Akai MPK mini plus User manual

User Guide

English ( 3 – 26 )

Appendix

English ( 27 )

Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................. 3

Box Contents ........................................................................................................ 3

Support ................................................................................................................. 3

Setup ............................................................................................................. 3

Connection Diagram.............................................................................................. 3

Setting up MPK mini Plus with Software............................................................... 4

Setting up MPK mini Plus with MPC Beats.......................................................................4

Setting up MPK mini Plus with Garage Band....................................................................4

Setting up MPK mini Plus with Other Software.................................................................4

Features........................................................................................................ 5

Top Panel .............................................................................................................. 5

Rear Panel ............................................................................................................. 7

Operation...................................................................................................... 8

CV Setup ............................................................................................................... 8

Scales Configuration ............................................................................................. 9

Chords Configuration .......................................................................................... 11

Global Parameters............................................................................................... 11

Editing a Program................................................................................................ 12

Using the Arpeggiator ......................................................................................... 13

Using the Step Editor .......................................................................................... 14

Using the Live Sequencer ................................................................................... 15

Keybed Functions ............................................................................................... 17

Using the Program Editor ......................................................................... 18

Setup................................................................................................................... 18

Graphical Interface .............................................................................................. 19

Editing a Pad ....................................................................................................... 20

Control Voltage.................................................................................................... 21

Editing a Knob..................................................................................................... 21

Editing the X-Y Controller (Joystick).................................................................... 22

Editing the Keybed .............................................................................................. 22

Editing the Arpeggiator........................................................................................ 23

Editing the Keybed Curve.................................................................................... 24

Editing The Sequencers ...................................................................................... 25

Saving Programs ................................................................................................. 26

Appendix..................................................................................................... 27

Technical Specifications...................................................................................... 27

Trademarks & Licenses ....................................................................................... 27

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the MPK mini Plus. At Akai Professional, we know how serious

music is to you. That’s why we design our equipment with only one thing in mind—to make

your performance the best it can be. This User Guide will take you through all the details of

setting up and operating your MPK mini Plus and includes instructions for installing and

operating the Program Editor software.

Box Contents

MPK mini Plus

USB Cable

Quickstart Guide

Safety & Warranty Manual

Software Download Card

Support

For the latest information about this product (documentation, technical specifications, system

requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit akaipro.com.

For additional product support, visit akaipro.com/support.

Setup

Connection Diagram

Items not listed under Introduction >Box Contents are sold separately.

Synthesizer

Sustain Pedal External

MIDI

Device

Computer

Setting up MPK mini Plus with Software

To use your MPK mini Plus with a software program, you must connect the unit to your

computer using a standard USB cable first.

Note: If you are connecting MPK mini Plus to a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub.

Setting up MPK mini Plus with MPC Beats

1. Open MPC Beats. Go to Preferences > MIDI/Sync in MPC Beats and select “MPK mini

Plus” as the MIDI input device by enabling the Track and Control buttons next to its

name. From this menu, you can also enable Sync under the MIDI output ports to sync the

MPK mini Plus to your DAW’s BPM setting.

2. Load a plugin in MPC Beats and play the keys on MPK mini Plus to hear the instrument

being played through your headphones or speakers connected to your computer.

Setting up MPK mini Plus with Garage Band

1. Open GarageBand. Go to Preferences > Audio/MIDI in GarageBand and select “MPK

mini Plus” as the MIDI input device.

2. Choose from the list of instruments in GarageBand and play the keys on MPK mini Plus

to hear the instrument being played through your headphones or speakers connected to

your computer.

Setting up MPK mini Plus with Other Software

To select MPK mini Plus as a controller for your digital audio workstation (DAW):

1. Open your DAW.

2. Open your DAW's Preferences, Options, or Device Setup, select MPK mini Plus as

your hardware controller, and then close that window.

Your MPK mini Plus is now able to communicate with your software. Consult your DAW’s

software manual for more information on MIDI device setup.

