AKAI PROFESSIONAL MPK Mini Play Mini Controller Keyboard User Guide
- June 5, 2024
- AKAI PROFESSIONAL
Table of Contents
MPK mini Play
User Guide
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the MPK mini Play mk3. At Akai Professional, we know how serious music is to you. That’s why we design our equipment with only one thing in mind–to make your performance the best it can be.
Box Contents
MPK mini Play mk3
USB Cable
Software Download Card
User Guide
Safety & Warranty Manual
Support
For the latest information about this product (documentation, technical
specifications, system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and
product registration, visit akaipro.com.
For additional product support, visit
akaipro.com/support.
Quick Start
Playing Sounds
Note: To play internal sounds, the Internal Sounds button must be
engaged.
To access the Drum sounds: There are 10 drum kits available. Press the
Drums button and rotate the encoder to select a drum kit. Tap the pads to
trigger the drum kit sounds.
To access the Keyboard sounds: There are 128 Keys programs available.
Press the Keys button and rotate the encoder to select a Keys program. The
Keys programs are played with the 25 keys.
Accessing the Favorites:
A Favorite consists of a Keys patch, a Drums patch, and your effects knobs
settings. To access a Favorite, press and hold the Favorites button then tap
one of the pads to call up that Favorite.
Saving a Favorite: You can store up to eight Favorites with MPK mini Play
mk3. To do this, press and hold the Favorites + Internal Sounds buttons, then
tap one of the eight pads to store your Favorite to that location.
Setting up MPK mini Play mk3 with Software
Note: Before using MPK mini Play mk3 with your software, we recommend
disabling the internal sounds so they are not heard in addition to the sounds
of your software. To disable internal sounds, press the Internal Sounds button
so it is deactivated.
Setting up MPK mini Play mk3 with MPC Beats
- Adjust the power switch on the MPK mini Play mk3’s rear panel to the USB position.
- Connect MPK mini Play mk3 to your computer using a standard USB cable. (If you are connecting MPK mini Play mk3 to a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub.)
- Open MPC Beats. Go to Preferences > MIDI/Sync in MPC Beats and select “MPK mini Play mk3” as the MIDI input device (the controller may appear as USB Device or USB PnP Audio Device) by enabling the Track button next to its name.
- Choose from the list of instruments in MPC Beats and play the keys on MPK mini Play mk3 to hear the instrument being played through your headphones or speakers connected to your computer.
Setting up MPK mini Play mk3 with Garage Band
- Adjust the power switch on the MPK mini Play mk3’s rear panel to the USB position.
- Connect MPK mini Play mk3 to your computer using a standard USB cable. (If you are connecting MPK mini Play mk3 to a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub.)
- Open GarageBand. Go to Preferences > Audio/MIDI in GarageBand and select “MPK mini Play mk3” as the MIDI input device (the controller may appear as USB Device or USB PnP Audio Device).
- Choose from the list of instruments in GarageBand and play the keys on MPK mini Play mk3 to hear the instrument being played through your headphones or speakers connected to your computer.
Setting up MPK mini Play mk3 with Other Software
To select MPK mini Play mk3 as a controller for your digital audio workstation (DAW):
- Adjust the power switch on the rear panel to the USB position.
- Connect MPK mini Play mk3 to your computer using a standard USB cable. (If you are connecting MPK mini Play mk3 to a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub.)
- Open your DAW.
- Open your DAW’s Preferences, Options, or Device Setup, select MPK mini Play mk3 as your hardware controller, and then close that window. Your MPK mini Play mk3 is now able to communicate with your software.
Features
Top Panel
-
Keybed: This 25-note keyboard is velocity-sensitive and, along with the Octave Down / Up buttons, can control a ten-octave range. You can use the keys to access certain additional commands, as well. Hold down the Arpeggiator On/Off button and press a key to set the Arpeggiator parameters. Press the Keys button and turn the encoder to change sounds triggered from the keys.
-
Drum Pads: The pads can be used to trigger drum hits or other samples in your software. The pads are velocity-sensitive, which makes them very responsive and intuitive to play. When the Drums button is pressed, you can turn the encoder to change sounds on the drum pads. Access one of the 8 Favorites (a combination of a sound on the keyboard and a sound on the drum pads) by pressing and holding the Favorites button and tapping a drum pad.
-
X-Y Controller: Use this 4-axis thumbstick to send MIDI pitch bend messages or send MIDI CC messages.
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Arpeggiator On/Off: Press this button to turn the Arpeggiator on or off. Pressing it during a latched arpeggio will stop the arpeggio. Hold down this button and press the corresponding key to set the following parameters:
• Time Division: 1/4 note, 1/4 note triplet (1/4T), 1/8 note, 1/8 note triplet (1/8T), 1/16 note, 1/16 note triplet (1/16T), 1/32 note, or 1/32 note triplet (1/32T).
• Mode: The mode determines how the arpeggiated notes are played back.
o Up: Notes will sound from the lowest to the highest.
o Down: Notes will sound from the highest to lowest.
o Excl (Exclusive): Notes will sound from the lowest to the highest, and then back down. The lowest and highest notes will sound only once at the directional change.
o Incl (Inclusive): Notes will sound from the lowest to the highest, and then back down. The lowest and highest notes will sound twice at the directional change.
o Order: Notes will sound in the order they were pressed.
o Rand (Random): Notes will sound in random order.
o Latch: The Arpeggiator will continue to arpeggiate the notes even after you lift your fingers. While holding down the keys, you can add more notes to the arpeggiated chord by pressing down additional keys. If you press the keys, release them, and then press down a new combination of notes, the Arpeggiator will memorize and arpeggiate the new notes.
