Best piano keyboard for iphone/iPad?

mellowsun · December 2016

I've got GarageBand and a few synth apps on my new iPhone - what are the best portable keyboards to use with it?

Cabicular · December 2016

The ik multi media one (ikeys) is ok if you just want to lay some easy tracks in
novation 49 will give you semi weighted keys but inputting to the device will require an interface
yamaha do an excellent Bluetooth wireless midi dongle which works great with iOS

mellowsun · December 2016

@Cabicular thanks I like the idea of semi weighted keys, I'll check out the Novation

goldtop · December 2016

Cabicular said:

yamaha do an excellent Bluetooth wireless midi dongle which works great with iOS

That's the somehow-self-powered one, right? Do you have hands-on experience with it?

Keen to know if latency over wireless MIDI is insignificant?

olafgarten · December 2016

goldtop said:

Cabicular said:

yamaha do an excellent Bluetooth wireless midi dongle which works great with iOS

That's the somehow-self-powered one, right? Do you have hands-on experience with it?

Keen to know if latency over wireless MIDI is insignificant?

It uses power from the MIDI Ports, most that support the MIDI Standard should support it, but some keyboards especially battery powered ones don't support power through MIDI.

In terms of latency, there is a maximum of 15ms imposed by the standard which is obviously too much, but in most cases it should be around 1-2ms.

Edit: List of some things that don't support midi power here:

http://www.midisolutions.com/faqs.htm

Cabicular · January 2017

I use it to transmit drum midi from my 2 box kit to my Mac mini and it does a fine job
if there is latency it isn't noticeable to me (or logic)
Im pretty sure all errors are due to my shonky drumming

Cabicular · January 2017

@mellowsun If its of interest the iKeys pro is on an Amazon deal just now

IK Multimedia iRig Keys Pro Mobile MIDI Keyboard with Full Size Key for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and PC https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GHVVXRU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_q6AAyb737ASPN

mellowsun · January 2017

@Cabicular thanks, I think I'll get this, as my old M-Audio Oxygen 8 keyboard is not class compliant so doesn't work with iOS (just tried via the Lightning-USB adapter cable)

viz · January 2017

Noise is good for a bit of fun.

mellowsun · January 2017

IRig Keys Pro arrived yesterday. Great midi keyboard that works perfectly with the iPhone. Also downloaded Miroslav Philharmonik 2, Classical Percussion and Billy Cobham libraries. The quality is amazing - studio quality samples running seamlessly in 16 tracks on a phone, incredible!

Cabicular · January 2017

And good price too
very portable. I take mine on holiday

mrkb · January 2017

Was the amazon deal the current £85 price, or has it gone back up in price now?

Cabicular · January 2017

85 is the deal they are 120 ish normally

mrkb · January 2017

Thanks, have ordered one while they're discounted. Should be good for mobile tinkering

mellowsun · January 2017

mrkb said:

Thanks, have ordered one while they're discounted. Should be good for mobile tinkering

The iRig Keys Pro is bigger than I expected - it's great, with a nice action, but for mobile tinkering I'm wondering if the iRig keys mini might have been a better choice.

Cabicular · January 2017

It's more expensive and it's nearly impossible to get any velocity sensitivity with mini keys
alright if all you do is play synth but if you have a piano patch it's hard

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Best piano keyboard for iphone/iPad?

Comments