Gearank

Gearank Recommendation

The nanoKEY2 appeared on our recommended list for 25 Key MIDI Controller Keyboards from December 2015 until June 2017 when it was out-ranked by other keyboards.

Overview

The nanoKEY2 is great value for the price, particularly for those who use it as a portable controller with a laptop or tablet.

iPad users love the fact that they just plug it into their CCK and don't have to worry about external power, although this could be subject to change (see compatibility below).

The negative reviews it received were mainly related to the cheap feel of the plastic construction and the sometimes variable and inconsistent velocity response. Some iPad users have complained about the lack of an iOS editor.

The overall vibe from online reviewers is that it's perfectly suitable as a cheap and lightweight controller, but you wouldn't use it as you primary controller in a professional setting.

Although it's not currently on our recommended list of 25 key controllers, it was up until June 2017 and is still a worthy piece of gear.

Specifications

• Keys: 25 with velocity.
• Pads: none.
• Octaves: 9 by using the Octave Up and Octave Down butons.
• Bundled Software: No special software, just control editing and updating applications for Mac & Windows.
• Power: USB powered. Korg suggest that if you use more than 1 nanoKEY2 at a time, or if you have power consumption problems then you should use a powered USB hub.
• Connectivity: mini-USB.
• Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.4 or later + Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. It is also iOS compatible but you'll need a CCK. Korq note that it might not be compatible with future versions of the iPad or iOS that haven't been released yet.
• Dimensions: 14.6" x 3.7" x 1.6"
• Weight 0.54 lbs