Hmmmm. Just goes against my minimalistic form factor preference o de-clutter my working space

How do the key lights on it work? Do they just light up based on sequencer patterns etc, or any ideas if it can light up keys to show the scale keys, or show the key range for Kontakt instruments and so on (similar to the Mk1 NI S-range keyboard)?

 

Novation SL MkIII

SL MkIII User Guide V2 English.pdf - Focusrite
https://fael-downloads-prod.focusri.../downloads/SL MkIII User Guide V2 English.pdf

 

More I look into it, the more the Launchkey Mk4 seems like an obvious choice over the SL Mk3. The SL seems good, but is apparently poorly optimised for Cubase and also doesn;t utilise many of the things in a logical way, like using the key lights as I mentioned, instead only lighting up to show things like pattern colour selected or arp keys being used. The Launchkey Mk4 seems to have a dedicated Cubase script that allows for better control without having to manually map everything (which I've found never works well as well as being a ball ache to do in past!).

 

The Novation Launchkey Mk4 was released in August 2024. Therefore, everything is probably a bit more modern, including the drivers, and many bugs have been fixed. I agree with you that the Mk4 is probably the most modern MIDI keyboard.

 

I bought that thing lately, not bad at all, certainly not AliExpress cheap as one could think:
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005009628595963.html
(there are other color schemes, that one triggered the little goth kid in me)
(its not full size, its more for on the go, but it has some rompler inside)

 

This is the one that's the first in the list of keyboards in my original post.

How do you find it? What DAW do you us it with? What kind of music do you make? Is there any software with it at all? And how easy is it to work with generally would you say?

 

Just for shits and giggles, let me throw in an *alternative path...

Get a Launchpad and instantly become one ;) ...just make sure it has velocity and aftertouch (X should do it). You won't be holding any grand hall concerts any time soon, but it's much more fun.
*disclaimer: I would never recommend it for being faster or easier - by all means do become a keyboard wizard if you can

 

Last year I bought this keyboard (Midiplus X3 mini) and I can absolutely recommend it. Please, read the review I left on Thomann website:


I've been waiting for a product like this to appear for two decades. Most keyboards on the market are 4- or 2-octave models. 4 octaves take up a bit too much space on the desk, and 2 octaves is too little to play with two hands. Of the few 3-octave keyboards that were available so far, each had some significant design flaw.

The breakthrough was the Keystep model by Arturia, except that in reality it is not something designed as a controller keyboard, but rather as a sequencer with a keyboard - not what I was looking for.

I had not known any Midiplus devices before, so I was afraid that the design and quality of workmanship would be poor. Fortunately, it turned out to be quite the opposite - the X3 mini is designed very rationally, ergonomically and aesthetically, and is very solidly made. I am really very pleased (and I must admit that I have owned a dozen or so different MIDI keyboards from various companies, so I have something to compare it to).

Pros:

- extremely compact housing (some models from competing companies save space by reducing the number of keys, but at the same time waste it through an unnecessarily large housing)
- keyboard from C, not from F (like e.g. in Keystep and other 32-key models)
- very decent keys (e.g. no problems with velocity - which happens to some other manufacturers)
- LED markers next to the mod strip (Arturia has this only in their larger and more expensive model, i.e. in Keystep Pro, but not in the regular Keystep 37)
- convenient location of the USB port (the cable does not interfere, for example, with pushing the keyboard to the laptop)

Cons:

- you have to get used to the touch strips, especially the one responsible for modulation (if you don't use it carefully, it sometimes doesn't return to the minimum position on the first attempt and you have to do it again)
- the transport buttons are programmable, but unfortunately they cannot work in "Toggle" mode (they only work in "Same Message With Every Press" mode) - i.e. I can assign e.g. jump to the left locator in the DAW, but I cannot assign the metronome on/off

I've seen lots of YouTube videos where people use Arturia Keystep (32 or 37) solely as a MIDI keyboard. Midiplus X3 mini is a much better choice in such scenario.

 

Last edited: Nov 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM

One larger version: Midiplus X4 mini - 49 velocity-sensitive mini keys - €109

Midiplus X-4 III - 49 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive standard-size keys (semi-weighted) €169
www.thomann.de/de/midiplus_x_4_iii.htm