Controller keyboard or other thingy recommendation?

Hi
I am sure this has been asked a bunch but I am not searching right because i am getting way too many responses that are not relevant.  
 
What controller do you recommend?  
 
I have some m-audio huge 88 key thing that is way too big for my current space (and quite dated).  Right now, I have my Alesis Andromeda hooked up as my keyboard, but it is way overkill.  Plus, I don't really like using the 1000 or so knobs to adjust VSTs and such.  I have a Behringer X Touch that is off to the side, but controls transport and mixer things and such.  
 
Honestly, I don't really need a keyboard.  I don't feel like I need faders.  I think I want something with knobs and buttons - something for controlling VSTs and something I can assign some non-mixer like functions in Sonar to buttons (screen sets, inserting audio or midi tracks, ...).  
 
I used to love my Novation stuff, but somehow my little box (was it the nocturn?) disappeared.  (I think I have a problem with musical dwarfs or fairies or something that is stealing or borrowing stuff, or I am just disorganized).  Plus Automap always seemed like a lot to set up - having 2 separate sets of VST files.  
 
Any suggestion?  I had some of those nano-korg things, but they were kind of meh.  
 
Ideally, I want something with less than a 2'x1' footprint - maybe 18"x 8"?  And known functionality within the Sonar environs.  
 
Separately, I bought Novation stuff a long time ago because the ACT system was a kluge.  Has it gotten better?  
 
Thanks

I had a similar situation, see if this blog post describes what you want to do. Kore has been discontinued by NI, but the good news is the controller works fine, and you can pick it up for cheap if you can find one. Very compact...and it looks cool.