Features:

  • 13-inch, slim-line laptop performance keyboard with 25 velocity-sensitive mini-keyboard keys for playing melodies, bass lines, chords and more
  • Dedicated octave up and down buttons to increase the keyboard to the full melodic range plus a sustain button for expressive performances
  • On-board arpeggiator steps through chords automatically and generates inspiring melodic ideas quickly
  • 4 programmable memory banks for instant recall of mappings for DAWs, virtual instruments, effects and more
  • USB-powered and plug-and-play setup for Mac and PC
  • Works with all popular applications including GarageBand, Logic, Sonar, Cubase, Ableton Live, ProTools, Reason, Fruity Loops, Digital Performer, and more
Wireless portability and iOS app support make the LPK25 a winner for mobile songwriting

I've traditionally played workstation-style and arranger keyboards - all self-contained. Then I got into iOS music apps, but the lack of actual keys was a bit problematic. For me, the LPK25 solves the problem. The wireless feature helps me play it anywhere within reasonable range of the iPad Pro, and it easily connects via GarageBand bluetooth pairing. While the limited number of keys makes it challenging to replicate full piano/keyboard-driven pieces, its versatility helps me greatly in writing riffs and songs, particularly with the built-in arpeggiator. Sound is great right out of the iPad; I had some latency issues with wireless headphones, but plug-in phones work great. The BIG plus, beyond wireless connectivity and so many iOS apps that are supported, is portability - I can pack this in my mini-pack and take it wherever I go with my iPad. At that level, it's a game-changer. Hats off to Akai for this wonderful device.

"That's what I like in my equipment. Works well and inspires"

Having the old Line 6 Toneport KB37 as my midi controller for the last 10 years, I was super excited to get a new and super small keys controller. The Toneport served its life well, helping me write 4 albums of instrumental music and 7 movie scores for PBS. I used it with an 08 Mac laptop using garageband and an 2010 imac with protools for many years, but now it seems to not interface with any of my 3 rigs and actually crashed my Protools rig. After setting up the new Garageband and on a new imac, it wouldn't interface and the time to update equipment has arrived! So easy to use! I turned on garageband and connected usb and BHAM! it loads automatically. If you've used a DAW before, usually you have to select in a special window which is fine, just digging the new garageband and the seamless connectivity this controller offer. I'm a musician not a engineer, so I want to spend my time recording and not tinkering. Ive recorded a few songs and loved the feel of the keys. Good response and has a good feel. Touch sensitivity is not as good as my much bigger keyboard, but for under $60 compared to the $300 spent in 2008 that makes sense! Also the user reviews here have a ton of complaints about a faulty usb connector, but seems rock solid to me. I don't travel with my gear or abuse it so I never have those problems that many seem to have with their gear...As always the bottom line is take care of your stuff and it will last!!! Final Verdict: Couldn't be happier. Perfect piece of equipment and can't wait to write and use it! That's what I like in my equipment. Works well and inspires. Excelsior!!!

Great product, cheap USB port

Had this product for over 2 years. I bought this to help me transcribe music into Sibelius (Mac), and it saves me sooo much time. Product feels sturdy, keys are responsive, buttons are intuitive. I wish I bought a keyboard with more keys, but that is not an issue with this keyboard, per se. It is ultra portable, and works like a charm! The only issue I have with this keyboard is the mini-usb port. It is very cheap and was some wiggle in the port when I bought it. After carrying it in a laptop bag with the cable still inside the port (for a year or so), it stopped working. Apparently this is a common issue. Luckily, I am an engineer with just enough soldering experience to be dangerous. I followed the steps here:[...] and got it back up and running in a matter of an hour or so. I now have a USB cable hard-wired into the keyboard. Used some JB PlasticWeld to keep the joint stiff, and it has been going strong ever since. I think akai should genuinely consider hardwiring a cable as opposed to leaving an exposed port, but that's just my opinion. Regardless, I would still recommend this keyboard.

Exactly what I needed and just the right size!

This is the smallest keyboard I could find to use with Garageband on my iPhone. I wanted something very small that wouldn't take up to much space in my backpack. At about 13x4x1 inches, it's just right. Two octaves is limits what can be played on this keyboard but the octave up and down buttons give you the full range of an 88 key piano to work with your software. The keys are velocity sensitive and require a fairly heavy touch to reach full velocity. This would never replace my piano but no other keyboard is more portable.

exactly what i expected, great tool for the price

I use FL Studio 10 on a laptop that i like to bring around with me to friend's houses, the laundromat, etc. The LPK25 is the perfect edition to my traveling studio! It is a great price for the quality...it does not feel like a cheap toy (like some other MIDIs in the same price range) the key sizes are perfect, and it still fits in my backpack with my laptop. It's perfect for easily, and effortlessly trying different riffs, and progressions. Any downsides? Okay, fine...the keys have a pretty decent reaction to velocity, but you do have to be a little aggressive to get it the loudest, or to react as highest velocity. It does come with a cd, but i havent used it yet...it may have an instruction manual, or programming options. As i said before, i use it with FL Studio 10 and it was plug and play...i opened fl studio, plugged up my lpk25, went to MIDI options, clicked the lpk 25, clicked enable, and BOOM! ...it worked. Arpreggiator works, tap tempo works, octaves work, sustain works (but only while you are pressing it)...also, so far, i can link any key or button to anything in FL Studio. ...sorry for rambling, hope this helps.

