Ultra portable ambient setup with M8, Lemondrop, field recorder

The Lounge Other Gear
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Hi all I’m looking for some help putting together a tiny ambient setup based around the 3 things in the OP.

I’ve been looking at some ultra portable midi controller setups and they all seem to be lacking something, specifically that I hate programming notes via the Lemondrop or the M8 so I’d like keys and also knobs.

Also I’ve gotta power it somehow, which isn’t a huge issue, but any recommendations are appreciated.

The Intech Studio controller stuff is amazing, but they have nothing with keys.

Happy to hear any reccos.

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OMX-27 MIDI Keyboard - Full Kit – it even has a mode for controlling M8 (mute/solo tracks, transport…) but keys are not velocity sensitive.

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Such a shame that it is build only, though, right? Is it possible to purchase it constructed/assembled?

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Does the M8/Lemondrop have USB host ports for USB MIDI devices or do you need something that has minijack/5-pin ports?

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I don’t know. But it doesn’t look difficult to assemble it if you have basic soldering skills. But I see that kit is marked as sold out.

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Another option is to buy usb-2-midi converter like this RK006: Portable MIDI/Gate Master Hub / Standalone Host / Multiclock and use any keyboard or controller.

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Aside from OMX-27, a number of folks here and on the discord like using the Roland S-1 as a keyboard for M8. It’s going on my Christmas list of things to try

I personally use a Reface CS, which works like a charm and can be battery powered, but might be too big for “ultra” portable

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The Reface CS would be so perfect if it weren’t for the size.

Considering the jump in popularity of DAWless setups somebody has to be making something cool somewhere.

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There’s these two which have DIN/3.5 MIDI out -

Not really much else out there besides that. I wish someone would make an LPK25 with 3.5mm MIDI and a slim row of potentiometers just above the keys, that would probably be ideal tbh. Maybe a tiny joystick for pitch/mod too. Cram the basics in there.

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The Launchkey works great with the Lemondrop - just use a TRS cable right into it. You have a MIDI through on Lemondrop, too. Also that sounds like a cool setup!

(I think Lemondrop supports both TRS MIDI types, so the Arturia controller should work too.)

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Actually, the S-1 is a very useful complement to the M8. Unfortunately, the S-1 does not support MIDI local off. You therefore always have to lower its volume when you want to use it as a minikeyboard for the M8.

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this thread got me thinking about the roland sh-4d for portable controller use, havent delved into the manual to confirm if this would work tho

eh i guess most of the functions dont transmit midi, oh well

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Thanks for the tips, both those look perfect and small.

Anybody got any tips for a solid powerbank for this kind of purpose? It would need to power both the Midi controller and the Lemondrop, I’m just concerned that using the wrong (or lower quality) powerbank could introduce noise to the setup.

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From other comments I’ve read on this forum I don’t think that is an issue if it is just a midi controller. The issue is when you have multiple audio generating devices connected to the same power bank.

Happy o be corrected if this is wrong.

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I’m pretty sure I used one of those Anker batteries to power both devices. Even the smaller two port ones should have plenty of charge for both.