Review of Akai mpk249

After studying for days trying to figure out the machine my buddy Tark helped me buy it and my aunt brought it far away from Korea for me. I want to share how I feel about this machine. I told my love, “I don’t see many people really get deeper to talk about how it be used well. I only hear people mention about functions that the Akai web mentioned about.”

Every machine seems so good, especially those new and few products for certain users, Ex. musicians, audio engineers and arrangers. And the comparison, those terms, for newbies are definitely confused and difficult.

I used to have a small keyboard on desk especially for simple notes playing, AKM 320. It then was broken by me by mis-use I think. Then I tried to get a new one. I wanted a better one which has more functions.

I used to have Novation Zero SL II as my midi controller to control tracks. That was the first time I knew Automap. Man! That was complicated to me. Mine wasn’t a new one. It caused my misunderstanding to the machine. Anyways, I got it fixed. Then other problems happened. Sonar crashed all the time. That made me really sad.

I started to use Logic Pro. Automap was able to connect with all plugins in Logic. However, for it always showed on the choice of roll down menu, it didn’t feel it’s cohesive.
Ex.
Bassline
Bassline(Automap)

Sometimes, I just needed to double check my master and I needed to turn on the machine if I used it to mix as well. Most time, I didn’t. I had a hard time of learning Automap as well. That time I was a newbie to controllers.

Anyways, now I have which has no Automap. I was happy that things turn out much easier. It did take me some time learning the machine, mpk249 though. Akai has its own preset for Logic. It sounds like happy ever forever. No, not really. Since Apple and Logic Pro have also updated a few times. Many presets before Apple update don’t work. The updates influence huge including many plugins as well. That means the preset of the machine doesn’t work with the latest Logic. Oh! Okay. I read. I started to learn both Mpk249 and Logic control surface support, two books plus google for solution see if there’s any experts giving out more ideas. Finally I got it. Downloaded an Apple source code written by someone who was excellent and able to write. Yeah! Problem resolved. Well, when there’s no Automap, someone gotta map it.

Mpk249 has seven knobs, seven sliders, seven switches and three banks, the most numbers of things I can control is 72. The most tracks I can control is 24 including pan and solo. Well notice this, if I assign any parameters to control plugins, then I control less channels. Total is 72.

I look at my iPad. “Thank You” I said.

However, playing on semi-weighted keys is really pleasing. The feeling and the sense just like playing on a real piano. The drum pads are sweet too. I never get to really use drum pads. I never know how to use the drum pads on my Novation Zero SkII. I always failed to use those. Transport works fine. I could play, record, etc., via using switches on Akai. Though I can’t really do like some Youtubers say, “You don’t need to use your computer keys at all. You can only focus on your playing.”

“I can’t. I need to delete, paste, quantize, undo, redo, etc.”

Nevertheless, after I went over again to study all the machines on the market. I’m content with mpk249. It’s a combination for playing and mixing, simple and easy to use. Otherwise, I gotta have keys for playing and a controller for mixing. And the size fits my desk. That’s a big plus as well. Mpk249 is an easy use, convenient and good quality machine. I thank God, Tark and my aunt.

Get back to do my music stuff.