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Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII – 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Drum Pads, 8 Assignable Q-Link Knobs and Pro Software Suite Included
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | AKAI |
Number of Keys | 25 |
Connectivity Technology | USB |
Special Feature | Velo |
Model Name | Old model |
About this item
- Compact keyboard controller easily fits backpack and studio production desk (12.4" long, 1.6 lbs)
- Powered by USB connection to computer, with free virtual-instrument download packages
- Crammed full of all the features you need to play and edit musical ideas
- 25-synth-action mini-keys, 8 velocity-sensitive rubber drum pads with two banks, and eight assignable control knobs
- Dedicated buttons for Note Repeat, Full Level, and Octave Up and Down
- 1400 Sounds and Everything You Need For Pro Production: Production software package for Mac and PC included: Akai Pro MPC Essentials, SONiVOX Wobble, and Hybrid 3 by AIR Music Tech (downloads)
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Product information
Item Weight | 1.63 pounds |
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Product Dimensions | 7.13 x 12.52 x 1.73 inches |
ASIN | B00IJ6QAO2 |
Item model number | MPKMINI2 |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #15,512 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #69 in Computer Recording MIDI Controllers |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | May 28, 2014 |
Color Name | Red |
Compatible Devices | PC |
Connector Type | USB |
Hardware Interface | USB |
Material Type | Rubber |
Musical Style | Electronic |
Number of Keyboard Keys | 25 |
Color Screen | No |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product guides and documents
What's in the box
Videos
Videos for this product
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Music Mobility Essential: AKAI MPK Mini Unboxing!
The Traveling Producer
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Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII Review
zahir kerimov
Product Description
Take Control, Wherever you go! Go mobile without losing control. Akai Professional’s MPK Mini MKII is an ultra-compact keyboard controller designed for the traveling musician and the desktop producer. With a cluster of production-centric in-demand hardware controls coupled with a slim-line ultra-portable footprint, MPK Mini MKII lets you record, compose and perform with virtual instruments, effect plugins and DAWs whenever inspiration strikes. Core Control MPK Mini MKII includes all the essential tools for quickly laying down and expanding upon your musical ideas. 25 velocity-sensitive synth-action keys, a 4-way thumbstick for dynamic pitch & modulation manipulation, 8 backlit velocity-sensitive MPC-style pads and 8 assignable Q-Link knobs provide the core functionality specifically engineered for rapid production potential, all housed in an ultra-portable footprint. Express Yourself Whatever your needs, MPK Mini MKII empowers producers with essential control that’s ready to capture the idea in your head whenever inspiration strikes; dedicated Octave Up and Down buttons increase the keyboard to the full melodic range – ideal for playing basslines, chords, melodies and more; a conveniently located sustain pedal input provides expanded control for expressive, immersive performances; finally, an onboard arpeggiator with adjustable resolution, range, and modes for simple, user-friendly and rapid creation of intricate melodic lines. Plug-And-Play For maximum portability, MPK Mini MKII requires no software drivers or external power adapter for operation. Combining plug-and-play connectivity, a seamless USB-MIDI connection and power via a single USB connection to your Mac or PC, MPK Mini MKII is a portable production powerhouse. Plus, for instant-recall of critical settings, four memory banks enable you to store hardware/software presets for rapid setup of your computer and MPK Mini MKII on the fly. Hybrid 3 Hybrid 3, by AIR Music Technology, is a critically acclaimed high-definition synthesizer that can create anything from fat, retro synth sounds to edgy modern leads and everything in between. SONiVOX Wobble SONiVOX’s Wobble is an electronic music grime synthesizer that features two independent channels of spectral morphing synthesis with harmonic controls, individual filtering and discrete LFO controls. MPC Essentials With MPC Essentials, charge your production with a powerful 64-bit music production package featuring up to eight pad banks (for a total of 128 tracks), a 1 GB sound library and user-friendly import capability for your own WAV and AIFF samples. Hardware Requirements- Macintosh: 1.25 GHz G4/G5 or faster (Intel Mac recommended); 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended); Mac OS X 10.4.11 (10.5 or later recommended). PC: 1.5 GHz Pentium 4 or Celeron-compatible CPU or faster (multicore CPU recommended); 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended); Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP; Windows-compatible sound card (ASIO driver support recommended); QuickTime recommended. Available USB port.
