Akai Pro MPK25 Performance Keyboard Now Shipping

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Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces that the MPK25 portable performance keyboard is now shipping to retailers. The MPK25 draws on the design of the popular MPK49, the first keyboard ever to feature MPC pads and technologies. Producers, performers and DJs will appreciate its mix of 25 semi-weighted keys with aftertouch, genuine MPC pads with velocity and pressure sensitivity, assignable Q-Link buttons and knobs, and a selection of MPC-performance technologies. The compact footprint of the MPK25 makes it a perfect choice for integration into stage and studio setups and makes it easy to be taken on the go for capturing spontaneous musical creativity. Like its larger, 49-key sibling, the MPK25 empowers musicians to create and manipulate quickly with its arpeggiator, MPC Swing and MPC Note Repeat technologies. The MPK25 comes with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition software, one of the most popular and powerful performance and production programs in the world. Ableton Live Lite enables musicians to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise, and edit musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. The MPK25 is a MIDI controller that sends MIDI values over USB for plug-and-play performance with Mac and PC. Because they are MIDI compliant, the MPK series works with most MIDI recording, sequencing, and performance software for musical performers from keyboard players to producers to DJs and VJs. "The MPK25 enables musicians to take the expressive, creative capabilities of the MPK49 to new places," said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional. "They can take the MPK25 away for the weekend in the backseat of a car. They can work on demos in the van on tour. The MPK25 performance keyboard controller is available from pro audio and musical instrument retailers. It has a MSRP of $499.00 and an estimated street price of $299.00.