I recently purchased the (paid link) AKAI MPK Mini mk 2 as an additional MIDI keyboard to use with my laptop, mainly as a means of adding a degree of portability to composing.
That being said, I have since been using it with my iMac and Dorico so that I do not have to keep unplugging and plugging in my main MIDI keyboard which is a (paid link) Arturia Keylab Essential 61 mk3.
I have tried the AKAI MPK Mini on Cubase and everything seems to work well. I have also been using it with Dorico on Mac and it works equally well.
It seems a solid piece of kit and very playable, despite the small keys and their limited number. I think it is perfect for the purpose that I had in mind as it is very compact and rugged.
Some of the main features are:
- 25 Mini Keys
- USB interface
- 8 Backlit Drum Pads
- 8 Knobs
It is easy to switch the octave up and down, which given the limited number of keys is important.
It comes with a whole raft of software but I have never installed any of it, the intent being to use it as a straightforward MIDI controller and it integrates nicely with Cubase and Dorico. If you want something compact, rugged, and nicely versatile you should perhaps checkout the (paid link) AKAI MPK Mini mk2.
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