From the manufacturer
Take Control, Wherever you go
Go mobile without losing control. Akai Professional’s MPK Mini MKII is an ultra-compact keyboard controller designed for the traveling musician and the desktop producer.
With a cluster of production-centric in-demand hardware controls coupled with a slim-line ultra-portable footprint, MPK Mini MKII lets you record, compose and perform with virtual instruments, effect plug-ins and DAWs whenever inspiration strikes.
Core Control
MPK Mini MKII includes all the essential tools for quickly laying down and expanding upon your musical ideas - all engineered using the industry-standard tools Akai Professional is famous for.
25 velocity-sensitive synth-action keys provide a natural action, capturing every subtle nuance of your performance. An innovative, eye-catching four way thumbstick provides the ultimate tool for dynamic pitch and modulation performance effects. Eight backlit velocity-sensitive MPC-style pads and eight assignable Q-Link knobs provide core control and beat-making functionality specifically engineered for rapid production potential.
Express Yourself
Whatever your needs, MPK Mini MKII provides essential functionality that’s ready to capture the idea in your head whenever inspiration strikes.
Dedicated Octave Up and Down buttons increase the keyboard to the full melodic range – ideal for playing basslines, chords, melodies and more. A conveniently located sustain pedal input provides expanded control for expressive, immersive performances. Finally, an onboard arpeggiator with adjustable resolution, range and modes facilitates simple, user-friendly and rapid creation of inspiring melodic lines
Plug-And-Play
For maximum portability, MPK Mini requires no software drivers or external power adapter for operation. Combining plug-and-play connectivity, a seamless USB-MIDI connection and power via a single USB connection to your Mac or PC, MPK Mini MKII is a portable production powerhouse.
Plus, for instant-recall of critical settings, four memory banks enable you to store hardware/software presets for rapid setup of your computer and MPK Mini MKII on the fly.
Take Control
Core Control
Express Yourself
Plug-And-Play
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Hybrid 3Hybrid 3, by AIR Music Technology, is a critically acclaimed high-definition synthesizer that combines the coveted warmth of analog synths with a full range of futuristic digital manipulation capabilities. |
SONiVOX WobbleSONiVOX’s Wobble is an electronic music grime synthesizer that features two independent channels of spectral morphing synthesis with harmonic controls, individual filtering and discrete LFO controls. |
MPC Beats SoftwareWhatever you set out to achieve, MPC Beats will get you started. This immersive digital audio workstation lets you edit samples, mixdown your tracks, find any sound with three pro synth engines found on the legendary MPCs, record audio tracks and much more. |
VIP 3.1Experience expanded control of your VST instrument and effect collection with MPK Mini MKII and VIP 3.1. VIP 3.1 provides you with unparalleled access to your virtual instrument and effect collection, seamlessly integrating the hardware / software experience. |
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This Item Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII – 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Drum Pads, 8 Assignable Q-Link Knobs and Pro Software Suite Included | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | $92.22$92.22 | -9% $89.99$89.99 List: $98.99 | $99.00$99.00 | -13% $129.00$129.00 List: $149.00 | $169.00$169.00 | $89.99$89.99 |
Delivery | Get it Apr 3 - 5 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 4 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Portability | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.8 |
Value for money | 4.3 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
Quality of material | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.5 |
For beginners | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.5 |
Tech Support | 3.6 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.7 | — |
Sold By | Alto Music | DonnerDirect | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | VTILOS |
number of keys | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 37 | — |
hardware interface | usb | usb | usb | usb | usb | usb |
connectivity tech | USB | USB | USB | USB | USB | USB, Bluetooth |
weight | 1.63 pounds | — | 0.8 kilograms | 1.98 pounds | 2.78 pounds | — |
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality and value of the audio midi controller. For example, they say the pads and keys have a nice feel to them and are velocity sensitive. Customers are also impresseded with the weight and features. That said, opinions are mixed on performance, ease of use, quality, and size.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the key quality of the audio midi controller. They say the pads and keys have a nice feel and are velocity sensitive. The controls are responsive, and the keyboard gets the job done. Some customers also mention that the pads are tight and responsive. Overall, most are satisfied with the quality and functionality of the product.
