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Controller bad choice???
I have been trying to afford a midi controller for a few months now but I have a fixed income so thongs are tight, I was finally able to order (5 minutes ago) a Native Instruments A25. Yea it’s small but it does have full sized semi weighted keys. Will I be able to create with just 25 keys or not??
I’m not a keyboard player by any stretch of the imagination…anyway do you think I will be happy with a 25 key??? I got it for $38 per month for 4 months….thoughts??
Comments
25 keys works ok for one handed playing and banging in some beats but for two handed playing it gets a bit tricky...
Looks absolutely great to me for a 25 key controller.
I find only 25 keys is definitely a hinderance simply because, while I'm not very functional with two hands, I do find myself constantly wishing I could lay down some lower bass notes over chords. I end up having to edit them in or record an overdub pass, which just doesn't work well. My next controller will have at least 32 keys.
That said, the 25 key form factor when you're just messing around on the dining room table or the couch is nice to have. The best controller to have is the one you will use. In my case, the most often used controller is my NanoKEY Studio. Is it ideal? No, but it's there and gets used all the time because it's so handy.
I think you made a pretty good choice - but that's just based on the keyboard features, not on actual experience.
It is a YMMV situation. I think many of us use similar mini-keyboards on the go and find the inconvenience of limited note range balanced by the compact setup. It requires some tradeoffs and whether they are acceptable really depends on the person.
I dont believe the A25 is class compliant and will not work with iOS.
I think NI is allergic to making anything class compliant since it all has such deep integrations with their software
I had a browse through the manual.
The manual states that it can be used as a midi controller
which suggests that it could class compliant.
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/keyboards/komplete-kontrol-a25-a49-a61/specifications/
In this I will disagree.
My Komplete Audio 6 mkii is class compliant
as is the rest in this range of audio interfaces.
The Komplete Audio 6 also has DC coupled outputs.
The NI controllers are can be used as MIDI controls in MIDI mode on desktop/laptop because of drivers. NI devices are more responsive because they are HID like a mouse or keyboard. HID requires a driver. HID only NI devices don’t work with iOS.
Now on the other hand the Maschine MK3 and of course Plus work like MIDI controllers with everything and can be mapped extensively. I may be wrong about the keyboards. Does your keyboard have 5 pin MIDI out?
Even with a usb hub???
@Stuntman_mike
The Komplete Audio 6 mkii has 1 x midi input/output
and 6 x audio ins/outs as it's an audio interface.
The NI A25 only has usb out if I remember correctly?
No 5 pin MIDI out on A25, just USB which transmits HID data:
Yea I’m simply a. One handed player
I’ve had my heart broken by NI about MIDI before 😭
General rule is as long as NI controller has 5 pin MIDI out you can control on iOS or anything that can accept the traditional way.
USB MIDI on the other hand is a no go.
That's standard these days.
For instance non of my midi controllers have a 5 din midi output.
Those are normally on hardware synths and sequencers rather than midi controllers.
There are exceptions of course.
Man I sure hope so, hoping it will work routed via powered usb hub
I'm not a keys player at all. I have an Arturia 32 on my desk and a cheap Akai 25 for mobile. The 25 is more than enough and I've quickly gotten used to the + - octave buttons. I only use them for sound testing and entering data. I did have 49 but it died and I don't miss it. The smaller devices are more space friendly and do the job fine for me. Just my POV.
Does your iPad have a lightning port or does it have a USB C port.
Either way connect it directly to the iPad before you use the usb hub.
Yeah, NI and Ableton use HID for their controllers for faster response. So most standard controllers use USB as a normal MIDI controller, but NI and Ableton USB are HID.
I would say try connecting your A25 to a hub into your iOS device and see if it recognizes it. It shouldn’t. 🥺
@Stuntman_mike
I didn't know the difference between hid and class compliant until just now.
I can see why they used hid compliance for their midi controllers as
it's really only serial information that midi controllers generally emit.
It's almost negligible in regards to bandwidth.
I would avoid any controller that does not specifically say it works with iOS unless you are prepared to send it back. Go to Sweetwater or other music retailer and do a search for MIDI controller for iOS. Also, better to pay a little extra up front and get something you can use than to get something that will end up in the closet.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=midi+controller+ios
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/29357/komplete-kontrol-a25-ipad
Novation Launchkeys and Launchpads are great on iOS!
I would say pads are almost as responsive as NI pads.
Even simpler.
Look for the midi controller that catches your eye.
Go to the manufacturers website.
Download the manual.
Check the specs.
Or even simpler type in Google " is (name of midi controller) class compliant".
That’s really interesting. I didn’t realise I could control stuff on iOS with my Maschine. How do you go from 5 pin Midi to iPad? Does it need a hub of some kind?
Sounds like a lot of extra work to me. Why not just search for exactly what you want - “an iOS compatible MIDI controller”?
NI and Ableton are the only controllers to question truly. Everything else is safe. I’ve gone down this long winding road many times. Beware, NI uses the words “class compliant” kinda loosely. On desktop all their devices are very class compliant, mobile has only a select few - I believe only Traktor and Komplete Audio devices.
Well the OP asked a question.
That’s the best way to find the answer.
Anyway,… someone will always do the heavy lifting.
@Stuntman_mike
I had found this out last year in regards to NI devices.
Maschine are not class compliant, for instance, as I was thinking about getting one
and then I got the LP X instead, which for my purposes is even better.
This is my best friend:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/iConnectivity/mioXC-USB-C-USB-A-Compatible-MIDI-Interface.gc
It connects USB-C, A, MIDI 5 pin!
Brilliant, thank you 👍
Btw Mikro won’t work