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"Airplane" keyboard advice

Home :: Reviews of DJ equipment :: "Airplane" keyboard adviceReply

"Airplane" keyboard advice Posted on: 29.10.2012 by Evia Nitch Hi all, I'm flying a lot and would like to buy a mini keyboard for making music on the plane/at the airport/on the road. Pitchbend would be nice, but only if it's usable. There are a lot of small laptop-sized keyboards, but probably most of them are toys. I'm looking for something really usable. I'm not interested in the best brand, or something that will satisfy my gearlust. Any advice?
Ervin Calvery 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by MrPopinjay I know, but it seems to tick a lot of boxes for producing on a plane. Create some beats and then export them for use in your DAW. I say that reducing the number of keys to less than 2 octaves would make it even more unplayable, so you post a video of someone using 3 octaves...? You wrote that mini keys were unplayable.
Kiyoko Wellisch 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by botstein iMaschine doesn't control a computer at all. It's definitely worth the price, though. There are bunch of apps that do control DAWs, synths, and engraving software, though. Oh really? I know, but it seems to tick a lot of boxes for producing on a plane. Create some beats and then export them for use in your DAW. I say that reducing the number of keys to less than 2 octaves would make it even more unplayable, so you post a video of someone using 3 octaves...?
Ervin Calvery 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by MrPopinjay Check out the maschine ios app. iMaschine doesn't control a computer at all. It's definitely worth the price, though. There are bunch of apps that do control DAWs, synths, and engraving software, though. Originally Posted by MrPopinjay I disagree with the sacrifice keys for better velocity sensitivity. The only reason you'd want better velocity sensitivity is so you can play it but the keyboard is already unplayable due to the mini keys and tiny range. Losing more would just make it worse. Oh really? Originally Posted by boarderbas But being a fresh dad, my weekly flight hours are precious time I can spend learning how to make music... Congratulations! Originally Posted by boarderbas The central message to people at respected hardware manufacturers is that there are allready enough semi-useless toy keyboards around. Make something small and useful. NI; make a calculator sized Maschine with just the minimum of functions (you can click all you want on the computer) but the same great expression (cant mouseclick expression). Akai; make an LPD with pitch and modulation. Maybe sacrifice a few keys for better velocity sensitivity... THe CMC-PD is really small. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CMCPD/ I don't like the Mikro much, and would not be too too in to a smaller controller in the Maschine family UNLESS it was some ingenious box that featured 16 full sized mkii pads edge-to-edge, and some scheme to control the whole software - maybe buttons on the side, midi-fighter 3D style? If iMaschine saw a major update to coincide with the 2.0 software, I would have a parade. The M-Audio products with mini-keys actually has a reasonably nice velocity sens, and a cute way to change both the velocity curve and what the encoder(s) do on the fly and from the hardware.
Merideth Garnder 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by MrPopinjay Check out the maschine ios app. I disagree with the sacrifice keys for better velocity sensitivity. The only reason you'd want better velocity sensitivity is so you can play it but the keyboard is already unplayable due to the mini keys and tiny range. Losing more would just make it worse. I agree with this. Velocity sensitive keys would only be an essential for someone that's playing live which is going to be difficult with that setup anyways. I use an MPK Mini and literally just use it for piano roll editor and writing in notes. I believe the laptop midi keyboard will work just fine for what you're using it for. What DAW are you using? My little Akai makes my workflow much quicker and I can control hundreds of unique sounds and synths. There are lots of good soft synths and drum synths out there that'll put that laptop keyboard to good use!
Kiyoko Wellisch 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by boarderbas make a calculator sized Maschine with just the minimum of functions (you can click all you want on the computer) but the same great expression (cant mouseclick expression). Akai; make an LPD with pitch and modulation. Maybe sacrifice a few keys for better velocity sensitivity... Check out the maschine ios app. I disagree with the sacrifice keys for better velocity sensitivity. The only reason you'd want better velocity sensitivity is so you can play it but the keyboard is already unplayable due to the mini keys and tiny range. Losing more would just make it worse.
Dorie Scelzo 02.11.2012	Originally Posted by boarderbas I've never played piano or keyboard, so getting the meodies out is allready a big challenge. I hope to eliminate at least the challenge of the button finding. Also some limited kind of velocity sensitivity will help. Honestly, Maschine is a decent choice for that. The chord shapes are completely different, but if you're learning from scratch anyway, it seems to require less dexterity at the cost of being limited to 16 notes.
