looking for a small MIDI keyboard

Discussion in 'Soundgear' started by tun, Feb 22, 2020.

  1. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    good to know, thanks. my computer is far from powerful, so this is something i would avoid. to be honest though i havent felt restricted when mapping controls to parameters for years. is this something you can just choose to not use? or do their controllers require that you use this?
    personally i would prefer to be able to set up CC numbers etc of my choosing on the controller. second choice is mapping on the software side. i dont like things that make my choices for me, i prefer flexibility.
     
  2. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    thanks for the suggestion. unfortunately this doesnt have the knobs/faders and buttons/pads that i would like. they are more important to me than being extremely small.
     
  3. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    i excluded that from my list because i read that the pads can sometimes double trigger when you hit them. that is something i am not even willing to take the risk with.
    i cant confirm this, so just a word of warning.
     
  4. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    hmmm
    could you please let me know how it goes if you do? this could be a deal breaker for me and i was starting to feel like i was leaning towards novation.

    edit:
    found this:
    https://support.novationmusic.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360010768459-Automap-End-of-Support
    it says they are stopping support for it because it is not necessary any more.
    was this feature purely for the DAW controller features (play, pause, etc)? they are not necessary for me because i use a BCF2000 in mackie mode for this.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2020
  5. jynx

    jynx Platinum Record

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    Yeah the 25 sl mk2 is discontinued, but support for it isnt, updates etc, plus, as i said, automap isnt a prerequisite feature...
    You can just assign the encoders manually , or use "learn"

    ive been a musician for 20 years, and have owned every bit of hardware n software known to mankind, and i may have lost it all, but ive tried so many controllers its unreal, and for the money, you cant get better inmho
     
  6. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    thanks, thats a relief to hear. novation is back to the top of the list then so far.
     
  7. poly

    poly Platinum Record

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    No need it for my Novation Nocturn to use these extra scanned VSTs. On the Nocturn i can switch Presets created with Automap. Ok, no auto-mapping but i little time to hack in your fav plugins with Automap was enough for me.
     
  8. mickey

    mickey Ultrasonic

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    irig keys with 3 octaves. if u a musician u will begin to find 2 octave keyboards useless. go for irigkeys
     
  9. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    thanks for the suggestion, but the irig keys do not have enough control on them, apart from the I/O series, but they are double my budget.

    i have a 4 octave keyboard now but i want to downsize. honestly i do not need 4, or even 3 octaves, i only use the keys for auditioning sounds, i very rarely record my playing, at least not enough to warrant using double the footprint, but i do record automation.
     
  10. Arabian_jesus

    Arabian_jesus Audiosexual

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    Watch a video on youtube about after I read this! Thanks for the heads up! I am starting to look more on the M-audio code 25... even though I really don't like the stuff I tried from them before. Seems like the code series has got good reviews though!
     
  11. fiction

    fiction Audiosexual

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    @tun Your BCF has multiple controller banks so why don't you use that instead of cheapo knobs and faders on remote keyboards?
     
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  12. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    thats a hell of a price jump for me :D i would really LOVE that thing if only i could afford it
     
  13. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    can you use it as a DAW controller and a general MIDI controller using banks?
    i have only really used it in mackie mode for controlling DAWs or in the default BC mode for controlling instruments etc.
    is there a way to use it in both these ways without power cycling it?
    i never really dug much further into the features because i was happy using the knobs and buttons on my MIDI keyboard while using the BCF as a DAW controller.
     
  14. jynx

    jynx Platinum Record

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    Theyre not cheapo..
    Certainly not in terms of functionality..
    Ive had mine for 3 years now, and i regularly use the encoders on the fly when im showin off, Theyre smooth as they were the first day i bought it..
    And i got it second hand from a dude that killed it live onstage....

    I did crack a key that ive glued to strengthen it again..., But that was coz i was pissst n drugged up and my stooopid freeekiin TV Fell on top of it....

    And im talkin a huge fuckoff Plasma that fell from the mounting on the wall,
    Plus it was about 7 ft high and weighed a ridiculous amount, Heavier than all "Jenny craigs fat friends"

    Bearing all that in mind, id say a cracked key is proof enuff of its overall strength n build quality....

    The bottom row of knobs is a bit plastiky and arent lit up like the top row, But still to this day after the absolute beating my sl25 has been through, the encoders n sliders are as tight as a Ducks Ass,

    "And thats water proof"
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
  15. Daskeladden

    Daskeladden Rock Star

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    Korg - microKEY2 25 Air
    [​IMG]
    Bluetooth works on Windows, Akai Akai LPK25 bluetooth does not work on Windows. I prefer Korg microKEY2 37 Air
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
  16. 5teezo

    5teezo Audiosexual

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  17. fiction

    fiction Audiosexual

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    I could re-iterate the manual but I'd suggest you simply read it yourself, plus some information and tricks from forums. The BCF is a widespread, well-supported remote so you'll find lots of information on-line too.

    PS: This editor could come in handy
    https://mountainutilities.eu/bcmanager
     
  18. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    thanks for the suggestions. both these do not have the controls i am looking for.
    however @fiction has mentioned something about the BCF that might give me the control i need so i can save money or gain quality on a keyboard within my budget.

    if i can figure out how to use the BCF as a DAW controller and a general MIDI controller at the same time then all those suggestions without the controls i need might be much better options.
    that will make narrowing down a lot harder though :rofl:
     
  19. tun

    tun Rock Star

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    thanks for the info
    i have read the manual about a hundred times hahaha as well as many other guides i found around the internet, but i have never seen anything that says how to use it as both a DAW controller and general MIDI controller at the same time.
    i also have that editor, but this is only a more user friendly version of the edit mode built in to the controller in BC mode, personally i prefer to use the built in one on the fly while creating projects. but maybe there are features there that i have missed.

    i will keep digging and seeing what i can figure out. i have never asked on their forum so i will go sign up there.
    have you used it like this yourself before? can you confirm that it is definitely possible?
     
  20. fiction

    fiction Audiosexual

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    I did but I have never used Mackie mode and I've only used it with Logic and Live, both are freely configurable.
     
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