"...Anyway, in summary, fantastic little midi keyboard. Good price, great packaging, and great usability...." Read more
"...It does the first very well, the pads feel great, the lights are very visible, and I haven't managed to dig my nails in, or scratch the black paint..." Read more
"...], they are fairly thick for mini pads and have a nice bouncy feel to them, not like those nightmare cheap pads they put on the earlier..." Read more
"...The pads feel excellent, as can be said for the keys...." Read more
Customers like the value of the audio midi controller. They say it's well worth the price, has plenty of features, and is easy to set up. Customers also mention that it has surprisingly high quality parts for the price. Overall, customers say it has the power of more expensive keyboards for a fraction of the price and is a very nice little starter.
"...Pros:Great priceImproved pads--overall very sensitive on my partLots of control knobs and multiple programs/banks..." Read more
"...Anyway, in summary, fantastic little midi keyboard. Good price, great packaging, and great usability...." Read more
"...but if you don't have a favorite synth already, they are worth installing...." Read more
"TL;DR: Excellent product, well worth the price, and will serve you well...." Read more
Customers find the audio midi controller to be super portable and easy to take wherever they need to go. They also say the compact design makes it easy to transport in a school backpack. Customers also say it's perfect for creatives on the go, and that it'll easily link up to most any device. They mention that the keyboard is lightweight overall, but some feel the weight on the piano keys could be better.
"...It really helps make this a portable keyboard. Though someone who is use to the wheel style control might not like this feature...." Read more
"Convenient, user-friendly, and portable are three words that I would use to describe this amazing mini keyboard...." Read more
"...device, the pads are cool, the keys are responsive, and the portability is great, work out the issues with the Arpeggiator and this thing kicks a*..." Read more
"...Overall, this is the nicest portable MIDI controller I've found. Get the Khanka case for it and you'll be all set...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the audio midi controller. Some mention it's easy to use and to travel with, perfect for creatives on the go. They also say it provides effortless arpeggios in a variety of styles. However, some find the software setup intimidating, confusing, and hard to get used to. They say the included software has a steep learning curve.
"...soon as you plug the controller into the computer, the pre-loaded drivers install themselves and then you're ready to go...." Read more
"...They are completely usable but a little hard to get used to if you are use to a full size keyboard. This may or may not matter to you...." Read more
"...Not much setup and installation is needed to be able to use it with your favorite music software and it uses USB connection, which is what makes it..." Read more
"...Budget friendly.Cons:- The software setup is kind of intimidating but luckily there are easy-to-find tutorials to help you.-..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the audio midi controller. Some mention that it works fine as a tool, while others say that it's not efficient to use.
"...Velocity-sensitive keys/padsWorked immediately from initial plug-inFast responseCons:..." Read more
"...They are completely usable but a little hard to get used to if you are use to a full size keyboard. This may or may not matter to you...." Read more
"...For size, they made pitch/mod into a joystick, but its placement and action isn’t ideal - the wheels are better...." Read more
"...it is the thumb-controlled pitch-bend and modulation joystick, it works very well and has a quick response.- Arpeggiator:..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the audio midi controller. Some mention it's well-made, has fantastic pads, and the craftsmanship seems fine. However, others say that it'd break easily, the keys are not what they'd call high quality, and they're already threatening to break off.
