The CME device would be my dream micro-keyboard, especially at the price (US 125), with full-size keys and even per-key aftertouch. (Key travel is minimal; it's a low-height device.) However it has had some reliability problems with a key, and eventually with the USB cable. I'm finally admitting that I need to replace it.
The Korg is incredibly tiny, cute, and works fine ... but the keys are just buttons. But it's ideal for carrying around with an iPad, super cheap, and so far reliable. The velocity sensitivity is good enough to be usable.
So I need to replace the Xkey 25. What other highly portable keyboards have people enjoyed using? I'm hoping for something not much longer than the width of a laptop. Thanks.
NI markets the M32 as a controller designed to integrate with their software, but I don't even use any of it – the real selling point of the M32 is its build quality (and to a lesser degree, a rather nice default mapping in Ableton).
The M32's mini-keys have such a nice feel that when I bought a competing keyboard for use with my iPad, I had to return it because the NI had spoiled me. Everything else in the price range feels spongy and plasticky after using the M32.
I don't even use the encoders that much, but they too are significantly higher quality than the competition. Not only are they capacitive (touch a knob and the OLED display will show the name of the mapped parameter), they're higher resolution than most, meaning they're closer to the feel of analog potentiometers.
The only caveat is that you won't be able to use it with an iPad without an external power adapter, as the M32 requires more current than an iPad can supply by itself. Laptops are fine, however.
A friend has the arturia keystep pro 37, which seems pretty nice. I'm considering a switch right now so I was happy to see this thread actually. It has aftertouch which is unique for a portable midi controller, though the aftertouch isn't polyphonic IIRC.
It's pretty good for a small-pad portable keyboard — velocity sensitive, with per-key aftertouch in two axis (pressure and tilt). Oh, and the keys light up.
Pretty much same size as the Korg Nanokey / related kit. FWIW, I'm not overly impressed by the build quality of the Korg Nano stuff — the case plastic is cheap, and can easily be twisted / bent, by hand or in a bag, then holding its new shape pretty well (so it doesn't sit flat on the desk, until one bends it back). But whatever: it's dirt cheap compared to KM's stuff.
Since I bought my QuNexus, they've released a reduced feature version, that does not have CV — called the K-Board. I'd probably have got this if it had been available when I was purchasing (I have no need for CV myself).
I have a toy Casio to bang on if I want to play keys, though that admittedly isn't MIDI(Yamaha's PSS-A50 is, though!)
From time to time I've considered getting a Critter & Guitari Organelle: also a complete instrument, with small keys in an interesting form factor. It's open enough and programmable enough to serve nearly any synth need.
I've considered repurposing ortholinear mechanical keyboards. It's mostly an issue of sheer DIY effort. There are some examples of putting velocity on standard layout keyboards...
I have not one but two exotic isomorphic MIDI layouts: the C-Thru Axis49(relatively speaking, portable enough to cram into a backpack, but a bit thick, fragile when dropped, and the manufacturer is long gone), and the Chromatone CT-319(full-sized, really nice build, cheesy built in sounds, manufacturer cleared stock for shipping price only). These layouts are wonderful for hands-on play with scale and harmony ideas, and can be experienced more cheaply with touchscreen apps, though I've never found an app in this category that I'm totally pleased with.
It's actually the isomorphic boards that got me to think in terms of programming it all in the first place. If you reduce the keys to the ones you need to play the particular track you have, you only need maybe 16-24 most of the time(7-8 note scales across 2-3 octaves). And you can easily go into a wholly rhythmic approach by being sample-focused, and then just use drum pads to perform.
There's a lot of options once you break away from resembling a piano. None are exactly better because a majority of people would rather transfer piano skills and play piano music, than play a new thing. That's just how it goes with music.
Something you might want to look into is getting a Yamaha Reface (I recommend the DX or the CS, which are the ones I have) and use them as a keyboard. The keys are excellent, and velocity sensitive on all models -- and you get a very nice standalone synth to play around with.
But I still prefer its action to Arturia's or NI's. They feel very rubbery.
The best compact (albeit expensive!) controller I've ever tried was AKAI MPK 225. The action feel so pleasant. I'm not really a good key player though so YMMV.
https://gearspace.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-and...
I had an Arturia MiniLab mk2 for a while and like the feel much more. (I ended up returning it because it didn't integrate with Reason well, which is what I was using at the time.)
I also have a Novation LaunchPad Mini mk3 which I quite like for triggering clips and automation. I haven't tried using it for actual note playing.
I've been interested in the XKey. Does it feel like playing an actual synth-action piano keyboard, or is it more like a piano-shaped Mac keyboard?
I really didn't get on with the velocity sensitivity, which to my mind requires far too heavy a press to get max volume, both on the keys and the pads.
The reface series do have sound engines built in, but they can be used as midi controllers as well. Plus they have speakers built-in (along with MIDI, headphone, line in, line out) and can run on batteries, so it's a great portable option.
I have the reface CS, and I like it because it's two in one, midi controller and synth.
After graduating, I got myself a weighted 88-key MIDI keyboard so I could properly play piano, but some of my favorite 'music memories' are riffing on those bouncy mini keys.
Still quite compact and a nice device.
[1] - https://www.amazon.com/Namando-Compact-Keyboard-Portable-Com...