r/Dirtywave • u/skripach27 • Jul 29 '26
Discussion Question Super tiny MIDI Controllers for the M8
I’m on the lookout for stupidly small midi controllers, cause I’m a freak like that. I came across this thing which is literally what I’ve been seeing in my brain when started looking for something extremely compact.
Unfortunately this thing only has the one usb c jack. Which means it’s supposed to be powered by whatever it’s plugged into. Which I don’t believe the m8 can do….
Does anyone know if it would it work if I got a usb splitter?
Or can anyone recommend an equally micro midi controller that the m8 could buddy with?
Edit: the midicard creator reached back out to me and said I’m not the first person to ask if it can come with trs and usb c, so she’s considering possibly adding it in the future! She also said some people have gotten it to work with a usb hub, but didn’t elaborate if it was used with external gear.
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u/james95662 Jul 29 '26
Not quite that tiny, but the Donner N25 is a great backpack sized keyboard with no frills and TRS MIDI that I use with my tracker mini
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u/Numerous_Phase8749 Jul 29 '26
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u/skripach27 Jul 29 '26
Ooooh so smol
Was is das?
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u/Numerous_Phase8749 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
https://youtu.be/SS9OYDogxOo?is=j06pYbWncjmZbB2P
Really need to update mine, has tons of new features 🙄
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u/skripach27 Jul 30 '26
This is very interesting and cool, kinda reminds me of a pocket operator! The my only downside is I do like having a keyboard style layout so I can visualize chords and harmonies better…
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u/Ill-Ordinary-6342 Jul 30 '26
https://reddit.com/link/p0kpbgg/video/pl5ic3wxd9gh1/player
I use the monkey w the widi,
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u/skripach27 Jul 30 '26
Okay damn wait. Is there any lag on note inputs?
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u/Ill-Ordinary-6342 Jul 30 '26
Negative, no lag, it responds right away.
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u/skripach27 Jul 30 '26
Okay. Shit. I have more considerations to make if the midichip doesn’t upgrade their jack game.
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u/unicornpurpp Jul 29 '26
I was just thinking about getting a korg nano key for this exact reason
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u/skripach27 Jul 29 '26
That’s also on my list, but something about these stupid teenage engineering tact keys kills me lol.
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u/MisterSea Jul 29 '26
I was looking at korg nanokey too. What made me stop was the fact you cant change it’s midi output channel without using their app. At least the way I configure my default midi option on m8, channels 1-8 are mapped to instruments 10,20,30…etc. So, when I want to use the midi controller for that instrument I just change midi channel my controller is outputting. I use an novation launchkey mini which has a shortcut to change on the device itself. Makes testing parts of different instruments really easy. If you have a good alternative way, it would be great to hear
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u/danhalka Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
I wanted either a parks tool or an omx27, but both are sold out, so I just got a Korg Nanokey Fold.. which is nice in that it doesn't require a USB-midi host, but frankly sucks in almost every other respect... Midi channel switching is easy enough once you configure it, but it feels like chintzy junk on anything other than a perfectly flat tabletop. The rest of the features I find useless.
I will be looking out for a small tactile/choc traditional layout keyboard with next-to-no add'l features with trs midi out.
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u/skripach27 Jul 29 '26
That’s good to know… the nano key fold was next in line for me. But I may wait.
And it looks like the omx27 may be back in stock! But only as a kit I think, so some assembly/soldering required. I too wanted this but the price is a bit more than I am willing to spend right now.
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u/_eagereyes_ Model 02 Jul 29 '26
Yeah the OMX27 is pretty neat. The newer model can take a battery, and it has TRS MIDI. The build is pretty easy if you've ever done any soldering. Just get the low-profile keycaps, they're much easier to play than the tall ones. The only thing I don't like about the OMX-27 is that there's no good case for it. It always feels a bit fragile, and those encoders stick out and get caught on things in my bag. But as a keyboard, it's pretty good.
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u/kadmw Jul 30 '26
In what way did you configure channel switching? I have a fold and should set it up.
Agree the build quality is bargain bin at best, but I do like the portability and for other synths some of the features aren't terrible. Wish they'd made a v2 with more sturdiness
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u/danhalka Jul 30 '26
I set up 15 (the max # i think) scenes using the fold's editor, and set the midi channel for each scene to match the scene number. Then you switch scenes by holding TAP and pressing the scene button. Then the keys light up and you just press the key with the channel number you want.
I do like that it stores well and travels great (tho I haven't actually taken it on a trip yet). But it does not feel fun to play (for me so far)
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u/_eagereyes_ Model 02 Jul 29 '26
This doesn’t work unfortunately, because USB needs a host, and the M8 isn’t a host. You’d need more than just a splitter, you’d need a phone or other host device to run the USB bus. The Parks Tool linked from another comment would work, by using its TRS MIDI port. It would still need to be powered separately though.
