Akai Professional MPK261 User manual

User Guide

English

Manual Version 1.0

Table of Contents

(Click a chapter/section to jump to it.)

Introduction .................................................................................................. 5

Box Contents............................................................................................. 5

Support...................................................................................................... 5

Quick Setup / Connection Diagram........................................................... 6

About Modes ................................................................................................ 7

Preset Mode ................................................................................................. 8

Edit Mode.................................................................................................... 10

Keyboard ................................................................................................. 11

Pads ........................................................................................................ 13

Assignable Knobs.................................................................................... 15

Assignable Faders................................................................................... 16

Assignable Switches and DAW Control .................................................. 17

Tap Tempo .............................................................................................. 19

Transport Controls .................................................................................. 20

Note Repeat ............................................................................................ 20

Arpeggiator.............................................................................................. 21

Pitch-Bend Wheel ................................................................................... 22

Modulation Wheel ................................................................................... 22

Footswitch Inputs.................................................................................... 23

Expression Pedal Input ........................................................................... 23

Global Mode ............................................................................................... 24

MIDI Channels ......................................................................................... 25

Note Display ............................................................................................ 25

Keyboard ................................................................................................. 25

Pads ........................................................................................................ 26

Tempo ..................................................................................................... 26

Clock ....................................................................................................... 27

SysEx....................................................................................................... 27

Utilities..................................................................................................... 27

Save Globals ........................................................................................... 27

OS............................................................................................................ 27

Program Change Mode............................................................................. 28

Program Change ..................................................................................... 29

Program Change with Bank Change ...................................................... 29

Features...................................................................................................... 30

Top Panel ................................................................................................ 30

Rear Panel ............................................................................................... 34

Appendix..................................................................................................... 36

Mode Parameters.................................................................................... 36

Technical Specifications ......................................................................... 44

Trademarks and Licenses ....................................................................... 45

Introduction

Box Contents

MPK261

USB Cable

Quickstart Guide

Safety & Warranty Manual

Support

For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information,

etc.) and product registration, visit akaipro.com/mpk261.

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

Quick Setup / Connection Diagram

Items not listed under the Box Contents are sold separately.

Important note for Mac OS X users: The first time you connect MPK261 to your computer,

you will see a Keyboard Setup Assistant message saying that your keyboard cannot be

identified. Do not click Continue. Instead, close the window by clicking the circle in the

upper-left corner. If you see another window asking you to select your type of keyboard, select

ANSI (United States and others) and click Done.

Note: If you do not want to use a computer in your setup, you have two options:

To use MPK261 to control an external MIDI module, connect MPK261's power input to a

power outlet using an optional power adapter (6V DC, 1A, center-positive, sold separately).

To use MPK261 to control an app on an iOS device, connect MPK261's USB Port to an iOS

device using an Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (sold separately), and power on MPK261

while holding down the Preview button.

Computer

Wall Power

(

tional

)

External MIDI Sound Module

(optional)

Expression Pedal

(optional)

Sustain Pedals or Footswitches

(optional)

About Modes

The MPK261 has four different modes of operation. Enter each mode by pressing its

corresponding button. These modes are described in detail in their respective chapters (click

the name of the mode to jump to its chapter).

Preset Mode lets you to load, save, copy, and rename Presets—collections of

information about how the faders, knobs, buttons, and pads will behave.

Edit Mode lets you to edit MPK261's configuration—how the keyboard, pads,

knobs, faders, buttons, and other features behave. See the Appendix: Mode

Parameters section for a complete list of editable parameters.

Global Mode lets you set parameters and make changes to MPK261's general

("global") functioning—behavior and settings that are not specific to a Preset.

See the Appendix: Mode Parameters section for a complete list of editable

settings.

Program Change Mode lets you send various Program Change messages,

letting you remotely switch to a different program bank of sounds in your

software or external MIDI device. See the Appendix: Mode Parameters

section for a complete list of editable settings.

Preset Mode

In Preset Mode, you can load, save, copy, and rename Presets. A Preset is a

collection of information about how the faders, knobs, buttons, and pads will

behave. Using Presets allows you to save different configurations so you can

load them quickly without reprogramming the MPK261 every time. This is also

the default "performance mode."

To load a Preset:

1. Press Preset to enter Preset Mode.

2. Turn the Value Dial to select the desired Preset, which will appear in the display.

3. To load the selected Preset, press the Value Dial.

To cancel the operation and return to the current Preset, press Preset or just wait a few

seconds.

To edit a Preset, please see the Edit Mode chapter.

To save or copy a Preset:

Note: Saving and copying a Preset are mostly the same operation. The difference is that

saving a Preset will save it to the same/original Preset number while copying a Preset will save

it to a different Preset number.

1. Press Preset to enter Preset Mode.

2. Press the Right Cursor button. Store Program will appear in the display.

3. If you want to save it to the current Preset, press the Value Dial.

If you want to save/copy it to a different Preset, turn the Value Dial to select the desired

Preset number (Copy Program will appear in the display), and then press the Value Dial.

To cancel the operation, press Preset.

To name or rename a Preset:

1. Press Preset to enter Preset Mode.

2. Press the Right Cursor button so Store Program appears in the display.

3. Press the Down Cursor button to select the Name field. The first letter of the name will

blink.

4. Turn the Value Dial to change the blinking character, and use the Left Cursor and Right

Cursor buttons to move between the characters.

5. To save the Preset name when you are finished, press the Value Dial.

To cancel the operation, press Preset.

To restore the factory default Presets:

1. Press Preset to enter Preset Mode.

2. Press the Left Cursor button so Factory Defaults appears in the display.

3. Turn the Value Dial and select Presets.

4. To restore MPK261's factory default Presets (which overwrites those you have saved),

press the Value Dial.

To cancel the operation, press Preset.

Edit Mode

In Edit Mode, you can edit the settings of the currently selected Preset. The

settings vary depending on the controller you are editing and are listed in the

Appendix: Mode Parameters section. Please note that the changes you make

will only apply to the currently selected Preset.

To navigate Edit Mode:

1. Press Edit to enter Edit Mode.

2. Select a control to edit (fader, pad, button, etc.) by moving or pressing it. The selected

control and its editable parameters will appear in the display.

3. In each page of Edit Mode:

•Use the Up Cursor and Down Cursor buttons to move through the parameters on

the current page.

•If there are multiple pages (indicated by Pg1, Pg2, etc.), use the Left Cursor and

Right Cursor buttons to move between different pages.

•Turn the Value Dial to change the currently selected value/setting.

4. To edit more controls, repeat Steps 2–3.

To return to a normal performance mode, press Preset.

Important: Save the Preset to retain your edits. Without saving, these changes will be lost if

you load a new Preset. See the Preset Mode section to learn how save your Preset.

Each section of this chapter is dedicated to a specific control and lists its editable parameters.

For an overview of the available controls and parameters, see the Appendix: Mode

Parameters section.

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