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MIDI controllers suggestion

Halo Serene

Halo Serene

New member
Hi All

Just a quick request for advice/ideas. I'm after to Midi controller keyboard that has 25 full-size keys, pref velocity sensitive, MW & PB, octave switch - I do not need faders, knobs or pads since I use Atom SQ for such - I have a Korg Taktile 25, and I never use any of the fader, knobs or pads. The new controller must be no wider than the keybed itself (the Taktile itself has a keybed approx 35cm wide).

The reason I'm specifiying as above is that I only use the keyboard like it was an input device like a mouse, hence no need for the other gubbins. Finally, my Taktile is quite a bulky beast and I've not got a lot of space - so I'm after a keyboard controller as small as possible, but retaining full-size synth keys (I can't use minikeys, since I have sausage-fingers :rolleyes:)

Any suggestion much appreciated TIA
 
You'll be hard pressed IMO to find 25 FULL SIZED keys at 35 cm wide. Lots of options if you go to mini keys as the link posted above. The Nektar LX is ~ 49 cm but tightly integrated with Studio One. The Oxygen MKV is ~53 cm. Looking at the Taktile layout, it's not dissimilar to small controllers with FS keys, so anything you buy would be similar width wise, unless there's something out there with the Mod and Pitch bend controls above the keybed.... And if you need a controller to use "as a mouse", why not go mini keys. In which case, Akai all day. The MPK mini MK3 is 31.9 cm wide.
 
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It's a trickier spec that you might expect. The only mainstream brand that I know of with the minimum width for 25 full size keys is the iRig Keys I/O 25. It's 373mm wide and could not really be any less wide with that size of key. But it has other stuff that you don't want, including an audio interface and knobs, pads etc, which puts up the price and increases the overall footprint (weirdly their non-I/O version has mini keys!)


One thing I would say is that a bigger keyboard is a real benefit even for non-players. If you can find a way to squeeze a 49 or 61 full size keys onto your desk (or on a stand beside it) you'll appreciate it more than you think. Having to keep pressing the octave button when auditioning a new sound gets old very quickly. I have two keyboards. A Novation Launchkey mini (25 mini keys) positioned at the front of the desk beside the PC keyboard and a 61 key controller with full sized keys further back on the desk, not very ergonomic but I'm not a player so it works fine. I keep meaning to add a slide-out tray under the desk but never do.
 
Hi All

Thanks for your input.

Well, the keybed on my Taktile is as I said ~35cm wide, however there is 14cm additional width to the left (PW and MW) and 3cm to the right, so that's 17cm I really don't need to be there. Ideally, I'd want a ~35cm wide box with 25 FS keys and nothing else.

When I said I was using like a kind of mouse, I really meant I was using it as a kind of computer keyboard which I can use to enter notes in the same way I'd enter characters on a computer keyboard (things like AT, velocity, transposition etc I can edit in S1 later easily enough) - I guess that just my pipe-dream though :cool:

Apart from the fact I can't physically use minikeys, I would, especially since there's such a wide choice!

And regarding the faders and stuff, that was just my preference, if they are there on the controller, then I could possibly find a use for them, or not - they're not a real priority.

So atm I guess my search goes on - I can deal with carrying on with the Taktile (there is nothing at all wrong with it - it's just getting in the way! Oh, the sufferings of the artist 😆)

Cheers for now (y)
 
Miditech Midistart Music 25
38 cm wide, with joystick, cheap

Korg nanoKEY Studio
28 cm (!), tiny pads in keyboard layout, you'll likely need a pen/stick to enter notes but since you're looking for a computer keyboard alternative (entering notes, not chords) this might fit (and likely a better option than entering notes this way on a slim key keyboard)

ESI Xkey 25
39 cm, with sustain button, expensive, last straw option
 
A Google search for "25 full size keyboard controller daw music" will bring up many varieties. There are a few, without the added controls you're looking for. Add to that, full size keys, and the selection gets pretty limited. You can always benefit from at least 8 additional endless encoder knobs. Even though you have the Atom SQ. Still, theres a few pretty good overall choices.

A pretty slick low profile, 25 key option for you could be the Seabord type controllers.
Here's one on Reverb.com.
ROLI Seaboard RISE 25 | Reverb https://share.google/NYSEmRDrq2HpwlcAT
 
Hi All

Thanks very much for all your suggestions and advice

I've decided to go with the Miditech Midistart Music 25 - I guess it's about the smallest form factor for 25 real full-sized keys that is at all possible. Also, if it turns out that this was a bad decision for whatever reason, it's cheap enough that I can take the hit - I bought it from Amazon and I'm a Prime member (I order quite a lot through Amazon) so it's free delivery as well.

I'll report back here when I've played around with it, good or bad, just to keep you informed.

I'm going to keep the Taktile - there's nothing wrong with it and I probably will find a use for it.

I also have a 49 M-Audio Keystation somewhere, again unused atm because I'm definitely no Tony Banks 😞, and there's the problem with space - however, I have no plans to dump it either (maybe I'll use it to improve performance skills?)
 
20250823_174604.jpg


OK finally received my MidiStart. As you can see in above, it is pretty nearly the same sort of size as my Atom SQ (it's sitting on a keyboard stand where my Taktile was sitting before, so looks bigger in the photo) - the footprint of the setup is about the same as that of the SQ. The Taktile has 12cm approz additional width on the lefthand side, so I gain a lot of real estate there.

It's class compliant, so it nestled nicely into Studio One (once I'd turned my brain on and had a coffee while we stared at each other :LOL:)

The keys are not regular keys, despite adverts etc indicating they are - they are slightly smaller, but they are way larger than minikeys, so I can manage them no worries. They do have a slightly plasticy quality about them, feeling nowhere near as sturdy or playable as those on my Taktile, but for £65 I guess I can't complain. Anyway, as I said before, it ain't for perfoming on, for sure, but since I'm just using it as an input device - well, I got what I was after and that'll do me :cool:

My original Atom has been put away, I don't really have a need for it - the SQ does the same things and more, and is laid out in a more intelligent way I think. The Faderport is really only used for its fader, though it is a lot easier to hit the transport buttons

Fly safe (y)
 
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