In this video, I explore Akai’s MPK Mini Plus beyond its keyboard and pads. I go through the arpeggiator, sequencer, scales, chords, connectivity and editor, along with examples using MPC Beats and Ableton Live.
Timeline
0:00 Intro
1:35 This setup
4:00 The hardware
4:45 Pads
6:00 Encoders
6:25 Keybed
7:00 Connectivity
7:50 Arpeggiator
10:05 Sequencing
11:40 Step seq
12:30 TR-style seq
13:55 Live rec
15:00 Ties
15:45 Transpose
16:15 Scales, chords
17:30 Note repeat
17:50 Configurability
18:50 Programs
19:35 Editor
20:20 MPC Beats
21:20 Ableton Live
22:00 Pros & cons
24:15 Outro jam
Links and notes from the video description
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Check prices here (affiliate links help the channel):
► Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/e4YzAj
► Thomann: https://www.thomann.de/intl/search_dir.html?sw=MPK%20mini%20plus&offid=1&affid=369
► Perfect Circuit: https://link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/S0BERUlFSUBFR0NKR0VATEpITA?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fakai-mpk-mini-plus.html
Gear in this video:
► East Beast by Cre8audio
► Ghost by Endorphin.es and Andrew Huang
► LED Meter module by Happy Nerding
► Cute small case by Uncertain Proportions (uncprop.com)
► A comparison to KeyStep 37:
Pros for KS37:
– The keys are wider and deeper (see the comparison in the video) – obviously this is subjective
– Aftertouch
– Strum mode
– Custom chords and scales
– LEDs on above the keys make editing the sequence easier than the small screen on MPK Mini Plus
– You can transition between the stored sequences seamlessly as part of a performance – they stay in time whereas on the MPK they do not
– Live recording into the sequence saves ties (as opposed to not recording them on the MPK)
– USB power and regular power (as opposed to just USB on MPK)
– Metal base may make it sturdier but it's heavier too.
– Can send MIDI out the MIDI port when plugged into a computer (as I mention in the video, MPK Mini Plus disconnects the keyboard from the ports for some reason, and you have to route MIDI through your computer back to the ports to send MIDI out)
– Knobs can be configured to go to different MIDI channels (pads and knobs can only go to one channel each on the MPK)
Pros for MPK Mini Plus:
– It can control 3 instruments at once – sequence 2 tracks + arp or playing the keyboard. KS37 is only either/or on the arpeggiator/sequencer
– 8 Pads, joystick, physical mod/strip controls transport for DAW control (KS37's transport is just for the internal arp/sequencer
– Screen allows for easier customization and operation
– DAW integration
– 8 physical encoders as opposed to 4 knobs (though there are 4 banks on KS37 for a total of 16 parameters)
– Note Repeat mode for the pads
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NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links to stores like Amazon, Sweetwater, Thomann and others. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.