Review Korg nanoKEY Studio MIDI keyboard. Where to buy it?

Korg Inc, founded as Keio Electronic Laboratories, is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners. I’ll tell you how this post is built. First I’ll list the features of this Korg nanoKEY Studio keyboard. Then you have a video or two, purchase links and useful comments from other users and then you have one of the most useful parts; comparison tables with similar keyboards so you can compare.

• 25 speed-sensitive and backlit keys
• 8 speed-sensitive trigger pads
• 8 rotating knobs
• X/Y Touch-Pad (KAOSS-Series)
• Octave button +/-
• X/Y button
• Pitch/Modulation Button
• Scene button
• Scale guide function
• Simple step recording
• Built-in Arpeggiator
• Connection via USB or Bluetooth / Wireless
• Powered by USB bus or AAA batteries
• Includes KORG Legacy Collection M1 Le software synthesizer and USB cable
• Dimensions: 278 x 160 x 33mm (width x depth x height)
• Weight: 471g

This MIDI keyboard is usually priced at around €119/£109/$121 and offers 25 speed-sensitive and backlit keys so you can tune and compose different musical ideas.

It also offers 8 velocity-sensitive trigger pads, 8 rotary knobs, an X/Y Touch-Pad (KAOSS-Series), also, octave button +/-, X/Y button, Pitch/Modulation button, sustain button and arpeggiator button.

It has a USB connection, can be powered by USB or AAA batteries, and also includes the KORG Legacy Collection M1 Le software plug-in.

Now that we have seen the features of this Korg nanoKEY Studio keyboard look at these related videos to learn more.

Posts you may be interested in

• Ranking with the best midi keyboards
• My selection of cheap midi keyboards.
• Best MIDI Software to work with.
• MIDI Basic Guide.
• Midi Keyboards by Brand.

Korg nanoKEY Studio vs Akai MPK mini MK2

The Korg nanoKEY Studio MIDI Keyboard is priced at €119/£109/$121 and the Akai MPK mini MK2 white is priced at €79/£70/$81, with a difference of £41 between them. Let’s go head to head:

• Both controllers have 25 speed-sensitive mini keys, the Korg’s are backlit and the Akai’s have synthesizer action.
• The Korg offers 8 speed-sensitive trigger pads, 8 rotary knobs, an X/Y Touch-Pad (KAOSS-Series), also, octave +/- button, X/Y button, Pitch/Modulation button, sustain button and arpeggiator button. And the Akai MPK mini MK2 white offers 1 4-way thumbstick for dynamic pitch/modulation control, 8 MPC (MIDI Production Center) pads with note repeat, Arpeggiator buttons, octaves up/down, and 8 assignable control knobs.
• Both are USB powered, and the Akai accepts external power supply input and sustain pedal. The Korg offers a Bluetooth-MIDI connection
• The Korg also includes the KORG Legacy Collection M1 Le software plug-in. And the Akai includes Hybrid 3 by AIR Music Tech, SONiVOX Wobble and Akai Pro MPC Essentials software.

Let’s put the features of these keyboards in a table so you can compare

In this comparison, we found two good quality MIDI controllers with moderate performance, really very similar. On the one hand, we have the Korg nanoKEY Studio that offers 25 speed-sensitive and backlit keys, plus it offers 8 speed-sensitive trigger pads, 8 rotary knobs, an X/Y Touch-Pad (KAOSS-Series), also, +/- octave button, X/Y button, Pitch/Modulation button, sustain button and arpeggiator button. On the other hand, we have the Akai MPK mini MK2 which also offers 25 mini synth-action keys, 1 4-way thumbstick for dynamic pitch/modulation control, 8 MPC (MIDI Production Center) pads with note repetition, Arpeggiator buttons, octaves up/down, and 8 assignable control knobs.

The main advantage of the Korg nanoKEY Studio is its XY (Kaoss Series) pad control, as it is a two-dimensional controller that can be assigned to a plugin or parameter to be modified in real-time, i.e. while it is playing. Besides having a Bluetooth-MIDI connection, it can work without cables. And for the Akai MPK Mini Mk2 we can count as an advantage its sustain pedal input. If you want to experiment with the XY pad control the Korg nanoKEY Studio will be your choice, while if you want a MIDI controller with moderate functions, 25 keys and a sustain pedal the Akai will be your choice.

