Korg Keyboard Amplifier, 61-Key (MICROKEY261),Black

I got this used here. At first there were a couple of issues with my software when I tried installing the midi driver. After a computer system restore, the problem cleared up and got me right to the keyboard. I really like the keyboard it has a bit if a squishy feel to the keys almost like a plastic underlay but it's something I got use to quickly and it actually feels kind of posh. The key size was my next concern (being a micro keyboard) but this was not an issue either, the keys are responsive and appropriate sized for smaller keys. I have a yamaha pss 270 from back in the 80s and the keys are definitely larger and more workable than the yamaha's. The only thing I would warn against is using it for performance, i wouldn't recommend it, it is good but not quite that good. The octave buttons are easy to use and understand and the pitch and modulation wheels work great with a good resistance feel to them. For music creation it is great very portable,light and to the point without being complicated yet effective!

I'm rookie in writing music, and just wanted a simple keyboard to improvise with GarageBand on my iPad. This one swiftly caught my eye as it was simple, compact, didn't have all the bells and whistles which I wouldn't know how to use anyway. Besides, in addition to being compact it was available in 3-octave variant, which was the most optimal for me in order not to take too much space and have enough range to not switch too often. The only issue I worried about was potential problems with registering key hits and build quality. But it was on big sale, so I decided to take a risk. It definitely payed off! Build quality is great, and all the keys are very sensitive and register everything from the lightest touch to heavy strokes just fine. The only disadvantage for some people might be shrunk down key size, but it's another side of being compact. With just a little practice you'll get use to it and won't have any discomfort. I highly recommend this product to anyone who wants a simple and reliable instrument!

Couldn’t download software. Otherwise, lightweight with diminutive keys - smaller than I thought.

On my big computer, I use an Akai MPK 261. It's a large controller for playing large symphonic sweeps, pads, and melodies. (I don't have the desk space for 88 keys even there, though.) On my little laptop, trying to use that MPK261 isn't going to work. Meanwhile, the 25-key two-octave controller don't get me enough space to play the full chords or drum sets I want. It seems like a 37-key mini controller would be just right for noodling with the laptop on the kitchen table. I looked around for various options, and this one seemed to be the best fit for my needs -- I just need piano key input to a DAW. And this certainly delivers! It's lightweight, but not flimsy. It plugs in and configure with no fuss. It has no fancy bells or whistles that need special configuration, which is great, because I seldom have the patience for those kinds of things. I play this with Native Instruments Komplete. However, as the laptop doesn't have disk space for the large symphonic instruments, I use it mostly for the Reaktor-based soft synths and various drum kits and effects, and the 37 keys are enough for this. I've used it for a couple of weeks, and I love it. There are two things that I would improve if I were a Korg hardware engineer: 1) I don't use most controllers on keyboards, but a "program select up/down" button would be nice, and DAW play/stop/rewind buttons would be nice, too. 2) The old-school large square USB-B connector is robust, but it sticks out to the side in a way that is likely to break off if some force comes at it from the side or from above. A recess in the plastic that protects the actual connector would probably be a good design improvement. These things aren't enough to drop the fifth star, though, because this little keyboard is just perfect to let me noodle around at times and in places where I couldn't otherwise do it. Thank you, Korg!

The good points: 1) having a full 3 octaves available means not having to switch octaves as frequently as a 2-octave or 2.5 octave keyboard; 2) it's plug-n-play -- works perfectly as is, although with the freely downloadable Korg Midi driver more can be done with it in different apps; 3) the keys are small enough to make wide interval entry easy, yet large enough that (with care) you're not always hitting 3 neighboring keys at once; 4) the place where the USB cable attaches is at the end of the keyboard, not in the back (like the Arturia Keystep37), so the Korg MicroKey237 can be place right up next to the front of you computer keyboard; 5) this is powered completely by the USB bus so there's no need for batteries or for a power supply; The not-so-good points: 1) as with many inexpensive keyboards, they're not built the best so it takes a firm press to ensure that the note is entered into the notation program. Once you've learned this using the keyboard is easy, but until you've learned it (or when you forget and don't press as hard) you can find a note or two didn't actually register with the software so any notes entered after that will be in the incorrect spot. Using copy/paste and then entering the correct note in the correct spot isn't too big a deal, but it does interrupt the work flow. 2) Just a bit too long to fit into many computer backpacks; Overall this is a very good product -- I just wish they would improve the response of the keys so that a lighter and quicker touch could be used and still have the keypress registered.

