Think I'm gonna go grab a laptop midi keyboard:
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Posted on Dec 13, 2011 03:44 am
J-bot
Byte-Mixer
Member Since: Dec 04, 2007
Going to go out and get a decent portable controller for traveling with. Main reason I'm getting one is because I want something I can just slip into the backpack and take around with me. My R3 and Miniak synths are kinda bulky despite being small, and the couple times I've taken them on longer trips (flying) they've always had to be packed in with the clothes in the main suitcase heh. (used the clothes for cushion and protection) So, I want something nice and small that will fit in my backpack with the laptop.
I've got my eyes on the Akai MPK-Mini, which is essentially a fusing of the LPD8 and LPK25 into one unit. And yeah, I realize it has mini-keys as opposed to full-sized piano keys, but after looking around, I haven't really found anything else that might fit in my backpack.
My laptop is about 14.3 inches wide, and fits well enough, but it's a bit of a snug fit. There's a little more room outside the laptop pocket spot in the main pocket, but not much. Maybe another 2 inches at the max.
Most the controllers with full-sized keys seem to be at least 18" or longer depending on where the mod/pitch wheels are located. And while it's less than 4" longer than the laptop, I don't think it would fit in the backpack. (and my little shoulderbag is even shorter than the laptop)
Also, the Akai mpk-mini controller is only $99, so I'll probably driver on over to a nearby guitar center and snag one. (maybe they'll have a b-stock item I could grab for less, but not counting on it)
I've looked at some others as well (like one of the Novation, Behringer and M-audio keyboards) and yeah, they've got more features, but they're still at least $150 to $250, which is more than I really wanna pay for something I'll mostly be using with the laptop. And I think they're too big to fit anyways. (think they start around 17" or so) And I didn't like the Korg nano-key things. Too computer-keyboard looking to me.
Despite the smaller keys, the Akai controller does have some nice things going for it, including a midi-arpeggiator. The drumpads are "meh" but I doubt I'll use them for finger drumming, and there's 8 assignable knobs which isn't a bad number.
So yeah, unless there's any ideas or mini-keyboard controllers I'm not aware of, looks like it's gonna be the Akai :D Probably head over to get it tomorrow or Wednesday.
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J-botByte-MixerMember
Since: Dec 04, 2007
Dec 14, 2011 08:33 pm Well, just got back from the GC. I tried a few boards, got the guy to bring me some measuring tape so I could measure a few.
Indeed, I think the Akai MPK-Mini is about the only one that would fit (aside from the LPK25, and the korg nanokey)
Tried a few different feeling boards they had on display. I knew the mpk-mini's keys weren't anything to write home about, but it's something to plink around on. The size I can get used to okay, I just wish the keybed was a bit deeper/less spongey (which would make the controller a little thicker) It does feel pretty well built overall though. All in all, I think it was the smaller form factor and the built-in midi arpeggiator that sold me on it more than anything else hehe. Definitely going to see some use on the trip and when we go out places. :)
I also looked at the M-Audio Oxygen25, (which was also on sale for $99) which had the wheels at the top to make the board less wide, but at 16" wide and being pretty thick and deep, I still don't think it would have fit in my bag with the laptop as well. :/ Just too bulky. Plus I don't think it had a built-in arpeggiator.
Tried out some of the bigger master controllers as well. I've decided if I ever upgrade my controller, and move into a bigger room/get a bigger desk and upgrade my midi keyboard, I'm definitely getting an Akai MPK88. I liked the hammer-action on it. It's a bit heavier than some pianos I've played, but it's better than some other keyboards I've felt.
However, I did -not- like the feeling of the MPK 61 or the 49. Like in some reviews I read, the springs really do fight back and you actually have to keep some force on to hold the keys down, like the keys were fighting back. I could definitely see that causing some wrist/finger muscle tiredness in the long run.
I liked the feeling of the Alesis QX49 controller, but not the older Q49. The Q49 just felt too toylike, and the QX49 had a more solid keybed. (however, I'm not really in the market for one, just thought I'd throw that out there) I didn't see any of the other 88-key controllers out on display, so couldn't try them. But yeah, if I ever do upgrade my master keyboard, it's gonna be an Akai MPK-88.
JovhatoMusic is everythingMember
Since: Apr 01, 2010
Dec 15, 2011 10:02 am So did you get the Mini?
