Korg nanoSERIES2 trio of slim USB MIDI controllers revealed [NAMM11]

Korg has shown off three space-saving, feature rich USB MIDI controllers designed to fit right in with your laptop or desktop computer keyboard.

The slim design of the nanoSERIES2 controllers means that precious desktop space isn’t wasted, and the three variants mean there should be a solution for everyone (or, simply buy all three).

First up is nanoKEY2, a slim unit comprising of a 25 key velocity-sensitive keyboard, and ideal for entering music notes either in real or step time.

The nanoPAD2 is ideal for entering drum parts, as it features 16 responsive pads and an X-Y touchpad.

The nanoKONTROL2 includes a range of knobs, faders and switches, making it great for controlling music production software.

Here’s more information on all three units:

nanoKEY2

• Low-profile, 25-key USB-MIDI keyboard, ideal for use with laptop and netbook computers
• Advanced-design keybed offers improved accuracy and velocity-sensitive keys.
• Sustain button – ideal for entering piano parts!

Accurate, responsive, and great-feeling keybed

The nanoKEY2 features an advanced and up-to-date design. By combining the great-feeling “touch” that Korg has developed for its professional MIDI keyboards and the low-profile “thinness” of recent computer keyboard innovations, the nanoKEY2 provides a superior keyboard response for its class and size. It’s designed with ample key width and plenty of space between the keys, reducing the chances of a wrong note. The touch and velocity response have been carefully tuned, as only a manufacturer with Korg’s track record and know-how can, ensuring that your expressive performance will be conveyed accurately to your software.

Control buttons provide simple yet versatile control

The Octave Shift buttons – borrowed from Korg’s MIDI controllers – allow the overall pitch to be shifted four levels, either UP or DOWN, in octave increments. When used in conjunction with the Key Transpose feature, the nanoKEY2 can access the entire range of the notes in the MIDI spectrum. For enhanced performances, the nanoKEY2 also provides Pitch Bend buttons, a Modulation button, and a Sustain button; one that’s indispensible for piano or electric piano performance. For each of these buttons, the on/off switching speed can be specified over four levels (using Korg Kontrol Editor), ensuring smooth changes that are appropriate for your performance.

Korg Kontrol Editor software

The nanoKEY2 works with the “Korg Kontrol Editor” software – available free on the Korg website. Load it into your computer, and use it to make detailed customized settings. Choose from a total of four velocity settings: three velocity curves or fixed velocity; specify the control change messages transmitted by the modulation button and the sustain button.

USB power for an uncluttered setup

Just connect a single USB cable from your computer to the nanoKEY2, and you’ve got a quick and portable music production system. Power and USB-MIDI data travels down the same wire for a clean, efficient workspace.

nanoPAD2

• Low-profile pad controller – excellent for playing or entering drum data
• Sixteen solid, responsive, and velocity-sensitive trigger pads
• Control multiple MIDI parameters via the X-Y Touchpad

Sixteen pads in a compact body

Like all nanoSERIES2 controllers, the nanoPAD2 had to be compact, lightweight and sized to work well with any laptop or desktop computer. In addition, the nanoPAD2 also had to pack in 16 great-feeling and dynamic-sensing pads – as well as leaving room for the X-Y touchpad! The Korg nanoPAD2 does all this and more. In fact, there are four banks of pad assignments, providing a total of 64 pads setups.

Dynamic trigger pads capture all your performance nuances

The sixteen velocity-sensitive pads provide excellent response to your fingertips, and also realistically convey the playing feel to your sequencer or DAW software, ensuring that your drum parts will be full of life. By switching between the four scenes, you can experience 64 different pad assignments.

Create musical phrases using the X-Y touchpad, Touch Scale, and Gate Arp features
The X-Y pad can be used to control multiple synthesizer parameters. In addition, the new “Touch Scale” function lets you intuitively play phrases on the X-Y touchpad, just as on the Kaossilator. You can choose from sixteen different scales, and specify the root key and note range to ensure that your performance stays within your song. The “Gate Arp” function, borrowed from the Kaossilator Pro, transmits note data based on tempo; Tap tempo and tempo sync are supported. Combined with the Touch Scale, the Gate Arp allows you to play tempo-synchronized phrases and rhythms simply by stroking the X-Y pad or playing the pads.

