Akai Professional

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Our Product Research Team

The Compact Controller Keyboard, Evolved

Akai Professional's MPK controller keyboards have become standard equipment in many professional MIDI rigs. The latest MPK225 rocks improvements in every major area, from its new RGB-illuminated MPC-style pads to the superb action of its aftertouch-enabled 25-note keybed. The MPK225 gives you boatloads of workflow-enhancing features such as MPC Note Repeat and an arpeggiator for complex rhythmic and melodic manipulation. With its assignable encoders and buttons, eight performance pads, transport controls, LCD screen, and USB/iOS modes, the MPK225 gives you absolute control over your software.

Juice your productions with authentic MPC functionality

With the Akai Professional MPK225, you can juice your productions with authentic MPC workflows, using the familiar tools producers have relied upon for years. MPC Swing delivers that tight, organic groove that made MPC units instant classics. MPC Note Repeat and Full Level make it easy to build beats and construct short melodic sequences using the MPK225's eight RGB-illuminated MPC-style pads. Also onboard is an arpeggiator that lets you easily explore more complex melodic ideas with its adjustable resolution, range, and patterns.

Addictive keyboard feel and plentiful performance controllers

At Sweetwater, keyboard feel is a big deal. (We're a picky bunch.) The MPK225's semi-weighted action is an ideal middle ground, working well for piano parts as well as fast synth leads. Akai Professional has also equipped it with assignable aftertouch - perfect for adding tasty vibrato and other modulation without having to disengage your hands from the keyboard. In addition to its assignable buttons and rotary encoders, the MPK225 is also fitted with sustain/footswitch and expression pedal jacks, as well as the de rigueur pitch and mod wheels.

Enhanced hardware control over your software

Seamlessly bridging the gap between hardware control and software performance, Akai Professional's latest generation of MPK controllers gives you the enhanced response of a refined new keybed, new RGB-illuminated MPC-style pads, and a low-power iOS mode. It all adds up to enhanced hardware control over your software - which translates to greater productivity for you. The MPK225 is plug-and-play with your Mac or Windows computer, and it also sports iOS compatibility via Apple's optional iPad Camera Connection Kit. It even comes with free software, including Ableton Live Lite, Pro MPC Essentials, Hybrid 3 by AIR Music Tech, and SONiVOX Twist 2.0

Craft sophisticated Virtual Instrument rigs with Akai Professional VIP

The difference between a cool MIDI controller keyboard and a full hybrid keyboard workstation is Akai Professional VIP3. This third-generation version of Akai Professional's Virtual Instrument Player software is a masterpiece of workflow management. It lets you load up just about any VST plug-in and combine up to eight virtual instruments plus effects into sophisticated arrangements with key zones, splits, and custom mappings — exactly what you'd expect from a standalone workstation. What's more, there's an ever-growing list of plug-ins that automatically map to your controller, but thanks to VIP3's MIDI Learn function, you can map any plug-in with any controller in any way you like. Run it as a standalone platform or use it as a plug-in in your favorite DAW. Either way, VIP3 will revolutionize the way you approach virtual instruments.