MIDI Keyboard for iPad, 49 keys?

kinkujin

Korg NanoKey Studio? I guess it's good but have also heard that it depends on what you're using it for.

oops sorry forgot the 49 key thing.

marcuspresident

I will get my Roland GO:keys tomorrow and then I'll give you a review of it. I squeezed it at the music store today and liked the feeling of the keys. And it wasn't that big for being 61keys kinda tiny.
What I like with it is that it is battery powered AND midi over Bluetooth. That's great when hooking it up my iPad. And I pray for low latency.
And I saw this Bluetooth and AUM tutorial today 😀
https://youtu.be/qe5Nr83Qao8

Will

@SpookyZoo said:

Ha! Nice patch name.

am1001

I find it annoying to have to use the camera kit for the ipad. I just want to plug it in and go.
I have bought many midi controllers - most I found disappointing and ended up on the shelf.
In my opinion none are that great for ipads. I will go straight to the best option at the moment as far as I am concerned. That is ik multimedia 37 Pro with full size keys (universal one). It ticks most of my requirements - plugs straight into ipad as it has the lightning cable, keys are good and very playable, it has a pitch bend and mod wheel and also an assignable control. I have several controllers with 8 knobs etc but I can never remember what each is assigned so whats the point - for the ipad I just do a quick midi learn when I want to. So there are a total of two assignable controls ie mod wheel and data knob.
The other control I think well of is novation keys 49 - the keys are fine and its well designed but you have to use it with the camera kit which is annoying.
Ones I bought and don't like - several cheap Akai controllers (under 100 pounds ones) - all very poor keys, Alesis VX49 (bad keys in that you can.t easily glide across the keys, also buttons are hard and very clicky), korg keys nanostudio (has computer keys but good appegiator - I don't like the keys but like everything else -shame), Arturia keylab - way too heavy and clicky controls).
There is an more expensive ik multimedia i/o 49 which had a built in audio interface but its so limited that its a bit pointless as its only one audio input and mono to boot. I read that you can't plug the audio output of the ipad into it which seems limiting too.
Good luck I am still waiting for my ideal controller. It would be small form factor (tiny as possible) with 49 full size keys, 4 knobs (that as much as I would need - filter, resonance, attack and one extra), 8 sliders (to adjust volume levels) and with bluetooth midi (to connect to ipad wirelessly) or lightning cable to connect direct and also mod wheel and pitch bend. I also like a built in arpegiattor - the one in the korg nanostudio is good and it has bluetooth midi and I could not detect any lag either when connecting via bluetooth - really impressive).
Good luck!

am1001

I also have a Roland keys 61. It is actually a good fun keyboard with built in sounds and patterns but midi is bad - I think each band is on a different midi channel and thats it. Very limited midi. The bluetooth midi is impressive but overall the keyboard is too big for portable use and midi not great. I think its a good keyboard for standalone use if you just want the sounds. Most of the music that built in is geared to very modern rthymns so a bit limited here - but its a keeper for me as just a fun tool. Runs on batteries too.

haulin_notes

I have a Korg 61 minikey Air with bluetooth. Really like it. Super light and portable. No other knobs or sliders though. Bought it before that Roland Go keyboard came out, which looks like it is worth the extra money. Plus it seems to have full-size keys, for those who prefer them. Might as well go for the 61 keys! Me, I’m going for a Roli Blocks Seaboard next! Can’t afford the big boards, but the Blocks might be worth “Roling” the dice on.

Graison

@breilly said:

@Graison said:
I've been looking at getting an arturia key lab essential 49. It has a nice selection of knobs and faders that one could set up midi learn in korg gadget.

Late but im thinking of the same. Any results?
Thx

I actually ended up getting an axiom 61 from a friend. A bit older but has quite a few features.

Will

@haulin_notes said:
I have a Korg 61 minikey Air with bluetooth. Really like it. Super light and portable. No other knobs or sliders though. Bought it before that Roland Go keyboard came out, which looks like it is worth the extra money. Plus it seems to have full-size keys, for those who prefer them. Might as well go for the 61 keys! Me, I’m going for a Roli Blocks Seaboard next! Can’t afford the big boards, but the Blocks might be worth “Roling” the dice on.

I seaboard what you did there.

marcuspresident

@am1001 said:
I also have a Roland keys 61. It is actually a good fun keyboard with built in sounds and patterns but midi is bad - I think each band is on a different midi channel and thats it. Very limited midi. The bluetooth midi is impressive but overall the keyboard is too big for portable use and midi not great. I think its a good keyboard for standalone use if you just want the sounds. Most of the music that built in is geared to very modern rthymns so a bit limited here - but its a keeper for me as just a fun tool. Runs on batteries too.

So you mean that midi over Bluetooth is great but not when you hardwire it!?
That's good to hear anyway because I'm mostly interested in connecting it to my iPad and not so interested in the inbuilt sounds..