Loopy Pro: Create music, your way.
What is Loopy Pro? — Loopy Pro is a powerful, flexible, and intuitive live looper, sampler, clip launcher and DAW for iPhone and iPad. At its core, it allows you to record and layer sounds in real-time to create complex musical arrangements. But it doesn’t stop there—Loopy Pro offers advanced tools to customize your workflow, build dynamic performance setups, and create a seamless connection between instruments, effects, and external gear.
Use it for live looping, sequencing, arranging, mixing, and much more. Whether you're a live performer, a producer, or just experimenting with sound, Loopy Pro helps you take control of your creative process.
Download on the App StoreLoopy Pro is your all-in-one musical toolkit. Try it for free today.
XKey Air
Anyone has it? I had the 37 keys version but returned it because of unreliable connection (ios fault)
Is the BT version more reliable? I liked the feel of it because it's good for banging drums also.
Comments
Can you even buy these yet? I have my Alesis Q25 listed on Ebay right now and am going to pick one of these bad boys up when they become available
Hey @alecsbuga and @ecamburn - I actually just bit the bullet and ordered an Xkey 37. I've never seen one in "real life", so it's a bit risky, but really liked what I saw from some of the YouTube reviews and written comments I read.
I do not think the Bluetooth version is available yet but I heard it's in the works. I'm hoping this will provide me with a "large enough" keyboard to be a primary MIDI keyboard for all my devices, but the particular draw for me was that Korg Volcas (and many other affordable hardware synths) are 5-pin DIN MIDI only (not USB). The XKey 37 adds a new dongle that allows for 5-pin MIDI out.
There really aren't a ton of great alternatives (with 5-pin DIN under $200) - but the Alesis Q25 and Q49 are probably the best options. I could have gotten one of those for under $50 used, but I like the potability and form factor of the XKey, so if it works out, I'm thinking the extra money is worth it for such a critical piece of the music-making experience.
The portability and slim form factor were a big deal to me, as well - my wife hates all the music stuff, so I basically have it all stashed away somewhere to pull out when I need to use it. That's a little tougher with some of the 49-key controllers I looked at.
had the little one, works fine.
Ya little ones nice, there's a free app that keeps its firmware updated, and allows tweaks for velocity curves etc (nice for that big piano instrument you bought for Lyra...)
Thanks guys. I had the 37 key version too, I was asking about the BT version.
@StormJH1 just sold my Q25 on Ebay for about $37 US. :-) They're great little keyboards for anyone who's looking for 5 pin DIN plus USB plus the option to power off a power adapter. That's why I got it in the first place because I couldn't for the life of me get an Akai LPK25 or a Korg Nanokey (original version) to play nicely with an ipad. I want something small and portable I can sit on the couch with, so my hopes are with the Xkey Air 25 for now.
Yep, the Q25 (or maybe the Q49) absolutely would have worked for what I needed it for. But I fell in love with the design of the XKey 37 and had to give it a try. My piano playing is so bad now (haven't played for real since I was a teenager) that it's actually less important to me that it feels like real keys.
Anyway, I was finding that even with playing simple monophonic phrases (TV show themes, whatever), I would constantly just run out of keys. Even as a MIDI/"data" entry device, 25 keys was a bit too small. So I'm hoping this works out, as it did feel like a risky purchase.
Looks like the Airs aren't available to general public yet but indiegogo folks are beginning to get em...
https://www.facebook.com/CMEFans/
True story. I got mine a couple of weeks ago.
Works great so far. Very impressed with how the keys feel.
A few more apps with built in MIDI BLE support wouldn't hurt though.
I have my XKey Air37 for a few days now, I preordered a long time ago.
I connect to the Ipad via Midimittr.
The keyboard is fast, if it is as well built as it looks and feels, that will be told by time.
All my synth apps really like it, there is no lag. Now I really enjoy playing sunrizer, very snappy. So far so good.
There is an option for updating the firmware with an USB cable, that didn't work out, but it might be my fault.
Unfortunately my 2011 MacBook Pro does not support Bluetooth LE, so for me the Xkey Air is Ipad only.
Not a big problem, maybe one of those Yamaha Adapters might be a solution.
I think you can probably get BT LE working if you get yourself a BT 4.0 dongle. I got myself a Belkin for my 2009 MBP. Works with the Yamaha UD-BT01. Other dongles should work too, just try to get one with a broadcom chip and BT 4.0.
I think you can connect it via cable to your Mac
I couldn't make that work. It comes with a special USB cable, but it seems that is for firmware updates
and detailed Settings in Xkey Plus (Software) only.
Doesn't really make sense, hopefully that will be changed.
This works for me: http://www.amazon.de/Belkin-Mini-Bluetooth-V4-0-Adapter-USB-2-0/dp/B009IQB3US/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455877031&sr=8-2&keywords=Belkin+Bluetooth++4.0
Maybe this:
http://www.cme-pro.com/widi-bud/
I'm asking this question without yet having an iPad, but in anticipation of having one soon—and also the XKey Air 37.
Because iOS natively supports MIDI over Bluetooth, do you need an app like Midimittr in order for your Bluetooth MIDI Controller to work or would a controller like the XKey Airs or Korg Nano (also wireless) work without it?
And do the apps themselves also need to support Bluetooth MIDI?
Thank you.
Some apps like Gadget support it natively. For others you would need to send it through something like Midiflow. Not sure if Midimittr can do this too.
Thank you!
I just got an email reply from CME saying that I could also simply use their free XKey Plus app to do the same as Midimittr. Since they're free, I'll use XKey Plus first, then decide if MidiFlow's additional features will be useful to me.
First I used midimittr. It' is free and works with bluetooth midi and all apps that don't natively support BT.
But since XKey Plus let's you fine tune all kind of settings for the keyboard it is the better option.
Good to know. Thank you.
I emailed customer support at CME about a week ago asking about the Xkey Air. Here's the response: "We are shipping Xkey Air to all Indiegogo backers now, some of them already received it. For normal sales, it will be available around March in the market. "
Look like next month for those of us who didn't buy in Indigogo. I for one can't wait to give them some $.
I emailed customer support at CME about a week ago asking about the Xkey Air. Here's the response: "We are shipping Xkey Air to all Indiegogo backers now, some of them already received it. For normal sales, it will be available around March in the market. "
Look like next month for those of us who didn't buy in Indigogo. I for one can't wait to give them some $.
Hey @stefman
I'm in a very similar boat to your scenario above.
XKey Air 37 & 2011 MacBook Pro.
The issue I'm having is trying to connect the XKey to the 'Plus' app on iPad in order to update the firmware. But using the cable it won't even recognise the device.
Did you get this working?
Appreciate this thread is over 1yr old but if you have any advice.... I'm all ears!
Cheers!