AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8 Knobs and Music Production Software, White

Plug %26 Play There's nothing easier. And it's the all black special edition. Links up perfectly with other MPC devices

The device is a little on the small side, but so portable. if you want something to play with and put ideas down on the move this is it!

Ease of use. Integrated seamlessly into my setup.

It was a gift for my child and it is what she wanted and needed

Because Akai makes good products

I'm still learning how to use this equipment. My son is going to help me when he visits. This little, lightweight controller is loaded with features and software downloads. It is very portable, weighing only a couple of pounds. It is a little complicated to get setup (at least for me). I had trouble navigating the software downloads and registrations between the two websites involved. I think this is standard for this sort of thing, so I went about it patiently and got things pretty well solved and installed. This is a great little unit and will provide countless hours of fun with must production.

The AKAI Professional MPK Mini is lightweight without feeling flimsy (except for the miniature piano keys themselves). The rubber feet keep it quite stable on a stand next to my workstation. It has no power input (or audio output) besides the USB bus, so, while eminently suited for use with a laptop (or other workstation), is not useful as a controller for a tablet-based synthesizer. Nor do the small keys lend themselves to on-stage playing, at least for those whose hands are accustomed to standard piano keys. I found these two points disappointing, given how obviously portable the device is. As a desktop controller, however, it shines. With the option to use keys or (velocity and pressure sensitive) pads for input, it works well with the (free download) MPC Beats (and was immediately recognized by Apple's Garage Band). This beginner was quickly able, after watching a fifteen minute YouTube video, to record a basic sequence beat with a bass line and play a synth lead atop, with little more effort than would be required for a solo artist with a looping pedal. The joystick combines pitch bend and expression sensibly, replacing two separate wheel controllers, and the parameter control pots feel very sturdy. My largest complaint is with the non-intuitive and rather cumbersome licensing of the sound libraries. On my Mac, the included libraries downloaded and appeared to be applications, but would not launch; a third-party licensing app required creating yet another online account, and I'm not entirely sure it unlocked all the libraries. I would have appreciated an obvious step-by-step guide rather than hunting through online FAQs.

Never recieved the items to know

I got sent the wrong color

Bought the product because it said it came with production software, grand piano, beat machine etc.. Downloaded all the products only to find out, you don't get production software and all the other perks that are advertised on this particular item are false. You only get trial versions for 14 days then you got to pay a monthly subscription to various other entities to keep what was advertised as free with purchase!!?? Not what I read and led me to purchase this item. Sorry can't recommend this item. Don't have time for games. Spent a lot of time researching these items before I buy only to be disappointed when it finally arrives.