Dorie Scelzo 01.11.2012	Originally Posted by boarderbas How do you get your maschine to display the notes on the pads? I have a MK2, but if I put it in keyboard mode all pads are just white... You don't. Originally Posted by boarderbas where the fkuc do you leave that shit? Have your laptop on the table of your neighbor? Yeah………that's why I don't believe a keyboard is right for that purpose. Or a Maschine. Or anything else. Ableton, Logic, and a lot of other DAWs can use the computer keybaord as a musical keyboard. Honestly, I'd just do that………the little korg nano 2 keyboard thing is the only one I'd imagine fitting on a plane…………and if anything it feels worse than my laptop keyboard.
Ervin Calvery 31.10.2012	Originally Posted by boarderbas .....nice! two pages of discussion I missed, because I was....on the plane... I believe I will just make a random guess and buy one. I really don't want anything big or over 50 euros. Machine on the plane? hahahaha. I don't travel first class. I have a small 12 inch laptop. It just fits the table. How do you get your maschine to display the notes on the pads? I have a MK2, but if I put it in keyboard mode all pads are just white... Use the new Ableton script. It's sweet. I love using Maschine on the plane! Not necessarily in First, either. First class or better is one of life's great pleasures, though.
Kiyoko Wellisch 05.11.2012	I wrote that 2 octaves of mini keys is unplayble and that removing more would just make it worse. You post a video with 3 octaves. More keys, more playable. Less keys, less playable.
Ervin Calvery 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by MrPopinjay I know, but it seems to tick a lot of boxes for producing on a plane. Create some beats and then export them for use in your DAW. I say that reducing the number of keys to less than 2 octaves would make it even more unplayable, so you post a video of someone using 3 octaves...? You wrote that mini keys were unplayable.
Kiyoko Wellisch 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by botstein iMaschine doesn't control a computer at all. It's definitely worth the price, though. There are bunch of apps that do control DAWs, synths, and engraving software, though. Oh really? I know, but it seems to tick a lot of boxes for producing on a plane. Create some beats and then export them for use in your DAW. I say that reducing the number of keys to less than 2 octaves would make it even more unplayable, so you post a video of someone using 3 octaves...?
Ervin Calvery 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by MrPopinjay Check out the maschine ios app. iMaschine doesn't control a computer at all. It's definitely worth the price, though. There are bunch of apps that do control DAWs, synths, and engraving software, though. Originally Posted by MrPopinjay I disagree with the sacrifice keys for better velocity sensitivity. The only reason you'd want better velocity sensitivity is so you can play it but the keyboard is already unplayable due to the mini keys and tiny range. Losing more would just make it worse. Oh really? Originally Posted by boarderbas But being a fresh dad, my weekly flight hours are precious time I can spend learning how to make music... Congratulations! Originally Posted by boarderbas The central message to people at respected hardware manufacturers is that there are allready enough semi-useless toy keyboards around. Make something small and useful. NI; make a calculator sized Maschine with just the minimum of functions (you can click all you want on the computer) but the same great expression (cant mouseclick expression). Akai; make an LPD with pitch and modulation. Maybe sacrifice a few keys for better velocity sensitivity... THe CMC-PD is really small. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CMCPD/ I don't like the Mikro much, and would not be too too in to a smaller controller in the Maschine family UNLESS it was some ingenious box that featured 16 full sized mkii pads edge-to-edge, and some scheme to control the whole software - maybe buttons on the side, midi-fighter 3D style? If iMaschine saw a major update to coincide with the 2.0 software, I would have a parade. The M-Audio products with mini-keys actually has a reasonably nice velocity sens, and a cute way to change both the velocity curve and what the encoder(s) do on the fly and from the hardware.
Merideth Garnder 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by MrPopinjay Check out the maschine ios app. I disagree with the sacrifice keys for better velocity sensitivity. The only reason you'd want better velocity sensitivity is so you can play it but the keyboard is already unplayable due to the mini keys and tiny range. Losing more would just make it worse. I agree with this. Velocity sensitive keys would only be an essential for someone that's playing live which is going to be difficult with that setup anyways. I use an MPK Mini and literally just use it for piano roll editor and writing in notes. I believe the laptop midi keyboard will work just fine for what you're using it for. What DAW are you using? My little Akai makes my workflow much quicker and I can control hundreds of unique sounds and synths. There are lots of good soft synths and drum synths out there that'll put that laptop keyboard to good use!
