Been on the search for a new 49 key MIDI keyboard for a while now. I've been through all kinds of review videos but i'm kinda stuck, thought i'd take it to the forum to get some real world experience.

What i'm looking for:
-Nice keybed (doesn't have to feel exactly like a piano or anything, but also nothing too stiff, nothing with too strong a spring-back (i.e. not too much resistence). Velocity curves must be even, and not require a TON of force to get a 127 note, but also have good dynamic range)
-Endless rotary knobs for plugin control
-Transport control / Useful DAW integrations

Don't care about:
-Drum pads (happy to use the keys)
-Bonus software and sound libraries

Neutral on:
-Faders are nice but not sure they're essential. I'm open to being sold on them if they improve mixing workflow though)
-Aftertouch. Cool if it's there, maybe i'd use it in the future, but currently i don't really

*Btw, i'll be using it for creating music as well as mixing and mastering. So an all-rounder.

Boards that are on my list:

• Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A49 (It has the endless rotaries, doesn't waste expenses on drum pads, and looks like it has good transport control. NKS is probably handy. Apparently the Native Instruments sound browser has some key limitations. My main reservation is the keybed, i've heard people say they are stiff?)
• Novation Launchkey 49 mk3 (apparently the keys are smooth and light with good velocity curve, but they feel a little hollow and toy-ish? Lots of functionality for Ableton in particular, but i don't use Ableton so maybe that's wasted on me. Also it doesn't have a FF or RW on the transport control)
• Nektar Panorama T4 or P4 (apparently has the best plugin control and DAW integration, but the velocity curves on the keys are bad, black keys require more force than the white keys, etc)
• M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 (packed with features + drum pads, but apparently the pitch wheel has a 0.5 second delay, making it unusable for live performance/tracking. Also not sure if the keys are any good? They sound clicky-clacky. Also the rotaties aren't endless)
• Alesis VI49 (not to be confused with the V49. Apparently the keys feel amazing, but the velocity curves are all whacked out)

What other MIDI keyboards exist in this range? Maybe i'm missing something?

Ideally i'd like to get a Komplete Kontrol S49 and be done with it, but unfortunately they're way out of my price range.

An alternative idea i was considering was getting both a MIDI control surface (like the Korg nanoKONTROL2) and get a MIDI keyboard that's JUST the keys (like the M-Audio Keystation or something like that) and then using the NanoKontrol2 for plugin/DAW control, and the keys are just the keys. But i'm not sure what that workflow would be like? And not sold on the Keystation quality either.

Has anyone here used the boards that i've listed? Any quirks i should know about? Anything positive about the workflow?

Any other boards i should check out?

Cheers

 

Last edited: Aug 10, 2022

I use Arturia Essentials 88 which has all the mappable keyswitching for most DAW's, KONTAKT and all other apps that use keyswitches. I do not know where you are (country) but in the USA or Europe it should be close to your price range unless you want the MKII which is much more because it is fully weighted. It has only 8 pads but they are reassignable - 9 sliders and 9 rotary knobs all assignable as MIDI controls. It works for me. You can also automate controls in Ableton, Cubase and most DAWS as well (play, stop, start, loop, rew, ff, punch, save and undo buttons).

 

Last edited by a moderator: Aug 10, 2022

I wanted full-sized keys semi-weighted one and bought an Icon one at the end

https://www.amazon.com/Icon-ICOK-IK...t-reviews/B06WD2C1T5?reviewerType=all_reviews

 

Looking for a master/midi keyboard with 49 keys
https://audiosex.pro/threads/looking-for-a-master-midi-keyboard-with-49-keys.57818/

 

I'd get the A49. It is the same keybed as the S49, from what I have read. The S49 plays nicely, but you aren't going to want to use it instead of a full sized 88 key controller either way. You could probably switch them and it would take me a few minutes to even notice the difference, if at all.

 

Native instruments makes the keybed on the A series and Fatar make the keybed on the S series, they feel similar but the A has a slightly stiffer action and has no aftertouch.

If I was the OP I would save up some extra and try and grab a second hand S49 off ebay/reverb.

 

Last edited: Aug 10, 2022

*Fatar

 

I am looking for a new controller keyboard too, but there is nothing out there that ticks every box.

 

Love auto-correct

 

I love the S49 so you'll get no argument from me there. Buying used is always a good idea if you can. It plays nicely, but I think a "piano player" would not speak as favorably of it because they run out of real estate so quickly at any 49. So if it's for production, it's less important to someone usually.

 

That's an option, but my preference is not to take up so much space on the desk. And like i said, i'm not a piano player necessarily so i don't need fully weighted 88 keys.

I had a 76-key MIDI keyboard once upon a time and it was massive. I've been using a 61-key for the past 3 years and i'd like to downsize even further.

What has your experience with the Icon been like?

 

I have the Komplete Kontrol A49. After a year the keybed is still responsive semi-weighted feel, noooooo complaints. Love it so much she sleeps next to me after I kicked the old lady to floor situations. Fact.

 

I bought it because of the amazon review (it was somehow distressingly too cheap :D )

and yepp the only issue was the velocity curve have had to set it to the mentioned option #5 (compared to my Roland RD-88 )