I need advice on a small midi keyboard

The Lounge Other Gear
1

Hello,

Hope you’re all doing well, thank you for reading my post.
I need your advice, I am after a small midi keyboard.

These are my requirements in order of importance:

  • 25 velocity sensitive keys, not more, desk space is limited
  • pitch and mod wheels (no touch strips and no joysticks preferably)
  • no pads, no knobs, again desk space is limited
  • usb powered
  • traditional 5 pin midi out

I use ableton primarily and I already have a push 2.
Until now I’ve used the keys on one of the synths as my midi keyboard, but I need a tiny one to have on the desk.
I also used to have an Akai mpk25 mini, it lasted for years but it recently broke.

Something like the Akai lpk25 would be perfect, but it hasn’t got pitch and mod wheels which I really need.

I also looked at the Novation Launchkey Mini MK3, but I don’t really need the pads and I fear the control surface would conflict with the push 2. Also it has touch strips, not a deal breaker per se but I am not a fan.

Is there something you can recommend?

Many many thanks,
Tommaso

2

The Akai LPK25 is usb only. I had one. I’ve been through a lot of midi keyboards.
Honestly the best quality for the money is the arturia Keystep. The touch strips are a little weird, but you get used to them. Having USB and proper midi is gold

3

Thanks for your reply.
Yeah I have been doing more research and I am now deciding between the keystep and the microlab. would like to get the former but I ynot sure I can make up space for it

4

Ok I bought both the microlab and the keystep, will see which one is best for me and return the other.

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5

I am keeping the keystep, it’s a solid controller and the arp and seq are quite useful

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