production-ready sounds from AIR Music Tech, Moog Music and Akai Professional. Also NI’s Komplete Select (Akai Edition), MPC Beats and Ableton Live Lite.
Check out the best deals on the MPK Mini Plus II at Reverb
Specifications
- Display: 160×80 resolution full-color LCD
- Pads: (8) velocity- and pressure-sensitive RGB back-lit pads
- Knobs: (8) assignable 360° knobs, (1) 360° encoder with push
- Wheels: Pitch Bend Wheel, Modulation Wheel
- Buttons: (2) bi-color LED buttons, (16) single-color LED buttons
- I/O: (1) USB Type-C® Port, Power, MIDI In/Out, (1) 1/4″ (6.35 mm) TS Sustain Pedal Input, (3) 1/8″ (3.5 mm) TS CV/Gate Out Ports, (1) MIDI DIN Out Port
- Power: Via USB Type-C (Bus powered, or connected to wall adapter or power bank [sold separately])
- Dimensions: (height x width x depth): 2.1” x 19.4″ x 7.6″ (5.4 x 49.3 x 19.2 cm)
- Weight: 3.2 lb. (1.46 kg)
Model Comparison
There’s no direct equivalent specification sheets between the two models (the original Mini Plus had a very sparse spec sheet). Here’s what we can glean from comparing descriptions:
| Feature | MPK Mini Plus | MPK Mini Plus II |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Monochromatic OLED | 160 x 80 Full-Colour LCD |
| MPC Pads | 8 Velocity-sensitive RGB pads | 8 Velocity & Pressure-sensitive (Poly Aftertouch) RGB pads |
| USB Interface | Older USB Type-B port | Modern USB Type-C port |
| Hardware Controls | Pitch & Mod wheels + 4-way Joystick | Redesigned Pitch & Mod wheels; Joystick removed |
| Creative Tools | Built-in 2-track step sequencer | Refocused ecosystem with Glitch, Mutate, Strum, Freeze, and Follow tools |
| Ecosystem Integration | Standard DAW mapping & NKS | Deep hardware-level MPC Standalone & Desktop integration |
RRP is around $169.
Check out the best deals on the MPK Mini Plus II at Reverb
