@nicklewis: That’s a great purchase, I actually could do with one for events, as my other keys are bigger and less portable. These are very backpack friendly. I look forward to more posts about it.
Getting into MIDI with the Akai MPK Mini IV by @steevc on 3Speak
▶️ Watch on 3Speak --- When it comes to making music I tend to be fairly 'old school' in that I play traditional instruments like guitar and drums. I appreciate that a lot of music these days is ma...
Tags: #music #midi #akai #musictechnology
Hi, I thought I'd do a little demo of my latest musical toy. This is the Akai MPK Mini. This is the Mark 4 model that came out last year, I think. So this is, it doesn't make any sound. This is a MIDI keyboard. MIDI is musical instrument digital interface. So this thing has a two-optive keyboard, you see, has some drum pads, it has some controls that you can assign here. pitch bend and modulation wheels. The previous model had a joystick for those which people didn't like so much, and then there's various buttons. And basically this thing is very programmable. You see, there is a display on it, I can barely see it, it is tiny, but it's sort of adequate for what you need. It just shows you the modes and what you're setting things to. So I've got this plugged into my Yamaha electronic drum. thing that I used to use, so that's drum sounds, but this thing also has what they call a general MIDI synthesizer in, so it has lots of precept sounds, and you can drive it. So this is the MIDI cable, this is a 1980s technology, but it's still in music music, although a lot of the time people do it over USB. It's the same. principle, so it sends note information from this thing to this thing, so if I press a note, it's on here, that it's coming out of there. The thing I haven't found out set up is how I can change which sound I'm using in there, so I'm stuck on the piano sound for now, but I should work with that, although the drums, they are, well, some of them were preset, I've changed some of the sounds because they were, because you really want bass drum, snare, you can see that actually changes as you hit it harder. He's a touch sensitive, so a high hat and a crash symbol there. So you can sort of play a... That sort of thing, I'm not very good at finger drumming. One thing I did, so I programmed this control here to be the volume of that. So this is what they call velocity sensitive, so if you press softly, harder, you get different notes. And actually on this thing itself, I think there's only three levels of drum sensitivity, but I think you can get more if I do. so you get more because these are better pads. This thing is powered by a USB connector, although I've got it probably used to the mains. I'll explain that in the article, in the post, why I'm doing that. So what you can do with this thing is it has an arpeggiator. So what that does, if I turn that on, and I play a chord. So we just change that to be up there. There's different modes to this, so that's off. Which mode are we in? I just want up. So it should just be. So it's playing a C major scale upwards, so it's a seventh. I think we've gone into a different mode, but what you can do, if you want to play over that, you can turn the latch feature on and play a chord. If I let go, it keeps going. And then, if you press, so basically every key on here has the secondary function. So if you press the freeze button, it'll keep that going, come back, and just make sure I'm in the right mode, yep, so you can play over it. But what you can also do with this, you can put it into chord mode. Let's just try something, if I un-free that, and un-latch it. Okay, stop that. If I've got that in chord mode, which I think it is, if I press. So I can play the chords, arpeggiate the chords I'm playing. And you can then add modulation, which doesn't really work on the piano. And if you pitch bend it, just sounds weird. but it works better on other sounds. So that's the basic functions of this. I've got some buttons here that you can link up to your whatever software you're using, if you plug it into the computer for start and stop and record. So I have also tried it on the computer and controlled some software synthesizers on there, but I thought I'd do it as some hardware for this, so I'm not using a computer at all for what I'm doing here. Of course you'll say, oh, you've only got two octaves of a keyboard, but if you press these octave buttons, you can go quite high, or you can go. They're seriously low. Press the birds together. Yeah, and then puts it back into standard. So that's the basic functions of this. What you can do is you can program presets on this, so I've got the, one of the user presets to set it up for this particular unit, but you've got, I think, 14 different ones, so if you're using different equipment, you can set that up. You could have the drum pads controlling one device, and the keyboard controlling another. You can even have it, so when you've got the chords going, and you're playing over the top, that can switch into a different device. The MIDI system has different channels, and you can set them up. It can be on one instrument or multiple instruments. So that's basically what it does. A lot of people, the sort of bedroom producers, use this sort of device. I've seen other people, Harbiter, on Hive, using a similar keyboard. So I'm not a sort of keyboard player, so a big keyboard's a bit wasted on me, this thing you can do your bass lines or simple chords. I'll put that back into a single note, turn the key, but I will find out how to change the preset and make other sounds, but it's something to experiment with, they don't cost a huge amount of money. And you can just use this and a laptop or even a tablet that's got the sounds in it. And say if you're running it off a tablet, the tablet can power the keyboard, and you can be completely mobile if you want. The joy of modern electronic music, which isn't really my thing. I'm more of a guitarist than a drummer, but I want to play with this stuff. So there you go. I welcome any questions or tips. Enjoy.