"...Pros:Great priceImproved pads--overall very sensitive on my partLots of control knobs and multiple programs/banks..." Read more
"...In conclusionThis product is all around well-made and comes with a lot of features that are very useful to any kind of music producer,..." Read more
"...The knobs and the pitch bend stick work as expected. They don't feel premium, but this isn't a premium product, and they get the job done without..." Read more
"...I thought were important when considering buying this device, the pads are cool, the keys are responsive, and the portability is great, work out the..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the size of the audio midi controller. Some mention that it's small enough to fit in their backpack, and convenient. They say it'll be a great device for doing stuff on the go with. However, others say that the keys are very small and narrow, making them a deal-breaker as far as play-ability goes.
"...It really helps keep the size of the keyboard down since you don't have to include those bulkier pitch and modulation wheels...." Read more
"...The keyboard, however, is the weak point of the hardware. The keys are narrow (this was expected, but still annoying), have no weight behind them,..." Read more
"...This keyboard fits perfectly on my desk and the software that comes with it has some excellent sounds for looping...." Read more
"...Otherwise, this meets my needs:- It's small enough to fit in my backpack along with other stuff...." Read more
Customers dislike the software that is included with the audio midi controller. They mention that it's limited, difficult to download and install, and requires additional software to produce. Some complain that the software is weak and not a standalone program.
"...it has great pads (wish I had 16 of them), but the keyboard and software let it down. (Only taking off 1 star because those are secondary features.)" Read more
"...the MINI DOESN'T COME WITH ANY MUSIC SOFTWARE PRE-LOADED or even on a disc and B)..." Read more
"...-The software that is included is limited. You can't use the knobs with MPC Essentials, you need Ableton or something similar for that...." Read more
"...MPC BEATS is a free software for beginning producers with plenty of tutorials and youtube videos to help you get the most out of the mini midi..." Read more
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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I figured I'd wait it out and buy it when it came out! So, I did and here's my review:
As a preface, I was looking for a MIDI controller mostly because I make live music with programmed drums, and I wanted to get velocity-triggered pads to make them sound more realistic. I also make Instrumental Hip-Hop in the style of Nujabes, so I was keeping that in mind as well. Generally, I just wanted a really well-rounded keyboard that I could do a huge variety of things with.
As soon as you plug the controller into the computer, the pre-loaded drivers install themselves and then you're ready to go. I had no issues with this step, and I'm using Windows 7. After that I loaded up my DAW of choice (FL Studio), and loaded a channel to get going. Everything was already completely working. I didn't have to mess with the MIDI settings at all! I actually didn't even know that the KEYS were also velocity-sensitive before I bought this keyboard, so that was a pleasant surprise as well. The pitch & mod knob by default on most things for me was pitch shifting, but in whatever DAW you use you should have no trouble mapping the knob to whatever you want.
This being my first controller, everything else was on point 100%. I was worried about the pads still having the same hit detection issue as the last model, but that's not the case. In fact, by the time I got around to the second use the pads got MORE sensitive. You honestly don't need to hit very hard to get maximum velocity. What's also great is that there's a "full level" button which always plays the pads at max velocity no matter how hard you hit. I highly recommend reading the manual when you first get the keyboard, as it explains all the features pretty much on one page!
Lastly, I'd like to talk about the arpeggiator. I think it's really nifty, and I love it a lot, but there's a serious problem I've been having with it. It doesn't automatically sync the tempo up to the computer, and it doesn't always play right when you hit the keys (I'm assuming that it's either one of the settings causing this, or something in the DAW itself--I'm still just a noob when it comes to MIDI controllers, so I'm sure that the MIDI clock isn't set up correctly). But since the arpeggiator runs on the tempo, you have to manually sync it up to the computer, and even then I still have issues. I'm sure there's a trick to make it auto-sync, but I haven't found it yet. It's just annoying when I'm trying to record with the arpeggiator and it doesn't start playing right when I hit the keys--it gives it about a one-second delay 60% of the time, even when I play right on the beat and/or I'm NOT recording.
