MusicRadar Verdict
Excellent addition to the mini-keyboard market.
Pros
- +
Packs in more keys than the competition.
Cons
- -
No arpeggiator.
MusicRadar's got your back
Here we have M-Audio's attempt to grab a slice of the burgeoning mini-keyboard market, and it gives you two and a half octaves of low-profile keys to work with.
This means that you can just about get away with two-handed playing, though you couldn't exactly deliver a piano recital on it.
The keys play pretty well, though, and assignable controllers include a pleasantly chunky knob and three buttons (these default to controlling pitchbend up/down and modulation).
There are backlit octave up/down (with limited re-assignability) and sustain buttons, too, plus a further one for entering edit mode.
The Keystation Mini 32 certainly looks the part, and it performs well. It's priced to compete directly with Akai's LPK25, and while the Mini 32 lacks its rival's arpeggiator, its extra keys will be a deal-maker for some.
Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.
“I wondered if I was insane for wanting to do this”: How Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen learned to play again after losing his left arm
“A unique octave bass fuzz with a built-in, 2-voice ring modulator”: The Maestro BB-1 Brassmaster is a super-rare bass octave fuzz from the ‘70s that sounds great on guitar, sells for $2,000+, and Behringer just made a $69 clone of it
"Coated with analogue warmth, and many a chunky nugget for the keen and avid listener to find": Röyksopp get even more Mysterious with new surprise reworking