And here is a video of the Akai MPK mini MK2 keyboard

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Akai MPK mini Mk2 review

Korg nanoKEY Studio vs Akai LPK 25

The Korg nanoKEY Studio MIDI Keyboard is priced at €119/£109/$121 and the Akai LPK 25 is priced at €42/£37/$42, with a difference of €84. Let’s move on to the face-to-face:

• Both controllers have 25 speed-sensitive mini keys, the Korg nanoKEY Studio are backlit.
• The Korg offers 8 speed-sensitive trigger pads, 8 rotary knobs, an X/Y Touch-Pad (KAOSS-Series), also, octave +/- button, an X/Y button, Pitch/Modulation button, sustain button and arpeggiator button. And the Akai LPK 25 offers: sustain, arpeggiator, up/down octave buttons.
• Both are USB powered and therefore have a USB connection. The Korg has a Bluetooth-MIDI connection.
• The Korg nanoKEY Studio also includes the KORG Legacy Collection M1 Le software plug-in. And the Akai LPK 25 includes a software editor for Mac and PC.

Let’s put the features of these keyboards in a table so you can compare

In this comparison, we have again two MIDI controllers, on one hand, the Korg nanoKEY Studio that we have already analyzed, and on the other hand, we have the Akai LPK 25 that offers 25 speed-sensitive keys, and buttons for sustain, arpeggiator, up/down octaves.

As well as the last comparison, we find as the main advantage of Korg nanoKEY Studio we can count on its XY (Kaoss Series) pad control since it is a two-dimensional controller that can be assigned to a plugin or parameter to be modified in real-time. In addition to having a Bluetooth-MIDI connection, that is, it can work without cables. While the Akai LPK 25 is a more minimalist keyboard with few control functions but with the advantage of being very portable. If you want to experiment with the XY control pad, go for the nanoKEY Studio, if you want a more minimalist and portable keyboard, go for the Akai LPK 25.

And here is a video of the Akai LPK 25

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Akai LPK 25 review

Korg nanoKEY Studio vs Korg microKEY 25

The Korg nanoKEY Studio MIDI Keyboard is priced at €119/£109/$121 while the Korg microKEY 25 is priced at €58/£55/$60. Let’s go head to head:

• Both controllers have 25 speed-sensitive mini keys, the Korg nanoKEY Studio are backlit and the Korg microKEY 25’s have a natural feel.
• The Korg offers 8 speed-sensitive trigger pads, 8 rotary knobs, an X/Y Touch-Pad (KAOSS-Series), also, octave +/- button, an X/Y button, Pitch/Modulation button, sustain button and arpeggiator button. And the Korg microKEY 25 offers a Pitch-bend/Modulation joystick, Octave Up/Down buttons, and an arpeggiator and sustain buttons.
• Both are USB powered and therefore have a USB connection. The Korg nanoKEY Studio has a Bluetooth-MIDI
• The Korg nanoKEY Studio also includes the KORG Legacy Collection M1 Le software plug-in. And the Korg microKEY 25 includes the licenses for Korg M1LE Software-Synth, Lounge Lizzard Session, Toontrack EZDrummer Lite.

Let’s put the features of these keyboards in a table so you can compare

In this comparison we have two good MIDI controllers, on one hand, the Korg nanoKEY Studio offers 8 speed-sensitive trigger pads, 8 rotary knobs, an X/Y Touch-Pad (KAOSS-Series), also, octave button +/-, X/Y button, Pitch/Modulation button, sustain button and arpeggiator button. And on the other hand, the Korg microKEY 25 offers 25 mini keys with a natural touch, a joystick for Pitch-bend/Modulation, Octave Up/Down buttons and arpeggiator and sustain buttons.

As well as the last comparison, the main advantage of the Korg nanoKEY Studio is its XY (Kaoss Series) pad control, since it is a two-dimensional controller that can be assigned to a plugin or parameter to be modified in real-time. While the Korg microKEY is a more minimalist keyboard with few control functions but with the advantage of being very portable. If you want to experiment with the XY pad control go for the nanoKEY Studio, if you want a more minimalist and portable keyboard go for the Korg microKEY 25.

And here is a video of the Korg microKEY 25 keyboard

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Korg microKEY 25 review.