So, all in all, I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone looking to start out with a really well-rounded MIDI controller. It has so many features that seriously cannot be beaten for the price you pay.
Pros:
Great price
Improved pads--overall very sensitive on my part
Lots of control knobs and multiple programs/banks
High variety of settings for arpeggiator and pads
Velocity-sensitive keys/pads
Worked immediately from initial plug-in
Fast response
Cons:
Arepeggiator issues (most likely a DAW sync issue)
Had a couple issues with mapping the knobs (probably the VST itself)
Joystick was a little jerky at first, but it works in pretty quickly
I still can't believe that I only paid $100 for this. Too incredible of a deal.
The packaging was fantastic. Included is the Keyboard, USB-Midi cable, instructions, and information on where and how to download your included software.
The keyboad itself looks great. It is very streamline and has a great color scheme. A unique feature is the 4 way joystick for modulation and pitch control. I have to say I like it better than a typical wheel style control you see on other midi-controllers. It really helps keep the size of the keyboard down since you don't have to include those bulkier pitch and modulation wheels. It really helps make this a portable keyboard. Though someone who is use to the wheel style control might not like this feature. It takes a minute to get acclimated to.
Right now my only complaint is that the keys are a little smaller than I was expecting. As you can see in my pictures, each key is about the size of a penny. They are completely usable but a little hard to get used to if you are use to a full size keyboard. This may or may not matter to you. If you have big fingers, I may recommend looking for something else. Of course this is not the manufacturer's fault, they list "mini keys" in the first description of the product so I am not going to knock any stars for that. I just thought they wouldn't be quite so mini. But the upside is that it makes the overall footprint very small, smaller than my computer keyboard infact. Also, unless you have nothing else, this isn't really the type of keyboard you (or atleast I) would use to put down a lot of notes. I think it's more for editing and mixing than for creating and composing, but if you really needed to you easily could.
I think would be really neat if they made this same controller with normal sized keys. They make one similar (Akai Professional MPK25 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with MPC Pads) but it has a lot more going on and is $80 more. Maybe I will invest in that someday. If you have larger fingers or don't like the mini-keys go check that one out.
Anyway, in summary, fantastic little midi keyboard. Good price, great packaging, and great usability. I think this is a good keyboard to start out with as a beginner and even a good keyboard to have floating around if you are a pro. Pick it up, I don't think you will be disappointed.
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2015
The packaging was fantastic. Included is the Keyboard, USB-Midi cable, instructions, and information on where and how to download your included software.
The keyboad itself looks great. It is very streamline and has a great color scheme. A unique feature is the 4 way joystick for modulation and pitch control. I have to say I like it better than a typical wheel style control you see on other midi-controllers. It really helps keep the size of the keyboard down since you don't have to include those bulkier pitch and modulation wheels. It really helps make this a portable keyboard. Though someone who is use to the wheel style control might not like this feature. It takes a minute to get acclimated to.
Right now my only complaint is that the keys are a little smaller than I was expecting. As you can see in my pictures, each key is about the size of a penny. They are completely usable but a little hard to get used to if you are use to a full size keyboard. This may or may not matter to you. If you have big fingers, I may recommend looking for something else. Of course this is not the manufacturer's fault, they list "mini keys" in the first description of the product so I am not going to knock any stars for that. I just thought they wouldn't be quite so mini. But the upside is that it makes the overall footprint very small, smaller than my computer keyboard infact. Also, unless you have nothing else, this isn't really the type of keyboard you (or atleast I) would use to put down a lot of notes. I think it's more for editing and mixing than for creating and composing, but if you really needed to you easily could.
