Buying a mini usb keyboard

SuprSi · 12-12-2014 10:17am #1

I'm in the market for a Christmas pressie for myself, in the form of a 25 key usb keyboard. It's a long time since I bought any hardware for my music making (laptop aside) so I want to be sure I get the right thing. I need it to be small so that I can use it on the couch, or when travelling, etc.

I've had my eye on the Novation Launchkey 25 (http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/novation-launchkey-25-581455) as it has 25 keys, plus 16 pads/buttons and a few mod wheels as well. It's around £100, which is the upper limit of my budget. Novation have a similar model, the Launchkey 25 Mini (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1005429-REG/novation_launchkey_mini_usb_midi_controller_keyboard.html) that has most of the features of the normal model but doesn't have the pitch bend and is smaller and cheaper still.

Obviously I'm not only looking at Novation models as Behringer have a cool one out there too (http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UMX250.aspx).

Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with any of these?

SuprSi · 12-12-2014 1:59pm

Don't worry about it - in order to ensure I get it in time, I've just ordered the Novation Launchkey Mini. Looking forward to getting my hands on it now!

mordeith · 12-12-2014 2:29pm

Have fun with it!
I have the Akai MPK mini myself. Very light and slim. Downside is only 8 mpc pads (2 banks) and no mod wheel or pitch bend. Keys nice and responsive though.

The Master · 12-12-2014 2:36pm

Used the have the MPC myself, great little controller

mordeith · 12-12-2014 2:46pm

I still have this guy as well. Cheap and cheerful. Only major issue is control knobs don't react in the DAW until the physical knob is turned to around 10%

Kim Kardashi Un · 21-12-2014 6:05pm

I like my launch key mini. It is so compact. I'm sure the akai mini is equally good. Nice to have the additional big pads.

was.deevey · 28-12-2014 6:11pm

Arturia Minilab Maybe ?

http://www.amazon.com/ARTURIA-MiniLab-230401-25-Key-Controller/dp/B00COPKOUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419786389&sr=8-1&keywords=arturia+minilab

It comes with the Analog Lab software package, which is bloody brilliant, and its the price as the Akai, has encoders rather than pots - and above all I really like the wood trim

Freedom Square · 05-01-2015 3:10pm

Can't recommend the M-Audio Oxygen enough. I've had two of them now which sounds like a bad advertisement if you're wondering what happened to the first one. It took 6 years of dog's abuse before I needed a new one, which will now be subjected to the same dog's abuse

SameHorse · 18-03-2015 3:32pm

i use the akai lpk25 myself. it's good enough that i'd consider getting any of their other keyboards.
i think native instruments are getting into keyboards now.

chewed · 19-09-2019 12:07pm

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but it's the only one I could find that mentions the Novation launchkey

Does anyone know why there are 2 versions of the Launchkey 25 MK2?
One with Modulation wheel and one without!

1461326824NOVATION_LAUNCHKEY_MINI_MK2_MIDI_KEYBOARD_PERSPECTIVE_01.JPG

1461326824NOVATION_LAUNCHKEY_MINI_MK2_MIDI_KEYBOARD_PERSPECTIVE_01.JPG

chewed · 20-09-2019 8:58am

Just copped on that one is the "mini" version!

Buying a mini usb keyboard

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