Here’s a neat alternative to the fiddly onscreen keyboards used in most music apps. Essentially a 25-note MIDI keyboard with a slot for your iPhone or iPod Touch, the SynthStation 25 offers great control over compatible apps.

The keys are velocity-sensitive, there are pitchbend and mod wheels for expression, plus you’ll find RCA and headphone outputs on the back panel. The most obvious use is for controlling Akai’s own SynthStation app (£1.49), but it works just as well with a number of other music apps. We especially like the fact you can hook it up to your computer via USB, so it can be used to control your DAW-hosted instruments, too.

A 49-note version, the SynthStation 49, should be available soon, too.

Find out more about Akai SynthStation 25