Akai MPK Mini Plus II: The 37-Key Mini That Speaks MPC

Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus II played on the couch next to a laptop

TL;DR

  • Akai's MPK Mini Plus II is the second-generation 37-key Mini: €149, upgraded keybed, pressure-sensitive RGB MPC pads, full-color display.
  • The headline is native control of MPC Standalone and MPC Desktop, on top of the usual DAW and NKS mapping.
  • Hardware-friendly I/O stays: USB-C, 5-pin MIDI out, 3 CV/Gate outputs, sustain input.
  • Coming soon at Soundium, with EARLY5 taking 5% off.

Introduction

Four years after the first MPK Mini Plus, Akai has rebuilt its 37-key compact around one idea: the keyboard should talk to an MPC as fluently as it talks to a laptop.

The MPK Mini Plus II gets the expected generational upgrades, a better 37-key mini keybed, eight RGB MPC pads that now respond to both velocity and pressure, and a 160 × 80 full-color display. The bigger change is what it connects to. Plug it into an MPC Live, One or Key, or run MPC Desktop on a computer, and the controller gives you transport, pads, Q-Links, mixer, clip launching, plugin presets and track navigation without any mapping. It also looks the part: the light grey body and red trim are a straight nod to classic MPCs.

At €149 it lands €10 under the price of the original Mini Plus in our catalogue, which makes it an easy step up from a 25-key Mini.

Watch It in Action

Key Features & Benefits

Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus II, top view of pads, display and encoders
Eight pressure-sensitive RGB pads, eight 360° encoders and the new color display. Photo: Akai Professional.
  • MPC that just works. Native integration with MPC Standalone and MPC Desktop, so the Mini Plus II acts as a keyboard and control surface for an MPC the moment you plug it in.
  • Pads you can lean into. The 8 RGB MPC pads add aftertouch and dual-bank control, which matters for finger drumming, note repeat rolls and triggering chords.
  • Ideas on tap. Expanded Arpeggiator, Chord Creator and Note Repeat, User Progressions, and new generative tools (Glitch, Mutate, Strum, Freeze, Follow) for when a loop needs a push in a new direction.
  • Screen feedback, less mouse. The full-color display shows parameter values as you turn the eight 360° encoders, so you're not looking back at the laptop every few seconds.
  • DAW and NKS ready. Pre-mapped for MPC 3, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio and Cubase, with full NKS support for Komplete Kontrol.
  • Room for hardware. USB-C, a full-size 5-pin MIDI out, three CV/Gate outputs (pitch, gate, mod) and a sustain input. It runs on USB bus power or a power bank.

Real-World Reactions

The Mini Plus II was announced on 22 October, so hands-on reviews aren't out yet. Early coverage:

"Today, Akai has announced MPK Mini Plus II, a follow-up model that takes things to a whole new level."

Adam Douglas, gearnews

"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, Akai Professional (via gearnews)

We'll add independent reviews here once they're published.

Gallery

Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus II in a studio setup with an MPC and monitors
In front of an MPC, where it's built to sit. Photo: Akai Professional.
Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus II controlling synthesizers in a hybrid setup
MIDI and CV/Gate out to the rest of the rig. Photo: Akai Professional.
Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus II on a wooden desk with a producer playing
Three octaves on a small desk. Photo: Akai Professional.
Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus II rear panel with USB-C, MIDI out, CV/Gate and sustain input
Rear panel: USB-C, sustain, 3 × CV/Gate, 5-pin MIDI out. Photo: Akai Professional.

Who It's For

MPC owners who want a small keyboard that controls the MPC natively. Producers moving up from a 25-key Mini who want more range without a bigger desk. Hybrid setups where one controller has to drive a DAW, a desktop synth and a modular voice.

Who should look elsewhere: pianists who need full-size or weighted keys, and anyone who needs 5-pin MIDI in, since the DIN port is output only. If you relied on the original Mini Plus's built-in step sequencer, note that Akai's Mini Plus II spec sheet doesn't list one.

Quick Specs

  • Keys: 37 mini keys
  • Pads: 8 velocity and pressure-sensitive RGB MPC pads
  • Controls: 8 assignable 360° knobs, 1 push encoder, pitch and mod wheels
  • Display: 160 × 80 full-color LCD
  • I/O: USB-C (power, MIDI), 5-pin MIDI out, 3 × 3.5 mm CV/Gate out, 6.35 mm sustain input
  • Software: MPC Beats, Ableton Live Lite 12, Komplete Select (Akai Edition), Studio Instrument Collection
  • Size / weight: 49.3 × 19.2 × 5.4 cm, 1.46 kg

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Native MPC Standalone and Desktop control
  • Pressure-sensitive pads and a color display at €149
  • CV/Gate and MIDI out for hardware
  • USB-C, runs from a power bank

Cons

  • Mini keys
  • No 5-pin MIDI in
  • Bigger footprint than the original Mini Plus (49.3 cm wide vs 45.2 cm)

Where to Buy

The Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus II is open for pre-order at Soundium at €149. Use code EARLY5 for 5% off.

  • Free pickup shipping on orders over €149
  • Free courier shipping on orders over €299
  • Secure checkout and interest-free payments
  • Support from people who actually know the gear

Pre-order MPK Mini Plus II · €149

Final Thoughts

The first Mini Plus was a good DAW keyboard with some hardware tricks. The II turns those tricks into the point: it's a compact keyboard for people whose setup has an MPC, a synth or a Eurorack case in it, not just a laptop. If that's you, it's the most connected 37-key Akai we've listed.

Still Unsure?

Tell us what's on your desk and what you want to control, and we'll tell you whether the Mini Plus II fits. Get in touch, or browse what else is coming soon.

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