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Akai Professional Launches MPK Mini Plus II with New Creative Tools and Advanced Music Production Controls
23 Oct 2026
The next-generation 37-key MIDI keyboard introduces upgraded keys, RGB MPC pads, a full-colour display and expanded creative tools, alongside deeper integration with music production software and hardware synthesizers.
Akai Professional has launched the MPK Mini Plus II, a compact 37-key MIDI keyboard controller designed for producers, beatmakers and musicians seeking greater creative control without moving to a full-size keyboard.
Announced on 22 October 2026, the new controller combines an upgraded mini keybed, eight velocity- and pressure-sensitive RGB MPC pads, a full-colour display and a collection of creative tools for developing melodies, rhythms and chord progressions.
Priced at $169 in the United States, €159.99 in Europe and £134.99 in the United Kingdom, the MPK Mini Plus II is available through authorised dealers and selected music retailers worldwide.
The launch expands Akai Professional's compact controller range with additional performance controls, software integration and connectivity for external music equipment.
Upgraded Keys and MPC Pads for Music Production
The MPK Mini Plus II features an upgraded 37-key mini keyboard spanning three octaves, providing room for melodies, basslines and chord progressions while retaining a compact design.
Eight RGB-backlit MPC pads respond to velocity and pressure, allowing musicians to perform drum patterns, trigger samples and control expressive musical elements. Dual-bank functionality expands the number of available pad assignments.
The controller also includes dedicated pitch-bend and modulation wheels, eight assignable 360-degree knobs, a push encoder and transport controls.
A new 160 × 80 full-colour LCD provides visual feedback for active settings and parameters, reducing the need to repeatedly check a computer screen during music production.
“MPK Mini has introduced a lot of creators to hands-on making music, and MPK Mini Plus II is built for the creator who's ready for the next step,” said Andy Mac, Executive Manager of Content, Artist Relations and Business Development at Akai Professional.
New Creative Tools for Beats, Melodies and Chords
One of the main additions is a collection of creative functions designed to help producers experiment with musical ideas directly from the keyboard.
The MPK Mini Plus II introduces Glitch, Mutate, Strum, Freeze and Follow, alongside expanded Arpeggiator, Chord Creator and Note Repeat modes.
Users can build custom arpeggiator patterns, develop chord progressions and explore different musical variations without interrupting their workflow.
The new User Progressions and advanced Chord features also allow musicians to create and perform chord sequences using the controller's keys or pads.
According to Akai Professional, the aim is to give creators more ways to experiment while keeping creative decisions in their hands.
“Tools like Glitch, Mutate, and Strum help turn simple ideas in new directions, while deeper MPC, DAW, MIDI, and CV integration gives creators room to build a much bigger setup around one compact keyboard,” Andy Mac explained.
Deeper Integration with MPC and Music Production Software
The MPK Mini Plus II offers direct integration with MPC Standalone and MPC Desktop, extending the MPC workflow to a smaller keyboard controller.
Musicians can access transport functions, MPC pads, Q-Links, mixer settings, clip launching, plugin presets and track navigation directly from the hardware.
The controller is also designed to integrate with popular digital audio workstations, including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, FL Studio and MPC 3.
Full Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) compatibility enables integration with Native Instruments' Komplete Kontrol ecosystem, with supported production parameters displayed on the controller's screen.
These features are intended to reduce reliance on mouse-based controls and provide musicians with more immediate access to commonly used production functions.
MIDI and CV Connectivity for Hardware Synthesizers
Alongside its software capabilities, the MPK Mini Plus II supports hardware-based music production through a range of connectivity options.
USB-C provides power and MIDI connectivity to a computer, while a full-size five-pin MIDI output enables communication with external MIDI instruments.
Three CV/Gate outputs allow the controller to connect with compatible synthesizers and modular equipment. A quarter-inch sustain pedal input provides an additional performance option.
The keyboard can also receive USB-C bus power from a compatible wall adapter or power bank, sold separately.
Together, these connections allow the MPK Mini Plus II to operate across computer-based production environments, MPC systems and external synthesizer setups.
More Than 1,000 Sounds Included
The controller comes with a software collection intended to help both new and experienced producers begin creating music.
Akai Professional's Studio Instrument Collection includes more than 1,000 sounds from AIR Music Technology, Moog Music and Akai Professional, covering instruments and sound libraries for songwriting, beatmaking and music production.
Native Instruments Komplete Select (Akai Edition) and MPC Beats are also included, providing additional instruments, effects and production tools.
Akai MPK Mini Plus II: Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Keyboard | 37 upgraded mini keys |
| Key range | Three octaves |
| MPC pads | 8 velocity- and pressure-sensitive RGB pads |
| Display | 160 × 80 full-colour LCD |
| Knobs | 8 assignable 360° knobs |
| Additional controls | Push encoder, pitch and modulation wheels |
| Creative tools | Glitch, Mutate, Strum, Freeze, Follow |
| Other functions | Arpeggiator, Chord Creator, Note Repeat |
| MIDI connectivity | USB-C and five-pin MIDI output |
| CV/Gate | 3 outputs |
| Sustain pedal | 1/4-inch input |
| Included sounds | More than 1,000 |
| Dimensions | 49.3 × 19.2 × 5.4 cm |
| Weight | 1.46 kg |
| US price | $169 |
| European price | €159.99 |
| UK price | £134.99 |
Source: Akai Professional, MPK Mini Plus II launch announcement, 22 October 2026.
A Compact Controller for Expanding Music Production Setups
The MPK Mini Plus II is designed to serve musicians who want to move beyond basic MIDI input without adopting a larger keyboard or more complex controller.
Its combination of expressive pads, physical controls, creative functions and compatibility with both software and external instruments makes it suitable for a range of production environments.
For beatmakers and songwriters, the expanded creative features provide ways to develop musical ideas quickly. For producers already using MPC hardware or desktop production software, the deeper integration offers additional control from a compact device.
By combining these capabilities in a portable 37-key format, Akai Professional is positioning the MPK Mini Plus II as a flexible controller that can adapt as a musician's setup develops.
About Akai Professional
Akai Professional is a music technology company specialising in electronic instruments, controllers, samplers and production equipment.
With more than four decades of experience, the brand has contributed to the development of sampling, sequencing and modern electronic music production.
Akai Professional is part of the inMusic family of music technology brands.
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Sara Srifi
Sara is a Software Engineering and Business student with a passion for astronomy, cultural studies, and human-centered storytelling. She explores the quiet intersections between science, identity, and imagination, reflecting on how space, art, and society shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. Her writing draws on curiosity and lived experience to bridge disciplines and spark dialogue across cultures.
