TomHelvey
Max Output Level: -80 dBFS
- Total Posts : 537
- Joined: 2013/02/26 20:23:54
- Status: offline
Akai MPK249
I just got an Akai MPK249, Guitar Center had them on sale for $279 (reg $399). Nice bit of kit, it even has a Sonar mode preset. It also has presets for Drumazon, Nepheton, and Battery. w00t! The keys feel nice (synth action), a bit more snappy than the M-Audio sponge. It also came with a couple free synths (Twist and Hybrid). I'm not the kind of person who likes to labor over customizing settings, I don't have time for that, so it's nice to get something that's useable out of the box. That being said, everything about the controller is tweakable so I'll probably end up fiddling with the presets at some point. I'm not a keyboard player but my LaunchKey 25 was getting to be a bit limiting and my Fantom X6 is a little too large for the quick grab. 49 keys seems like a perfect tradeoff between range and size for production. If it doesn't catch fire in the next couple hours, I suspect that it's going to work out very well in my studio. If you're looking for a nice MIDI controller that's got most things well covered...
post edited by TomHelvey - 2015/02/14 01:50:01
System: i7-6900, 64Gb, AMI X99 Carbon Pro Gaming, AMD Radeon HD 7700, Win 10 Pro PCIe: UAD Octo USB: MOTU midi express 128, OB-6 Module, Akai MPK-249, Moog SUB 37, Antelope Orion 32 HD, Softube Console 1, iLok, eLicenser DAW: Cubase Pro, Ableton Live, Sonar Platinum Plugins: Waves, UAD, Xfer, Lennar Digital, u-he, Reveal Sound, Spectrasonics, SoundToys, VPS, Blue Cat, iZotope, NI, Valhalla, Lexicon, etc. https://soundcloud.com/thomas-helvey
|
Paul P
Max Output Level: -48.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2685
- Joined: 2012/12/08 17:15:47
- Location: Montreal
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/02/14 10:09:00
(permalink)
Nice looking keyboard. Let us know how you like it once you've had a chance to play with it a bit.
I'm interested in hearing how well it integrates with Sonar controls-wise.
Sonar Platinum [2017.10], Win7U x64 sp1, Xeon E5-1620 3.6 GHz, Asus P9X79WS, 16 GB ECC, 128gb SSD, HD7950, Mackie Blackjack
|
AT
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 10654
- Joined: 2004/01/09 10:42:46
- Location: TeXaS
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/02/14 18:04:50
(permalink)
Yea, 49 keys seems about right. I know my Novation 25 is OK.
So yea, let us know about the key size and as a controller.
@
https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
http://www.bnoir-film.com/ there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
|
Semi_Perfect
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 23
- Joined: 2015/02/05 21:04:41
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/02/14 18:51:45
(permalink)
I just ordered the same keyboard from guitar center.. I was going to grab a Axiom Air 49. But this seemed like a awesome deal.. glad to know it is easily setup in sonar.. I dont understand all that stuff all that much
|
rumleymusic
Max Output Level: -60 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1533
- Joined: 2006/08/23 18:03:05
- Location: California
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/02/16 00:30:04
(permalink)
I have one as well. Best hardware quality of any keyboard midi controller IMHO. Large and stable bouncy keys, hefty and smooth faders and pan knobs. And buttons that give a sturdy and reassuring "click" when pressed. Everything else feels like a toy by comparison.
|
UnknownReality81
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 5
- Joined: 2015/02/16 16:55:35
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/02/17 11:54:44
(permalink)
I was thinking about getting the mpk249 midi keyboard myself especially since i have the older model mpk49. I also would like to hear how well it works. Does anybody here know how to setup the older one with Sonar Artist.I just purchased it yesterday and I can't find any info or videos explaining how to including getting the transport buttons, knobs and faders to work as well. Mpk49 has a Sonar preset already installed but it doesn't work.
|
Paul P
Max Output Level: -48.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2685
- Joined: 2012/12/08 17:15:47
- Location: Montreal
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/02/17 14:32:45
(permalink)
UnknownReality81
Does anybody here know how to setup the older one with Sonar Artist.I just purchased it yesterday and I can't find any info or videos explaining how to including getting the transport buttons, knobs and faders to work as well. Mpk49 has a Sonar preset already installed but it doesn't work.