@nicklewis: That’s a great purchase, I actually could do with one for events, as my other keys are bigger and less portable. These are very backpack friendly. I look forward to more posts about it.
@alessandrawhite: So cool, @steevc. An arpeggiator? What a fun new toy! 🎹
@stresskiller: i remember playing with MIDI on the Amiga 500 , later on PC some good sound cards and the roland sc55 sound canvas :)
@bozz: Wow, that is pretty cool! It's amazing how much technology and music integration has advanced over the years!
@albertocova: It's surprising that you also play the keyboard in addition to the drums. Casio is an excellent brand. I remember when I was a child my mother bought me a Yamaha keyboard, but then in my adolescence I lost interest in it.
@kgakakillerg: @jacobtothe Keep digging just remember @acidyo took my rep away with the help of blocktrades delegations and everything is documented 😂😂😂 ☝🏾✨⭕✨☝🏾🍻🍻🍻🍻 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 @jacobtothe and friends Please get help there's clearly something wrong with you 🙏🏾 I hope blocktrades pays you well enough 😂😂😂😂 Some people just never learn when 😂😂😂👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 @jacobtothe @hurtlocker @acidyo @themarkymark @steevc @meno @crimsonclad @oldsoulnewb @neoxian @azircon @gogreenbuddy @tarazkp @buildawhale @logic @abit @freedom @solominer @letusbuyhive @theycallmedan @ipromote @nathen007 @dlmmqb @adm @logic @patrice @spaminator and friends ✨⭕✨ Please get help 🙏🏾 @jacobtothe @acidyo @themarkymark @hurtlocker and friends 😁 No one will ever trust you again you weirdo 😂 Hello everyone I hope you are all good and well today in this post is some of the evidence to prove my case If you didn't know I've been getting downvoted for a long time on Hive They have been trying to bully me with downvotes and words but it doesn't affect me I've been online for over 25 years So I've dealt with people like this before it's nothing new But what they are doing is bad Very badi joined steemit like everyone else thinking it offers freedom but I must say steemit offered much more freedom than Hive does Everyone already knows I only post my own original content I have no need to steal anything from anyone I've been labelled a lot of things on Hive 😂 by the biggest farmers scammers and downvoters Actions speak louder than any words do especially when them words are coming from a compolsive liars I will keep updating this post when I get time No downvotes for this racist person 🧐 🚨🚨🚨🚨🙄🙄🙄🙄🚨🚨🚨 Thank you for reading and viewing this post To all the downvoters on Hive When the downvotes stop 🛑 and my rep is back I stop sharing the truth 🙏🏾 ☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾 Keep calling the truth lies 😂☝🏾 So many pretend to be doing god's work but they are really working for the devil 👿 Karma will strike you and who ever supports you 🙏🏾
@bpcvoter1: bilpcoin bpc exposed buildawhalescam buildawhalefarm themarkymarkscam themarkymarkfarm hurtlockerscam hurtlockerfarm acidyoscam acidyofarm jacobtothescam hivepopescam BPC Locked On Mc Franko & The Franko Blurt Stands — While Hive Stumbles Under the Weight of Its Own Shadows Friends, creators, truth tellers— Let us not whisper this truth, but proclaim it with the clarity of dawn breaking over a weary land: Blurt.blog is not just another platform. It is a refuge. A rebellion. A return to what Hive.blog was always meant to be. There is no downvote button on Blurt. Not because we fear dissent—but because we honor creation. Because we understand that a voice, once raised in sincerity, deserves space—not sabotage. On Blurt, your words are your words. They are not hunted by algorithmic hounds or shadow armies masquerading as “curators.” Here, you are not judged by the grudges of gatekeepers, but met with the quiet dignity of a community that believes expression should be encouraged— especially when it is bold, raw, or inconvenient. Contrast this with what festers elsewhere. On Hive.blog—a place once brimming with promise—a rot has taken root. Not in its code, but in its culture. A handful of self anointed enforcers—@themarkymark, @Buildawhale, @Hurtlocker, and their legion of coordinated puppets—have turned the downvote into a weapon of mass discouragement. They strike not at “low quality content,” but at independent thought , at rising voices , at anyone who dares thrive outside their narrow corridors of control . And when confronted, they shrug. “Oh, it’s not censorship,” they say, as if semantics could scrub the stain of suppression from their hands. But let us be unequivocal: When a system allows a few to systematically silence many—under the guise of “community standards” or “curation”—that is not moderation. That is censorship by another name. It is the velvet glove over the iron fist. It is exclusion dressed as discernment. It is power pretending to be principle. Meanwhile, Blurt stands clean handed and open hearted. No downvotes. No hidden juries. No farms of phantom accounts casting ballots in the dark. Just you. Your words. And a community that meets you not with suspicion, but with solidarity. So let us carry this truth far and wide—not with bitterness, but with quiet certainty: If you seek a place where your voice is not a target—but a gift—come to Blurt. If you are tired of building on ground that shifts with every whim of a whale or warlord of votes—lay your bricks here. If you believe the future of free expression must be free —not just from corporations, but from the petty tyrants who replace them—then stand with us. The world needs to know. Not because Blurt is perfect—but because it is principled . Not because it is loud—but because it listens . And in an age where so many platforms echo with the clatter of control, Blurt offers something radical: Silence for the bullies. Space for the rest of us. Keep speaking. Keep sharing. Keep building. Freedom doesn’t advertise itself— it is passed, person to person, like a torch in the night. And tonight, the torch burns bright on Blurt. @themarkymark, @buildawhale, @usainvote, and associated accounts: Repeated downvotes targeting transparency efforts raise urgent questions about Hive’s governance. Automated tactics, coordinated curation trails, and alt account farming undermine trust in the platform. When truth is silenced without dialogue, it erodes Hive’s decentralized ethos. Key Concerns: 1. Systemic Manipulation : Coordinated downvotes from high HP accounts suppress dissent, creating a chilling effect on free expression. Automation and alt account networks allegedly exploit rewards, distorting organic curation. 2. Community Exodus : Creators flee to platforms like Blurt, where downvotes don’t exist, fearing punitive curation over engagement. 3. Governance Crisis : Hive’s credibility hinges on accountability. Who decides what content thrives? How do we audit power structures? Solutions Needed: Curation Transparency : Publish clear rationales for downvotes to foster trust. Community Audits : Leverage blockchain data (e.g., Bilpcoin’s analyses) to identify abusive patterns. Reward Reform : Adjust algorithms to penalize manipulation and reward authentic engagement. The Bilpcoin team advocates for open dialogue, not division. Hive’s future depends on collaboration—not coercion. Let’s rebuild a platform where truth isn’t buried but debated, strengthened, and celebrated. Transparency isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of trust. HiveTransparency BilpcoinExposed DecentralizePower" A Message to @themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Associates Every downvote cast in shadow, every silence imposed without dialogue, is not a victory—it is a confession. A confession that truth cannot be stifled, only delayed. With each punitive click, you dig deeper into the bedrock of