Smallest Midi Controller?

JSRockit · Post by **JSRockit** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:23 pm

I'm looking for a cheap midi controller...but it has to be battery powered and small. Anything smaller than the Oxygen 8 by M-Audio?

hollandturbine · Post by **hollandturbine** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:33 pm

I use a cheap little MIDI keyboard called Reveal Musicstar (it has no velocity) it was made for kids and I modified it to run off a 9v battery (easy to do) and USB power. I use it with my QY 20, and when not using it mobile it fits into a rack draw or on top of my Atari.

Some of the keyboards out there will run off bus power from USB but if you are not runing from a computer you can get a battery that has a USB plug on it.

If you just want somthing to use with a laptop the PCR-1 is slim but it has no MIDI ins or outs............actualy alot of USB keyboards only have MIDI outs and no ins and are no good for hardware synths (can't dump a patch)

JSRockit · Post by **JSRockit** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:38 pm

I don't need midi in...or usb... just midi out and battery power. It can be mini keys as well.

DGX305 · Post by **DGX305** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:29 pm

JSRockit: I use the Edirol PCR 1 (the origina) and it's great. It has been discontinued though and replaced with a newer model. But the original one is better because it also has a basic audio interface. It's velocity sensitive (no after-touch of course) and is the slimmest in the market.

I travel with it from time to time so I can use it with my laptop in hotel rooms, etc. Because it has an audio interface, you can simply plug in your earphones directly and listen to your DAW or softsynths.

I paid $100 for it and bought it from J&R just a few months ago, so they may still have a new one in stock! Good luck.

abrokenframe · Post by **abrokenframe** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:01 pm

how about the casio mt-240

DGX305 · Post by **DGX305** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:59 pm

abrokenframe wrote:how about the casio mt-240

that is not small, he's talking about a real portable controller that you can have in a backpack

DGX305 · Post by **DGX305** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:06 pm

Here are some pics

Also, the Alesis Photon X25 is interesting but much more expensive.

ndkent · Post by **ndkent** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:52 pm

The Yamaha CBXK1 was the smallest thing I've seen with MIDI and (not full size) keys.

Tridact · Post by **Tridact** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 11:43 pm

ndkent wrote:The Yamaha CBXK1 was the smallest thing I've seen with MIDI and (not full size) keys.

^^Yep, that's what I use.

hollandturbine · Post by **hollandturbine** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:29 am

Casio GZ-5 is small I am not sure if it runs on batterys.

This is a link for the musicstar keyboard, not battery powerd but it runs on 9v so you can make a plug (9v battery plug to power jack plug).
Its size is 18"x6".....and the keys work like a micro korg........good for gliss work, best of all they are super cheap but they are discontinued now.

http://www.deltacomputers.com/ProductDe ... ductID=131

DGX305 · Post by **DGX305** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:49 am

guys, there's nothing smaller than the Edirol above.

abrokenframe · Post by **abrokenframe** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:01 am

DGX305 wrote:
abrokenframe wrote:how about the casio mt-240
that is not small, he's talking about a real portable controller that you can have in a backpack

it may not be the smallest, but its battery operated and $5.

jasedee · Post by **jasedee** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:52 am

+ 1 on the Edirol PCR-M1

I bought one a few months ago and it is perfect. Really SLIM, with nice feeling keys

hollandturbine · Post by **hollandturbine** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:39 am

The Edirol PCR-1 athough realy good for laptop use, has no MIDI out socket.

Post by **killedaway** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:41 am

the Yamaha CBXK1 might be "smaller" overall, but it's definitely longer than the Oxygen 8.