Is the Akai MPK61 Worth it?
Should I buy this keyboard? price is around 350-400
looks really good, wanted to know if anyone had personal experience with this keyboard?
and if the answer is not to get this, please say why or name a better keyboard! thanks!
would anyone happen to know?
I mean most MIDI keyboards are total crap. The Akai MPKs are significantly less crap than the oxygens and axioms but the keys still aren’t great. Similar to the similarly priced novations. I’m not a keyboard player so the springy keys don’t really bother me and it is fine for how I use it. The Novation SL MKIIs have a better keybed.
If you want better than that you might as well get a synth with proper keys- I hear the Waldorf Blofeld has a better keys than any midi controller for around the same price as some of them, plus you get a cool synth out of it.
when you say “if i want better than this, and you say to just buy a synth with proper keys” what exactly do you mean by synth?
lol sorry, i havent bought one of these before thats why i wanted to know what was good and what wasn’t good at all. But i no it is overpriced, but I cant find this anywhere for cheaper
Synth = synthesizer, I don’t think you will have an issue with the MPK. If you don’t play keyboard and are not looking for a nice weighted keybed then the MPKs are fine and better than the alternatives in that range.
ok sweet, yea i no how to play keyboard a little bit, but im just mostly looking at the mpk because it will help with melodies and the knobs and pads are a cool little add on, but 61 key is what im looking for cause i dont want anything lower than a 49 key or something (: thanks xone! you always help out man! kudos!
I’m not a keyboard player by any means, but it felt solid when I played around with one. On a side note, the pads are junk - they have to be pressed very firmly to engage. However, I believe this can be remedied with a simple mod, much like the one on the MPD beat pads.
yes i believe there is a sensitivity button or knob you twist or push to make them much better. i seen it on a youtube comment
If you don’t play keys, just look for a controller with a good reputation for sturdiness on the pads/line levels/knobs. After that, just make sure that the layout seems to work for you in a fluid sense. What Xonetacular is getting at, is that serious keyboards/synths have weighted keys and have a certain “play” to them that can’t be compared to on the typical lower end midi controller… or even some high end ones. Unless your planning on playing long melodies and really jamming out musically (actually playing it instead of just hitting buttons and single chords), weighted keys are more or less not needed.
i used to use a roland jv90 as my controller keyboard, must be dirt cheap 2nd hand now. 76 note, semi weighted keys. had a nice feel to it.
I’ve got an MPK25 (soon upgrading to a 61 / 88) and use it pretty much as you have described, for working out melodies and the like. It’s much easier than using your computer keyboard or piano roll. I only wish I had bought a bigger one to begin with as with only 25 keys you soon run out of space for two handed stuff.
As for the feel of the keys, they have a pleasant enough feel about them and are velocity sensitive with aftertouch, which is great for mapping to filter cutoffs and the like for your soft synth of choice. And as for the pads, I bought a simple insert kit for under £5 on eBay and it took me about 15 minutes to open up my MPK and install them. Makes a massive difference.
do you think by any chance you have a tutorial on how to install the insert kits? and a link to buy them on ebay? Im buying the mpk61 
I just copied some videos from YouTube for my upgrade but it’s fairly simple, just requiring a crosspoint / phillips screwdriver. If you need it I’m sure I could take a few photo’s and disassemble mine again but it’s quite easy.
Depending on your location, MPCStuff.com sells a whole plethora of goodies for the whole MPK range and the only link I could find on eBay is:
There’s even a handy video at the bottom!
Hope this helps.
I would suggest going to guitar center and getting a feel for the keys. What I noticed was the MPK49 keys felt significantly better than the MPK61 keys, now there might have been other factors at play to make this true (how long they have been out for) but i would still recommend getting a feel for them in person. With all this said, I am not a pianist by any means so this is just my personal opinion.
My $200 axiom does melodies and tracks just fine. I spent the money on a better synth, but sold it as it did not increase my creativity or ability to play.
If you don’t play well, why bother pretending?
I have an Akai Professional MPK Mini and I love the little thing to death. Its got only 2 octaves at a time (you can shift up or down all octaves) but it also includes an arpeggiator with tap to tempo, 16 drum pads that are very intuitive to how hard you tap them, and 8 assignable parameter controls. I would recommend Akai products, personally I use mine as a MIDI controller for Traktor. The Mini sells for around $80 online although I got mine from a friend for $40.
