Akai MPK225 MIDI Controller

Description

Akai Professional MPK225 MIDI controller

Thanks to its size, the Akai Pro MPK225 keyboard is an ideal USB MIDI control surface for those who travel frequently, for home studios, and live performances. From amateurs to professional synth players, with its full-size two-octave velocity and aftertouch-sensitive keyboard, its 8 pads, and an equal number of rotary potentiometers operating on multiple banks, it can also serve as an additional MIDI controller for more advanced DJs and Live sets, as well as for MIDI control of video software and iOS devices.

- 2-octave USB/MIDI keyboard

- 25 semi-weighted velocity and aftertouch-sensitive keys

- Full 10-octave coverage (Octave up and down keys)

- Jack connection for sustain or assignable footswitch

- Jack connection for expression pedal

- Pitch Bend and Modulation control wheels (assignable)

- Programmable arpeggiator for the keyboard

- 8 MPC-style pads organized into 4 banks (32 virtual pads)

- RGB backlit, velocity and pressure-sensitive pads

- MPC Full Level and Note Repeat functions on the Pads

- DAW Transport buttons: <<, >>, Stop, Play, and Record

- 8 rotary potentiometers x 3 banks (24)

- 4 backlit buttons x 3 banks (12)

- Backlit LCD display

- Tap Tempo and Time Division for arpeggiator and note repeat

- USB MIDI, MIDI IN & OUT 5-pin DIN ports

- PC Windows, Apple MacOS, and iOS compatibility (iPad CCK required)

- Dimensions and weight: 49x29.85x9.22cm; 3Kg

Designed as all-in-one USB MIDI control solutions for PC, Mac computers, and iOS devices, the Akai Professional MPK2 series keyboards provide a rich set of controls, from faders to rotary potentiometers, from velocity and aftertouch-sensitive keyboards to RGB backlit pads. Perfect for computer-based recording studios and live performances by demanding keyboardists who need meticulous control of various virtual instrument software and MIDI hardware (Synths, expanders, samplers, drum machines, etc.), the AKAI PRO MPK225, MPK249, and MPK261 keyboards are set to replicate the success of the previous MPK series used by numerous industry professionals.

The semi-weighted, velocity and aftertouch-sensitive keyboard is accompanied by pitch bend and modulation control wheels (assignable), two pedal inputs, one footswitch (assignable to sustain) and one expression, and MIDI In & Out ports on 5-pin DIN sockets for connection to traditional MIDI instruments. The MPK261, a 5-octave version, adds an additional footswitch connection and the Split function. A programmable arpeggiator is available on the keyboard, while the historical note repeat function is available on the pads; both can be synchronized to the external MIDI Clock, to Tap Tempo, or to the manually set BPM tempo.

Thanks to almost total programmability, by simply pressing the "Edit" button you can directly from the keyboard and with the aid of the information shown on the bright LCD display, program every single physical control: from the type of message that can be sent to the MIDI channel to which the generated message will be sent. With software such as Ableton Live, or Cubase you can control and play multiple MIDI tracks simultaneously, programming - for example - the pads to reproduce drum samples, drum machines, clips, or loops, while you play your favorite virtual synth from the keyboard and, at the same time, physically control its parameters from the rotary controls and faders.

The Akai Professional MPK2 series keyboards connect directly to the USB port (without needing power) of Windows PC computers (XP, Vista, 7, and 8) and Apple MacOS (10.5 onwards), and to iOS devices (iPhone and iPad) using Apple's Camera Connection Kit (optional, NOT supplied). Those who purchase the MPK225 and MPK249 series keyboards can download and use the *Ableton Live Lite, **AIR Music Tech Hybrid 3, SONiVOX Twist 2.0, and Akai Pro MPC Essentials software for free. For MPK261 users only, a license for the SoniVox Eighty-Eight Ensemble virtual piano instrument will be added.

IMPORTANT: USB MIDI keyboards do NOT have sounds, do not have audio connections, but send MIDI control messages. To function, they must therefore be connected to a computer, iOS devices, and/or compatible MIDI hardware. To play sounds, you must have appropriate software on your computer, such as DAWs (Cubase, Ableton Live, Logic, Sonar, Fruity Loops, Pro Tools, Bitwig, Reason, etc.) and/or Virtual Instruments. On iPad or iPhone, musical apps that support remote MIDI control. The sound will then be played from the audio output of your computer's sound card or the audio output of your iOS device. If you own a PC/Windows computer, but do not have a sound card or audio interface with ASIO drivers, it is necessary to install ASIO 4 ALL drivers (click here for download) to play with low latency (without delay) with the integrated sound card in your computer. Software may be included with the keyboards for which, as they are free, NO technical and commercial support will be available. EKo Music Group is solely responsible for hardware support, it is NOT responsible for technical support and any malfunctions that may occur with third-party products.

*Ableton Live Lite is property of Ableton AG.

**Akai Professional, AIR Music Technology, and MPC are registered trademarks of inMusic Brands Inc. inMusic is the exclusive distributor of SONiVOX.