Extremely disappinted as I really wanted to like this product. Unfortunately this Korg has a mind of its own and only connects to Logic Pro when it seems to feel like it. I've done all the troubleshooting I can on this thing and it just won't work with Logic. It will work just fine with other programs, but unfortunately I need it to work with Logic! :(

Realmente não existe um controlador de 61 teclas mais compacto. Sensibilidade das teclas me surpreendeu. Estou bem satisfeito

The instrument is quite good...but I am returning it as the keys are too small for me...

This keyboard is small enough to keep by your computer desk, and yet large enough to get some decent usage. Would definitely recommend for the form factor alone. Simple in design, with no whistles or bells to distract, but most importantly - no more playing notes from my computer keyboard. EDIT: Depending on other USB instruments, the default Windows X driver may silently fail for the Korg Microkey, but is easily fixed with grabbing the latest driver from the Korg website and restarting your PC.

I bought this 61 noter as a supplementary USB connected keyboard to mount on my desk whilst using Ableton Live on my Mac Mini - you can never have enough midi keyboards!! :-) Now, just to clarify, for those that might not know, this keyboard does not make any sounds on its own. It relies on other devices to make the noises like computers etc running the right software to make your music happen. This keyboard generates signals called midi as you press the notes etc and these are understood by specific software running on the computer you've connected it to as musical notes to pass on to 'virtual instruments' running on the computer or perhaps other hardware 'synths' etc also connected to the computer. This keyboard does come with a download code for some music making software courtesy of Korg. Anyway, to have 61 keys in this footprint is really useful! The keys are, of course, mini (or micro) but you soon get used to their size and they are very playable with a nice feel. The pitch bend and mod wheel have a great feel too! The velocity sensitivity is excellent. You can tweak the velocity sensitivity 'curve' (amongst other things) using the excellent Korg Kontrol Editor app, available as a free download from Korg. I would advise getting this app anyway for this keyboard - there's all sorts of exciting settings that can be tweaked! It works natively out of the box without any additional drivers on Macs so I also use it as a convenient keyboard for my Mac Book Pro too. A nice midi keyboard at a great price!

Me funcionó sin problemas, al conectar a mi iPad y a mi PC Laptop. (El cable USB que trae incluido, se me hace muy corto y tuve que poner yo uno mas largo). Me llegó rápido y viene excelentemente empacado. Mis aplicaciones de instrumentos MIDI tanto en iPAD como en PC lo detectaron sin problema y se pueden tocar todos los instrumentos muy bien. En particular mi aplicación de Korg Module, al utilizarse con este teclado, te activa mas sónidos. Sin problemas de latencia en todas las apps. Responde muy bien al parámetro de velocidad MIDI al tocar con mas presión o menos en el teclado. Se sienten muy comodas las teclas al tocarlas, y no hace nada de ruido. Se siente de buena calidad y robusto. Ademas el diseño de Korg, me encantó. Los controles de "pitch" y "mod" funcionan perfecto. Los ajustes de octava (up y down) se me hacen muy útiles de usar con su variación de color, y te ayuda a saber en que octava estas de una manera fácil. Tiene la opción de poder bajar varias aplicaciones para crear música (bundle software), que son versiones demo o recortadas, pero que resultan buenas para probarlas. En general es un excelente teclado MIDI, y me permite tocar mis instrumentos en iPad y en PC muy cómodo y perfecto.