AKAI MPK mini MK3 Tutorial Beginners

Summary

This video, created by Dezavi Productions, offers a beginner-friendly tutorial on using the AKAI MPK mini MK3. The mini is small yet powerful and versatile, serving as both a keyboard and a drum pad. Dezavi walks viewers through the basic functionalities, including the pressure-sensitive pads, note repeat capabilities, octaves, arpeggiator, and the XY controller. Viewers also learn how to customize settings according to different software, such as Ableton, Logic Pro, FL Studios, and more. This video is a thorough introduction to the AKAI MPK Mini, showcasing its vast capabilities and usefulness as a MIDI controller.

Highlights

• Learn about the AKAI MPK Mini MK3's rich functionality in a fun, engaging way! 🎵
• Discover the power of pressure-sensitive pads and how they can amplify your music creation. 📀
• Understand the note repeat and swing features to get more creative with beats and rhythms. 🥁
• Explore the arpeggiator’s amazing potential to add depth and dimension to your tracks. 📈
• Get tips on how to manipulate pitch and modulation with the XY controller joystick for spectacular effects. 🎮
• The AKAI MPK Mini MK3 is perfect for those using music software like Ableton or Logic Pro. 💻

Key Takeaways

• The AKAI MPK Mini MK3 is a versatile MIDI controller with both keyboard and drum pad functionalities. 🎹🥁
• Pressure-sensitive pads can be extended from 8 to 16 with the bank button, offering more creative options. 🔄
• Customizable note repeat and swing functions add rhythm flexibility to your music. 🎶
• The arpeggiator expands creative possibilities with options for direction, order, and octave. 💡
• The joystick-based XY controller changes pitch and modulation for dynamic sound effects. 🎛️
• Eight fully rotatable knobs can be tailored to your DAW, enhancing control over musical compositions. 🎚️

Overview

The AKAI MPK Mini MK3 is an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced users looking for a compact yet fully-loaded MIDI controller. With 25 pressure-sensitive keys and 8 pads that can expand to 16, your music creation is boundless. Dezavi Productions walks you through each feature, ensuring you make the most out of this mini powerhouse.

This versatile device offers everything from customizable note repeat and swing functions to a dynamic arpeggiator for creating intricate musical patterns. The video tutorial makes these features feel accessible and fun, breaking down complex functions into user-friendly explanations that demystify the music-making process.

With its joystick-based XY controller, 360-degree knobs, and compatibility with various DAWs, the AKAI MPK Mini MK3 sets a new standard for MIDI controllers. Whether you're an Ableton pro or a Garageband newbie, this tutorial brings out the best in your music software, making musical creativity more approachable and exciting.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Overview In this chapter, de Xavi introduces the Akai MPK Mini, highlighting its small size yet powerful and versatile features as a MIDI controller. He clarifies that this is not a sponsored review as he personally bought the device. Xavi aims to showcase its functionality and explain why it is a good investment, especially for those undecided between a keyboard and a drum pad.
• 00:30 - 02:00: Pads and Note Repeat The chapter discusses the functionality of pads and note repeat in music production equipment. It explains that there are eight pressure-sensitive pads, meaning the sound's volume depends on how hard they are hit. For consistent volume, users can activate the 'full level' feature, which maintains a uniform sound level regardless of pressure applied. Additionally, the device allows for an extension from eight to 16 pads by switching from bank A to bank B, indicated by a change in color.
• 02:00 - 03:00: Keys and Octave Control The chapter titled 'Keys and Octave Control' focuses on the use of the note repeat function. It highlights that note repeat works exclusively with pads and not with keys. To activate note repeat, you simply tap it, and then you have several customization options available, including swing features. To access these options, you hold the note repeat and make your selection, which will flash to confirm your choice.
• 03:00 - 05:00: Arpeggiator Functionality The chapter titled 'Arpeggiator Functionality' covers the use of swing settings within the context of playing an arpeggiator. It includes a practical demonstration, where the narrator sets the swing to 64 to illustrate how it affects the playback. The functionality of 'no repeat' is also briefly discussed. Additionally, it mentions the presence of 25 pressure-sensitive keys, suggesting a musical or technical context. The session includes segments with background music, providing an immersive learning experience for audio manipulation or music production.
• 05:00 - 06:30: XY Controller and Knobs This chapter introduces the XY Controller and Knobs feature, focusing on its ability to shift octaves up and down. As you adjust the control, indicators for 'up' or 'down' light up, helping the user understand the current octave position. When reaching the midpoint, no indicators light up, signifying a neutral position.
• 06:30 - 07:00: Program Select and Conclusion The chapter explains the functioning of the octave in a musical context and transitions into discussing the arpeggiator. It is highlighted that the arpeggiator operates exclusively with the keyboard. The chapter includes a demonstration of activating the arpeggiator and explores its various functions, showcasing how it can be set to play eighth notes.

