Nektar SE25 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller, Black, 25 Mini Keys

Product Information

The Nektar SE25 is a great mini keyboard with superior velocity-sensitive mini keys on a very durable and portable instrument. Novation designed the Launchkey’s controls to integrate seamlessly with Ableton Live, and it also works with other DAWs. Delivering almost the exact same functionality as the Komplete Kontrol A-Series (see below), this eminently mobile USB 2.0 bus-powered keyboard manages to squeeze 32 mini keys and the full complement of controls into its tiny frame. The transport mode will boot up and Nektar DAW Integration software will give you control over your DAW’s transport bar. Komplete Kontrol A25 is perhaps needlessly larger than other 25-key units. But it is incredibly well-built and wonderfully playable and has the Komplete Kontrol experience at a truly irresistible price.

You can choose to assign the transpose button a range of parameters such as Pitch Bend, MIDI Volume, Pan and more.If you have a USB MIDI device connected to a passive hub or to a powered hub which also has an hard drive or an audio interface connected, that can also cause delays. Try connecting your MIDI controller directly to the computer or try disconnecting the other devices from your hub. First, take a look at the Audio settings in your DAW. You will find a buffer size or latency setting, either in milliseconds (ms) or samples. A buffer size less than 512 samples or ~20ms is needed to play sound without audible delay. If your computer can handle a lower buffer size than that, set it as low as possible.

The Launchkey MK3 also allows you to connect your external gear with a TRS Type A 1/8-inch MIDI port. You can connect your hardware synths and devices to your rig and control everything from your Launchkey, whether you use it standalone or with a computer. Nektar are known for their hassle-free DAW integration. The SE25 is no exception, offering simple access to your DAW transport so you can get hands-on with your project. It’s compatible with most major DAWs, including Logic Pro X, Cubase, Bitwig and many more! SpecificationsThe M32 also comes with the Smart Play feature, which lets you stay in key with over 100 scales and modes, play chord progressions and arpeggios with single keys, or map any scale to white keys only SE25 is simple enough for any beginner but has enough features plus a great free Bitwig DAW to get you going on your production journey. We criticised the bigger iRig Keys 2 for being a tad expensive, but this offers much of the functionality of that over a smaller footprint, and represents a well-spec’d keyboard controller for less cash, and there’s a decent software bundle too. The Komplete Kontrol 32 ships with bundled software, including Ableton Live 10 Lite, so you can start producing at your home studio or on the go. Features

Not just allowing you to make music where you want, the Nektar SE25 keyboard allows you to make music how you want. Custom Modes let you customize the behavior of your Launchkey, giving you choice over control assignments, MIDI routing, pad color, and more. This is the third generation Launchkey, where you can lay down and combine multiple scales and modes without worrying about music theory. The Novation Launchkey Mini MK3 features eight onboard Scale Modes.Inspiration can hit you at any time so it’s important you have the tools necessary to capture your creativity at a moment’s notice, wherever you are.

These include a button to activate Live’s Capture MIDI tool, along with Push-style device-control, which makes use of eight rotaries sitting along the top of the controller. These latest Launchkeys also gain excellent standalone Chord, Scale and Arpeggiator modes, which can be used with or without a computer. All controllers in the Launchkey range get a hardware MIDI out, so users can take advantage of these features to control hardware synths too. As well as the controls we've listed above, you can delve deeper with an Edit Mode to assign MIDI options and more, using the keyboard keys to select parameters. Program buttons, assignable rotaries, a Set button and useful assignable push-button Data knob complete a good set of controls for a keyboard this size. If you are not a traditional 'player' and just want something for simple inputting of drum beats, recording bass and melody lines and basic chords, you can get away with keyboards that just trigger the right notes. MIDI controllers with mini keys should do the job just fine. You should get an instant answer on whether your application has been successful, though in some rare cases Klarna or V12 may need to look at the application in more detail.MIDI keyboard controllers come in all shapes and sizes, from small-form desktop units with few controls, right up to 88-note larger keyboards with weighted piano-action style keys. Obviously price is a factor, so we weigh up all of the controls – knobs, sliders, pads and keys – versus the price and what style of player the keyboards are aimed at. This can range from the mobile producer, who just needs a small wired or wireless keyboard to throw into a shoulder bag, to the more advanced player who requires the aforementioned professional standard keyboard and where mobility is not so paramount. The Arturia KeyStep 37 also features 16 MIDI CC parameters across four switchable banks so you can adjust your settings in real-time using four new rotary controllers. But octave shifting isn’t the only thing the Part Two feature does. You can assign the “2” button to Octave, MIDI Channel, Transpose, Layer and Latch or a combination of these features.