Kiyoko Wellisch 05.11.2012	Originally Posted by boarderbas make a calculator sized Maschine with just the minimum of functions (you can click all you want on the computer) but the same great expression (cant mouseclick expression). Akai; make an LPD with pitch and modulation. Maybe sacrifice a few keys for better velocity sensitivity... Check out the maschine ios app. I disagree with the sacrifice keys for better velocity sensitivity. The only reason you'd want better velocity sensitivity is so you can play it but the keyboard is already unplayable due to the mini keys and tiny range. Losing more would just make it worse.
Evia Nitch 05.11.2012	But being a fresh dad, my weekly flight hours are precious time I can spend learning how to make music... I get around making beats in the evenings when my gf watches TV, but for melodic content I really like to be undisturbed and concentrated. To sum it up, you all have been a great help for sparring about this. I've adjusted my expectations to suit. I bought a LPD for €25 unused secondhand and if it is useless I'll keep it for triggering stuff through Midi. The central message to people at respected hardware manufacturers is that there are allready enough semi-useless toy keyboards around. Make something small and useful. NI; make a calculator sized Maschine with just the minimum of functions (you can click all you want on the computer) but the same great expression (cant mouseclick expression). Akai; make an LPD with pitch and modulation. Maybe sacrifice a few keys for better velocity sensitivity...
Dorie Scelzo 04.11.2012	Agreed. I'm not aware of a keyboard that would work on a plane and actually be better than a laptop keyboard + drawing in velocity & after-touch automation……or just using it as a sketch and playing it later. Personally, if I were composing on a plane, I'd be drawing notes on a staff or using a step sequencer. But it's usually a lot more fun to talk to people or listen to music & read.
Evia Nitch 04.11.2012	Sure!, but not on the plane. I travel light and economy.
Dorie Scelzo 02.11.2012	Originally Posted by boarderbas I've never played piano or keyboard, so getting the meodies out is allready a big challenge. I hope to eliminate at least the challenge of the button finding. Also some limited kind of velocity sensitivity will help. Honestly, Maschine is a decent choice for that. The chord shapes are completely different, but if you're learning from scratch anyway, it seems to require less dexterity at the cost of being limited to 16 notes.
Evia Nitch 02.11.2012	I've never played piano or keyboard, so getting the meodies out is allready a big challenge. I hope to eliminate at least the challenge of the button finding. Also some limited kind of velocity sensitivity will help.
Kiyoko Wellisch 01.11.2012	I'm considering adding stickers to my computer keyboard as I can never remember where the black notes are when I'm trying to use it. Might be a better solution than buying one of these controllers.
Dorie Scelzo 01.11.2012	Sweet. Good luck, and I hope you like it. I just gave up on cheap/small keyboards as not being better than nothing for me. I know that's not the right decision for everybody.
Evia Nitch 01.11.2012	mostapha, the keyboards I mention in my second post are about the same size. I have an akai LPD coming my way.. I figured that it's the least likely option to dissapoint.
Dorie Scelzo 01.11.2012	Originally Posted by boarderbas How do you get your maschine to display the notes on the pads? I have a MK2, but if I put it in keyboard mode all pads are just white... You don't. Originally Posted by boarderbas where the fkuc do you leave that shit? Have your laptop on the table of your neighbor? Yeah………that's why I don't believe a keyboard is right for that purpose. Or a Maschine. Or anything else. Ableton, Logic, and a lot of other DAWs can use the computer keybaord as a musical keyboard. Honestly, I'd just do that………the little korg nano 2 keyboard thing is the only one I'd imagine fitting on a plane…………and if anything it feels worse than my laptop keyboard.
Ervin Calvery 31.10.2012	Okay - actually in flight might be a bit impractical with a full-sized Maschine. However, it's easy to close the laptop and use the controller on top. In the original post, though, you wrote in the airport/on the road, for which it might be easier.
Evia Nitch 31.10.2012	where the fkuc do you leave that shit? Have your laptop on the table of your neighbor?