I think would be really neat if they made this same controller with normal sized keys. They make one similar (Akai Professional MPK25 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with MPC Pads) but it has a lot more going on and is $80 more. Maybe I will invest in that someday. If you have larger fingers or don't like the mini-keys go check that one out.
Anyway, in summary, fantastic little midi keyboard. Good price, great packaging, and great usability. I think this is a good keyboard to start out with as a beginner and even a good keyboard to have floating around if you are a pro. Pick it up, I don't think you will be disappointed.
Top reviews from other countries
Die Verarbeitung des MPK Mini MKII ist erstklassig, und das Gerät funktioniert einwandfrei mit meiner Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) und anderen MIDI-fähigen Geräten. Die Tasten fühlen sich angenehm an und reagieren präzise auf Berührungen, was das Spielen und Aufnehmen von Musik zu einem reibungslosen Erlebnis macht.
Insgesamt bin ich äußerst zufrieden mit dem AKAI Professional MPK Mini MKII. Es ist ein hochwertiges und vielseitiges MIDI-Keyboard, das perfekt für unterwegs ist und eine beeindruckende Leistung bietet. Wer auf der Suche nach einem kompakten MIDI-Controller mit umfangreichen Funktionen ist, sollte das MPK Mini MKII definitiv in Betracht ziehen.
NOTE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO MIDI-CONTROLLERS
With Covid, I wanted to pick up a new hobby - but using one of these is definitely not for beginners who just want to pick up a random a hobby. Using it takes quite some computer know-how. So this isn't a toy or something you should buy for a child unless they know what they're getting themselves into.
The controller only comes with software that let's you map out the nob/pad/key controls into a DAW (digital audio workstation). This means it only links all the buttons on the controller to the DAW so that when you have the DAW open, you can hear sounds when pressing keys and can assign sounds to keys.
The DAW software can be purchased online as a digital copy. Most of these software can only be purchased through yearly subscriptions - so prepare yourself to fork out more money if this is something you want to pursue.
Note that not all DAW software is compatible with the MPK and can be more or less difficult to use depending on the software you choose. FL studio works great - but Akai recommends Ableton.
END NOTE
Overall - i love this product. I went with FL studio and it took me about 3 hours of looking at youtube tutorials and looking up questions online before I was able to start recording a single track of sounds. After 8 hours, I had about 2 minutes of a song done with about 5 tracks (5 instruments). Thankfully I'm pretty computer savy because of my work, but I could see this being way more difficult for someone with less computer knowledge.
Reviewed in Canada on May 23, 2020
NOTE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO MIDI-CONTROLLERS
With Covid, I wanted to pick up a new hobby - but using one of these is definitely not for beginners who just want to pick up a random a hobby. Using it takes quite some computer know-how. So this isn't a toy or something you should buy for a child unless they know what they're getting themselves into.
The controller only comes with software that let's you map out the nob/pad/key controls into a DAW (digital audio workstation). This means it only links all the buttons on the controller to the DAW so that when you have the DAW open, you can hear sounds when pressing keys and can assign sounds to keys.
The DAW software can be purchased online as a digital copy. Most of these software can only be purchased through yearly subscriptions - so prepare yourself to fork out more money if this is something you want to pursue.
Note that not all DAW software is compatible with the MPK and can be more or less difficult to use depending on the software you choose. FL studio works great - but Akai recommends Ableton.
END NOTE
Overall - i love this product. I went with FL studio and it took me about 3 hours of looking at youtube tutorials and looking up questions online before I was able to start recording a single track of sounds. After 8 hours, I had about 2 minutes of a song done with about 5 tracks (5 instruments). Thankfully I'm pretty computer savy because of my work, but I could see this being way more difficult for someone with less computer knowledge.
En general es un controlador para principiantes, yo lo uso en estudio y tiene todo lo que necesito, por un precio que no se puede mejorar