Korg nanoKEY Studio vs Miditech Midistart Music 25

The Korg nanoKEY Studio MIDI Keyboard is priced at €119/£109/$121 while the Miditech Midistart Music 25 is priced at €58/£51/$60. Let’s move on to the face-to-face:

• Both controllers have 25 speed-sensitive keys, the Korg nanoKEY Studio are backlit. And those on the Miditech are full-size.
• The Korg offers 8 speed-sensitive trigger pads, 8 rotary knobs, an X/Y Touch-Pad (KAOSS-Series), also, octave +/- button, X/Y button, Pitch/Modulation button, sustain button and arpeggiator button. And the Miditech Midistart Music 25 offers a joystick for pitch bend and modulation, octave up/down buttons, and an assignable fader.
• Both are USB powered and therefore have a USB connection. The Miditech has an integrated MIDI output. And the Korg nanoKey Studio has a Bluetooth-MIDI connection.
• The Korg nanoKEY Studio also includes the KORG Legacy Collection M1 Le software plug-in. And the Miditech Midistart Music 25 includes a license for Magix Samplitude SE.

Let’s put the features of these keyboards in a table so you can compare

And here’s a video of the Miditech Midistart Music 25 keyboard

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Miditech Midistart Music 25 review.

Korg nanoKEY Studio vs M-Audio Keystation 88 MkII

The Korg nanoKEY Studio MIDI Keyboard is priced at €119/£109/$121 while the M-Audio Keystation 88 MkII is priced at €205/£177/$203, with a small difference of £27 between them. Let’s move on to this interesting face-to-face:

• The Korg nanoKEY Studio offers 25 speed-sensitive, backlit keys. The M-Audio Keystation 88 MKII offers 88 full-size speed-sensitive keys.
• The Korg offers 8 speed-sensitive trigger pads, 8 rotary knobs, an X/Y Touch-Pad (KAOSS-Series), also, octave +/- button, X/Y button, Pitch/Modulation button, sustain button and arpeggiator button. And the M-Audio Keystation 88 MKII offers transport controls (rec, play, pause, stop), pitch bend and modulation wheels, octave up/down, and an assignable fader.
• Both are USB-powered, and therefore have a USB connection. The Korg nanoKEY Studio has a Bluetooth-MIDI connection. And the M-Audio Keystation 88 MKII has a built-in MIDI output, 2 pedal inputs (sustain and expression) and an external power input (not included)
• The Korg nanoKEY Studio also includes the KORG Legacy Collection M1 Le software plug-in. And the M-Audio Keystation 88 MkII includes a license for Ableton Live Lite and a SONiVOX Eighty-Eight Ensemble plug-in, a virtual piano instrument that captures a 9-foot Steinway CD327 piano.

Let’s put the features of these keyboards in a table so you can compare

In this last comparison we have two very different MIDI controllers, on the one hand a compact controller and with moderate control functions, we are talking about the Korg nanoKEY Studio, which we have already analyzed. And on the other hand a wider and more extensive keyboard, with few control functions, the M-Audio Keystation 88 MKII that offers 88 sensitive keys, transport controls (rec, play, pause, stop), pitch bend and modulation wheels, up/down octave and an assignable fader.

If you need a controller that can be used wirelessly and has moderate control functions, including an XY pad control, the Korg is for you. Otherwise, if you need an 88-key keyboard where you have a wider and faster register, the M-Audio Keystation 88 MKII is for you.

Here’s a video of the M-Audio Keystation 88 MkII keyboard

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the M-Audio Keystation 88 MkII review.

What is the best of these MIDI keyboards if I am a beginner on a budget?

While the answer to this question lies mostly in what specific need you have, for example, if you want to have a keyboard with the widest range of notes possible, or if you want to have as many control functions as possible, or perhaps a mix between the two, that is without leaving behind the different connections and software licenses that most MIDI controllers offer, we will give an objective opinion according to our experience in music production and thus also with the price demanded by the controllers, a kind of value for money.

In this post, we have cheap MIDI controllers and the one that stands out here is precisely the Korg nanoKEY Studio that offers 25 keys, pads and knobs, both assignable. Also a Touch-Pad X/Y (KAOSS-Series), the same ones found in the Kaossilator, which are touch synthesizers. It also has an integrated step recorder. It has a Bluetooth-MIDI connection and includes a synthesizer license. Excellent MIDI controller, if you can acquire it.

Where to buy the Korg nanoKEY Studio keyboard

Amazon

• Free Shipping and the possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
• Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment.
• Sometimes a better price.
• He’s got worse stock than Thomann.

 

Thomann

• Free Shipping.
• Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
• 100% reliable payment.
• A leader in trouble-free shipping.
• Usually the Best price.
• Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalog and information.

