Ableton Forum

What's the thinnest, lightest, smallest piano-style keyboard midi controller available?
If you bought it, was it worth your money?

Update: no mini-keys & 25 note/2 octave only

Edirol PCR-m1. I have one, I love it for a very portable midi controller, even fits in my backpack with the laptop. It only has half height keys, but I find they are better feeling that something like the M-Audio o2 for instance.

I use the M-Audio O2. I like it. If you're a serious keyboard player you might not like the action, but it's great for portability. Worth the money for me.

Don't know if it's the smallest, but I love my Korg MicroKontrol - lent my Axiom to a mate because I prefer it.

diverdee wrote:Don't know if it's the smallest, but I love my Korg MicroKontrol - lent my Axiom to a mate because I prefer it.

mK gives you most for the size -faders,pads easy bank switching and the kays are more useful then of Edirol. However it wont fit in a backpack, so it depend on you priorities, for the size definitely Edirol the keys work better then you could expect, can use as midi interface unlike O2.

I have a 35L backpack What'll I get in there, then?

i bought an old soundblaster keyboard for 3 dollars at the goodwill bins. love it.
use it live. very small, but i have to have a midisport 2by2 and the 9volt powersupply. i even gave it a custom paintjob.
if it ever breaks i will go for this
http://www.audiomidi.com/eKeys-37-P4329.aspx#

+1 for the microkontrol.

the one and only drawback i find is that it's a little bit too long to fit into a carry-on bag, so i have to bundle it up and put it in my checked luggage (and worry about it getting stolen).

the evolution ekeys 37 could be a good option, too. it's $50, light, simple, and bulletproof. it's keyboard-only, though, and lacks velocity sensitivity.

I had a microkorg once, it was my first controller actually. I didn't think it was thin or light, definitely wasn't something I'd recommend if you actually need to PLAY keys, those things were tiny. Nice controller, just not the best option IMO if portability and playability are concerns for you.

avoid the mikrokontrol. I hate the damned thing with its bad sliders, useless lcds and messed up knobs (optical encoders or something ,really horribly unresponsive). But then it has the pads... WHICH ALSO SUCK!

I second the PCR-m1 thing. Slick little bastards.

Microkontrol is total crap. Tried to like it cause its expensive and looks good, but the Button-Drumpad is so bad you can´t use it, the faders too. The knobs did work ok with me, but its laughable shit compared to a Pocket Dial. Further its too huge and and too heavy. Only good thing was the small keys. Don´t know why, but liked them.

Go wherever but somehwhere else.

evolution ekeys is pretty small and flat. i think cme do some too. these are 37 minature key style keyboards

Mr Man wrote: these are 37 minature key style keyboards

OOOH, and check this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Ahd_bTrv58

The LCDs are actually useful, The worst - the faders, once you accidentally get the shaft out it is gone for good, you might superglue them but it is tricky, I sold mine when I found out that they are fixed to the board any repair would be almost what the new costs.
I had first mK 2 years no probs except first batch had lousy pads. A damaged fader made me got rid of the second and only reason I bought one again, that for the size they give most options, Korgs are the best Reason solution and in my case the best for controlling Arkaos VJ software (for that the keys are OK)
I hope something better will show up, maybe the new Novation compact ?