credibility, crafting a chasm between your actions and the community’s trust. @themarkymark, @buildawhale & Co, How can you continue to downvote the truth, LOL? It’s almost comical how blatantly you attempt to suppress what cannot be hidden. The blockchain records everything—every action, every transaction, every move you make. Yet still, you persist in this futile game of trying to silence what is undeniable. @themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Co: While our opinions may differ, on chain transparency reveals repeated patterns of concern. Coordinated downvotes without explanation, 'farming' schemes (e.g., buildawhalefarm), and adversarial engagement harm Hive’s community driven ethos. Key Issues to Address: 1. Downvote Practices : Silencing dissent erodes trust. Constructive dialogue, not punitive curation, fosters growth. 2. Accountability : Transactions and curation trails are public. Scrutiny is inevitable—integrity demands addressing concerns openly. 3. Community Impact : Driving users to platforms like Blurt/Steemit weakens Hive. Creators seek ecosystems that value collaboration over conflict. A Path Forward: Engage in open discussions about governance and fairness. Audit curation practices to align with Hive’s decentralized values. Prioritize transparency—publish explanations for downvotes or collaborative reforms. The Bilpcoin team remains committed to exposing truth and advocating for solutions. Let’s work toward healing, not division. Note: All claims are based on publicly verifiable blockchain data. Constructive dialogue is encouraged. HiveTransparency CommunityFirst BilpcoinSupport" @themarkymark & Co, the choice is yours. Stop the bad downvotes. Turn off the BuildaWhale scam farm. Cease playing with people’s livelihoods. Let Hive thrive as it was meant to—as a beacon of hope, creativity, and collaboration. Or step aside and let those who truly care take the reins. Because the truth won’t disappear. No amount of lies can change it. It’s over. The Bilpcoin team brings these truths not out of malice but necessity. We have no need to fabricate lies or cloak our intentions CALL US WHAT YOU LIKE —for the facts speak loudly enough on their own. What we present here is not conjecture but reality, laid bare for anyone willing to see. @themarkymark & Co we urge you once more: STOP . Stop hiding behind tactics that harm others. Stop clinging to practices that erode trust within the Hive community. Let the truth stand—not because we proclaim it, but because it exists independent of any one person’s approval or disdain. TURN OFF THE BUILDAWHALE SCAM FARM STOP THE BAD DOWNVOTES STOP PLAYING WITH PEOPLE’S LIVELIHOODS Key Issues That Demand Immediate Attention: The problems are glaring, undeniable, and corrosive to the Hive ecosystem. They must be addressed without delay: Downvote abuse Farming schemes Speaking disrespectfully to others Encouraging people to avoid certain users out of personal dislike Self voting with alt accounts Self funding projects through self votes Promoting games that don’t even exist (LOL) These practices harm not just individual users—they undermine the very foundation of Hive, eroding trust and poisoning the community. Such actions are unethical and outright destructive. @buildawhale Wallet: HIVE (Primary Token): 0.012 Staked HIVE (HP): 66,400.611 Total HP: 2,421,539.226 Delegated HIVE: +2,355,138.615 HP Received: 2,355,080 HP from @blocktrades (Aug 16, 2020) @usainvote Wallet: HIVE (Primary Token): 0.066 Staked HIVE (HP): 138,123.296 Total HP: 715,745.407 Delegated HIVE: +577,622.111 HP Received: 577,622 HP from @blocktrades (Aug 16, 2020) @buildawhale/wallet @usainvote/wallet @ipromote Wallet: Author Rewards: 2,181.16 Curation Rewards: 4,015.61 Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00 Rewards/Stake Co efficient (KE): NaN HIVE: 25,203.749 Staked HIVE (HP): 0.000 Delegated HIVE: 0.000 Estimated