Small Midi Keyboard

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dwardzala
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2016/02/10 10:32:14 (permalink)

Small Midi Keyboard

I am looking to add a small midi keyboard to my mobile recording rig.  I intend to use this sitting on the couch or are a remote location so I want it to be usable on my lap or a coffee shop table.  I don't need full size keys and don't really need a bunch of knobs and sliders (or even any pads.)
 
It must be compatible with USB3 and Win10.  Thanks in advance for the recommendations.

Dave
Main Studio- Core i5 @2.67GHz, 16Gb Ram, (2) 500Gb HDs, (1) 360 Gb HD
MotU Ultralite AVB, Axiom 49 Midi Controller, Akai MPD18 Midi Controller
Win10 x64 Home
Sonar 2017.06 Platinum (and X3e, X2c, X1d)
 
Mobile Studio - Sager NP8677 (i7-6700HQ @2.67MHz, 16G Ram, 250G SSD, 1T HD)
M-Box Mini v. 2
Win 10 x64 Home
Sonar 2016.10 Platinum
 
Check out my original music:
https://soundcloud.com/d-wardzala/sets/d-wardzala-original-music
 
 
#1

8 Replies Related Threads

    Cactus Music
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    Re: Small Midi Keyboard 2016/02/11 00:53:42 (permalink)
    I picked up an Akai Synthstation 25 for $30 on a clearance sale. It's the same size as my Net Book. 
    http://www.akaipro.com/product/synthstation25
    I'm not sure if they still make them. 
    I then bought an iPhone 4 from a workmate for $50 and installed Garage Band. So I now have a sequencer and / or can play a variety of synths and Pianos live. Lots of freebies for iPhones. 
    It also plays just fine into my DAW and Sonar via the USB connection. 
    It will run on the batteries or usb buss power. The keys are not full size but not a problem to play for me. 
     


    Johnny V  
    Cakelab  
    Focusrite 6i61st - Tascam us1641. 
    3 Desktops and 3 Laptops W7 and W10
     http://www.cactusmusic.ca/
     
     
    #2
    dwardzala
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    Re: Small Midi Keyboard 2016/02/11 09:55:37 (permalink)
    Thanks for the recommendation.  It doesn't look like that one is available anymore (at least I can't find it at the various online retailers in the US.)
     
    Although, the Akai LPK25 looks somewhat interesting.  Hopefully, others have some recommendations.

    Dave
    Main Studio- Core i5 @2.67GHz, 16Gb Ram, (2) 500Gb HDs, (1) 360 Gb HD
    MotU Ultralite AVB, Axiom 49 Midi Controller, Akai MPD18 Midi Controller
    Win10 x64 Home
    Sonar 2017.06 Platinum (and X3e, X2c, X1d)
     
    Mobile Studio - Sager NP8677 (i7-6700HQ @2.67MHz, 16G Ram, 250G SSD, 1T HD)
    M-Box Mini v. 2
    Win 10 x64 Home
    Sonar 2016.10 Platinum
     
    Check out my original music:
    https://soundcloud.com/d-wardzala/sets/d-wardzala-original-music
     
     
    #3
    TerraSin
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    Re: Small Midi Keyboard 2016/02/11 13:41:57 (permalink)
    #4
    Glyn Barnes
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    Re: Small Midi Keyboard 2016/02/11 14:50:33 (permalink)
    I am using a AKAI LPK25 mainly as a suplimentary keyboard for keyswitches, but it would meet your requirments. It seems to run fine under Windows 10 and does not need a driver. The only thing I am not sure of is USB-3 as I have it in a USB-2 port.
     
    Its still available and priced around 50 Euros inc tax in Europe.
     
    There is a review video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtGjriY2_5Y
     
     

    Intel i7 3770K @4.4GHz, 32GB RAM, 240GB SSD System disk, 2 x 2TB and 1 x 1TB (with SSD Cache) HDD. Windows 10,  Sonar Platinum. Roland Quad Capture. 
    Music - Switchwater on Soundclick
    Music - Goldry Bluszco on Soundcloud
    #5
    dwardzala
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    Re: Small Midi Keyboard 2016/02/11 17:19:42 (permalink)
    TerraSin
    http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/microKAIR25
    Korg MicroKey AIR


    This Korg looks interesting too.  Decisions, decisions.
     
    Still looking for other suggestions, too (or experiences with the above.)

    Dave
    Main Studio- Core i5 @2.67GHz, 16Gb Ram, (2) 500Gb HDs, (1) 360 Gb HD
    MotU Ultralite AVB, Axiom 49 Midi Controller, Akai MPD18 Midi Controller
    Win10 x64 Home
    Sonar 2017.06 Platinum (and X3e, X2c, X1d)
     
    Mobile Studio - Sager NP8677 (i7-6700HQ @2.67MHz, 16G Ram, 250G SSD, 1T HD)
    M-Box Mini v. 2
    Win 10 x64 Home
    Sonar 2016.10 Platinum
     
    Check out my original music:
    https://soundcloud.com/d-wardzala/sets/d-wardzala-original-music
     
     
    #6
    Cactus Music
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    Re: Small Midi Keyboard 2016/02/12 10:22:51 (permalink)
    I guess that's why I got the Synthstation so cheap. They seem to want too much for them on Amazon as well. I don't think they every sold for over $100. I   only paid $120 for my Roland A49 which is 3x the keyboard. 
     
