MIDI keyboard suggestions?

[Old Man Doom]

My Akai LPK25 has just decided to stop working with Logic tonight in the middle of some programming. At first I thought it might have been an issue with Logic, but the keyboard won't connect anymore with Garageband or Reason 5 either. So– unless I can get it up and running again– I need to start looking for a replacement soon.

I need a keyboard mainly for drum programming but I also do a lot of synth/pad/piano etc. work as well. I also need it to be portable and roughly the size of the LPK25 (or a little bigger), as I will be taking it overseas this summer.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[mili9152]

I'm pretty new to MIDI keyboards, but I bought a Korg Microkey 37 key a few months ago and it's been great. Very portable. It's pretty barebones, but does what I need.

 

[TRUIE]

I'm searchin for a good and small MIDI keyboard too, to replace my M-AUDIO keystation 49.

I've found 2 that looks intersting :

IK Multimedia iRig Keys 37
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibgx-aeJ0lM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibgx-aeJ0lM[/ame]

M-Audio Keystation Mini 32
The only cons on this one seems to be the pitch/modulation "wheels"
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-lieaiuMa8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-lieaiuMa8[/ame]

mili9152, thanks for the Korg Microkey 37, didn't know that one, looks like it has the same features as the IK one.
How does it feel ?

 

[updog]

My Akai LPK25 has just decided to stop working with Logic tonight in the middle of some programming. At first I thought it might have been an issue with Logic, but the keyboard won't connect anymore with Garageband or Reason 5 either. So– unless I can get it up and running again– I need to start looking for a replacement soon.

I need a keyboard mainly for drum programming but I also do a lot of synth/pad/piano etc. work as well. I also need it to be portable and roughly the size of the LPK25 (or a little bigger), as I will be taking it overseas this summer.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

might be a problem with the usb port. the LPK25s get returned a lot because of the usb port breaking.

 

[mili9152]

mili9152, thanks for the Korg Microkey 37, didn't know that one, looks like it has the same features as the IK one.
How does it feel ?

The keys aren't weighted and they are smaller, but for the price (I paid around 70 USD), I'm happy. I have larger hands and can feel a little cramped but I'll be keeping this piece around for a while

 

[botus99]

Check out M-Audio Axioms. Mine's been solid for a couple years

 

[Old Man Doom]

I'm pretty new to MIDI keyboards, but I bought a Korg Microkey 37 key a few months ago and it's been great. Very portable. It's pretty barebones, but does what I need.

Thanks for this. I just checked this one out and it's pretty cool. I definitely like the 2 usb ports for adding on another pad surface or something.

@TRUIE – I like the ik multimedia one. The pitch/mod wheels on it are a plus for me since my LPK25 already doesn't have any.

@sopulurn – That's probably the issue. In my frustration, I unplugged and plugged it back in many, many times. It could just be worn out; I had it for about a year and a half now, although I don't really know what the average lifespan is for portable midis.

@botus99 – I would love to have an axiom, but I think it might be too big and a little bit outside my price range right now.

 

[TRUIE]

Yeah, pretty hard to choose between the Korg MicroKey37 and the IK one !
Both looks cool and seems to have more or less the same features.
One good point for The iRig is that it comes with Sampletank 2.5. I already own it, not the best sampler/sounds in the world, but some can be pretty handy for quick arrangements / songwriting and the library is pretty huge.

Another IK iRig video, from a random keyboardist found on the net :