Features

Top Panel

1. Keybed: This 37-note keyboard is velocity-sensitive and, along with the Octave Down /

Up buttons, can control a ten-octave range. You can use the keys to access certain

additional commands, as well. Hold down the Arpeggiator On/Off button and press a

key to set the Arpeggiator parameters. You can also hold down the Note Repeat button

and press keys to change the drum settings.

2. Drum Pads: The pads can be used to trigger drum hits or other samples in your

software. The pads are velocity-sensitive, which makes them very responsive and

intuitive to play. MPK mini Plus has two banks for samples that can be accessed using

the Bank A/B button. Access one of the eight Programs by pressing and holding the

Prog Select button and tapping a drum pad.

3. X-Y Controller: Use this 4-axis thumbstick to send MIDI pitch bend messages or send

MIDI CC messages.

4. Pitch Wheel: The pitch bend wheel is primarily used to bend the notes played on the

keyboard up or down. This allows you to play phrases not normally associated with

keyboard playing, such as guitar-style riffs.

5. Modulation Wheel: The modulation wheel is typically used to add variation for the sound

you are playing. This type of real-time controller was originally introduced on electronic

keyboard instruments to give the performer options such as adding vibrato, just like the

players of acoustic instruments do.

6. Arp On/Off / Config: Press this button to turn the Arpeggiator on or off. Pressing it

during a latched arpeggio will stop the arpeggio. Press and hold this button and press the

corresponding key to set various parameters. Press and hold Shift and this button to

open the Configuration menu for the Arppeggiator. See Using the Arpeggiator for more

information.

7. Tap Tempo / Clear Drum: Tap this button at the desired rate to determine the tempo of the

Arpeggiator or Sequencer. Press and hold Shift and this button to clear all drum events

from the Sequencer.

Note: Tap Tempo is disabled if the Arpeggiator is synced to external MIDI or CV clock.

8. Note Repeat / Config: Press this button and then press a pad to cause the pad to

retrigger at a rate based on the current Tempo and Time Division settings. Press the

button again to disable Note Repeat. Press and hold Shift and this button to open the

Configuration menu for the Note Repeat function.

9. Full Level / Clear Key: Press this button to activate or deactivate Full Level mode in

which the pads always play at a maximum velocity (127), no matter how hard or soft you

hit them. Press and hold Shift and this button to clear all Keyboard Sequencer events.

10. Octave Down / Step Edit: Press this button to shift the keyboard’s range down, from

one to four octaves. Press both Octave buttons simultaneously to reset the keyboard to

the default center octave. Press and hold Shift and this button to open the Step Edit

menu to edit key or drum sequences on a step-by-step basis. See Using the Step Editor

for further instructions.

11. Octave Up / Live Seq: Press this button to shift the keyboard's range up from one to

four octaves. Press both Octave buttons simultaneously to reset the keyboard to the

default center octave. Press and hold Shift and this button to open the Live Seq menu

and begin making a live drum or key sequence. See Using the Live Sequencer for

further instructions.

12. Display Screen: Use this screen to browse the internal menus and adjustable parameters.

13. Encoder: Turn this knob to select from the internal menu options. Press it to select an

option.

14. Bank A/B / CV Setup: Press this button to switch the pads between Bank A or Bank B.

Press and hold Shift and this button to open the CV Setup menu. See CV Setup for

further information on CV functions.

15. Scales / Config: Press this button to enable or disable Scales mode. When enabled,

notes outside of the selected scale can be played, transposed, or ignored depending on

the current setting. Press and hold Shift and press this button to open the Scales

Configuration menu. See Scales Configuration for definitions of parameters and

available scale settings.

16. Chords / Config: Press this button to enable or disable Chords mode. When enabled,

playing a key will play the selected chord type in a selected scale. Press and hold Shift

and press this button to open the Chords Configuration menu. See Chords

Configuration for a list featuring definitions of editable parameters.

17. Shift: Press and hold this button and press another button or turn a knob to access their

secondary functions (indicated by bordered white text underneath the part). Quickly

double-press this button to lock the Shift function so buttons will always perform their

secondary function. Press once again to turn off Shift Lock.