    Looks like they replaced it with the LPK 25 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/akai-professional-lpk25-laptop-performance-keyboard
     
    Mine is 12" x 7.5" and the LPK25 is 13.4" x 4" so is longer but very narrow. I like the fact that mine can be used as a stand alone synth, seems they discontinued the option. There was bad reviews for the iPhone app they were actually asking a few bucks for. Said to crash a lot, but it works just fine with any free synth app and Midi Bridge. 
     
    Keep looking, it's best to take your time and look about. And don't forget to go to a few music stores to. 
    post edited by Cactus Music - 2016/02/12 10:36:56

    Johnny V  
    Cakelab  
    Focusrite 6i61st - Tascam us1641. 
    3 Desktops and 3 Laptops W7 and W10
     http://www.cactusmusic.ca/
     
     
    #7
    tlw
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    Re: Small Midi Keyboard 2016/02/12 12:58:41 (permalink)
    I've a Korg Microkey 25. It's actually pretty good in terms of key action, fast and positive. The spacing is tighter than conventional keyboards, but I've smallish hands so the spacing is actually better than a full-size key for me. I'd add that playing piano-style keyboard isn't exactly my first (or even fourth) instrument...

    Downsides to it are that pitch/modulation is on a spring-loaded mini joystick which means you can't set the modulation, let go of the stick and have it stay where you left it, unlike an unsprung modulation wheel. It's also very easy to accidentally send unwanted pitch bend or mod unless you're careful to only move the pretty sensitive stick in one axis. No aftertouch, no way to plug in sustain or expression pedals, though on the plus side it has a sustain button and an interesting built-in stick-controlled arp.

    Overall though, not bad at all. Works very well with iOS if that matters.

    The other small controllers I have are a KMI Qunexus and a CME X-Key 37.

    The Qunexus is in a league of its own for possibilities and frustration. It has pads rather than keys, laid out like a 25 note keyboard. Each key can send note on/off and is sensitive to pressure and "tilt" (essentially how you rock your finger forwards or backwards on the key). No dedicated modulation controller and a "tilt sensor" pad that controls (after a fashion) pitch bend. By default it also has pitch bend set to key tilt, and pressure to modulation (CC1).

    It can take a standard expression pedal (KMI do a dedicated cable kit, but a cheap 3.5mm to 6.25mm TRS jack adaptor allows an expression pedal to be connected). Also handles CV ins and outs plus there's an optional box to let it talk via MIDI sockets if you need it to. Can send polyphonic aftertouch and polyphonic pitch bend if you need those things.

    The pads are very sensitive and predictable for velocity and pressure, though the tilt function is less controllable. Out of the box it was a bit like playing a drunk piano crossed with a synth with malfunctioning pitch bend. The software editor is very good though, and after two or three days of thinking it through and experimenting I've got it set up and configured OK for me. I ended up with key tilt sending a very limited bend range kind of like a guitar bend and pressure sending channel aftertouch. An expression pedal then substitutes for a mod wheel.

    It's extremely expressive and I find it easy to play, but piano-players might find it horrible. It's also impossible to play a few chords with conventional fingering because the "white keys" don't have the bit that usually runs between the "black keys". F#minor or Ebmajor are the two main problems.

    There's a less expensive more basic version called the K-board that lacks the CV/pedal stuff and has a much more basic editor.

    The X-key is more like a "standard" keyboard, almost full-sized keys but with very limited travel - think of an Apple or high quality PC keyboard, that kind of thing. Like the Qunexus it can send polyphonic aftertouch if you need it. The keys are responsive and I find it fine to play, but again someone used to piano-key travel and feel probably won't like it. The difference between the 25 and 37 key models, besides the extra octave, is the 37 comes with the ability to send MIDI over 5-pin cable and connect an expression and sustain pedals.

    Other than that, not much to say other than it works as advertised.

    The Qunexus and CME boards are both pretty tough and should stand a lot of use, nothing like e.g. the Korg nano-series board's "key" switches.

    Sonar Platinum 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit, I7 3770K Ivybridge, 16GB Ram, Gigabyte Z77-D3H m/board,
    ATI 7750 graphics+ 1GB RAM, 2xIntel 520 series 220GB SSDs, 1 TB Samsung F3 + 1 TB WD HDDs, Seasonic fanless 460W psu, RME Fireface UFX, Focusrite Octopre.
    Assorted real synths, guitars, mandolins, diatonic accordions, percussion, fx and other stuff.
    #8
    dwardzala
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    Re: Small Midi Keyboard 2016/02/12 17:26:25 (permalink)
    TLW, thanks for the extensive information on those three options.

    Dave
    Main Studio- Core i5 @2.67GHz, 16Gb Ram, (2) 500Gb HDs, (1) 360 Gb HD
    MotU Ultralite AVB, Axiom 49 Midi Controller, Akai MPD18 Midi Controller
    Win10 x64 Home
    Sonar 2017.06 Platinum (and X3e, X2c, X1d)
     
    Mobile Studio - Sager NP8677 (i7-6700HQ @2.67MHz, 16G Ram, 250G SSD, 1T HD)
    M-Box Mini v. 2
    Win 10 x64 Home
    Sonar 2016.10 Platinum
     
    Check out my original music:
    https://soundcloud.com/d-wardzala/sets/d-wardzala-original-music
     
     
    #9
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