Mini MIDI Keyboard Comparison

[@iduncanw]

Very helpful for a beginner to understand some things to look out for when selecting a midi keyboard.

[@Autotrope]

I tried some in a store yesterday and the Arturia and Korg both had really nice feels to the keybed while the other mini keys I tried (I think I tried Akai and Novation) had keys that felt more plasticy or flimsy. The Arturia felt so nice I wish they made 49 or 61 keys in mini size (their keystep 37 comes closest). But I think I'll get the Korg in 49.

[@MassiveDerek]

By far the best mini midi controller video. Great work.

[@GrantJackson70USD]

I know I'm late to the party but this was invaluable to me. Thank you so much!

[@SatEight]

Alesis have "V mini" version. Why didn't you choose that one if V 25 is to big for you? I can't decide which will be more usefull - knobs and pads of V mini or arpeggiator of Akai LPK 25

[@francisb1]

great comparison video, seems like you have an eye for the important things. keep going

[@miguelbass]

This was beautifully done. Thank you!

[@NihalHabeebSelfy]

I am confused about choosing between korg microkey and m audio keystation. I like the 32 keys of keystation but I wanna know if the feel of the keys of korg is better (how close to actual piano)? Thank You

[@camelCased]

Look also at Arturia Keystep - great option, professional, has aftertouch and built-in sequencer. Not sure, if keys are better than korg - I myself am looking for comparison videos.

[@vmi4172]

Brought the Korg micro and the keys absolutely suck. They have no feel or touch to them. I have to return it. Im gonna try out the Arturia KeyStep. I hope those keys are more playable.

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

If you want something that feels close to piano, then alesis might be the closest one. Alesis has one VI 25 which has semi-weighted keys, but i don't think it has hammer action.

[@ConwayBob]

@@vmi4172 -- I have both a Korg Microkey 37 and the Arturia Keystep keyboards. The Arturia Keystep is clearly superior in all ways but one. I prefer mechanical pitch and tone wheels (which the Korg Microkey 37 has) over the kind of slider pads (which the Arturia has). I already had found the Korg Microkey 37 in a pawn shop for only $32 and picked that up about 6 months before I got the Arturia Keystep. I'll be keeping the Korg kbd around as a "spare" keyboard controller, for when I need something to connect in a hurry, when USB-MIDI-only is okay, and when I don't want to monkey around with all of the cables I've got plugged into the Arturia Keystep.

[@nicholastoo858]

Best comparison video on YT. 👍👏

[@shopsolotechus]

Thanks Nicholas!

[@jammignout]

yes

[@nathannawbi]

still helpful as of today! thanks sir!

[@WilliamsShamir]

I just bought the korg microkey 37 and it feels absolutely amazing ! I own an mpk mini and the korg feels millions times better...

[@Mick_Jansen]

Do you mean the Akai MPK mini 25? I have the same one, but I'm considering upgrading to the Korg microkey. I noticed the keys on the MPK are rather stiff and not enjoyable to play on, but I thought it was normal because I'm not that familiar with the feel of midicontrollers. You are saying the Korgs keys are much more enjoyable to play? Are the key sizes any different as well or are they about the same?

[@WilliamsShamir]

@@Mick_Jansen yes, I have the Akai MPK mini 25. (and the Korg microkey 37). the keys are the same size in both keyboards (both are mini keyboards)... it's just that the korg keys feels much much better... they aren't stiff and have an amazing sensitivity detection and just feel amazing... the mpk mini keys feel like a toy compared to them

[@Mick_Jansen]

@@WilliamsShamir Thanks for sharing!

[@WilliamsShamir]

@@Mick_Jansen you welcome

[@drrbm]

That's a very useful video you have made! I have m-audio 32. And it's better then others because you have more keys. And it's still very light. What I don't like - I can't play 4finger chords with black notes inside - length of keys is too small. I would rather select full size keyboard with low-profile keys.

[@dmitryalekseev6676]

Thumbs up! Best review I've ever watched...thanks!

[@tunairaiol]

Thank you for this review and politeness.

[@codesymphony]

I've used the LPK25 for years. feels great and is the perfect size, although lately I've really been wishing it had pitch/mod wheel. Also, being a piano player, I really, really wish I had just a few more keys. I think I'm going to upgrade to either the korg microkey 37 or 49, after this video. Alesis looks interesting but I think it's too big for my desk, and reviews are saying the pads double trigger.

[@peope1976]

For me this was an amazing comparison. The size difference just don't show most of the times when alone on a picture or even when just having one being fingered in a video. You usually get the view from upside and miss the height. It got me to buy the m-audio keystation 32 mini mk3 for my use case of having something small to test some chords or listen to some new sounds on instead of using the keyboard I type with. For actual playing I have a keystation 61 mk3 which is okay but a lot larger. Something a keep at the side and have to lift up and place in front of me in part obstructing my typing keyboard. As a pianist I have a Roland stage piano RD300 SX (I believe) which obviously have a whole different kind of feeling which I wish could be had in these smaller ones. Obviously that is not happening. And it is in another room. Anyways. Wish for more videos like this.

