I am looking for a small form factor midi controller that also has a lot of keys. Kind of like a Korg Microkey, except I am not going to buy another. I already owned one 3 times and it failed those 3 times.

Any recommendations?

 

all fail the same way? curious.

 

^
Quality keys & construction,highly recommended & yummy,cheers! :

 

M-audio keystation, I have 61 key but they also do mini keys.


And this Xkey resides in front of me, i like that the keys only travel a few mill, great for inputting drums und unusually, the pitch bend is on buttons, can get some well freaky stuff going with that. I have the three octave, also have a 'midi plug out' for it, that they sell separately.

https://mail.cme-pro.com/xkey.html

 

Last edited: Jun 19, 2026 at 12:34 PM

Hello @ghostwriter:

AKAI Professional MPK mini Plus - 134 €
https://www.thomann.de/de/akai_professional_mpk_mini_plus.htm

Novation Launchkey 37 MK4 - 185 €
https://www.thomann.de/de/novation_launchkey_37_mk4.htm

Nux NTK-37 - 185 €
https://www.thomann.de/de/nux_ntk_37.htm


This device has a very good, durable keyboard:

Roland A-49 Black - 179 €
- 49 full-size, velocity-sensitive keys - Dimensions: (W/D/H) 836 x 182 x 84 mm
https://www.thomann.de/de/roland_a4...ealo.de&utm_medium=psm&utm_campaign=idealo-de

 

Last edited: Jun 19, 2026 at 4:13 PM

Just for the record: mine failed too, after 10 years of use, careful use, no abuse.

The mod wheel and pitch bend failed first, moving their software counterparts without me touching the controller.

Then some keys stopped working. Opened it and verified that the problem was a rubber/silicon/whatever thing that makes the contact between the physical keys and the electronic contact parts. It became weak, flabby and loose.

To replace it? Could not find a spare part being sold in my country, and to import it would be the price of a new controller (maybe even more).

 

Last edited: Jun 19, 2026 at 4:04 PM