Korg Kontrol Editor software

The nanoPAD2 works with the “Korg Kontrol Editor” software – available free on the Korg website. Load it into your computer, and use it to make detailed customized settings. Choose from a total of four velocity settings: three velocity curves or fixed velocity. You can also specify note numbers, create user scales for the Touch Scale function, assign chords, assign control change messages, and save your settings.

USB power for an uncluttered setup

Just connect a single USB cable from your computer to the nanoPAD2, and you’ve got a quick and portable music production system. Power and USB-MIDI data travels down the same wire for a clean, efficient workspace.

nanoKONTROL2

• Low-profile, multi-function control surface
• New track select and marker advance parameters
• Supports numerous software titles including major DAW programs

Convenient, compact control surface, with easy setup for immediate use

In a body proportioned to fit perfectly in front of your laptop computer, the nanoKONTROL2 provides eight channels of the controllers you need to control your music software. The nanoKONTROL2 also features a dedicated transport control section. The buttons have been carefully selected to be useful with your software, ensuring simple and intuitive control. Many software titles – including major DAW programs – are supported, dramatically reducing the need to make complicated connection settings.

Complete control for your DAW or software synthesizer

A knob, fader, and three switches are provided for each of the eight channels, respectively assigned to pan, volume, and solo/mute/record. This arrangement is a real convenience when recording automation for multiple channels. There’s also a marker button, making it easy to assign marks at important points in your song for more efficient recording and song production. When using a software synthesizer, you can assign parameters to the desired controllers for easy control. For example you could use the faders to control the ADSR of an envelope generator, and use the knobs to control the filter’s cutoff frequency and resonance, etc.

Korg Kontrol Editor software

The nanoKONTROL2 works with the “Korg Kontrol Editor” software – available free on the Korg website. Load it into your computer, and use it to make detailed customized settings. For example, the minimum and maximum values for each control change message can be specified.

USB power for an uncluttered setup

Just connect a single USB cable from your computer to the nanoKONTROL2, and you’ve got a quick and portable music production system. Power and USB-MIDI data travels down the same wire for a clean, efficient workspace.

Specifications

nanoKEY2 Specifications

Controllers:

• Keyboard: 25-key with velocity and 4 velocity curves
• Pitch up/down buttons
• Octave Shift up/down buttons with -4 to +4 octave range
• Modulation button
• Sustain button

Corresponding Software:
Host applications corresponding to MIDI input

Connections:
mini-USB

Power:
USB bus power

Power Consumption:
USB bus power: less than 100 mA

Dimensions:

• Size (W x D x H): 325 x 83 x 13 mm/ 12.80 x 3.27 x 0.51 inches
• Weight: 244 g/ 0.54 lbs.
• Accessories: USB cable

nanoPAD2 Specifications

Controllers:

• 16 trigger pads with velocity and 4 velocity curves
• X-Y pad
• HOLD button
• GATE ARP button
• TOUCH SCALE button
• KEY/RANGE button
• SCALE/ARP button
• SCENE button

Memory:
4 user scene memories

Corresponding Software:
Host applications corresponding to MIDI input

Connections:
mini-USB

Power:
USB bus power

Power Consumption:
USB bus power: less than 100 mA

Dimensions:

• Size (W x D x H): 325 x 83 x 16 mm/ 12.80 x 3.27 x 0.63 inches
• Weight: 285 g/ 0.63 lbs.
• Accessories: USB cable

nanoKONTROL2 Specifications

Controllers:

• 8 knobs
• 8 sliders
• 24 buttons
• Transport buttons: REW/FF/STOP/PLAY/REC
• CYCLE button
• MARKER button
• TRACK button

Corresponding Software:
Avid Pro Tools/Apple Logic, GarageBand/MOTU Digital Performer/Steinberg Cubase/Ableton Live/Cakewalk SONOR
Software that can be controlled by control change message

Connections:
mini-USB

Power:
USB bus power

Power Consumption:
USB bus power: less than 100 mA

Dimensions:

