1) Low profile -- it is to sit atop her regular keyboard, and must not block her view or be hard to reach.
2) Small footprint -- same as above
3) Must have wheels for Mod and Pitch Bend
4) Must have port for expression pedal
5) Must have port for sustain pedal that can be programmed easily for other switch controllers
6) Must have a number of easily programmable continuous controllers
7) USB connection preferable, but also should have MIDI ports
8 ) USB power, or battery or AC adapter
I think that narrowed it down pretty much to one or two devices, which were decided by:
9) price
The Behringer UMA25S is about $152 at Amazon. For that price you get 12 continuous controllers (including the expression pedal port), all of which are programmable for whatever you want it to send. The programming is easy -- takes a few easily remembered button/keyboard taps. You can set up presets of programmed controllers, so that you can have sets for different purposes, easily recalled with a single control.
The knobs are smooth and easy to turn with the side of your finger for realistic control in real time of things like expression or breath control, pitch bend, timbre changes, tempo, panning, volume automation, or whatever. You won't find a device with this many programmable features at this quality level for this price. At least, not with the particular requirements in my list. In addition to the continuous controllers, it has 8 MIDI machine control buttons for things like play, stop, rewind, etc. (these are also programmable for any MIDI parameter) Even the keys can send MIDI controllers. Once you've set a couple dozen controllers in knobs, buttons, and keys, you'll want to save them all in a preset so you don't have to do that again. You get 16 presets to save them to.
It also comes with some cheesy DJ attachments: headset with mic, neckstrap, gig bag, and audio in/out ports. The inputs and outputs have level controls, so it's well-thought-out, but those were not selling features for me.
With VI's requiring so many continuous controllers for vibrato depth, vibrato speed, expression, mutes, and other controls, you just can't get enough continuous controllers these days. This is a definite plus for your system. It connects and receives power through a simple USB port, thus there is only one cable required. Audio/MIDI Setup recognizes it immediately, and you're in business. I tried it out using DP and MIDI Monitor, so I know it does what it says it does. Plus, it's easy to program and quite small. (2.2" tall at it's highest point, 17.5" wide, and 7.5" deep)
Everything has multiple functions, including the keyboard, but it's all easily switched. They did a good job on this. I'd heard bad things about Behringer, and hesitated to buy it, but it was exactly what I wanted on paper. I figured it had to be worth looking at. After trying it, I'm impressed. It's not a keyboard for performing music, though you could belt out a guitar solo or bass line or some simple chord part, as long as you don't need more than 2 octaves to do so. (25 keys, plus octave buttons) The keyboard is a "half-action" keyboard, which feels a little weird, but it does have programmable velocity curves. Not complex ones, but at least it gives you some options. The device can send aftertouch, but not through the keys. It would have to be programmed for one of the continuous controllers.
The keys, on the other hand, can be programmed for specific MIDI messages, so that you may have -- for example -- several drums normally octaves apart playing on adjacent keys for an easy reach between them. Lots of applications possible if you need them.
Anyway, if you've been fretting over not having enough MIDI controllers on your keyboard, this might be the answer you've been looking for. I repeat: it's not a stand-alone all purpose keyboard. It's to augment your fine 88-key Fatar or other weighted keyboard that may not have all the bells and whistles you need. This little doodad is strictly bells and whistles. But it dings and toots quite well.
Shooshie