18. Home / Save: Press this button to return to the Home screen on the Display. Press and

hold Shift and this button to save the current settings as a preset to one of 8 Program

slots.

19. Prog Select / Edit: Press and hold this button and press one of the pads to select the

corresponding program number (1–8). A program is a group of settings stored as a file on

your MPK mini Plus. Programs can be created and then sent to MPK mini Plus with the

downloadable MPK mini Plus Program Editor. Press and hold Shift and press this button

to open the Edit menu. See Editing A Program for more information about program

editing and Using the Program Editor to learn how to use the MPK mini Plus Program

Editor application to create, save, and send programs from your computer to the MPK.

20. Assignable Knobs: Each 360º knob sends a MIDI CC message. Press and hold Shift

and turn one of the 8 knobs to control its secondary function.

21. [<<] Rewind / Prev Step: Press this button to rewind in a connected DAW. While editing

a sequence, press this button to go to the previous step.

22. [>>] Fast-Forward / Next Step: Press this button to fast-forward in a connected DAW.

While editing a sequence, press this button to go to the next step.

23. Stop: Press this button to stop transport playback in a connected DAW. Press and hold

Shift and press this button to open the Global menu to edit Global parameters such as

Transpose, Tempo Taps, Octave, Pad channel, and Aftertouch. See Global Parameters

for more information about these Global functions.

24. Play: Press this button to start transport playback in a connected DAW.

25. Rec: Press this button to enable recording in a connected DAW.

26. Seq Play/Stop: Press this button to start and stop playback of the sequence. When

playback is stopped, it will resume from the start of the sequence.

Rear Panel

1. USB Port: Connect a USB cable here to deliver power to the keyboard and transmit MIDI

data to a connected computer to control a software synth or MIDI sequencer. MPK mini

Plus can also be powered via a USB cable and wall outlet adapter.

2. Sustain Input: Connect a sustain pedal (sold separately) to the keyboard here. When

pressed, this pedal will sustain the sound you are playing without having to keep your

fingers pressed down on the keys.

3. CV/Gate Out (1/8" / 3.5 mm, TS): MPK mini Plus will send control voltage (CV) and/or Gate

signals over these outputs to optional external synths or sequencers. Use standard 1/8”

(3.5 mm) TS cables to send a single CV/Gate signal through the following outputs:

•Pitch: Sends CV pitch messages.

•Gate: Sends Gate (note length) messages.

•Mod: Sends CV Modulation or Velocity messages.

4. Clock In: MPK mini Plus will receive control voltage (CV) timing signals from this input.

When receiving clock in, this tempo will set the internal arpeggiator and sequencer clock.

5. Clock Out: MPK mini Plus will send control voltage (CV) timing signals from this output.

When sending clock out, the signal will follow the internal arpeggiator clock when set to

Internal, or incoming MIDI clock when set to External.

6. MIDI In: Use a standard 5-pin MIDI cable to connect this input to the MIDI output of an

external MIDI device (additional MIDI keyboard, pad controller, etc.).

7. MIDI Out: Use a standard 5-pin MIDI cable to connect this output to the MIDI input of an

external MIDI device (synthesizer, drum machine, etc.).

IMPORTANT: When MPK mini Plus is powered by a computer, its MIDI In/Out ports

become a fully functional computer MIDI interface. In this configuration, the 5-pin MIDI

ports are accessed by selecting them from your DAW’s MIDI Setup or Preferences. This

allows you to flexibly route MIDI channels within your DAW of choice and use your MPK

mini Plus as a primary controller for your studio setup.

When MPK mini Plus is powered by a wall adapter, MIDI data will transmit to the 5-pin

MIDI Out port by default.

Operation

CV Setup

The CV Setup menu is used to adjust the parameters for the CV/Gate outputs and Clock

Input/Output.

To enter the CV Setup menu, press and hold Shift and press Bank A/B. Then, use the Encoder to

select and adjust the parameters below. These settings can also be adjusted using the Control

Voltage section of the Program Editor.

Parameter Value Range Notes

Src (Source) Keyboard, Key

Sequence, MIDI 01-16,

Pads, Drum Sequencer

Select a channel for the CV to receive on/off

signal transmissions from.