• Size (W x D x H): 325 x 83 x 30 mm/ 12.80 x 3.27 x 1.18 inches
• Weight: 293 g/ 0.65 lbs.
• Accessories: USB cable

System Requirements:

Macintosh:

• Supported OS: Mac OS X 10.4 or later
• Supported Computer: Apple Macintosh with USB port, satisfying the operating requirements of Mac OS X or Apple Macintosh with PowerPC supported

Windows:

• Supported OS: Microsoft Windows XP SP3 (32bit), Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 (32bit, 64bit), Microsoft Windows7 (32bit, 64bit)
• Supported Computer: Computer with USB port, satisfying the operating requirements of Windows XP/ Vista/7 (Intel USB chipset recommended)

Denon DJ unveils DN-MC6000 full mixer/four deck MIDI controller

Buy the Denon DN-MC6000 Digital Mixer/Controller on Amazon.com | Amazon UK

No sooner do you report on one DJ solution then another comes along. This is the Denon DN-MC6000 mixer and MIDI controller, featuring its own built-in sound card and a host of features to play with.

This top-of-the-line model boasts a solid steel chassis construction and quality sound, real-time channel matrix operation, slim tabletop design (also rack mountable) and 2in/2out audio interface.

Denon DN-MC6000 Key Features

• New, 3-way powerful audio/video-assignable cross fader (Audio, Audio/Video, Video)
• Newly designed, high-resolution 105-mm touch-sensitive jog wheel
• Smooth 100-mm long pitch slider with high 14-bit resolution
• Eight (4 + 4) hot cue/sampler buttons with dual bank selector key
• Auto loop button with Beat Jump (loop cut)
• Manual loop In/Out buttons
• Large-size Cue & PLAY buttons
• EFX controls, EFX keys and Parameter knobs
• Multiple GUI controls – Mixer, Video, Scratch, Sampler, REC, etc.
• Powerful Shift key – used for various dual-button operations
• Search keys, to advance around within a file
• Denon’s legacy “Pitch Bend” keys
• Vinyl and Pitch Bend Jog modes
• SYNC key for beat matching between decks
• Key Lock on/off button with LED confirmation
• Matrix Input Assignment selector knob
• Selectable PFL input gain and program meters
• Independent CUE system (all channels)
• Split Cue function with Cue/Master pan knob
• 45-mm Channel and Cross Faders
• Independent Channel A-B Thru switch (cross fader)
• Cross Fader contour adjustment
• Master Output stereo/mono switch
• Booth Output with Source Selector and level control
• Mic 3-band EQ (High-Mid-Low) for mics 1 and 2
• Mic Ducking and built-in Echo Effect for mics 1 and 2
• MIDI-mappable control surface (faders, knobs and buttons) for other DJ applications

Inputs include two RCA/Phono lines, one XLR Mic/quarter-inch one quarter-inch TRS Mic jack, and two RCA AUX inputs.

Outputs include balanced master XLR, unbalanced master RCA, quarter-inch TRS booth/send out, RCA record out, and stereo headphone out.

The DN-MC6000 also has a USB Audio in/out selectable routing switch and a Kensington lock security feature. The unit measures 18.1″ x 2″ x 10″ without rack ears. Power input is AC 100V – 240V, 50/60 Hz, and output is DC 12V, 3A.

AC adaptor power supply and 1.5-meter USB cable are included, and the unit also features a green, energy-saving ECO standby mode.

Available in the US this Fall with a RRP of $949.99 but available for less.

Denon DJ

Buy the Denon DN-MC6000 Digital Mixer/Controller on Amazon.com | Amazon UK

Akai MPK49 USB/MIDI semi-weighted controller keyboard

Akai has unveiled the MPK49, a semi-weighted, touch and aftertouch sensitive 49-note keyboard complete with 12 MPC-style drum pads.

48 drum pads are available via 4 banks, and there’s MPC Note Repeat function and Swing parameters, plus an arpeggiator.

It delivers 72 assignable controls, including an expression pedal, footswitch, pitch bend and modulation wheel.

