Akai MPK Mini Plus II — a compact USB/MIDI controller

Akai Professional has announced the second generation of its popular three-octave MIDI keyboard/controller, the MPK Mini Plus II.

Photo: official website akaipro

The new model has a 37-key Gen 2 mini keyboard and completely redesigned pads. The eight MPC-style RGB pads now respond to both velocity and aftertouch, adding expression when programming beats and launching clips. A bright 160 × 80-pixel full-colour LCD replaces the previous monochrome screen. It shows parameter names and exact values in real time, reducing the need to look at the computer screen. The controller has eight assignable 360° knobs, pitch and modulation wheels, three 3.5 mm CV/Gate outputs (Pitch, Gate and Mod), a sustain pedal input, MIDI output and a USB-C port.

Photo: official website akaipro

Other features include hardware integration with MPC workstations and MPC Desktop software, allowing navigation, mixer and plugin control directly from the keyboard. A built-in generative engine offers Glitch, Mutate, Strum, Freeze and Follow modes for instant changes to melodic and rhythmic patterns. The advanced arpeggiator supports custom patterns, with Chord Creator, Note Repeat and storage for user chord progressions. Included control scripts support popular DAWs such as Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio and Cubase. Full NKS support connects the controller to the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol ecosystem.

Photo: official website akaipro

The device is powered through USB-C and can run from an external power bank. The software bundle includes Studio Instrument Collection libraries with more than 1,000 sounds from AIR Music Technology and Moog, Native Instruments Komplete Select (Akai Edition) and the MPC Beats DAW.

Photo: official website akaipro

Akai MPK Mini Plus II is available for $170.