this thing is really awesome for what it does - i think it's a ...

truly - some of the comments on here blow my mind - and i am a total noob when it comes to this stuff. this is a really small midi controller -- that's it. no speakers, no sound, 25 tiny unweighted keys, transmits bluetooth with no noticable latency (which is really impressive), and it is made by Akai (which is a legit company that makes products you'll see in almost any music video that has a dj in it) so, this thing is really awesome for what it does - i think it's a tiny bit expensive for that, tho, as it doesn't really have any competitors in its' class (you can buy a cheap wired one from a different company for something like $35) - so, clearly, this is a niche kind of thing as any self-respecting real musician probably wouldn't use this for a live performance (altho i'd be impressed if they did!). thus, i believe this is for people like me -- i needed something to use on the road -- on an airplane, on the train home, maybe in a moment while sitting on my couch, or when tv is just plain boring me (who needs to hear the tv sound when you're watching golf anyway!?!?). it packs up REALLY small and is way better than playing the onscreen keyboard on my sampletank or arturia imini which has absolutely no tactile feedback. ok - i'm almost done - this is my setup when using this keyboard -- ipad mini 3, akai lpk25 wireless (arturia imni via interapp audio to garageband for ios); that's it. the instructions show you how to link it (hint: you have to do it from inside garageband). it's plain old awesome and usually blows everyone's minds when they see it.

Perfect for what it's used for!

Wow! This little keyboard is exactly what I was hoping for. I am a band teacher so I compose/arrange on the road a lot with sibelius, so this was a must have, and it's does it's job perfectly! I did purchase a sturdy case for it thanks to review suggestions of the keyboard breaking. It is definitely not a rigid keyboard that could handle being roughed up so the case was a MUST, but my keyboard get's used often, travels permanently in my backpack, and has held up well now for 9 months. As other reviewers have suggested, it does not have weighted keys so it's action is nothing like a real keyboard, and the keys are a bit plastic feeling and on the small side for my fingers, but for me it is perfect. I only compose melodies though so I would not suggest it for chordal/harmonic playing, the keys are much too small to efficiently play simultaneous notes. Otherwise, very light-weight, very easy to take anywhere, zero latency issues with sibelius, very easy to use (just plug-n-play!), and really great quality for the value!

Great for music notation!

I needed a small and affordable keyboard to use for music note input in Finale. Went with this one and I love it! It looks like an actual piano, and you can feel the keys depressing when you play them (unlike some other controllers, which look and feel more like buttons than keys). All I have to do to use it is plug it into my computer's USB port using the cord which they provide. No batteries required. There are buttons for "up an octave" and "lower an octave" which I use all the time to get notes right where I want them. One funky thing which I noticed right away is that I have to have the controller plugged into my computer before I open my Finale files in order for it to actually input notes using speedy entry. Another minor annoyance is that you have to have the keys completely depressed for them to be notated in the software - it is easy to slip for a moment and lose a note which you needed. Be aware, this is NOT a keyboard with its own bank of audio effects, so you will only hear sound out of it if it is plugged into your computer and you have music software running (and with Finale, you had to have used Playback once so that the audio bank is actually loaded up). If you're looking for a keyboard to play around with for fun, this is definitely not for you. But if you need something to make music notation easier, this is definitely worth the money! Saved me hours of time.

Excellent value for the money.

I initially bought the Korg nanoKEY because I was in need of a low cost midi keyboard for creating music. I wasn't sure I was going to be doing it for very long, so I didn't want to spend a ton of money on one. I had played piano for quite a few years when I was younger and I was disappointed that the Korg keyboard felt nothing like a real keyboard (see my review for more details). This keyboard is only slightly more expensive, but it's absolutely worth the money. Pros: *Feels like a real keyboard *Very sensitive, and lets you play soft notes and have them register without pounding on the keys (unlike the Korg) *Great value for the money Cons: *It's a small gripe, but the Korg had green, yellow, and red lights for octave indicators. The Akai does not, so you can't tell visually if you're one, two, or three octaves up. This is a very minor detail though. Summary: It's a great keyboard, and if you need a low priced keyboard and you're not sure which to get, the Akai is absolutely the best way to go.

Obsessed!!!

I’ve been producing music since 1984 and I love the convenience this little guy gives me. Hey can travel with it easily, use it in a plane and get work done. I’m so happy I bought this Korg. It does have limitations but it’s a great piece of gear if you can’t stop playing like me.

Full Reviews