[@camelCased]

Akai LPK25 is very popular, but some say that their velocity sensitivity is weird - off, normal, too loud. Is it true? Is Korg microKEY better? And also there's AKAI MPK MINI MK2. And don't forget Arturia Keystep and Minilab MK2 (ignore MK1, it has worse keys).

[@djalepuji]

what about the nanokey2

[@hebert.o]

Bring some information regarding the latency of the models, my friend. Thanks

[@hebert.o]

@Seamus O'Dork hahaha OK. So.. what do you have to say about USB and Bluetooth latency? You clearly don't understand about what you talking about.

[@CedricMialaret]

Bluetooth Midi does work on PC with apps that use Windows 10's UWP Midi. So it's possible with Cakewalk sonar. With Ableton, they have to add the option to use the new UWP driver vs legacy MME driver.

[@MikeHunt90731]

which keyboard would you recommend to connect to an iPad to play Moog apps?

[@Bojan-tg2vk]

The Chemical Brothers in the start used many Akai keyboards,drum machines,etc. Akai usb to PC the best!

[@eadmaster2]

Which one has the smallest keys?

[@BellsCuriosityShop]

I use the M-Audio. I'm not a keyboard player at all, and I basically just use it to tap away and find the note duration and rhythms on piano roll. Cheap to buy.

[@jessekhan3857]

Great video!!

[@SwapnenduKar]

Akai LPK25 / M-Audio MK3 / Nektar SE25 : Which one to buy? Really confused.

[@ZukunftBilden]

Is Novation launchkey mini mk3 or the akai mpk mini mk2 better - if you work with ableton live10? (why?) - because I already ordered the akai mkp mini mk2, but i can still cancel the order tonight and get the launchkey.

[@kevinlel]

No Arturia?

[@Isaacthompson]

Great job! Thank you..

[@ravnwillasberg-vsthun3077]

What do you think about the native instruments m32 in comparison to these?

[@JAFOpty]

great review!

[@martinezq1]

Hello should i take this Korg or Nectar Impact lx 25 ( i mean some software bundle too)?

[@stop9011]

great review.. TY !

[@amores3026]

Im stuck between the alesis v25 and the akai mpk mk2. Which one should i get?

[@pratyanchatalaviya6369]

NNG mpk

[@nielswil]

Wouldn't it be time if some company (Yamaha) released a keyboard with the key seize from the Yamaha KX-5? These keys were smaller but with the normal key width.

[@subhrajitnandy369]

Sir....i m new in making music...and i have a very little knowledge about midi...can u help me out by suggesting me some midi softwares for my midi keyboard and which operating system should i use....

[@oliberrhy2391]

im getting the m audio keystation mk2

[@ravnwillasberg-vsthun3077]

If you had to choose one of these and only one, which one would you take? I am asking this because all of these midi keyboards are obviously better and worse on different things. So therefore you and most other reviewers can't give a concrete answer which one is the best. I am currently on the lookout for a midi keyboard, and I am leaning more towards the korg as it is now.

[@gamingwolf8680]

Where is the akai apc key 25?

[@Zwilsonguitarist]

How long is the Alesis v25?

[@OlegSpb2008]

timecodes please

[@dfn03]

I have Alesis V61 and i love it :DD

[@XxLoOKy34xX]

I'm thinking about buying one. Is it a good one ? No problems on it ?

[@XxLoOKy34xX]

I've heard about pads double trigger

[@dfn03]

@@XxLoOKy34xX Yeah that's the only problem so far but if you hit them correctly they will not double-trigger. And the velocity curve options for the keybed are bit poor but you can download something like loopMidi and TransMIDIfier to change the velocity curve to something more comfortable. Overall build quality is very good. I can highly recommend. :)

[@XxLoOKy34xX]

@@dfn03 great thanks i think i will choose the 49 keys version :)

[@Zam_Muan]

Thanks : )

[@super-men5620]

C:

[@JadenStation]

Is the alesis v25 Bluetooth?

No is not

[@heisag]

Am i the only one wondering why the Akai MPK mini is not in this comparison?

[@delta61]

well now we have the alesis vmini

[@alvarocoras10]

Thanks for your recomendations!

[@keyboyrecords]

You glossed over the Akai wireless bro.

[@kr0ll3x]

Same as wired just wireless

[@4ever215]

does the akai lpk25 have any latency problems ????

