When the Korg Nano Series were released and arrived on our doorstep they soon became the most popular micro controllers for travelling producers and DJ’s.

They introduced something so fresh and clever for those mobile performers nobody really criticised the design of the  products. However, when the Akai ‘L’ series came about, you stand back and realise there are two now apparent flaws in the Korg Nano Series…

Unless you like the use of the Korg’s ‘computer keyboard’ feel of the NanoKey’s buttons to play midi notes with or the trademarked Korg Pad for the X and Y control of parameters then like the rest of us we soon realise how Akai shows us what they should of done with their Nano series.

8 Rotary Knobs on the LPD8 instead of a Kaoss style pad alongside the 8 famous MPC pads (which light up blue respectively) offers so much more than the Korg NanoPad does – especially for the travelling Digital DJ – Extra Rotary Knobs anyways! Great for working those FX!

Then there is the LPK25, which does exactly what everyone has waited for – added real playable synth action velocity sensitive keys in a miniature style midi keyboard controller. How simple was that! They will feel much better than the computer type keys on the NanoKey.  Yes the Korg has features that the Akai series do not but I think Akai have taken the basics and produced them the right way.

Watch this space or the forum for a release date and price.

View the Akai Midi Controller Range