Akai Professional MPK249 Black USB/MIDI Keyboard

General

The Akai MPK 249 bundles up a 49-note keyboard that spans four octaves, sixteen RGB backlit MPC pads, eight rotary encoders, eight faders, and an upgraded display to complete an improved layout and an extensive production tool. The MPK 249 can calibrated for seamless DAW integration in mere minutes while the set of semi-weighted and velocity-sensitive keys offer smooth playability and the modulation and pitch wheels offer real-time tweaking. Around the back, there's even space for plugging in a sustain and expression pedal.

The Akai Professional MPK249

Akai Professional is renowned for their MPC samplers, so here you get a full bank of sixteen RGB-backlit and velocity-sensitive MPC pads complete with Note Repeat. The set of eight faders come pre-configured for DAW mixers, but they're also assignable, supporting a fully custom setup - the same applies for the set of eight rotary encoders. The layout is neat, clear and satisfying, keeping the transport buttons prominent and planting the cursors and data-dial right in the centre where they're needed, while the clear and detailed LCD display offers a fast settings overview. Already any producer's go-to Swiss Army knife, this limited edition model takes things further since it comes in a fully-black finish.