Keyboards

The M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3 is a simple but powerful MIDI controller designed for sequencing music and playing virtual instruments on your Mac or PC. This article answers the most popular questions about the features and functionality of the M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3 controller.

Electronic and dance music producers looking for a powerful, all-in-one groove sampler will be thrilled with the Novation Circuit Rhythm, a compact and portable sampler that builds upon the success of the Circuit Tracks and is designed to be used in the studio or on the go for professional producers and DJs.

The Circuit Rhythm offers eight flexible sample tracks with several sample capabilities including slice, chromatic, one-shot, gated, looped, and reverse. The machine provides a variety of sample controls including tune, start, length, slope, distortion, high-pass filter, low-pass filter and resonance. What's more, there is a sample choke function that allows you to assign samples to a group, where by any sample that is playing is automatically cutoff when a new sample in the group is triggered. Great for creating realistic hi-hats and other sounds.

Circuit Rhythm uses Components, a standalone software editor, which provides deep access to the instrument's sampling engine, sample organization, macro controls, and more. You can load up to 220 seconds of samples, plus thousands of patches and projects from the included SD card. Circuit Rhythm is USB class compliant and will work with any modern Mac or Windows computer.

A 4x8 grid of velocity-sensitive (RGB) sequencer pads are used to program the advanced, built-in 32-step sequencer, which offers real-time and step-input recording, as well as time and key lock to ensure all your sounds lock to tempo and blend harmonically. The 8 macro encoders allow you to record and playback multiple parameter tweaks in real time. Combine up to 256 steps of patterns to complete full songs. The onboard effects do not disappoint. There's delay, reverb, and side-chain Send FX for adding depth and motion to your tracks, while the Grid FX provide a variety of realtime effects you can trigger. Choose from vinyl simulation, beat repeat, phaser, gater, reverser, auto-filter, and digitizer.

Electronic and dance music producers looking for a powerful, all-in-one groove box will be thrilled with the Novation Circuit Tracks, a compact and portable groove box that builds upon the success of the original Circuit and is designed to be used in the studio or on the go for professional producers and DJs. The machine offers two polyphonic digital synth engines, four sample-based drum tracks, and two MIDI tracks for sequencing and controlling external instruments.

Circuit Tracks uses Components, a standalone software editor, which provides deep access to the instrument's synthesizer engines, sample organization, macro controls, and more. You can load up to 600 samples, plus thousands of synth patches and projects form the included SD card. Circuit Tracks is USB class compliant and will work with any modern Mac or Windows computer.

A 4x8 grid of velocity-sensitive (RGB) sequencer pads are used to program the advanced, built-in 32-step sequencer, which offers real-time and step-input recording, as well as time and key lock to ensure all your sounds lock to tempo and blend harmonically. The 8 synth macro encoders allow you to record and playback multiple synth parameter tweaks in real time. Combine up to 256 steps of synth and drum patterns to complete full songs. The onboard reverb and delay add space and dimension to your creations, while the integrated master compressor with side-chain capabilities allows your sonic creations to pump and breathe.

Impulse 25 from Novation is a USB MIDI keyboard controller featuring 25 semi-weighted keys with assignable aftertouch. It was designed to feel like an instrument rather than a computer peripheral and responds more accurately, and in a musical manner, when triggering a synthesizer or software instrument.

In addition to the keys, the controller features eight rotary controls and eight backlit drum pads, along with the obligatory pitch and modulation wheels. The controls allow for hands on manipulation of DAW functions, virtual instruments, and plug-ins. The included Automap control software takes the hassle out of assigning the controllers with its instant mapping feature.

The Automap software edit page looks just like the Impulse control surface. This labels what each knob, fader, and button is controlling. Once an automapping is finished, the window can be hidden. Control is available over the mixer, transport, and plug-ins of all major DAWs, as well as plug-in instruments and effects that don't come with a DAW, like products from Native Instruments, Waves, or FXpansion.

Impulse 49 from Novation is a USB MIDI keyboard controller featuring 49 semi-weighted keys with assignable aftertouch. It was designed to feel like an instrument rather than a computer peripheral, and responds more accurately and in a musical manner when triggering a synthesizer or software instrument.

In addition to the keys, the controller features eight rotary controls, nine faders, and eight backlit drum pads, along with the obligatory pitch and modulation wheels. The controls allow for hands-on manipulation of DAW functions, virtual instruments, and plug-ins. The included Automap control software takes the hassle out of assigning the controllers with its instant mapping feature.

The Automap software edit page looks just like the Impulse control surface. This labels what each knob, fader, and button is controlling, and once assignment is finished, the window can be hidden. Control is available over the mixer, transport, and plug-ins of all major DAWs, as well as plug-in instruments and effects that don't come with a DAW, like products from Native Instruments, Waves, or FXpansion.