Tag Archives: Akai Professional Mini Play

Review: Akai MPK Mini Play (Mk1)

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Now that Akai have introduced the new Akai MPK Mini Play Mk3, original first generation Mini Plays are going on sale. Being a notorious bottom-feeder (doing the most with the least), I cashed in a few loyalty points and bought one.

First generation Akai Mini Play (Mk1)

Sound On Sound magazine recently reviewed the new mk3. Many of their comments apply to the original MPK Mini Play; basic functionality has not changed. The mk3 includes an improved second generation MPK Mini keybed, a bigger and better speaker, a different panel layout and different, narrower pads. Everything else is pretty much the same. Having an OLED in an inexpensive product like the MPK Mini Play is a luxury.

For the el cheapo price, the MPK Mini Play is surprisingly well-made. The keyboard and knobs don’t feel cheap although I doubt if they are very durable. All of the back connectors are mounted directly on the main printed circuit board (PCB) and should be treated with respect and care. There are numerous USB connector repair videos on-line (for the similar Akai MPK Mini), so beware when handling any of the Minis.

As to the Mk3 improvements, I get it. The original’s speaker is quite weak with limited frequency range. The original keybed is a little touchy. Keys need to be struck firmly to reliably trigger notes. One cannot play soft notes; forget nuance. The pads aren’t bad, however. Pads have always been Akai’s strong point.

The sound engine is the Dream S.A.S. SAM2635 with its 8MByte CleanWave® soundset. The Mini Play’s soundset has 128 General MIDI sounds, 9 drum sets and one sound effects (SFX) set. By and large, it’s a decent sounding GM set including the reverb and chorus. The front panel knobs let you tweak filter cut-off, resonance, attack time, release time, reverb level, chorus level, EQ low and EQ high. Edits can be saved to one of eight Favorite locations. In this regard, the Mini Play is one-up on the Yamaha PSS-A50. (The PSS-A50 price is in the same neighborhood as the Mini Play.)

That’s the good news. Now the bad news. As mentioned in the Sound On Sound review, the incoming MIDI implementation is a nightmare. [I’m still figuring it out.] Foremost, the Akai Mini Play is not a multi-timbral GM module. The Akai software modifies (filters? blocks? mangles?) whatever MIDI you send to it before it sends its own internal MIDI stream to the SAM2635.

This is a shame and a lost opportunity for Akai and its customers. The Mini Play could be so much more if it allowed a direct path to the SAM2635. The Dream firmware is a complete GM/GS implementation. WTF, Akai? Akai would sell shed-loads more if the Mini Play was an actual GM module.

I’ve encountered Dream synthesis before in the Modern Device Fluxamasynth and the midiPlus miniEngine USB. Unlike the Akai, both devices suffer from noisy audio. I’m doubly disappointed because the Mini Play audio is relatively clean.

So, if you’re looking for a DAW-driven synth module, pass on both the original and Mk3.

As to the outgoing MIDI implementation — using the Mini Play as a controller — it is basic and functions well. The free software editor gives you access to everything configurable (pads, knobs and joystick), storing configurations into a Favorites slot. No complaints here although MPK Mini users might miss the four additional knobs provided by the plain ole Mini.

The Akai MPK Minis are the gateway drug to MPC production. Akai have always rolled out good value with their bundles. The Mini Play software bundle follows the path and includes:

  • Akai VIP VST instrument and effect host environment
  • AIR Hybrid 3 synthesizer
  • Wobble synthesizer
  • MPC Essentials (AKA tons of samples)
  • ProTools | First

And, of course, Akai’s free MPC Beats application. Download and installation, if you go for everything, is laborious due to partnership arrangements and different authorization and licensing procedures.

Bottomline. A MIDI module it is not. If you want a tiny, inexpensive MIDI controller with a limited in-built synthesizer and a serious stack of content, give it a go. If you expect to play live, go for the Mk3 and the better keybed and speaker.

After initial disappointment about the MIDI implementation, I took a screwdriver to the MPK Mini Play. Naturally, a device this small and inexpensive is mod fodder. I will discuss mod potential in a future post.

Update: If you intend to use the Akai MPK Mini Play as a MIDI module, you must read my analysis of its MIDI implementation. If you want to mod the MPK Mini Play, start here and here.