J-botByte-MixerMember
Since: Dec 04, 2007
Dec 15, 2011 07:25 pm Er, yeah, I got the MPK-Mini. It actually fits nicely into the secondary/middle pocket of my backpack where I keep some larger notation sketch pads and stuff. :)
JovhatoMusic is everythingMember
Since: Apr 01, 2010
Dec 16, 2011 06:22 am I just bought a laptop (17") so it fits pretty snug in the bag. The only midi control I have are the Korg PadKontrol so I've been looking for a key controller as well. I'll have to check into these. I see they have nice reviews, as well as what you've posted. I hope it works out well for you. Keep us posted if you find something that you don't like about them, but for the price, I guess it'd be hard to go wrong.
J-botByte-MixerMember
Since: Dec 04, 2007
Dec 17, 2011 09:02 am Yeah, my only dislike is that the keybed depth is a little shallow to my liking, but despite that, it still functions decently enough for plinking out sketches and ideas. And I'm kinda getting used to the keys now.
I do like the midi arpeggiator quite a bit. Includes up, down, random,inclusive, and exclusive types. Plus you can set the arpeggiated octave from 0 (just the keys pressed) up to 3 octaves. so that's pretty cool.
All in all it feels pretty well built. The drum pads are "okay" not nearly as good as my padKontrol, or some of the mpc/mpd units, but they do the job. And the pads have 2 "banks" you can switch between.
Granted on a keyboard this small, there aren't any pitch/mod wheels, but I suppose you could map those onto one of the knobs in a pinch, so not really a deal breaker for me. :)
The little guy is only something like 13.6 inches wide. The M-Audio Oxygen 25 was something like 16 inches wide, and fairly thick/deep, so I don't think it would fit with the laptop in there. Without the laptop....maybe. So if you need something with full-sized keys, that might be a consideration as well if you have a bag/backpack big enough.
J-botByte-MixerMember
Since: Dec 04, 2007
Mar 18, 2012 11:54 am Okay, late update, I meant to post back to this thread after xmas, but didn't get around to it.
I have a short review of the MPK-Mini up on my website news block.
I'll post what I wrote there in here as well for ease of access. :)
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I recently purchased an Akai MPK-Mini keyboard for traveling around with my laptop. Anyone familiar with the LPK25 and LPD8 mini-midi controllers will recognize the convenience of the MPK-Mini, as it is literally a merging of the two LP's into a single unit. The unit is fairly solid feeling as well.
The MPK-Mini has 8 Knobs, 8 Pads, and 25 mini-keys. In my honest opinion, the keybed is a little shallow when pressing down, but I have been getting used to them, and I do feel they are slightly better than the LPK25 keys. I think they are a little longer as well.
The knobs are also a little shallow, but they aren't too bad, and still have a decent enough feel to them. The 8 pads feel okay to me. They aren't as sensitive as say my padKontrol or some of the mpc/mpd units, but they do the job. There are also 2 Pad banks to switch between, so effectively you have 16 pads between the banks.
Honestly the big selling point for me on this little guy are the small form factor, and the midi arpeggiator. You can set the arpeggiator to fairly standard timings (1/4 up to 1/32T) From 0 to 3 octaves, and you have your typical Up, Down, and Random Arpeggiations along with Inclusive and Exclusive. This can be pretty handy when using synths/soft-synths that do not have an onboard arpeggiator.
The buttons are pretty standard stuff. You have buttons to switch between the two pad banks, octave up/down, tap tempo, sustain (basically a latch), CC, and program change. Now, to change which CCs the knobs/pads correspond to, you have to use the included software editor. You can save your preferences as programs (like a template) and change between them on the fly via the program change button. You can store up to 4 presets/templates. Another handy feature is you can set the keyboard/knobs and pads to two different midi channels. (handy if you want to put a soft-synth on channel 1, and say, electronic drums on channel 2.
All in all, there are some nice features packed into a keyboard of this very compact size. It is certainly handy for tossing in the bag with the laptop for taking to the cafe/coffee shop or even on longer trips (like I'm doing now as I've just flown down to NC) Very portable, nice features, and my only real niggle is the shallow keybed (which I'll get over). So, yeah, nice package with some nice features! :)