• Octave: Arpeggio octave range (Arp Oct) of 1, 2, 3, or 4 octaves.
• Swing: 50% (no swing), 55%, 57%, 59%, 61%, or 64%.
• Sync: Assign the Arpeggiator to the Internal MPK mini Play mk3 clock, or to an External source. -
Tap Tempo: Tap this button at the desired rate to determine the tempo of the Arpeggiator. Note: This function is disabled if the Arpeggiator is synced to external MIDI clock.
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Octave Down / Up: Use these buttons to shift the keyboard’s range up or down (up to four octaves in either direction). When you are higher or lower than the center octave, the corresponding Octave button will light. Press both Octave buttons simultaneously to reset the keyboard to the default center octave.
-
Full Level: Press this button to activate or deactivate Full Level mode in which the pads always play at a maximum velocity (127), no matter how hard or soft you hit them.
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Note Repeat: Press this button and then strike a pad to cause the pad to retrigger at a rate based on the current Tempo and Time Division settings. Press the button again to disable Note Repeat.
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Display Screen: Shows the sounds, menus, and adjustable parameters.
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Selector Knob: Select from the internal sounds and menu options with this knob.
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Keys: When this button is pressed, the current program being played by the keys is displayed. Also, when this button is pressed, you can turn the encoder to change sounds on the keyboard.
-
Drums: When this button is pressed, the current program being played by the Drum Pads is displayed. Also, when this button is pressed you can turn the encoder to change sounds on the drum pads.
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Favorites: Press and hold this button and the Internal Sounds button, then tap one of the eight pads to store your Favorite to that location. You can also press and hold this button and then tap one of the pads to recall a Favorite.
-
Internal Sounds: Press this button to enable/disable the internal sounds when a key or pad is pressed. When disabled, your MPK mini Play mk3 will send and receive MIDI only using the USB port. Press and hold this button and the Favorites button and then tap one of the eight pads to store your Favorite to that location.
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Pad Bank A/B: Press this button to switch the pads between Bank A (red) or Bank B (green).
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Knob Bank A/B: Press this button to switch the knobs between Bank A (red) or Bank B (green).
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Filter/Attack: This assignable 270º knob sends a MIDI CC message and can be switched to its secondary function using the Knob Bank A/B button. When the Knob Bank A/B button is set to Bank A, adjust this knob to change the Filter setting for the internal sounds. When the Knob Bank A/B button is set to Bank B, adjust this knob to change the Attack setting for the internal sounds. In USB mode, adjust this knob to send assignable MIDI CC messages.
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Resonance/Release: This assignable 270º knob sends a MIDI CC message and can be switched to its secondary function using the Knob Bank A/B button. When the Knob Bank A/B button is set to Bank A, adjust this knob to change the Resonance setting for the internal sounds. When the Knob Bank A/B button is set to Bank B, adjust this knob to change the Release setting for the internal sounds. In USB mode, adjust this knob to send assignable MIDI CC messages.
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Reverb Amount/EQ Low: This assignable 270º knob sends a MIDI CC message and can be switched to its secondary function using the Knob Bank A/B button. When the Knob Bank A/B button is set to Bank A, adjust this knob to change the amount of the Reverb effect for the internal sounds. When the Knob Bank A/B button is set to Bank B, adjust this knob to change the low band EQ setting for the internal sounds. In USB mode, adjust this knob to send assignable MIDI CC messages.
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Chorus Amount/EQ High: This assignable 270º knob sends a MIDI CC message and can be switched to its secondary function using the Knob Bank A/B button. When the Knob Bank A/B button is set to Bank A, adjust this knob to change the amount of the Chorus effect setting for the internal sounds. When the Knob Bank A/B button is set to Bank B, adjust this knob to change the high band EQ setting for the internal sounds. In USB mode, adjust this knob to send assignable MIDI CC messages.
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Volume: Controls the internal sounds volume sent to the internal speaker and the Headphone Output.
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Speaker: Hear the internal sounds that are played with the keys and pads from here.
Note: The internal speaker is disabled when the headphone output is used.
Rear Panel
-
Power Switch: Adjust this switch to the appropriate position when powering the unit through a USB connection or with batteries. When set to USB, with no cable connected, this button will turn off your MPK mini Play mk3 to save battery life.
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USB Port: The USB port delivers power to the keyboard and transmits MIDI data when connected to a computer to trigger a software synth or MIDI sequencer.
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Headphone Output: Connect headphones here to listen to the internal sounds triggered with the keys and pads. You can also connect MPK mini Play mk3 to speakers using an 1/8″ adapter.
Note: Connecting this output will disable the internal speaker. -
Sustain Input: This socket accepts a momentary-contact foot pedal (sold separately). When pressed, this pedal will sustain the sound you are playing without having to keep your fingers pressed down on the keys.
Bottom Panel (not shown)
- Battery Compartment: Install 4 AA alkaline batteries here to power the unit if not being powered through a USB connection.
Appendix
Technical Specifications
| Power | Via USB or 4 AA alkaline batteries |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (width x depth x height) | 12.5″ x 7.0″ x 2.3″ 317 x 178 x 58 mm |
| Weight | 1.9 lbs. 0.86 kg |
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Trademarks & Licenses
Akai Professional and MPC are trademarks of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. macOS is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other product names, company names, trademarks, or trade names are those of their respective owners.
Manual Version 1.0