I need a 25-key USB keyboard that doesn't feel like poop!

Bassifondi · May 20, 2024

Anybody tried the CME Xkey 25?

reto · May 20, 2024

Nektar Impact LX mini

Nektar SE25

Nektar Impact GX mini

Yes, i love Nektar Keyboards

Lois Lane · May 20, 2024

This one is definately the best small midi keyboard ever! I can put tons of shit on it, and as an added bonus it stays dust free that way. Once when I had it in the corner of the room I was able to stack and balance all of my Sound On Sound magazines from 2001-2018 on it, and after I gave them away to a novice musician in my neighborhood only the mod wheel felt a bit wonky. A little mayonnaise worked into did the trick and it still functions like it did on day one, that is when it isn't covered by dirty laundry or other stuff around the studio.

Last edited: May 20, 2024

krameri · May 20, 2024

@audiofannn

That's quite a list! Thanks for sharing your experience with all of them!

Bassifondi · May 20, 2024

Lois Lane said: ↑

This one is definately the best small midi keyboard ever! I can put tons of shit on it, and as an added bonus it stays dust free that way. Once when I had it in the corner of the room I was able to stack and blance all of my Sound On Sound magazines from 2001-2018 on it, and after I gave them away to a novice musician in my neighborhood only the mod wheel felt a bit wonky. A little mayonnaise worked into did the trick and it still functions like it did on day one, that is when it isn't covered by dirty laundry or other stuff around the studio.

Click to expand...

You can also use it behind your stove to protect the wall from all that frying oil.

Garamondo Furbish · May 22, 2024

krameri said: ↑

Thank you to all for your suggestions!!

I'm not a player, but I use my controller to do things very slightly more fluidly than a mouse and piano roll haha
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its a slippery slope, young man. one day by accident you'll touch a key or two and make a chord and its all down hill from there.....

Garamondo Furbish · May 22, 2024

audiofannn said: ↑

I've owned basically all of them at one point or another.

Akai-- I hate the MPKMini MK3s keybed. I know everyone and their mom has this controller but I think it's trash. The editor also doesn't let you change the MIDI channel of certain things... very limited and annoying. All mini Akai stuff is trash. It's an ok controller with 8 pads and endless encoders, but, meh.

Akai-- MPK Mini Plus. I like this one. It's small, 37 keys that feel decent, and has some nice functionality. Endless encoders, 8 drum pads... good price. Sold mine, will get another.

Arturia-- Keystep-- I hate how it starts on F, same with the NI M32. Good keybed, though.

Arturia-- Keystep 37. I feel it's mildly overpriced (and you can never find a good used deal on it).. but, 3 full octaves, 4 programmable encoders (x4 banks, so, 16 encoders) -- you can also set the CC values directly from the hardware if you want, chord/strum mode which is REALLY fun, 8 sequences or arp patterns... great keyboard. I'll get another someday. Should note that Keystep 37's arp and sequencer blows away the Akai Mini Plus, in terms of functionality.

Arturia-- Minilab MKII. I have two of them. One white, and the other "negative" (black keys). 16 encoders to map how you like, 8 drum pads, great keys, built like a tank. Good integration with Analog Lab 4 or 5. It's a bit heavy, but it might be my favorite of all of them. I use mine mostly for playing basslines.

Arturia-- Minilab MK3. I hate how they removed 8 encoders and gave 4 sliders, instead. It's cool, but I find 16 encoders infinitely more useful. Cool screen, but it seems more limited than the MKII.

Arturia-- Keylab Essential MK3 (I know it's a little bigger than you need). Keys are a tad spongy, just like the MK2, but.. insanely programmable. Good pads, nice colors, good screen, scale and chord mode, arp, etc. Insanely great bang for the buck, especially the 49-key.

NI M32-- the keys respond very strangely, velocity-wise. Couldn't get hard notes... many people complained about the same issue. Plus, that damn F-C keybed. If this had 37 keys and a slightly bigger screen, and no problem with the velocity, I'd love it.

M-Audio Oxygen Pro Mini MK3. Keys feel phenomenal. Best of all of them! Super-responsive pads. Ugly as hell, otherwise. The buttons are all over the place / terribly-designed, the editor doesn't even let you edit certain things properly, etc. I have no idea what they were thinking designing this thing. It is really ugly. But again, might have the best keybed of all of them... DAW MODE / USER MODE confusion-- they're independent of each other and hard to remember how to access, menu-wise... it's a mess, and it's unnecessarily big, but.. I do like it, despite its horrible design. I might get another someday.

Novation Launchkey Mini MK3-- the smallest and flattest of all of them. Tight encoders, custom drum pad modes, arpeggiator, some nice randomization... keys are a little light/easy-feeling, and the pads often are too damn sensitive, but... superb design. My go-to, usually, especially when I need to bring a tiny keyboard with me somewhere.

Launchkey MK3, 25-key-- something I don't like about the LK MK3 keybed. But, nice functions. I'd opt for the 49 or 61-key if you're going that route, though.

NI KK S25 MK1-- the keys are amazing, but, the MK1 is no longer supported by NI. Limited controller unless you use KK, or have a script for it, that lets you use the transport and encoders for your DAW (DrivenByMoss / Reaper / Bitwig). Good stuff, but go for the 49 or 61.

M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3. Flat as a pancake, not much stuff to be excited about, but I really love that keybed, and I love the C to G range.

Nektar-- I don't like anything by them. Owned three different models, and something bugged out with every single one-- dead keys, dead pads, weird encoder issues. Never again.

Hope that helps!
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i'm printing and saving this for reference when I get GAS - gear acquistion Syndrome.....

TekZ · May 22, 2024

Another vote for the Launchkey Mini. I own the LK Mk3 88 and for the price it is a very good keyboard. Very impressed.

Garamondo Furbish · May 22, 2024

your famous, Its been uploaded to archive.org for posterity...

https://archive.org/details/keyboard.review.small.

downloadable as PDF or torrent

well now it says its been taken down.

but it still opens for me at

https://ia903403.us.archive.org/2/items/keyboard.review.small./keyboard.review.small..pdf

Lois Lane · May 22, 2024

Garamondo Furbish said: ↑

your famous, Its been uploaded to archive.org for posterity...

https://archive.org/details/keyboard.review.small.

downloadable as PDF or torrent

well now it says its been taken down.

but it still opens for me at

https://ia903403.us.archive.org/2/items/keyboard.review.small./keyboard.review.small..pdf
Click to expand...

Thanks for the virus. My hair turned blue and my left testicle fell off.

Garamondo Furbish · May 22, 2024

Lois Lane said: ↑

Thanks for the virus. My hair turned blue and my left testicle fell off.
Click to expand...

sorry I was asssured by the scene group it would be your right testicle since thats the one you use most...
but the hair lets you fit in if you go to la/sanfran.seattle/portland, anywhere west of the rockies pretty much...

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I need a 25-key USB keyboard that doesn't feel like poop!

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I need a 25-key USB keyboard that doesn't feel like poop!

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