It features 8 full-sized, 360 degree rotation pots, each with 3 banks for 24 pots total, 8 full-sized sliders with 3 controller banks for each for 24 sliders total, 8 assignable backlit switches with 3 controller banks each for 24 switches total, MMC/MIDI Start Stop transport buttons, and a large, easy-to-read custom LCD display.

Akai Pro web site

M-Audio’s new MidAir 37 keyboard controller

M-Audio have introduced a MidAir wireless keyboard controller as part of their MidAir range.

This compact wireless keyboard has many of the same features as those in their Oxygen range.

These include 37 velocity-sensitive keys, 3-digit LED, 9 MIDI-assignable faders, 8 MIDI assignable knobs, mod and pitch bend wheels, sustain pedal input and button.

It is powered either by standard batteries or included 9V power supply. It has a 30ft range and works on the popular 2.4GHz frequency band.

The MidAir 37 is currently expected to ship mid-November, with an MSRP of $299.95 USD.

M-Audio

M-Audio’s new MidAir wireless USB MIDI system

M-Audio have announced their MidAir wireless USB MIDI system. This wireless MIDI transmitter and receiver system allows users to wirelessly transmit data from any device that outputs MIDI. The battery-powered transmitter is plugged into a MIDI Out port and then the receiver to the MIDI In port of the device they want to control. The receiver also includes a USB port to allow it to be used as a 1×1 PC MIDI interface.

It has a 30ft range and works on the popular 2.4GHz frequency band.

The MidAir wireless MIDI system is now shipping with an MSRP of $149.95 USD.

M-Audio

Elektron’s TM-1 Turbo MIDI Interface

Elektron have announced their USB MDII interface that’s capable of increasing the original MIDI bandwidth by up to 10 times, which they claim will make MIDI timing more accurate. Though the interface is compatible with any standard MIDI equipment, it comes into its own for any gear that uses the new TurboMIDI standard developed by Elektron.

I’ve never used a MIDI setup big enough or needed something so precise that timing has been an issue, but I guess in larger setups lag can be a problem for synchronisation. Whether this product will help is another matter. They also claim that the increased bandwidth makes it good for doing MIDI sample dumps.

It features 1 MIDI in and 1 MIDI out. If TurboMIDI takes off, presumably we’ll see bigger interfaces in the future. This one’s available for €79.

Product Page

The Guide to MIDI Orchestration book review from BlogCritics

BlogCritics.org has a basic book review of the doorstep-sized book “The Guide to MIDI Orchestration” by Paul Gilreath which is supposed to be so good that it’s become a school textbook as well. 703 pages of information about adding synth-generated orchestral and other authentic-sounding real-world instruments to electronic recordings, including acoustic placement.

Robotic vacuum monosynth

RoombaMidi is a Mac OS X application that turns the iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner into a musical instrument – complete with flashing lights and spinning.

Before you ask why, watch the video… then ask why…

It’s a lot of fun, though, and allows the vacuum cleaner to be controlled from top-end apps like Ableton Live and Logic.

Plus – get this – you can control up to 16 of the little chaps, one per MIDI channel. Jazzy… your own orchestra.

More description etc. via Axehole‘s site.

MultiControl lets you use game controllers for MIDI/OSC

MultiControlFeatures

• Easy to choose any general Human Interface Device (HID)
• Automatically detects buttons, sliders, etc in use
• Automatic scaling to 0.-1. (OSC) or 0-127 (MIDI)
• Easy to choose desired output scaling
• Optional data smoothing
• Can output data using either Open Sound Control (OSC) or MIDI
• Store presets to xml-files

It’s only available as a Mac download at present. Could be fun to play around with. I don’t know how it interfaces with other applications.

MIDI Mate compact USB interface

Midisoft Corp have announced the release of MIDI Mate, a new compact USB-based MIDI interface compatible for both Windows (and presumably, Linux) PCs, and Macs.

It’s a tiny 1×1 (1 in, 1 out, 16 channel) interface accepting MIDI cables, designed to be portable for travelling musicians.

It’s been designed after surveying musicians, who said what they needed the most was a compact interface with extra cable length, no MIDI delay, and a durable construction.

• Read the full review: Compact USB MIDI Interface Launched (Sonicstate)
• Visit the official website: MIDISoft

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