See this video on using ACT within Sonar : Sonar X1 - ACT setup. The video is for Sonar X1, but I doubt anything has changed with ACT since then.
Sonar Platinum [2017.10], Win7U x64 sp1, Xeon E5-1620 3.6 GHz, Asus P9X79WS, 16 GB ECC, 128gb SSD, HD7950, Mackie Blackjack
|
Alchemy
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 24
- Joined: 2014/06/01 17:39:48
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/03/28 14:18:18
(permalink)
I have the MPK261. It's a great keyboard with great feeling controls and keys.
I'm trying to get the MPK261 working with Sonar X3. There's a preset in the preferences for the the MPK49 and it loads within ACT, but none of the controls seem to work. Does anyone have a profile for the MPK261 they could share, or some help on getting it working? The keys and pads work, but the transport and any other controls don't. It works fine in other DAWs like Bitwig and Ableton, so I know it's not the keyboard itself.
I have the preset loaded on the keyboard, but it don't seem to do anything other than change the colors of the pads. Any help would be appreciated.
|
Paul P
Max Output Level: -48.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2685
- Joined: 2012/12/08 17:15:47
- Location: Montreal
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/03/28 15:01:13
(permalink)
Sonar Platinum [2017.10], Win7U x64 sp1, Xeon E5-1620 3.6 GHz, Asus P9X79WS, 16 GB ECC, 128gb SSD, HD7950, Mackie Blackjack
|
azslow3
Max Output Level: -42.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 3297
- Joined: 2012/06/22 19:27:51
- Location: Germany
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/03/28 19:06:29
(permalink)
While my site has quite some information, I recommend start with chapters 20 and 40 of SONAR Reference Guide.
Since each preset of MPK261 generates different set of MIDI messages, existing preset will work only in case your current MPK preset is the same as for someone who done the preset. But "learning" your MPK will take 1-2 minutes only (just do not mix "MIDI Learning" inside ACT MIDI/Generic Surface, "MIDI Learning" within SONAR (remote control) and ACT learning, they are all different).
Sonar 8LE -> Platinum infinity, REAPER, Windows 10 pro GA-EP35-DS3L, E7500, 4GB, GTX 1050 Ti, 2x500GB RME Babyface Pro (M-Audio Audiophile Firewire/410, VS-20), Kawai CN43, TD-11, Roland A500S, Akai MPK Mini, Keystation Pro, etc. www.azslow.com - Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR, ReaCWP, AOSC and other accessibility tools
|
Craigster91
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 42
- Joined: 2008/01/16 19:17:03
- Status: offline
Re: Akai MPK249
2015/05/20 20:11:26
(permalink)
Interesting how several of you really seem to like the playability of the new Akai.
Based on your positive feedback, I went to check it out at GC last evening. Hmmm...
There was not a 61-key version available. All I could play was the 49 key version. are they they same?
I really didn't like the keyboard playability at all!
I understand this is supposedly less-stiff than prior models. I don't mind a heavy action, but I found the combination of short keys (i.e. they are NOT full-size, regardless of advertizing as such), and stiff response that my playability was hindered. By comparison, I preferred the lighter Arturia Keylab 49 and found the M-Audio Axiom Air 49 to be the best at GC. I would also rank the Novation Impulse above the Akai APK249, but below the Axiom Air. I found most all of these keybeds to be exceptionally noisy. Anyway, i decided to order a Novation SL mkii instead.
Other than the hard to play smoothly keyboard action of the Akai, I REALLY liked the rest of it's features. I admit I was disappointed to not land on the new Akai. But playability is a deal-breaker for me.
|