0 Best Akai Professional pad midi controllers in 2023

Steve Romanoski Avatar
Steve Romanoski
Last Updated: Oct 13, 2022

In this article, we've listed the best Akai Professional pad midi controllers one can find out there. We've found about 33 of Akai Professional pad midi controllers and selected the 0 top options. Check out what we recommend in 2023.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

AKAI Professional Fire (Controller Only) – USB MIDI Controller
#TOP 1
AKAI Professional Fire (Controller Only) – USB MIDI Controller
ftb score rating icon 9
PBM Score
Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII – 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Drum Pads
#TOP 2
Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII – 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Drum Pads
ftb score rating icon 9
PBM Score
AKAI Professional MPD218
#TOP 3
AKAI Professional MPD218
ftb score rating icon 9
PBM Score

Top 7 Best Akai Professional pad midi controllers Reviews 2022

#TOP 1

AKAI Professional Fire (Controller Only) – USB MIDI Controller


Features

  • Improved Navigation - Instantly navigate the Channel Rack, Browser, Tool Bar and Playlist windows; dedicated controls to browse audio and project files with clear feedback from the OLED display
  • Maximum Tweak-Ability - 4 banks of assignable Touch-Capacitive MIDI knobs / encoders for controlling Mixer, Channel and custom User-Assignable mappings
  • FL Studio Music Production Essential- Dedicated USB MIDI hardware controller for the FL Studio DAW platform with seamless plug-and-play connectivity
  • Workflow Revolution - 64 velocity-sensitive RGB Pads for creation of patterns in the step sequencer and recording notes / synth parts on a pad-based MIDI keyboard controller in Performance mode
  • Beat Production Simplified – Transform Fire into a beat maker essential with a MPC Style 16-pad layout in Drum Mode
#TOP 2

Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII – 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Drum Pads


Features

  • Dedicated buttons for Note Repeat, Full Level, and Octave Up and Down
  • Powered by USB connection to computer, with free virtual-instrument download packages
  • Compact keyboard controller easily fits backpack and studio production desk (12.4" long, 1.6 lbs)
  • 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
  • 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)
#TOP 3

AKAI Professional MPD218


Features

  • iOS Connectivity Covered - Control your iOS apps and open up a world of pad control capability using the Camera Connection Kit (sold separately)
  • The MPC Production Experience - Includes MPC Beats Software complete with the finest features and essential production tools from the Akai Professional MPC Series
  • Assignable Control - 18 fully assignable 360-Degree potentiometers accessible via three banks for controlling DAW, virtual effect and virtual instrument parameters
  • Expandable Banks - Easily accessible dedicated controls for three pad banks provides a total of 48 assignable pads
  • Feature Packed - MPC note repeat and full level controls for immersive expressive performances
  • Beat Production, Anywhere - Ultra-portable, feature-packed and USB powered pad controller with 16 thick fat MPC pads for triggering drums, melodic samples, effects and more
  • Comprehensive Software Suite Included - Ableton Live Lite, Drum Synth 500 by AIR Music Tech
#TOP 4

AKAI Professional MPK Mini Play – USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With a Built in Speaker


Features

  • Play Anywhere – Built in speaker, 1/8-inch headphone output and battery powered specification (3 x AA batteries – not included) for performing and producing on the go
  • Pro Software Suite – Includes Akai Pro MPC Beats, AIR Music Tech Hybrid 3 and SONiVOX Wobble (downloads)
  • The MPC Production Experience - Includes MPC Beats Software complete with the finest features and essential production tools from the Akai Professional MPC Series
  • Standalone Piano Style Keyboard – Portable mini keyboard and USB MIDI controller with 25 velocity-sensitive synthesizer action keys, pitch/mod joystick control, plus 128 sounds and 10 drum kits
  • Beat Maker Essential – Two banks of eight ultra-responsive backlit MIDI drum pads with Note Repeat and Full Level functions for drum machine style performance and music production
  • Tweak, Customize – Two banks of four knobs (eight total) to tweak internal sounds or software parameters; in standalone mode control chorus, reverb, filter, EQ and envelope controls
#TOP 5

AKAI Professional LPD8


Features

  • Universal DAW Compatibility - Works with all popular applications including GarageBand, Logic, Studio One, Cubase, Ableton Live, ProTools, Reason, FL Studio, Adobe Audition, and more
  • Customized Production - 4 programmable preset slots for instant recall of mappings for DAWs, virtual instruments, effects and more. Create, edit, load and manage all your presets from the computer
  • Effortless Setup - With a full-size USB-powered jack, the LPD8 works plug-and-play with Mac or PC and requires no software driver installation or AC power adapters for operation
  • Hands-On Control - 8 assignable Q-Link knobs for seamless mapping to DAW parameters, software instruments, and insert effect plugins for tactile control and precise mixing
  • Portable Design, Robust Build - Lightweight beat maker that adopts the sturdy build of standalone MPCs. The slim-line design stows easily in a laptop bag for hands-on production capability everywhere
  • Beat Maker Essential - 13" pad controller for music production with 8 RGB-backlit responsive MPC drum pads for triggering samples, loops, virtual instruments, and more
  • Versatile Performance - The Laptop Pad Controller is perfect for musicians, producers, DJs and other music creators on the go. The sleek design fits right in alongside your studio equipment
#TOP 6

AKAI Professional MPX8


Features

  • Pro Sounds Included - Includes a FREE professional Loop Library download from Akai Pro, plus a large library of standard samples built in.
  • Connectivity Covered - (2) Balanced 1/4-inch outputs (6.35mm) and 1/8-inch headphone output (3.5mm) connects MPX8 to virtually all studio and live equipment
  • Control Anything - Control everything from music software on your laptop to outboard MIDI gear using MPX8's onboard USB MIDI plus standard MIDI inputs and outputs
  • Tweak Your Sound - Edit your samples and make them your own using MPX8's sample kit editor (PC & MAC) featuring tuning and reverb controls; save sample sets for instant easy recall
  • Sample Playback - Load and playback virtually any mono or stereo sample via standard SD or SDHC card
  • Finger Drumming Essentials - Eight backlit velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads, ideal for triggering drum sounds, melodies, basslines and more.
#TOP 7

Akai Professional MPD26 USB/Midi Pad Controller


Features

  • Dedicated transport controls transmit MMC and MIDI to DAW and sequencing applications
  • MIDI output over USB and traditional DIN MIDI I/O for controlling software and hardware
  • Control virtually any 12 software parameters on assignable Q-Link knobs and faders
  • Access 64 samples on 16 pressure and velocity-sensitive MPC pads with four banks each
  • MPC technologies include Note Repeat, Swing, 16 Level, Full Level, and Tap Tempo

Editor's Notes

A considerable amount of time and effort was put into this research. We spent a lot of time (over 55 hours to be exact) to deep dive into the topic, analyzing at least 135 consumer reviews. As a result, we came up with a list of the most loved models with an average rating of 0. The products you'll find in this compilation are available at $0 on average (as of 03-14-2023).

Steve Romanoski Avatar
Written by

Steve Romanoski

Steve loves music. Steve Romanoski and his wife live in Alaska. They are always on the go, exploring new places and trying out new products (especially those which can help them enjoy the great musics even more). When he's not writing about products, Steve Romanoski enjoys reading books about history and science. He likes to think of himself as a renaissance man, but his wife would probably say that he's just a big kid at heart.