MIDI Keyboard Controller advice needed

I am looking for some advice on a basic midi keyboard controller. I'm using GarageBand to record, and I'd like something fairly simple for laying down a quick bassline, or a simple bass and snare, or maybe even the occasional xylophone part :lol:

Here are some of the options I'm considering. My price range is from $1 to about $80. Anyone have an opinion on any of these? Or an opinion or advice in general on midi keyboard controllers? Thanks!


- Korg nanoKEY2 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/nanoKEY2bk/), $49.99
Cheapest one I've seen, and I like that it is very compact. Worried about durability though.

- Akai SynthStation 25 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SynthST25/), $69.00
Good brand name, but has some features I'll never use (like the iPad connectivity).

- Akai Professional LPK25 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPK25/), $69.00
Again, good brand name, and looks like it has some decent features, although I'm not sure what they all actually do!

- M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KSMini32/), $69.95
Has 32 keys! But do I need those extra keys?

- Alesis Q25 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Q25/), $79.00
Another good brand name, and lots of features I may never use. Getting to the top of my price range.

- Korg microKEY (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/microKEY/),$79.99
37 keys! Holy cow, that's a lot of keys. Top of my price range. Comes with a 2-port USB hub, which is always nice to have.


If I can do the basics with the $49 Korg nanoKEY, then that's probably good enough - if it is built to last.

So, lay it on me brothers and sisters!

If those are your choices, get the Alesis Q25. It's got pitch wheels and full-size keys. You may not think you need either now, but you'll appreciate them later.

I have the SynthStation 25 and it's a toy. I've heard the nanoKEY2 is awful.

I just bought the M audio oxygen 25 I had a key rig 49 that gave out. The one thing I miss is the longer keyboard. I thought I would save space which I did kind of a bad trade off. But the oxygen 25 fells solid and well built. I should add I'm not a keyboard player but it's nice for plugins. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Oxygen2-25

I can sell you the Oxygen 25 SacDAve is talking about for $50 shipped. I bought it thinking I would lay down drum beats with it in Logic and I never use it...let me know!

I've got the Akai LPK25, good features and software, but I gotta say the mini-keys are a nuisance, given the size of my hands. But I just klutz through and edit in the piano roll. Skully's got the right idea with the Q25, wish I'd gone that route.

Jumping in on this thread, been looking at the same thing myself (one tool I don't have). Just out of interest, the Q25 is, give or take, $150 in Australia. Still might consider it though.

The only thing I don't understand is the bus power. I would be plugging into my interface so would the bus power (I assume USB) be plugged into a spare USB slot? Would the interface still "see" the keyboard (via midi cable)? Hope I've explained myself?

OP. Please excuse the hijack.

the nano key looks the most like a xylophone!...so....

Jumping in on this thread, been looking at the same thing myself (one tool I don't have). Just out of interest, the Q25 is, give or take, $150 in Australia. Still might consider it though.

The only thing I don't understand is the bus power. I would be plugging into my interface so would the bus power (I assume USB) be plugged into a spare USB slot? Would the interface still "see" the keyboard (via midi cable)? Hope I've explained myself?

OP. Please excuse the hijack.

I don't know specifically about the Q25, but most bus-powered devices can also be powered with a regular AC adaptor. It should say so in the specs somewhere.

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

I've got the Akai LPK25, good features and software, but I gotta say the mini-keys are a nuisance, given the size of my hands. But I just klutz through and edit in the piano roll. Skully's got the right idea with the Q25, wish I'd gone that route.

The thing I like about the LPK25 is that it would fit on my desk nicely :smile: It's only 13" long and less than 4" deep. The Q25 is about 19" long and 7"+ deep, and would require me to do ... something to make it fit.

I know what you mean about the full size vs. mini keys ... I don't know if I'd use it enough for it to be a deal-breaker though...

Options, options ... *sigh*

The thing I like about the LPK25 is that it would fit on my desk nicely :smile: It's only 13" long and less than 4" deep. The Q25 is about 19" long and 7"+ deep, and would require me to do ... something to make it fit.

I know what you mean about the full size vs. mini keys ... I don't know if I'd use it enough for it to be a deal-breaker though...

Options, options ... *sigh*

That's exactly why I went for the LPK25 — I'm in cramped quarters, and I can use the LPK25 easily by simply pushing my typing kbd to the back of the kbd tray, and put the mini-USB controller in front of it, with easy access to both. Since I'm a hunt-and-peck keyboard player anyhow, the mini-keys don't exactly stifle my artistry! :razz: But full-size keys would save a lot of editing time, since I so often inadvertently hit two notes at a time and then have to clean up the mess in the piano roll.

Petey, I don't know about the other models, but mine works on USB power alone (no AC cord/wall wart).

OK, based mostly on my size and space requirements, I think I've narrowed it down to one of these two:

- Akai Professional LPK25 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPK25/), $69.00

- M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KSMini32/), $69.95

Any final thoughts or recommendations? Thanks all! :mrgreen: