midiplus AKM320 Midi Keyboard Controller

This is the best midi keyboard under 50$, would recommend to anyone who wants to get into making music

very happy!!! it's crazy that I paid almost $80 about 10 years ago for used equipment and this midi device is perfect for my workspace while house sitting. The simplicity and firmness of the keys ROCK!!!

Works exactly as expected! I use it with my iPad that has a USB-C hub with usb 3.0 inputs and it works perfectly on that. Would highly recommend for people just starting out. Be aware, the pitch and modulation keys aren’t that great. I usually prefer to just automate the pitch bends and modulations. Velocity is also practically non existent but I automate that too. It’s great for learning the world of MIDI and how I can incorporate it into my studio so I’d definitely recommend!!

Really tiny, but good for single note use in midi recording

First things first: I see a lot of reviews here from people saying they "bought this to learn on." Don't buy a mini-sized keyboard to learn how to play keys. They simply don't work for that. I also see a lot of reviews complaining about latency. That is likely a function of setup and user inexperience; Windows devices and especially Android devices have audio latency with their stock hardware. The solution on Windows is an ASIO interface (which unfortunately both increases buy-in cost for a starter setup and reduces portability), with a lesser secondary solution being to use newer WASAPI drivers with stock hardware (much better than older-style Windrivers but still not really tight enough for performance); there isn't really a solution on Android yet. From the hardware itself, I have not noticed any undue or unusual latency with the AKM320.As for me, I've been playing keys and doing electronic music for... yyyyyeah, a long time, and I seem to have become an accidental collector of MIDI controllers. I've got several devices similar in genre to the AKM320, including the Korg Microkey 37, the Akai LPK25 (which seems to have the same keybed as the MPK25), and a first-gen Korg Nanokey. I bought the AKM320 because I needed more than 25 keys in an inconspicuously sized package I could hide in a drawer at the office to use with notation software and softsynths when the boss isn't around. It's unfortunately still a little too large for that, but it is definitely smaller than the Microkey 37. 25 keys, while very common these days, is just too small to do very much with in my years-in-the-making opinion; even the add'l P5 on offer in a 32-key board opens up a lot more doors (and available key centers). The transpose keys on the AKM320 are also a nice touch that greatly increase the little keyboard's usefulness for live playing, since you can center the board in any key you'd like to get its limited range in the sweet spot (presuming you don't have issues with transposing on the fly to your chosen target key).But if you like, as I sometimes do, to slap a second minicontroller on top of an empty case space on your "big" controller at the gig, as an impromptu second manual for playing bass lines or triggering samples or some such, the AKM320 is likely too big for that too. (Then again, so are most minicontrollers... save the LPK25, Nanokey and perhaps the QuNeo.) The AKM is just big enough, and has just enough space behind the keybed, that I am wondering if one could crack it open and install something like an Axoloti or maybe a FluidSynth'd RasPi Zero in there. It's cheap enough that I may also yet find out!Out of the box and not plugged in, the AKM320's action feels pretty nice for what it is, very similar to the Akai keybed. But when you plug it in, it's a somewhat different story. Key actuation seems to happen at a significantly deeper point in the keypress than on my Akai or Korg controllers. This can result in notes that simply don't sound if played lightly, and also results in a more "spongy" feeling action than my other minicontrollers. Mind, in this player's opinion, these mainstream-brand minicontrollers already feel too "spongy" for tight chordwork or lead playing.I'm no engineer but I suspect the problem in general with this genre is the addition of velocity sensing. Casio spent years making tiny little keyboards, some smaller than the current "standard" size for mini controllers, that were much more responsive and playable than any of the modern-day miniboards in my stable. I suspect this is because these keyboards obligatorily omitted velocity, and when you add that requirement to the equation you end up with keyboards that aren't as fun or as quick-feeling to play as an old thrift-store Casiotone; there's probably just not enough throw in the tiny keystrokes to allow for some semblance of satisfactory velocity response (which requires either a force-sensing resistor or multiple switches). This is one significant reason I don't believe these modern USB mini controllers are at all suitable for learning to play keys. They are strictly devices of convenience for those who already have some degree of skill at playing keys, and as a compromise exchanging footprint for feel, they will always hamper and frustrate anyone who *does* know how to play.Speaking of velocity, despite the uh less responsive overall feel of the keyboard, once one's touch is adjusted to the needed firmer / more unpleasant level, at least the AKM320's velocity output doesn't seem arbitrary or wildly inconsistent; it seems about on par with my "big brand" controllers. I have played a lot of cheap full-size USB controllers which are much more inconsistent in velocity output. However, I just got the AKM and it's early days. I intend to do some "tests" to see if my gut feeling playing the AKM live is borne out by actual MIDI data output vs. its competition.In addition to the keys being a little reluctant to actuate, the transpose and octave buttons are especially reticent to acknowledge input unless you press *hard*. I also miss the multi-colored LED switches of the other "big brand" controllers on the octave switch, which give you some visual cue as to which octave you're sitting in. The AKM320's switches turn red when you go up or down an octave, and simply stay red when you keep moving up or down, clearing only when you've pressed the opposing key enough times to get back to the default MIDI note range.Although I'd probably be displeased if I'd paid more for this than what they're currently asking, I do like the 320 overall. It's a utility device for stripped-down MIDI input situations, nothing more, and I did not expect more going in. It's nice that it incorporates a pitch and mod wheel (both of which work fine and are reasonably responsive) along with a single CC controller for volume which can be remapped to something else like filter freq in your software if you so desire. Throw that in with the aforementioned chromatic transpose option *and* the sustain pedal jack, and you have a good value vs. what you'd pay from another manufacturer for the same feature set.Just don't expect it to be anything more than a deeply compromised controller for those times when you just can't pull out or fit a full-sized controller on your desk... and if you are a light-touch player who has trouble adjusting and/or needs a controller for actual live playing sans missed notes, definitely look elsewhere. But don't expect the competition in the same size bracket to be miles ahead for the same purpose.

The first thing you are sure to notice about this keyboard is the price. Let's compare this to its closest relative, M-Audio Keystation Mini 32. The ADM320 is almost one third the price! So, what is the catch? What is wrong with this? Nothing! This has heavy duty pitch and mod wheels, not just buttons, so you get better control of those features, and it also has backlit octave and most notably, transpose buttons. Many much more expensive keyboards don't have transpose buttons and it is very useful to have them. Both the octave and transpose buttons work in the usual way and if you press both up and down at the same time, they return to neutral(and the backlights go off). There is also a useful volume slider that works very smoothly(do I have to tell you to be sure to keep the slider all the way to the right, which is maximum volume? Well, for those new to this, do it. You only move it to the left, which is lower volume, for effect). The volume slider can also be assigned to other tasks, such as pan, if you use "midi learn" mode in your software. It also has an input for a sustain pedal, surprising on such a small keyboard. One big difference between this and the M-Audio is that this cannot be programmed for different velocity curves and so forth. But the velocity curve it comes with is just fine. The fit, finish, and overall quality are absolutely first class. It comes with a heavy duty six foot USB cable( USB A to USB type B) and an instruction booklet which is very basic since there isn't much you have to learn about this keyboard. But the instructions do a good job of explaining everything for beginners. Comparing the size of this to the M-Audio, the white keys are a half inch longer than the M-Audio. Aside from the keys being a bit longer, the feel is close to the M-Audio, which is rather springy(my preference is less springy). Yes, you really get your money's worth with this! I am extremely impressed with this, especially the price. There is no reason not to choose this if you want a mini midi keyboard with a 32 key range. It also comes in an attractive sturdy box to keep it in. Before I bought this, I found a great demonstration on Youtube. It isn't in English(it is in Portuguese) but he does a great job putting it through its paces and it is easy to understand, so you can see it functions just as I have described.

My brother was looking at a really expensive keyboard but decided to give this one a try first. It works amazingly well! It hooked up to his computer very easily, he's been able to transport it around town easily because it's lightweight and relatively small. He says it works well with FL Studio.

Easy setup that is plug and play with Windows 11 and Ubuntu Linux. Worked great with Cakewalk and Qsynth. It can turn the computer into a practice keyboard or with Digital Audio Workstation become a recording studio. Too much fun in a solid package with a budget price.