[@cadenmarcell6637]

4EVER not really

[@StamatisStabos]

This video looks like Alesis ad friendly, you can compare a €88 with a €48 midi controller its not in the same category, if you want to be fair you should compare Alesis V-25, Akai MPK mini Mk2, Arturia Minilab MKII, M-Audio Oxygen 25 MK4

[@shopsolotechus]

Thanks for the feedback. Goal was to show some of the more popular mini keyboards based on size and feel. Cost was not a consideration. Generally speaking both the €88 with a €48 prices are relatively not as expensive as many others offered.

[@davethedm]

Stamatis Stabos was price a consideration in the title? ...

[@sandeepsj9572]

soooo helpful

[@mpoerot8013]

nice fake background

Hahaha

[@BukitGo]

00:13 He hasnt got alot of space in his studio. ;)

[@sambe99]

awesome

[@ProfTuNichts]

when you play a midi keyboard with wireless function, with wires plugged in :D

[@chrisw1462]

Pro Sound? And yet, like a lot of amateurs, your intro music is 20 dB louder than the voice. My ears do NOT thank you.

[@ChildrenOfDesire]

The curse of youtube is having to ride your volume all the time. Wish people just knew how to level their audio.

[@cameronleggett]

These are all what I would call USB mini keyboards... None of them has actual 5 pin MIDI ports. If you want a good MIDI mini key keyboard skip over all of these and go straight to the Arturia KeyStep... some of these have no wheels (virtual or otherwise) another deal killer... yeah pads are nifty especially if your only using a PC DAW setup... but a key controller with no pitch or mod wheels seems so 1966. The Arturia KeyStep beats all of these functionally, as it has a built in sequencer and arpeggiator, the 32 keys are solid and have aftertouch (channel pressure) as well as velocity. The Keystep also outputs CV and gate for keys and CV for the mod wheel if you need to get modular or moogy... it also has 5 pin MIDI in for clock sync. A KeyStep can usually be found at $120 or lower and while the build looks cheesy (white plastic) they're actually very solid... comes in black now also as of 2017.

[@Johnny-yc2cs]

Cameron Leggett MIDI ports are being fazed out. USB is the future. A majority of the audio interfaces being sold only have USB on board. Some manufacturers offer MIDI ports for legacy devices.

[@cameronleggett]

Try plugging two USB MIDI only devices in to each other without a computer in the middle... try it. It can be done but you need a $90 Kenton USB MIDI Host in the middle. Until USB MIDI can connect between devices without a computer or 3rd party host... Nobody should fool themselves about it being equivalent or even a replacement. If you only use DAWs then yup you're correct, it's equivalent but then why would you even need any hardware other than a controller... VSTs don't even require any ports or cables. My issue is about honesty and calling USB MIDI, the same as MIDI or pretending that it is equivalent is flat out fantasy.

[@mb2776]

@@Johnny-yc2cs try hooking up any Hardware synth directly to an usb Keyboard and tell me again what is outdatet and what not...

[@AudioReplica2023]

@@SynthFreaq-thats why I still use Roland..lol

[@Autotrope]

For people considering these keyboards the Arturia Minilab may be a better choice than the keystep, depends if you want it mainly as a step sequencer I guess. I agree their keybed felt as least as nice as the Korg here. In case anyone is wondering, the 5-pin midi is basically equivalent to MIDI over USB, it just offers the ability to connect with other midi hardware without going through a computer. If you don't need that, the USB will be fine. USB midi has pretty standard for over 15 years. USB also often enables powering the device with the same cable to do away with a nest of individual plug packs and/or batteries. If your favourite controller or other MIDI device only has USB-midi and you want to connect it up to other MIDI devices without a computer in between you can get USB midi hosts, I don't see this as a nightmare scenario or reason to avoid a device you otherwise like. It just makes both scenarios a little more convenient if a device offers both types of connection.

[@SynthVGguitarist]

why no arturia keystep

[@KrasavkinRomanE]

so what all the same from all midi keyboards is better? I'm from Russia and do not speak English) I realized that akai and korg.

[@camelCased]

Посмотри еще обзоры про AKAI MPK MINI MK2, Arturia Keystep и Minilab MK2 - очень функциональные варианты. Keystep более дорогой и професиональный - у него больше контактов с другими устройствами и внутренний сэквенсер и больше клавиш, но если это всё не так важно, тогда Minilab MK2 лучше, больше функционала для интеграции с программными синтезаторами на компьютере. К сожалению, не нашел сравнения корг и Minilab / Keystep , поэтому неуверен, у кого клавиши лучше.

[@generalgrafx]

The keys of the LPK25 feel like that from a Chinese toy keyboard; its an RSI inducing piece of sh*t. By the way, list price $ 129.00? On what planet?

[@moozeeck5417]

You left out Alesis Q25, which is excellent keyboard which I use to record songs. Check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpC4qpt5fNGVi7M