Also, look at these models with a similar price and features:

• Novation Launchkey Mini MK3
• Akai MPK mini Mk2
• Akai MPK miniplay
• Roli Lightpad Block M Studio Ed.
• Arturia MiniLab MKII
• Roli Beatmaker Kit
• Novation Impulse 25
• Akai MPK mini MK2 white
• Alesis V25
• CME Xkey Air 25
• IK Multimedia iRig Keys I/O 25
• Akai APC Keys 25
• Akai LPK 25
• M-Audio Code 25 black
• Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A25
• Novation Launchkey Mini MK2
• Alesis V mini
• Arturia MicroLab Black
• Akai LPK 25 wireless
• Akai MPK mini Limited Black
• Arturia MiniLab MKII Inverted Edition
• M-Audio Oxygen 25 Mk4
• Korg nanoKEY Studio
• Swissonic EasyKey 25
• Korg nanoKEY 2 black
• Korg nanoKEY 2 Limited Orange
• Korg nanoKEY 2 Limited Blue
• Akai MPK mini MK2 white – AIEP3 Bdl
• Nektar Impact LX25+
• Novation Launchkey 25 MK2
• Alesis Q25
• Akai MPK 225
• Korg microKEY 25
• Miditech Midistart Music 25
• Alesis VI25
• Korg nanoKEY 2 white
• Arturia MicroLab Blue
• Nektar SE25
• Korg microKEY Air 25
• IK Multimedia iRig Keys 25
• Midiplus X2 mini
• Icon iKeyboard 3X
• Keith McMillen K-Board
• CME Xkey 25 silver
• Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32
• Alesis V49
• Arturia Keystep Black Edition
• Swissonic EasyKey 49
• Arturia Keystep
• Arturia KeyLab Essential 49
• Nektar Impact LX49+
• M-Audio Code 49 Black
• IK Multimedia iRig Keys 2 Pro
• M-Audio Keystation 49 MK3
• M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3
• Novation Impulse 49
• Nektar Impact GX 49
• Novation Launchkey 49 Mk2
• Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A49
• M-Audio Oxygen 49 Mk4
• Alesis Q49 Keyboard Controller
• Roland A-300 Pro
• IK Multimedia iRig Keys I/O 49
• Alesis VI49
• Midiplus AK490
• Alesis Vortex Wireless 2
• M-Audio Axiom Air Mini 32
• Alesis Vortex Wireless 2 Network
• IK Multimedia iRig Keys 37 Pro
• Arturia KeyLab Essential 49 BE
• Haken Audio Continuum Half Size
• CME Xkey 37 LE
• IK Multimedia iRig Keys Pro
• Korg microKEY 49 MkII
• IK Multimedia iRig Keys 2
• Miditech Midistart Music 49
• Roland A-49 Black
• Korg microKEY 37 MkII
• Swissonic ControlKey 49
• Roland A-500 PRO
• Nektar SE49
• Korg microKEY Air 37
• Korg microKEY Air 49
• Roland A-49 White
• Nektar Panorama T4
• Miditech Garagekey mini
• Miditech Minicontrol-32
• Midiplus X3 mini
• Miditech i2-Control 37 Black
• Icon iKeyboard 4X
• Miditech i2-mini 32
• Midiplus X4 mini
• Miditech i2-mini 32 Bluetooth
• Icon iKeyboard 5X
• Acorn Masterkey 49
• M-Audio Code 61 Black
• Arturia KeyLab Essential 61
• Nektar Impact GX 61
• M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3
• Alesis V61
• Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61
• Swissonic EasyKey 61
• M-Audio Oxygen 61 Mk4
• Roland A-800 Pro
• Korg microKEY Air 61
• GSi DMC-122
• Nektar Impact LX61+
• Alesis VI61
• Novation Launchkey 61 MK2
• Icon iKeyboard 6X
• Acorn Masterkey 61
• Miditech i2-61 Black Edition
• Midiplus X6 mini
• Korg microKEY 61 MkII
• Midiplus X-6 II
• Viscount Physis Piano K5 EX
• M-Audio Keystation 88 MkII
• Kawai VPC1
• Doepfer LMK2+ 88 GH
• Doepfer LMK4+ 88 GH black
• Swissonic ControlKey 88
• Viscount Physis Piano K4 EX
• Doepfer LMK4+ 88 GH grey
• Nektar Impact LX88+
• Haken Audio Continuum Full Size
• Midiplus Stage 88
• Studiologic Numa Concert
• Icon iKeyboard 8X
• Doepfer LMK2+ 88 GH without Case
• Midiplus X-8 II
• Doepfer LMK4+ 88 GH GR without Case