MIDI keyboards with mini keys

oscillian

I'll start off with my own experience. Please feel free to chime in :-)

M-Audio Keystation Mini 32

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/KeystationMini32.html

This is the one I currently use. Great compromise between portability and control. The keys are actually very musically to play! You can choose between different velocity curves (I personally find #0 to be great playing the piano). The range of 32 keys is also very good. Pitchbend controller/expression buttons works surprisingly fine with adjustable bend time. Sustain latch button and rotary controller adds to a very complete and affordable package. I can't actually find anything to complain about :)

Akai LPK25

http://www.akaipro.com/lpk25

Up until the keystation arrived, this was my choice of mini keyboard. But compared to the Keystation the keys are spongy and having just 25 is a bit claustrophobic.

Korg Microkeys 37

http://www.korg.com/microkey

This is the one to get if you hate mini keyboards ;) Great key action that allows very rapid playing and controllable, consistant velocity. Only downside is bulky size (won't fit easily into my laptop bag) and the keyboard lacks any sustain control (the 25 version has a sustain button, though)

Korg Nanokey

http://www.korg.com/nanoseries2

This was my first venture into mini keyboards. Don't get this. You get better control playing on your laptop keyboard ;)

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@oscillian

Get Korg Microstation :-) Really :-) or Microkeys 61

And forget anything except Korg :-) I tried all such things.

oscillian

@Vitaliy_Kiselev

Yep, the Korgs have excellent keybeds, but they won't fit into my my laptop bag :-) Have you tried the Keystation Mini?

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@oscillian

As I remember, yep. None of them can be compared to Korg keyboards. And it is really whole idea to have 61 keys on your table small and compact.

Remember that MicroStation has very handy special bag, hence no need to go to your notebook one.

mintcheerios

The nanokey was also my first mini keyboard which was indeed pretty bad. I'm using the Akai now, but that m-audio midi actually looks pretty good.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

The nanokey was also my first mini keyboard which was indeed pretty bad

Nanokey is hardly keyboard at all :-) It is more DJ gadget.

I mean normal mini Korg keyboards.

I added some discussed here to audio deals

http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/5836/deals-audio-related-deals-recorders-microphones-synths#Item_3

Vitaliy_Kiselev

IK Multimedia iRig KEYS

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Found fun thing

ION Audio Piano

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=ion+audio+piano&_sacat=0

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Launchkey Mini:

Instrument and controller for iPad, Mac and PC
25-note mini keyboard
26 assignable controls
16 velocity-sensitive, three color launch pads
Eight knobs, seven function buttons, two performance buttons
Bundled with free software for iPad, PC, and Mac
$99 price

http://www.novationmusic.com/launchkey-mini

Vitaliy_Kiselev

KeyFadr – MIDI controller for Ableton Live and any other DAW.

Features:

Combines the most useful functions for music production into one device
Keyboard: 25 mini keys with 9 playable octaves
Control section: 8 Channel faders with endless encoders (pan), including 2 control
Knobs, (send/return) and three backlit function buttons (mute, solo, rec)
Full integration and easy plug and play for Ableton Live 9
DAW transport controls (play, stop, rec, scene up/down, play/ stop clips, overdub, set marker, marker left/right, cycle, tap, metronome)
On board appregiator with multiple modes and internal/external midi clock
Chord feature: Easily play the most common chords in this versatile mode
Scale mode: Choose from four different scales and always hit the right key
Shift button for second layer control and choose between two performance scenes
USB powered controller requires no external power source
Other midi mappings available as download
Ableton Live 9 Lite included (value upgrade opportunity)

http://www.reloop.com/reloop-keyfadr/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

CME Xkey Portable

robertGL

I have a nanokey and i honestly don't like it as a learner board, although it has decent velocity.. If i had money i'd trade the nano up for a something with onboard sounds like a microkorg or Novation Mininova instead.. I've found that I really don't like messing with VSTs; i feel like i'm doing my taxes or some other godawful computer labor

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Get this - http://personal-view.com/talks/discussion/1983/korg-microstation/p1

it is so much fun :-)

Vitaliy_Kiselev

New iRig's

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigkeyspro/

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigkeys/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Vitaliy_Kiselev

M-Audio Intros AIR Mini 32

Features:

32 low-profile velocity-sensitive mini keys
8 assignable trigger pads for dynamic beat creation
8 assignable knobs for mixing, tweaking FX and more
Sustain, pitch, and modulation buttons for compact, expressive performance
Octave shift button lets you access the entire playable range of virtual instruments
Includes Ignite software for the capture & development of song ideas
$99

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/AxiomAIRMini32New.html