Which portable controller?

[killmaster]

Hi,

I'm going to get a small controller keyboard and have narrowed it down to this list. I use mainly Bitwig but also use Live sometimes. I want device control and DAW control is a plus. Mainly looking for something that will provide good performance features and some parameter and DAW control. I do use own some NI instruments so the Komplete Kontrol integration of the M32 wouldn't be wasted. I also own a Nektar Panorama P1 which I love cause of the great DAW integration so am leaning toward the LX Mini. Arpeggiator is a plus as well though not essential Would love your thoughts and/or enthusiasms!

1) Nektar Impact LX Mini
2) Arturia Minilab 3
3) Novation Launchkey Mini Mk3
4) Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32
5) M-Audio Oxygen Pro Mini

[cryophonik]

I’ve never used any of those models, but the Novation is the likely leader in terms of Live integration. You might also want to throw the new Akai MPK Mini Plus into the mix as well.

[FJ5]

I have Nektar LX Mini as a portable, great little keyboard. DAW control excellent as per all Nektar stuff (Cubase for me). Good build quality too (keys, knobs, pads etc.).

The joystick is a bit polarising, as is lack of a sustain button (like Arturia have) but a workaround is to CC map the down stroke of the stick to a momentary sustain.

Admittedly the MiniLab 3 looks good, perhaps better for Live though as has been said already the Novation was built for Live control. I'm not sure the 4 faders add much other than mapping to Arturia's own VSTs - I much prefer the Nektar's single rotary knob that is mapped to track mixer volume.

Whilst all mini controllers are 'portable', I see some as particularly suited for that (e.g. Nektar SE25) & some more suited to a space-saving desktop to add synth keys &/or DAW control to an under-desk full-size weghted keyboard (e.g. MiniLab). I think the Nektar ticks both boxes well.

Oh, & RE: LX arpeggiator a recent firmware update added a 'latch' function.

[killmaster]

I have Nektar LX Mini as a portable, great little keyboard. DAW control excellent as per all Nektar stuff (Cubase for me). Good build quality too (keys, knobs, pads etc.).

The joystick is a bit polarising, as is lack of a sustain button (like Arturia have) but a workaround is to CC map the down stroke of the stick to a momentary sustain.

Admittedly the MiniLab 3 looks good, perhaps better for Live though as has been said already the Novation was built for Live control. I'm not sure the 4 faders add much other than mapping to Arturia's own VSTs - I much prefer the Nektar's single rotary knob that is mapped to track mixer volume.

Whilst all mini controllers are 'portable', I see some as particularly suited for that (e.g. Nektar SE25) & some more suited to a space-saving desktop to add synth keys &/or DAW control to an under-desk full-size weghted keyboard (e.g. MiniLab). I think the Nektar ticks both boxes well.

Oh, & RE: LX arpeggiator a recent firmware update added a 'latch' function.

Great feedback and super helpful! I really appreciate it. A nice bonus would be if the LX mini had MIDI out port.

It's kinda hard to tell the difference in functionality between the LX25+ and the LX Mini. They seem to have nearly identical capabilities.

The DAW integration of the minilab 3 does seem to go deeper with this new Arturia release. I do have several Arturia synths so that is a plus I guess.

[killmaster]

Of course for a little more, I could just get a Microfreak and also use it as a portable controller!

[wtptrs]

I have the M32 and the Launchkey Mini and love them both. Not sure about Bitwig but they both integrate well with Ableton Live (and Logic).

- the Mini is much smaller than the M32, so a lot more portable
- the Mini has a great internal arpeggiator, with Mutate and Deviate functions that are great to experiment with
- if it's important to you, the pads on the Mini are great, I like them better for fingerdrumming than the ones on my Akai MPD218
- the M32 has a much better keybed, the difference is night and day. It's hard to imagine better mini keys than the ones on the M32, although I haven't tried the Arturia ones
- the M32 has undo/quantize transport buttons, which I use a lot. I think the Nektar device is the only other mini controller in your list which has those

[killmaster]

I have the M32 and the Launchkey Mini and love them both. Not sure about Bitwig but they both integrate well with Ableton Live (and Logic).

- the Mini is much smaller than the M32, so a lot more portable
- the Mini has a great internal arpeggiator, with Mutate and Deviate functions that are great to experiment with
- if it's important to you, the pads on the Mini are great, I like them better for fingerdrumming than the ones on my Akai MPD218
- the M32 has a much better keybed, the difference is night and day. It's hard to imagine better mini keys than the ones on the M32, although I haven't tried the Arturia ones
- the M32 has undo/quantize transport buttons, which I use a lot. I think the Nektar device is the only other mini controller in your list which has those

Thank you for the great feeback! I have also been looking at the AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3. Seems to have a ton of features for a very good price. Been leaning in the direction of the Launchkey Mini Mk3. I would very much be using the mutate and deviate functions a lot. It's been long enough now that I'm starting to wonder if Novation will release a Mk4 so not sure if I should wait if I decide on that one. The real advantage of the Nektar controllers for me is the deep DAW integration and Nektarine, so that is enticing. CV/gate out is another enticement. So if the Launchkey had good Bitwig integration and CV/Gate and aftertouch it would be a no brainer but that is a lot to ask for a small controller!

[wtptrs]

I have the M32 and the Launchkey Mini and love them both. Not sure about Bitwig but they both integrate well with Ableton Live (and Logic).

- the Mini is much smaller than the M32, so a lot more portable
- the Mini has a great internal arpeggiator, with Mutate and Deviate functions that are great to experiment with
- if it's important to you, the pads on the Mini are great, I like them better for fingerdrumming than the ones on my Akai MPD218
- the M32 has a much better keybed, the difference is night and day. It's hard to imagine better mini keys than the ones on the M32, although I haven't tried the Arturia ones
- the M32 has undo/quantize transport buttons, which I use a lot. I think the Nektar device is the only other mini controller in your list which has those

Thank you for the great feeback! I have also been looking at the AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3. Seems to have a ton of features for a very good price. Been leaning in the direction of the Launchkey Mini Mk3. I would very much be using the mutate and deviate functions a lot. It's been long enough now that I'm starting to wonder if Novation will release a Mk4 so not sure if I should wait if I decide on that one. The real advantage of the Nektar controllers for me is the deep DAW integration and Nektarine, so that is enticing. CV/gate out is another enticement. So if the Launchkey had good Bitwig integration and CV/Gate and aftertouch it would be a no brainer but that is a lot to ask for a small controller!

Akai just released the MPK Mini Plus which may be worth a look (but it's almost twice as expensive as the ones in your list). Between the regular MPK Mini and the Launchkey Mini, I'd definitely pick the Launchkey.