AKAI MPK mini MK3 Tutorial Beginners Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 i'm de xavi and today we'll be taking a look at the akai mpk mini though it is small it is a very powerful and versatile midi controller i'll show you the functions and how to use it i'm not sponsored by kai that didn't send me this i went out and bought it myself and i just want to share with you why it was a good investment for me now if you can't decide between a keyboard or a drum pad this is going to be the best bet for you and i'll show you why
• 00:30 - 01:00 all right so let's get started by talking about the pads there are eight pads and they are all pressure sensitive meaning that however hard you hit it is how loud it's going to be now if you don't want to deal with that then just go ahead and hit the full level here and no matter how hard you hit it it will stay to one level now this is eight pads but we can extend that to 16 by hitting the bank right now we're in bank a if we hit this it will change color and tell us that we are now in bank b
• 01:00 - 01:30 all right let's talk about note repeat no repeat will only work with the pads it will not work with the keys now for you to activate no repeat tap it now it's active okay and then you have these choices here these functions to customize the note repeat as well as a swing over here so how do you access those functions so what you're going to do is you're going to hold it and you're going to make your selection and it will flash let me know that it
• 01:30 - 02:00 has accepted it and the same goes for the swing let's say you want to swing it i'm going to go to 64. and let's try that and that is how you use no repeat all right now the keys there are 25 pressure sensitive keys [Music]
• 02:00 - 02:30 okay now you can go up and down an octave using these right here [Music] every time you were either up or down it will highlight either up or down and when you hit the midway point it will just go down to um no highlights so we go down
• 02:30 - 03:00 and that is how you work with the octave now let's talk about the arpeggiator the arpeggiator will only work with the keyboard and let's turn it on and let's let's try it out now the arpeggiator all these functions work for the arpeggiator so let's say we want to go with eighth [Music] and so now i have selected the eighth
• 03:00 - 03:30 note that's what i want and i want it to go up down [Music] now exclusive and inclusive it will basically go up from the lowest to the highest and back down and exclusive will play the last note once the inclusive will play the last note twice let me show you
• 03:30 - 04:00 it only plays it once and we go to inclusive [Music] it'll do it twice so let's go to exclusive let's go up and then order is basically in the order that you press the keys it will do the the arpeggiator random if you want to do just random keys at a random [Music] then you can do that latch is you don't have to hold the keys
• 04:00 - 04:30 and then you can go either octave one octave two octave three octave four and then you can also swing the arpeggiator so let's let's work with the swing here let's go to 64. and let's go back down to 50.
• 04:30 - 05:00 [Music] and that is how you use the arpeggiator now this little joystick right here is your x y controller if you move it left or right it will change the pitch if you move it up or down it will change the modulation let me show you and now let's change let's play with the [Music]
• 05:00 - 05:30 modulation and that is what the xy controller is there for okay so here we have eight knobs that are 360 degree rotation and depending on software that you're using um it's going to be different for everybody for me i'm using ableton so this allows me to control the instrument so if i
• 05:30 - 06:00 [Music] so this really depends on the software that you're using but for ableton it allows me to control the instrument all right so the program select button allows you to change the settings of the akai mpk mini to fit your your daw or the software that you are using so if you hold it number one is ableton
• 06:00 - 06:30 live with the external time clock ableton live was internal time clock logic pro fl studios garage band chroma and then we have major and minor pads now the program change and cc the the pads will send messages for midi instead of midi notes so you can customize that in the akai mpk editor and of course we're back to bank
• 06:30 - 07:00 and there you have it the akai mpk mini an all-in-one midi controller if you like this video please subscribe to my channel i do mixing tutorials and product reviews thank you for watching i'll see you next [Music] time