and even cheaper: Startone BK-37 Mini Blue – Thomann Nederland
and on the more expensive side: CME Xkey Air 37 – Thomann Nederland
the only thing with all of these is that there is no midi DIN out, but, on the other hand, there are plenty of affordable usb-c midi to MIDI DIN converters / cables out there.
Yeah I wouldn’t recommend buying one just for this 
Korg monologue might be the ticket. Full size midi, battery operated, free mono synth engine included. Available in classy red, not trashy Akai red.
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Went with the ESI XKEY AIR 25
for me it seems to tick all the boxes
- portable (fits easily in backpack, very slim), but full size keys!
- internal battery powered, charegeable via usb-c
- midi over usb-c
- bluetooth midi
- polyphonic aftertouch
so it should work with my usb-c to MIDI DIN host/cable that i have.
Also, there’s an app that allows you to change midi channel and edit velocity / aftertouch curves
Second hand Yamaha SHS-10.
Battery powered, DIN midi-out, 2.5 octaves, pitch bend, auto-accompaniment feature that sends midi out. But most importantly, you can sit on the sofa and wear it round your neck on your upper chest and still have your laptop / groovebox on your lap.
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The alternative is the old Rock Star strap on keyboard. Battery powered, full size midi out. Bit limited MIDI wise but for plug and play it can’t be beat.
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what also works well for keyboard with DAW and Macbook?
Someone should really make a compact midi keyboard with an audio interface as well as midi. I just got a cheap hercules usb dj mixer and it has two line outs built in… Don’t see why this cant be easily implemented in a keyboard.
It would be perfect for using with mobile devices as we wouldnt have to faff around with dongles and splitters etc when using up the only available usb c port
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I think the iRig Keys series is what you’re after. The iRig Keys 2 range has headphones out, the iRig Keys I/O has input and output.
M-AUDIO did this like 20 years ago with the OZONE
Read through the many ‘which audio interface’ or ‘which midi controller’ threads like this one, then come up with a combination of exactly the two correct products to combine and tweak into the final product that covers the wants and needs most completely and for the price one would expect to pay for an interface and controller.
32 keys? 37? 49?
61?
2 input channel of course because of portability, but what about the ones who want 4 channels? Or 8?
How many outs? Still battery operated or will an 8in, 12out need mains power? Mini keys or full size or some weird Korg-esque in between?
Available in standard white? Boring black? Sea-foam green? Is this just keys or are we adding 8x pads? I’d love some endless encoders as well while we’re at it.
I’m actually getting interested in this product but I’m afraid of the sticker price.
Given how cheap these portable dj controllers are with audio outs, I’m sure it’s doable in basic form for budget prices.
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If you can ignore the sampler, sequencer, and synths, the OP-XY makes a decent midi keyboard and audio interface. Only €2k too!
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