Best ultraportable MIDI keyboard controller?

SixStringGeek · Post by **SixStringGeek** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:23 pm

I'm going to Apple's WWDC (Dev conference) to get some inside track info on making JambaLaya even more rockalicious.

Of course, its impossible to do anything without a MIDI keyboard - I'll bring my laptop and my motu ultralight I guess - but does anybody wander around with an ultra-portable MIDI setup and, if so, which of the tiny keyboard controllers do folks recommend? In this particular case, I'm calling "best" the same as "lightest with velocity sensitivity and knock-worthy".

Bonus for mentioning tiny battery powered speakers I can use for monitors and remember, I'm going to carry thing thing around all day for a week.

larryf · Post by **larryf** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:31 pm

I use a Novation SL 25 Compact for portable laptop/MIDI keyboard type situations.

PROs: Nice 2 octaves of keys; solid and tough - you can really throw it around as needed; the included Automap software is cool - it automatically maps the SL25's many knobs to whatever VI/plugin you're working on, for tactile real-time VI/effect control, and is pre-templated for many popular VIs such as Minimonsta etc.

CONs: Expensive; a little bigger and heavier than some alternatives (but much more solid); the Automap feature has a few bugs and is a bit tempermental

tyronehowe · Post by **tyronehowe** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:00 am

Hiya

I have looked at this a lot in the past. I (fairly) often have to stay in hotels and want a portable keyboard to take with me to use in the evenings for writing my masterpieces …

It really depends on how many octaves you need. There are LOTS of 2 octave keyboards, but personally I find 2 octaves too limiting. The M-Audio Oxygen 8 v2 is good value for what it is.

If you need a bit more, Edirol do a 30 key keyboard, Edirol PCR-300, that I have used and liked (it’s not the best keyboard, but it is small and portable and nearly 3 octave).

In the end, I really wanted a four octave keyboard that was lightweight, velocity sensitive and had the pitch / modulation wheels above the keys and not at the left hand edge as normal – that really helps because the keyboard is the only as long as the four octaves. I went for the super cheap CME M-Key. Yes the keys are cheap, but it suits my purpose brilliantly. Did I say it was light? You could easily chuck it in a holdall and sling it over your shoulder for portability.

Hope that helps

daniel.sneed · Post by **daniel.sneed** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:39 am

If the feel of the keys is important to you, it's worth a try any Novation keyboard. Of course they're all semi weighted synth action.

larryf · Post by **larryf** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:54 am

I'd have to agree with the critique above. On My SL25, I can't even begin to describe how often I've needed just 3 or 4 more dang keys on the top or bottom. It seems like 3 octaves would be the magic number.

Jed · Post by **Jed** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:31 am

larryf wrote:I'd have to agree with the critique above. On My SL25, I can't even begin to describe how often I've needed just 3 or 4 more dang keys on the top or bottom. It seems like 3 octaves would be the magic number.

I've been waffling back and forth on the number of keys for too long. 2 Octaves would be convenient to carry, but 3 octaves seems like the minimum that makes sense from a musical perspective.

I'm not a keyboard player but am also looking at the Novation 37 or 49 key controllers for traveling, DP, MIDI control of VI and externals, live use, etc. Do you guys have opinions on the SL vs the SL Compact versions of the Novation ReMotes? Are the sliders of significant value? Are the standard mod wheels better than the x-y joystick and pad? Is the action the same?

cheers,

daniel.sneed · Post by **daniel.sneed** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:45 pm

If you travel with your rig, you'll perhaps agree with me on Novation X-Station :
There's an usb audio interface included.
A real fast setup on stage : your laptop, a usb wire and your X-Station.
Digging further : a hardware synth, 2 mic preamp, digital fx are included !

BTW I went for 61 keys. There's a 4 zones splitting system on board. A very convenient feature for different samplers and VI on tour. The X-Station 61 fits just right in a standard electric guitare case !

larryf · Post by **larryf** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:03 pm

Do you guys have opinions on the SL vs the SL Compact versions of the Novation ReMotes? Are the sliders of significant value? Are the standard mod wheels better than the x-y joystick and pad? Is the action the same?

My opinion only, for whatever it's worth. The SL Compact is the more convenient well-packaged machine; the SL is kind of big. I got the compact after trying both. X-Y joystick on the SL regular is nice & I almost got it for that reason. The sliders are of marginal value. Action is the same. In the end I opted for the Compact for space/portability reasons, but I have some effects that use X-Y so that would've been nice. Otherwise, the Compact has plenty of knobs, I just don't see a need (in my case, anyway) for more of 'em. 6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of the other I guess, in the end - spend more money, get more things to twist and the nice X-Y pad; save some money with the Compact, and make do with the traditional mod wheels and a few less knobs, but also smaller and more convenient footprint in the studio. And cheaper.

But if I could start all over, I would ONLY look at 3 octave boards. 2 octaves is OK for what I need it for, but I've since concluded you really need 3 octaves to make music. 2 octaves is fine for auditioning patches and so on but it's a PITA to make music on, though it can be done, with some determination and patience.

beautypill · Post by **beautypill** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:19 pm

This thing is cheap and great.

- c

tyronehowe · Post by **tyronehowe** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:09 am

beautypill wrote:This thing is cheap and great.

- c

I have the four octave version of that keyboard (M-Audio Axiom) and it’s really pretty good for what it is. The four-octave version also has 9 sliders. But … the four-octave version is heavy – too heavy for me to have in a suitcase.

jeepbird · Post by **jeepbird** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:07 am

How about this one? They are not full-size keys I guess. But it's cheap and has four octaves. I'm thinking of getting on myself.

dewdman42 · Post by **dewdman42** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:50 pm

I like this one because it weighs nothing and fits in my laptop bag without even hardly noticing its there:

http://www.roland.com/PRODUCTS/EN/PCR-M1/index.html

In fact I just leave it in my laptop bag all the time, even when I don't need it.

The key action is not the same as a full size keyboard. And the number of keys is limiting. But for a travel keyboard it works great and won't increase your traveling burden.

rcannonp · Post by **rcannonp** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:27 pm

Don't get a MicroKontrol. They're pretty flimsy. I'm also not a big fan of the joystick controllers.

Volantiz · Post by **Volantiz** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:35 am

The Novation SL-controllers are great, but not that small. A keyboard that really is small is the Edirol PCR-1 (or PCR-M1). That is by far the smallest keyboard i've found that you can actually play something on.

jeepbird · Post by **jeepbird** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:36 am

sorry, forgot to put the link. Here it is:
http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/product-m-key.html

jeepbird wrote:How about this one? They are not full-size keys I guess. But it's cheap and has four octaves. I'm thinking of getting on myself.