Like the review? Check out the teardown (disassembly) and mods:

Copyright © 2022 Paul J. Drongowski

Akai MPK mini play mk3

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Even though Winter NAMM 2022 is postponed (or just outright moved) to June, a few manufacturers are sticking to their release schedule.

Include Akai on the list of schedule keepers.

Akai have revamped the MPK mini play giving it a new front panel layout and a better speaker. The mini-keyboard has been upgraded to Gen-2, too. The new MPK mini play mk3 is slightly larger: 317 x 178 x 58mm versus 312 x 172 x 46mm. No strain, there.

Akai MPK mini play mk3

Other specs are largely the same. I would think the mk3 is based on the same mk1 sound engine (probably a Dream Synthesis SAM2635). The speaker is larger and is a welcome change.

I rather like the new layout. The control knobs are larger (?) with a modern appearance. Maybe, possibly, the knob placement may interfere with finger drumming? Internal (initial) control assignments are the same. Styling overall is more “noir.” No visible changes to the arpeggiator.

Thomann indicate price at 129 EURO. Thomann USA have a $124 USD price for USA customers.

If you fancied one before, now you’re spoilt with choice.

  • More than 100 internal drum and instrument sounds
  • Gen-2 keyboard with 25 velocity-sensitive mini keys
  • 8 backlit MPC pads with Note Repeat and Full Level function (x2 banks)
  • 4 controls for editing internal sounds or MIDI parameters (x2 banks)
  • built-in speaker
  • OLED Display
  • Pitch / Modulation Joystick
  • Arpeggiator
  • Connection for sustain pedal: 1/4inch jack
  • USB-B Port
  • Headphone output: 3.5mm jack
  • Dimensions (W x D x H): 317W x 178D x 58H mm
  • Weight: 860 g (1.9 pounds)
  • Software package: Akai Pro MPC Beats, AIR Music Tech Hybrid 3, Mini Grand, Velvet and Melodics learning software with 60 lessons

Copyright © 2022 Paul J. Drongowski

Akai Professional MPK Mini Play

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Compared to the Yamaha MODX, the Akai Professional MPK Mini Play is a piece of Halloween candy.

The MPK Mini Play is a tiny 2-octave keyboard with eight MPC drum pads, four knobs and a joystick. It’s battery powered (3 AA batteries). And get this, it has an internal sound engine (128 voices and 10 drum kits) and speaker. That smells like General MIDI and without further information, we’ll have to wait to hear what it’s got.

Digital connectivity is over USB and only audio headphone out (3.5mm jack) is provided. There is a 1/4″ sustain pedal jack, too.

$129 USD street (MAP).

This one is in “impulse buy” territory. Christmas stocking stuffer?

Kind of a shame that it doesn’t have an auxiliary audio input, too. It would make a nice companion for the Akai MPX8 Mobile SD Sample Player. Hmmm, I wonder how to MIDI this up?

Early information alleges Reason Lite in the bundle. Nothing official yet.

First demo video by GAK

Dream SAM2635 inside?

[Update] Two more unofficial videos popped up on Youtube. One video scrolls through the first several patches. Yep, the MPK Mini Play is the 128 sound General MIDI (GM) set.

The GM standard has only one drum set. The MPK Mini Play has ten sets. What’s up?

Well, the instrument abbreviations are the same as the Dream GMBK9764 sound set and drum kits. Many of you may not be familiar with Dream S.A.S France, but they are one of the few vendors (aside from Yamaha, Roland, Korg, etc.) who design and sell sample playback silicon. The GMBK9764 sound set has 128 GM sounds (plus variations), nine drum sets and one SFX set for a total of ten drum sets.

If we were to crack open the Akai MPK Mini Play, I expect we will find a Dream SAM2635 synthesizer (PDF) with the GMBK9764 CleanWave64® sound set (PDF) stored in a separate 8MByte ROM. If this is true, that’s good news for Akai MPK Mini Play users. They should be able to access the GM variation voices, alternative chorus/reverb effect types, and synthesis parameter control functions via MIDI (assuming that the Akai software isn’t stupidly filtering out certain MIDI messages).

The MIDIPLUS miniEngine is also Dream-based. If you own a miniEngine, you already know how the MPK Mini Play sounds.

Copyright © 2018 Paul J. Drongowski