Ervin Calvery 31.10.2012	Originally Posted by boarderbas .....nice! two pages of discussion I missed, because I was....on the plane... I believe I will just make a random guess and buy one. I really don't want anything big or over 50 euros. Machine on the plane? hahahaha. I don't travel first class. I have a small 12 inch laptop. It just fits the table. How do you get your maschine to display the notes on the pads? I have a MK2, but if I put it in keyboard mode all pads are just white... Use the new Ableton script. It's sweet. I love using Maschine on the plane! Not necessarily in First, either. First class or better is one of life's great pleasures, though.
Evia Nitch 31.10.2012	.....nice! two pages of discussion I missed, because I was....on the plane... I believe I will just make a random guess and buy one. I really don't want anything big or over 50 euros. Machine on the plane? hahahaha. I don't travel first class. I have a small 12 inch laptop. It just fits the table. How do you get your maschine to display the notes on the pads? I have a MK2, but if I put it in keyboard mode all pads are just white...
Kiyoko Wellisch 31.10.2012	I know of them all, I'm interested in what he prefers.
Kiyoko Wellisch 31.10.2012	What do you prefer?
Dorie Scelzo 31.10.2012	In guitar center……for just long enough to realize that I hated it.
Kiyoko Wellisch 30.10.2012	Has anyone used the Korg Nanokey2?
Dorie Scelzo 30.10.2012	Originally Posted by botstein You have got to try the new Ableton script. It allows you to input notes with chromatic tuning (as you described) or in any mode (Dorian, Locrian, etc) on any root note. On the mkii, it shows you the scales on the pad colours, via individual notes or intervals, just like Push is supposed to. I would, except that I much prefer Maschine + PT to Live. And I've already got MIDI Out groups set up for the scales I'd actually use.
Ervin Calvery 30.10.2012	Originally Posted by mostapha I'd bet on it being one of the best, but M-Audio's cheap keyboard still felt like cheap keyboards unless they drastically changed it for this one. It also seems pretty freaking huge for use on a plane. Mos, they pretty seriously changed it up. They gave the Axiom a spine (literally). I really, really hated Avid's M-Audio, too. Originally Posted by mostapha Honestly, I've used (or owned) several of those small keyboards……and they're all really disappointing. As much as i prefer the big one, the Maschine Micro is the most impressive small controller, but getting a "keyboard" out of it kind of depends on actually using the Maschine software. When you do, using it is kind of like using a 4-string guitar with a weird tuning (E Bb C E) and your hand coming from the wrong side. But it's playable. You can also build MIDI Out groups so that the pads just contain scale notes (for arbitrary scales), which make it easier to decide on a scale and then wank on it with less of a chance of playing a wrong note. If I were working on planes and didn't want to use my computer keyboard to input notes, that's probably what I'd do. You have got to try the new Ableton script. It allows you to input notes with chromatic tuning (as you described) or in any mode (Dorian, Locrian, etc) on any root note. On the mkii, it shows you the scales on the pad colours, via individual notes or intervals, just like Push is supposed to. If he's got his laptop, is the mkii really that big? The Axiom Air isn't much bigger.
Dorie Scelzo 30.10.2012	Originally Posted by botstein The M-Audio Axiom AIR mini is nice - M-Audio's new owners put a lot of effort into making it sturdier than the last generation, which would break at the drop of a hat, and I find it to be really nice to play, as opposed to toy-like like some others. I'd bet on it being one of the best, but M-Audio's cheap keyboard still felt like cheap keyboards unless they drastically changed it for this one. It also seems pretty freaking huge for use on a plane. Honestly, I've used (or owned) several of those small keyboards
Ervin Calvery 29.10.2012	The M-Audio Axiom AIR mini is nice - M-Audio's new owners put a lot of effort into making it sturdier than the last generation, which would break at the drop of a hat, and I find it to be really nice to play, as opposed to toy-like like some others. The MiniNova is relatively small, if you would like a really nice instrument. It's awesome.
Evia Nitch 29.10.2012	Thanks. I know this keyboard (as I know M-audio, Icon, Korg, Omnironic, ION, CME, Alesis etc.). How does it compare? I'm now doubting between: Icon i-key: Modulation and pitch controll. Akai The sure bet for build quality. M-audio keystation 32 Nice one, but may be just too big. Omnitronic Like above, but chunckyer and shorter. Looks cheap.
Tatum Ansaldo 29.10.2012	Akai LPK25 or the Akai MPK Mini, which is basically the same but also has velocity sensitive pads.

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"Airplane" keyboard advice