Announcing iRig KEYS™ by IK Multimedia

[Breeze]

Actually, the pedal input is a great inclusion. I still can't believe Korg "forgot" to include that in the 37-key micro-key. And 2 octaves is very limiting...

The only thing I'd like to know is how good the velocity feels, and if this keyboard is free of the false low-velocity triggering the Akai Synthstation-25 suffers from. From my experience, these smaller keyboards are hard to play expressively.

I feel we're definitely moving forward in the iOS portable controller dep't with this one.

[JavaJ]

Pitch Bend- is the keyboard heavy enought to not move around if you are using it- or will you need to hold onto they keyboard if you use the pitch bend.

Besides that- looks good- pedal input to? Offering a mini pedal by chance?

cool idea- come out with an adapter to hold it on a music stand (you have that for everything else hahaha).
I could imagine all of this hanging off a single microphone stand- could be cool.

[ObiWonder]

Thanks for the kind words! Everyone here at IK is EXTREMELY excited about iRig KEYS! We have so much more in the works too! From updates, to new releases and even more stuff on the horizon!

[audiojunkie]

The same exact price as the ESI KeyControl 25 XT.

Decisions, decisions...

Note: This isn't directed at you George--it originally was going to be a comment about how 25 keys are not enough for me, but it turned into a long drawn-out keyboard requirements list.

I wasn't aware of this keyboard. It has a true midi out, which is nice, and it looks solid too, but 25 keys just doesn't cut it for me--I need more keys. I have my M-Audio Oxygen 8 for 25 key use if I need it. I also have 49 key and a 61 key keyboards, but I'm finding that I do more music work, when I have everything extremely portable and right at my fingertips. Small size, extreme efficiency, and more keys are important to me.

This is my list of desired features for a new mini keyboard (listed by order of importance to me):

1. Designed for iOS/Win/OSX (CoreMIDI & USB Class Compliant)
2. Over 25 (usable) keys and yet compact
3. Approximately $100 or less.
4. Assignable knobs/pads/misc
5. Doesn't require the CCK or a power supply or batteries

While nothing is perfect, and I'll have to settle for less than my ideal, there do seem to be some keyboards that come close. The ones I am looking at are the following:

Korg MicroKEY 37
M-Audio Keystation Mini 32
IK Multimedia iRig keys (37 keys) <--I'm SERIOUSLY considering this one.

If anyone knows of any others that are close to fitting my above list, don't be afraid to bring them up!

--Sean

[audiojunkie]

Yes it is, show me another 37 mini keyboard that works for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac and PC? Peter pointed out the closest one out and it still doesn't compete with ours.



Sorry about the newest addition to the iRig family and all though. Didn't think it would ruin your day and all. :/ I figured most people would have thought iRig Keys was pretty cool....

I think the iRig keyboard looks pretty cool!

By the way, did I read correctly that MIDI CC can be assigned to the Pitch and Mod wheels and also to the volume/data wheel? Could you correct me if this is not correct? (It's very important to me, so I want to be sure).

--Sean

[audiojunkie]

Thanks for the kind words! Everyone here at IK is EXTREMELY excited about iRig KEYS! We have so much more in the works too! From updates, to new releases and even more stuff on the horizon!

Sounds good! I like IK's direction with this keyboard, and with their apps (especially with Sampletank getting Virtual midi and ability to run in the background). I just really hope that bug with the Vocalive pedals (in the Amplitube vocalive add-on bundle gets fixed though! They are unusable as they are right now, and I wouldn't be able to recommend them to anybody (with a good conscience) as they are right now. In fact, right now, I'm feeling bad that I bought them. I'm hoping an update will soon fix this and allow me to be able to recommend them.

--Sean

[ObiWonder]

We haven't found the bug ourselves yet, but it is something they are still looking into. We also have a few other things going on at the same time, but know we are taking the time to look into it more. If you did fill out a ticket, please PM it to me as well.

Back to iRig KEYS, Glad your taking a good look. Know that it's 10% off for preorders. We're getting some great feedback on iRig KEYS, I can't stress enough how excited we are about iRig KEYS!

[polaris20]

the first ultra-slim and highly portable universal MIDI controller keyboard for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Mac/PC.

Apart from the fact there's already hundreds of the damn things.

Thanks for your keen interest in IK and how closely you seem to follow us. I haven't found hundreds of controllers with 30-pin dock connectors, USB, and both pitch & mod wheels though. Thanks for the heads up. I'll look for bigfoot while I'm at it.

Out of the 48 compact controllers at Sweetwater, I admit not clicking every one since I'm well aware of the specs of most on the list and the descriptions suffic, but I don't see mini form factor + dock and USB on any except a bit of a stretch on the "mini" part on one other... http://www.sweetwater.com/c514--Compact ... ntrollers/

These are pretty cool:

http://line6.com/mobilekeys/features#pr ... ontrollers

Yours is cheaper though.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

That's the closest that I mentioned out of the 48 that didn't have the features at all, we're a mini keyboard by design - so it could be more portable land thrown into a laptop bag, etc easily yet be very portable from platform to platform at the same time. This is comparing full size keyed controllers to an ultraportable unit like iRig KEYS.

[audiojunkie]

Again,

By the way, did I read correctly that MIDI CC can be assigned to the Pitch and Mod wheels and also to the volume/data wheel? Could you correct me if this is not correct? (It's very important to me, so I want to be sure).



--Sean

[ObiWonder]

Again,

By the way, did I read correctly that MIDI CC can be assigned to the Pitch and Mod wheels and also to the volume/data wheel? Could you correct me if this is not correct? (It's very important to me, so I want to be sure).



--Sean

I'm not seeing that and according to our internal info only the volume knob is assignable.

[audiojunkie]

Again,

By the way, did I read correctly that MIDI CC can be assigned to the Pitch and Mod wheels and also to the volume/data wheel? Could you correct me if this is not correct? (It's very important to me, so I want to be sure).



--Sean

I'm not seeing that and according to our internal info only the volume knob is assignable.

I'll take your word on it. You work for IK. I probably read something wrong.

So, what can be assigned to the volume/data wheel? MIDI CC? NPRN? etc.? Are there limitations--like only a few certain things? Could you expound please?

Thanks,

--Sean

[Brian @ IK Multimedia]

I like it. If only it had some drum pads!!!!

Thanks Mike. I know you will like it!

Drum pads can be handy, but they really don't do anything you can't do with the keys. Since this is targeted for the mobile market, size and affordability are important factors. So it doesn't make much sense to increase the price tag for everyone with a feature that most people wouldn't find essential. (And they would have to be TINY pads!)

[audiojunkie]

So, what can be assigned to the volume/data wheel? MIDI CC? NPRN? etc.? Are there limitations--like only a few certain things? Could you expound please?

Thanks,

--Sean

[ObiWonder]

It is Core MIDI compatible, it will work with any app and features that are also Core MIDI compatible. We don't have all the details yet as this is just an announcement, but we will be sure to share more as they are made available. Things could still be added and changed, though at this point they would be minor things.