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External MIDI Keyboard: Akai LPK25 vs CME Xkey25

ProppaProppa
in General App Discussion

(This may well be retreading older thread info)

If anyone has experience with either or especially both of these keyboards I'd love to hear of your experiences - particularly regarding:

1: Key velocity sensitivity: how good is the feel / range from soft to full volume of either unit out of the box?

2: Key size: I like the full(er) sized keys of the Xkey but the non traditional / limited key travel seems like it could be an issue and the LPK keys seem Really tiny and possibly toy-like. Are either of these factors getting in the way of workflow for anyone?

Any input much appreciated - x

Comments

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]

    I would choose the CME because it has polyphonic aftertouch!

  • WillWill

    Not an answer but this is really subjective. As you pointed out, both have their own deviations from standard keyboards. Can you try them in a store near you?

  • o_imsengo_imseng

    +1 on polyphonic aftertouch although you need to fiddle with the excellent editor app a bit to get it to respond in a way to be playful.

    I would get the CME Xkey over any because of form factor and portability. The major selling argument is the massive editor app which lets you customize the whole keyboard really. Its awesome.

  • encenc
    edited January 2016

    No experience of the cme xkey but I did have the LPK 25. Not over used and certainly not abused but the mini USB port literally fell apart rendering it useless.
    I now have the m audio axiom air. Build quality doesn't really inspire confidence but it is very portable ... And has 32 keys as apposed to the others with 25... Also has control knobs and pads.

  • MatthewMatthew

    Anything but the LPK. I have one, it's awful. I really like the Korg MicroKEY series. I have two of those and I'm tempted to get thew bluetooth model.

  • ProppaProppa

    Thanks all for the feedback - That's two solid cases against the LPK.

  • thatsRayorthatsRayor

    @o_imseng said:
    +1 on polyphonic aftertouch although you need to fiddle with the excellent editor app a bit to get it to respond in a way to be playful.

    I would get the CME Xkey over any because of form factor and portability. The major selling argument is the massive editor app which lets you customize the whole keyboard really. Its awesome.

    This is interesting actually. Do you remember which settings you changed for it to be more responsive?

  • o_imsengo_imseng

    @thatsRayor said:

    @o_imseng said:
    +1 on polyphonic aftertouch although you need to fiddle with the excellent editor app a bit to get it to respond in a way to be playful.

    I would get the CME Xkey over any because of form factor and portability. The major selling argument is the massive editor app which lets you customize the whole keyboard really. Its awesome.

    This is interesting actually. Do you remember which settings you changed for it to be more responsive?

    I fiddled quite a lot with all of the settings. There is a very good manual that explains how to adjust to your unit. I adjusted the delay of the poly aftertouch so the first midi message after pressing the key isn't aftertouch and I adjustet a lot of the ms values regarding the trigger times etc.

  • thatsRayorthatsRayor

    @o_imseng said:

    @thatsRayor said:

    @o_imseng said:
    +1 on polyphonic aftertouch although you need to fiddle with the excellent editor app a bit to get it to respond in a way to be playful.

    I would get the CME Xkey over any because of form factor and portability. The major selling argument is the massive editor app which lets you customize the whole keyboard really. Its awesome.

    This is interesting actually. Do you remember which settings you changed for it to be more responsive?

    I fiddled quite a lot with all of the settings. There is a very good manual that explains how to adjust to your unit. I adjusted the delay of the poly aftertouch so the first midi message after pressing the key isn't aftertouch and I adjustet a lot of the ms values regarding the trigger times etc.

    I’ll definitely have to fiddle with that too. Thanks for the tips!

  • AndyPlanktonAndyPlankton

    I have an LPK and it is fine for noodling but the keys really are small (as are any mini keys, playable but not ideal) and I usually go to my Novation Remote 25 if I want to record anything real.
    Also the lack of pitch bend and mod wheel is frustrating.

    I initially went with the LPK because of the onboard clock syncable arpeggiator but I very seldom use it.

  • ProppaProppa

    In the meantime of my obsessively trying to decide on which external keyboard I plugged in my dusty Korg NanoKey (version 1) and surprisingly (to myself) am Almost satisfied.

    I'm sure almost anything else would feel downright posh in comparison though the form factor combined with the fact that I'm primarily interested in entering notes one at a time have got me considering a NanoKey2. It's between that and the similar-but-far-advanced Xkey at this point.

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