So, i spend time between my own place, where I have my home studio, and my girlfriend's place where I use my laptop and a portable setup.

What's the best portable MIDI keyboard/controller currently?

I mainly use Cubase and Ableton, and something with 32+ keys would be ideal. In terms of music, it's mainly techno and tech house or film score type of stuff that I do. Any suggestions or recommendations?

 

Last edited: Mar 20, 2022

The only thing I take to my girlfriend's place is my fireman outfit

 

Last edited: Mar 20, 2022

https://nektartech.com/impact-lx25-plus/
or lx49




My personal choice is an xkey air 37 + an old tablet or ipad with osc software for midicontrol,and sometimes my artiphon instrument 1. It has inbuilt speakers and a 24/96 audiointerface
https://artiphon.com/pages/instrument1
https://xkeyair.com/xkey37/

 

Last edited: Mar 20, 2022

With mini controller

 

I was looking at this one

https://www.arturia.com/products/hybrid-synths/keylab25/overview

 

I just got one of these for real cheap off Ebay. I haven't tried it yet but I'm pretty excited to give it a go.

I wanted onboard powersupply as it's for controlling iPad and didn't want the faff of USB powered devices.

 

Roland A-300 Pro MIDI Keyboard Controller - 169 €
www.roland.com/global/products/a-300pro/

 

I really like my Novation Launchkey 61 mk3. I chose the 61 key version because i like to have a full 5 octave keyboard, but there are also 49 or 37 key versions, but the 37 key version is missing the faders.
Using it to play with Ableton is really fun because of the mapping to devices, custom faders, pads, pots and so on.
In my studio I also have a 88 key hammer action keyboard, but the Launchkey has a quite good keybed (in my opinion) and is very portable at only 3,4kgs.

 

gf

 

Last edited: Aug 12, 2022

Portable then this: https://nektartech.com/impact-lx-mini/

 

Check out PreSonus Atom Sq, it's out of the Box compatible with Ableton Live and PreSonus Studio.
It's has good pricing and a good quality, better than Akai.
Nektar is good too.

 

Last edited: Mar 20, 2022

I actually have the Launchpad X on my wish list.. I have a nektar lx25+, which I really like, but the Launchpad note mode (with scale highlighting) really intrigues me. I think it could be a bit of a game changer for my work flow, so Im hoping to get one in the near future. The price is pretty decent too.

 

Is there any consensus here? What about Komplete Kontrol A25, is that a contender?

 

Aah, okay… so it’s your girlfriend who complains about a firehose being way too small to handle her burning desire!?!

 

Yeah, that was why I wanted the "X", specifically.. for the velocity + aftertouch. The other stuff that's missing, I don't think I'll much use. I can use the knobs on my LX25+, at least. The smaller size will be better for me too, as I don't want to use up too much desk space.

I like that each row is set up like guitar strings, and the same shapes will work. I play guitar, so that might help me understand things a bit, but I think for the first while, things are probably going to sound a bit random and not so thought out when I play it. Not sure if that's good or bad. haha I'd be using it for melody and solos. In the end though, it's just another way of doing things, and I can fall back on the LX25+ for most things.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Mar 21, 2022

How does the Launchpad X compare to the Nektar Aura I wonder?! Less pads on the Aura, but has the knobs and screen for plugin control.

 

Last edited: Mar 21, 2022

Nektar Aura \\ Great pads! (if you set it up correctly)

 

She loves it when I climb through the ground floor window to rescue her