Now it is the turn of the MPK mini play. After Akai recently renewed their MPK series, the keyboard with sound and speaker has been given a new look. The new MPK mini play MK3 now features the new Gen 2 keybed as the current MPK mini MK3. It offers more precise velocity response and better playability says the developer.

Many features remain unchanged: it comes with 25 mini keys, eight velocity-sensitive drum pads, four assignable knobs, a big red joystick for pitch bend and modulation, an OLED display and the beloved integrated arpeggiator. And of course, it comes with 128 internal sounds with which you can jam even without a computer connected.

The MPK mini play MK3 also features an internal battery with 14+ hour battery life (official info) making it perfect for mobile music production. Alternatively, you can run it on USB bus power. According to Akai, it also features a new speaker that provides more volume and a fuller bass than the predecessor. That would have to be tested, but doubts that it delivers stunning results.

Features:

• 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 Knobs for editing internal sounds or MIDI parameters (x2 banks)
• Built-in loudspeaker
• OLED display
• Pitch / modulation joystick
• Arpeggiator
• Connection for sustain pedal: 6.3 mm jack
• USB-B port
• Headphone output: 3.5 mm jack
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 317 x 178 x 58 mm
• Weight: 860 g
• Incl. software package (downloads): Akai Pro MPC Beats, AIR Music Tech Hybrid 3, Mini Grand, Velvet and Melodics learning software with 60 lessons