MIDI Keyboard Controller Roundup – Unweighted

Last week we covered the range of available weighted controller keyboards. This week we set our sights on the unweighted and semi-weighted options.

Unweighted keyboards have many advantages: they are lighter, they take up less space, they require less effort from your fingers, and they are significantly less expensive.

Personally, though I prefer playing piano pieces on a weighted keyboard, I love playing lead lines, bass lines, and pads on an unweighted keyboard. And there have been times when I have only had an unweighted or semi-weighted keyboard, and I got used to playing piano on them just fine.

Touch is a very personal thing, so see if you can spend some time playing on the keyboard before purchasing it. Also, some of these keyboards are quite small, so make sure that you buy a keyboard with enough octaves for your playing style. For two-handed playing, I find it difficult to play on anything less than 61 keys.

This article will gain a lot of value from real-life evaluations, so I’d love to hear from you. Which keyboards have you played? Was your experience good or bad? And which keyboard do you prefer? Let us know in the comments.

The range of unweighted MIDI controller keyboards is wide and growing. Here are your main options.

Edirol PCR Series

I’ve always been a fan of Roland gear, and I’ve owned at least three Roland unweighted keyboards over the years. Edirol is a brand Roland use for their computer-related gear. The PCR series is a range of five unweighted, velocity-sensitive keyboards costing between USD$250 to $400, and ranging between 32 and 61 keys.

Features include MIDI assignable controllers and pads, a software editor, MIDI in and out ports, and connections for both sustain and expression pedals, 12 velocity curves, and pitch-bend/modulation.

• PCR-300 has 32 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 2.9 kg
• PCR-500 has 49 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 3.8 kg
• PCR-800 has 61 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 4.5 kg
• PCR-M50 has 49 velocity-sensitive keys, 3.3 kg
• PCR-M80 has 61 velocity-sensitive keys, 3.7 kg

Besides less weight, with the PCR-M50 and M80 you also get “the addition of velocity curves, a switchable MIDI interface, and a new key-action that offers less mechanical noise and a consistent, playable feel.”

Yamaha KX Series

I have considerable respect for Yamaha’s keyboards. Besides my electric grand, I have also owned at least three unweighted Yamaha keyboards, and still enjoy playing my old KX-5. The KX series keyboards range between USD$200-300

We reviewed the 88-key KX-88 last week – the remainder of the KX range are unweighted and more portable. KX keyboard studios have four assignable control knobs, pitch-bend and modulation wheels, dedicated performance controls, and DAW integration controls for software synthesizers and sequencers.

• KX-25 has 25 velocity-sensitive keys, 2kg
• KX-49 has 49 velocity-sensitive keys, 3kg
• KX-61 has 61 velocity-sensitive keys, 4.5 kg

Korg K Series

Korg offer a series of three MIDI controller keyboards. Pricing is hard to determine, as many sites list them as being discontinued despite the fact that Korg still list them as current models on their website.

The keyboards look light and sleek, are velocity-sensitive with 4 velocity curves, and offer a handful of assignable controllers.

• K25 has 25 velocity-sensitive keys, 1.5 kg
• K49 has 49 velocity-sensitive keys, 2.4 kg
• K61 has 61 velocity-sensitive keys, 2.9 kg

My first pro synth was a Korg Poly 61, and I still have a warm place in my heart for the company.

M-Audio Axiom, Oxygen, Keystation and KeyRig Series

M-Audio have four series of controller keyboards, all with a different emphasis, ranging from USD$150 to $700.

The Axiom series keyboards are described as “Advanced Semi-Weighted Action USB MIDI Keyboard Controllers with Rotary Encoders and Trigger Pads.” The Axiom series are M-Audio’s top of the line models, and are priced accordingly.

The keyboards include a set of assignable knobs and sliders, and eight drum machine style pads. They keyboards are semi-weighted, and designed for piano playing. The Pro models add “TrueTouch” action and “Hypercontrol” MIDI mapping technology, which maps the controls to match your DAW software automatically.

• Axiom Pro 25 has 25 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys, 3.2 kg
• Axiom Pro 49 has 49 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys, 4.5 kg
• Axiom Pro 61 has 61 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys, 6 kg
• Axiom 25 has 25 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys, 2.5 kg
• Axiom 49 has 49 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys, 4.5 kg
• Axiom 61 has 61 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys, 5.3 kg

The Oxygen series keyboards are described as “USB MIDI Keyboard Controllers with Assignable MIDI Controls.” They have a more standard unweighted synth action, and less assignable controllers. And their cost is also significantly less.

• Oxygen 8 v2 has 25 velocity-sensitive keys, 1.9 kg
• Oxygen 49 has 49 velocity-sensitive keys, 3.4 kg
• Oxygen 61 has 61 velocity-sensitive keys, 4.1 kg

The Keystation series keyboards are described as “Professional Semi-Weighted Action MIDI Keyboard Controllers.” Like the Keystation Pro 88 mentioned last week, these keyboards are designed for piano playing, though these two models are semi-weighted rather than fully weighted.

• Keystation 61es has 61 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys, 5 kg
• Keystation 88es has 88 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys, 10 kg

The KeyRig series keyboards are described as “Synth-action USB MIDI Keyboard and the Award-winning Key Rig Software.” M-Audio advertize them as “easy-to-use” keyboards.

A major feature of these keyboards is the Key Rig software (PC only), which features four virtual sound modules, a stage piano, a synthesizer, a wheel organ, and a general MIDI module with split and layer features and a master effects processor.

• KeyRig 25 has 25 velocity-sensitive keys, 1.8 kg
• KeyRig 49 has 49 velocity-sensitive keys, 3 kg

Novation ReMOTE SL

The Novation ReMOTE SL is a range of semi-weighted (25, 37 and 61 note) keyboards with aftertouch, and a generous set of assignable knobs, faders and pads. They range in cost from around USD$300 to $450. The “Automap” software configures the controls to match your software automatically.

• Novation ReMOTE SL 25 has 25 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 2.5 kg
• Novation ReMOTE SL 37 has 37 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 4.2 kg
• Novation ReMOTE SL 61 has 61 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 6.2 kg

CME UF Series

The CME UF series keyboards feature semi-weighted keyboards with aftertouch, a large collection of assignable controllers, pitch-bend and modulation wheels, a plug-and-play interface, and a built-in duplex wireless MIDI interface. They are priced between USD$300 and $500.

• UF50 has 49 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 8.2 kg
• UF60 has 61 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 9.8 kg
• UF70 has 76 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 11.8 kg

E-MU Xboard Series

The E-MU Xboard series keyboards feature unweighted velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, a good selection of assignable controllers, pitch-bend and modulation wheels, and a good selection of software and sounds. The keyboards range in price from USD$150 to $300.

• Xboard 25 has 25 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 2.2 kg
• Xboard 49 has 49 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 3.9 kg
• Xboard 61 has 61 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 4.9 kg