Order

(

Note order

)

Low, High, Last Choose the note to be sent via CV when

multiple notes are held down:

Lowest note, Highest note, or Last (newest note

played).

Gate (Gate Mode) Normal, Legato Set how the gate mode will behave when active

and a key has been held down. In Normal mode,

the gate will be retriggered. In Legato mode, the

gate will be held open along with the key.

Mod (Mod

Source)

Key Velocity,

Modwheel Sequence

Velocity

Select the source for the Mod CV output.

Bend (Bend

Range)

01-12 semitones Set the range of the pitch bend to be applied to

the CV pitch output when the pitch wheel is

moved.

IDiv (Clock Input

division)

x4, x2, 1, /1.5, /2, /3,

/4, /6, /8, /12, /24, /48

Set the number of trigger pulses to occur before

the sequencer moves to the next step.

0Div (Clock

Output division)

1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/4t, 1/8,

1/8t, 1/16, 1/16t, 1/32,

1/32t, 24p, 48p

Set the output time division sent by the CV

Clock Output.

Scales Configuration

In Scales mode, you can set the keybed to play only in a certain scale. Press the Scales and

Shift buttons simultaneously to open the Scales mode configuration menu and use the

Encoder to edit the parameters listed in the table below. These settings can also be adjusted

using the Key Scale section of the Program Editor.

Parameter Value Range Notes

Mode On, Off Enables or disables Scales mode.

Key C-B Determines the key of the scale. This key is also

shared with Chords mode.

Scale Chromatic, Major,

Melodic Minor,

Harmonic Minor,

Major Pentatonic,

Minor Pentatonic,

Dorian, Phrygian,

Lydian, Mixolydian,

Aeolian, Locrian,

Blues, Flamenco,

Hungarian

Determines the scale used. This scale is also

shared with Chords mode. See “scale

definitions” table for name abreviations.

Non-S (Non-

Scale Notes)

Ignore, Transpose Determines whether non scale notes played will

be silenced (Ignore) or transposed to the next

nearest scale tone.

Scale Definitions:

The following table lists the 16 available scale settings and their composition.

Name Notes

Chrom (Chromatic) 12 tone scale;

Intervals: Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half, Half

Example: C, C#, D, D# E, F, F# G, G# A, A#, B

Maj (Major) 7-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half

Example: C, D, E, F, G, A, B

Melod (Melodic

Minor)

7-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half

Example: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#

Harm

(

Harmonic

Minor)

7-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Augmented second, Half

Example: A, B, C, D, E, F, G#

Maj P

(

Major

Pentatonic)

5-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Whole, Augmented second, Whole

Example: C, D, E, G, A

Min P

(

Minor

pentatonic)

5-tone scale;

Intervals: Augmented second, Whole, Whole, Augmented second

Example: A, C, D, E, G

Name Notes

Dor (Dorian) 7-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole

Example: D, E, F, G, A, B, C

Phryg (Phrygian) 7-tone scale;

Intervals: Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole

Example: E,F,G,A,B,C,D

Lydia (Lydian) 7-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half

Example: F, G, A, B, C, D, E

Mixo (Mixolydian) 7-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole

Example: G, A, B, C, D, E, F

Aeol (Aeolian/ Natural

Minor)

7-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole

Example: A, B, C, D, E, F, G

Locr (Locrian) 7-tone scale;

Intervals: Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole

Example: B, C, D, E, F, G, A

Blues 6-tone scale;

Intervals: Augmented second, Whole, Half, Half, Augmented second, Half

Example: A, C, D, D#, E, G

Flmnc (Flamenco) 6-tone scale;

Intervals: Half, Augmented second, Half, Whole, Half, Augmented second

Example: E, F, G#, A, B, C, D#

Hngar (Hungarian) 7-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Half, Augmented second, Half, Half, Augmented

second, Half

Example: C, D, Eb ,F#, G, Ab, B

Whole (Whole tone) 6-tone scale;

Intervals: Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole

Example: C, D, E, F#, G#, A#

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