Akai MPK mini plus User manual

User Guide
English ( 3 – 26 )
Appendix
English ( 27 )

2
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

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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

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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.

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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.

6
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.

7
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.

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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.

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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

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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#