Account Value: $6,946.68 Recent Activity: Sent to alpha 5,196.000 HIVE (21 hours ago) Sent to hiveswap 1,000.000 HIVE (2 days ago) Withdraw vesting from @proposalalert to @ipromote 0.447 HIVE (3 days ago) Received from proposalalert 4.003 HIVE (5 days ago) Received from themarkymark 1,775.684 HIVE (9 days ago) Sent to alpha 4,245.000 HIVE (9 days ago) Received from themarkymark 4,280.527 HIVE (17 days ago) @leovoter Wallet: Author Rewards: 194.75 Curation Rewards: 193.88 Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00 Rewards/Stake Co efficient (KE): 388,632.00 (Suspiciously High) HIVE: 0.000 Staked HIVE (HP): 0.001 Total: 16.551 Delegated HIVE: +16.550 Recent Activity: Withdraw vesting from @leovoter to @ipromote 0.053 HIVE (Sep 29, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @leovoter to @ipromote 0.053 HIVE (Sep 22, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @leovoter to @ipromote 0.053 HIVE (Sep 15, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @leovoter to @ipromote 0.053 HIVE (Sep 8, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @leovoter to @ipromote 0.053 HIVE (Sep 1, 2024) @abide Wallet: Recent Activity: Sent to ipromote 2,459.000 HIVE (22 days ago) Sent to ipromote 2,486.200 HIVE (Apr 1, 2025) Received from yabapmatt 20,000.000 HIVE (Apr 1, 2025) Sent to ipromote 2,130.400 HIVE (Mar 8, 2025) Sent to ipromote 2,248.000 HIVE (Feb 2, 2025) Sent to yabapmatt 5,000.000 HIVE (Jan 25, 2025) @proposalalert Wallet: Author Rewards: 639.99 Curation Rewards: 0.00 Staked HIVE (HP): 6.03 Rewards/Stake Co efficient (KE): 106.12 Recent Activity: Withdraw vesting from @proposalalert to @ipromote 0.447 HIVE (3 days ago) Sent to ipromote 4.003 HIVE (5 days ago) Sent to themarkymark 0.012 HBD (5 days ago) Withdraw vesting from @proposalalert to @ipromote 0.447 HIVE (10 days ago) Withdraw vesting from @proposalalert to @ipromote 0.446 HIVE (17 days ago) @stemgeeks Wallet: Author Rewards: 4,391.77 Curation Rewards: 304.26 Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00 Rewards/Stake Co efficient (KE): 4,696,032.00 (Extremely Suspicious) Recent Activity: Sent to themarkymark 1.556 HBD (Jun 14, 2024) Claim rewards: 1.556 HBD, 5.912 HP (Jun 14, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @stemgeeks to @ipromote 6.160 HIVE (Jun 8, 2024) Sent to themarkymark 1.601 HBD (Jun 7, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @stemgeeks to @ipromote 6.157 HIVE (Jun 1, 2024) Sent to ipromote 1.618 HBD (May 31, 2024) @theycallmemarky Wallet: Author Rewards: 458.89 Curation Rewards: 0.00 Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00 Rewards/Stake Co efficient (KE): 458,886.00 (Highly Suspicious) Recent Activity: Withdraw vesting from @theycallmemarky to @ipromote 0.728 HIVE (Jan 12, 2025) Withdraw vesting from @theycallmemarky to @ipromote 0.727 HIVE (Jan 5, 2025) Withdraw vesting from @theycallmemarky to @ipromote 0.727 HIVE (Dec 29, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @theycallmemarky to @ipromote 0.727 HIVE (Dec 22, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @theycallmemarky to @ipromote 0.726 HIVE (Dec 15, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @theycallmemarky to @ipromote 0.726 HIVE (Dec 8, 2024) Withdraw vesting from @theycallmemarky to @ipromote 0.725 HIVE (Dec 1, 2024) Sent to ipromote 9.202 HIVE (Oct 17, 2024) @apeminingclub Wallet: Author Rewards: 432.57 Curation Rewards: 2,829.11 Staked HIVE (HP): 30.51 Rewards/Stake Co efficient (KE): 106.90 Recent Activity: Scheduled unstake (power down): 2.351 HIVE (in 4 days, remaining 7 weeks) Total Staked HIVE: 1,292.019 Delegated HIVE: +1,261.508 Received delegations: @xykorlz: 624 HP (Jan 26, 2024) @bashadow: 111 HP (Sep 20, 2021) @dechuck: 104 HP (Mar 10, 2024) @hironakamura: 76 HP (Aug 23, 2022) Withdraw vesting from @apeminingclub to @blockheadgames 2.348 HIVE (10 days ago) Claim rewards: 0.290 HP (10 days ago)