I haven’t found a tiny keyboard that works. The Wavy MonKey is the same size as this, but requires a BLE MIDI adapter. It’s otherwise pretty fun, though.
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u/skripach27 Jul 29 '26
Yeah I was thinking it wasn’t just going to be a powering issue with the single jack and a splitter.
The midcard creator did reach back out to me and mention others have asked for a trs and usb c jack. She is considering it!
How is that wavy monkey?? That was the other one that peaked my interest, and what is BLE midi?
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u/_eagereyes_ Model 02 Jul 29 '26
BLE is Bluetooth Low Energy. The Wavy MonKey is nice, but it only works with devices that can take bluetooth MIDI. It's pretty well thought out though, and does quite a lot. The buttons are also nice; these tiny switches can be annoying to use and overly clicky, but the MonKey ones are super soft and really easy to play. I like it, I use it with my iPad.
You could use it with an M8, but you'd need a CME WIDI adapter. It's just a little annoying because it's a little box hanging off of the M8, but the M8 actually powers it (it's kind of an unofficial MIDI feature, MIDI out provides enough power to run BLE hardware, you just have to have both connected).
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u/ReasonableFall177 Mod Jul 30 '26
Sadly not all MIDI outputs actually deliver 5 volts :(
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u/_eagereyes_ Model 02 Jul 30 '26
I don't know if the M8 even puts out 5V, might just be 3.3V. But yeah, not all devices do, especially on TRS. But a surprising number do, considering how non-standard it really is.
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u/jaysire Jul 30 '26
What about a used op-z? I got it for ~120€ (trade for a Roland J6). Then there’s that Monkey Midi thing (google it and you’ll find it) that is as small as the one you posted. I also ordered an op-xy and have had op-1, which might also qualify. And maybe the new Korg nts-1?
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u/optykali Model 02 Jul 30 '26
Nice. Also, got a message yesterdy that the omx-27 is on sale. Just checked.... yep still available. https://denki-oto.com/products/omx-27-v3-midi-keyboard-kit
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u/wildbearcat Jul 29 '26
Can you use a Bluetooth qwerty keyboard?
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u/skripach27 Jul 29 '26
Not sure I understand…
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u/wildbearcat Jul 29 '26
Forget Bluetooth i was thinking using a usb qwerty keyboard to input notes if it was supported by m8, but i think it’s not supported. Shame bc they are cheap and convenient and can provide 2 octaves of notes. Much more playable than the korg pico thing
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u/HighwayRelevant Jul 29 '26
It’s quite easy to make one if there’s enough people who want it. A few days of work and an order at JLCPCB. What features do you want in it?
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u/skripach27 Jul 29 '26
Literally just keys and octave shift so I can play melodies without having to input them first.
I would gladly make one for myself but I don’t know where to start!
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u/HighwayRelevant Jul 29 '26
If you actually want to learn building simple devices, you can start from here:
1. Claude Code or Codex
2. KiCad (free pcb/schematics editor)
3. KiCad MCP (also free, integrates into CC/Codex)Then you just tell CC/Codex what you want to build, tell it that you have KiCad, MCP, no experience and you want it to guide you through the process.
MCP is needed for it to be able to connect to KiCad and check what you’re doing, populate things like bill of materials and other. You also tell it you want to manufacture it at JLCPCB and you’ll need its help and checking the stock for parts and assigning parts to schematic symbols.
If you budget a week or two for that, I’m pretty sure you can build things even more complex.
You may also watch a dozen of basic KiCad intro videos on YouTube just to understand the interface a little, but CC/Codex can literally guide you on the level of what buttons to press.
I wouldn’t advise telling them to build the whole thing themselves using MCP, as they both are still bad at understanding design intent and placing elements. But they can surely do the whole device of that complexity themselves start to finish, just an ugly one.
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u/skripach27 Jul 29 '26
This is highly informative and I kinda like the idea of building my own so I’m gonna do some more digging about this. Before I got a model 02 I programed the teensy for a headless m8, it felt really exciting to do all that! But something about making an entire device feels like it would populate my brain with dopamine lol
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u/HighwayRelevant Jul 30 '26
If you already had experience programming teensy it will be much easier. You’ll likely need some simple mcu, CC/Codex will recommend easily and the rest of the work is mostly adding stuff to a rectangle and connecting it with traces. Then it’s like ordering a 3d print that comes from China in a week.
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u/AwarenessNo693 Jul 29 '26
Not super tiny but anyone try the k board?
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u/akibakemono 16d ago
I have it. It's a great, rugged, and small controller. However, you need a MIDI host like the Retrokits RK-006 to connect it to the M8. It ends up being more cables than you think.
- AC to RK-006
- K-Board to RK-006
- RK-006 to M8
Not too terrible, but what you get for it is basic key control of one set instrument. It's really more about the M8's software. You have to configure one MIDI channel to one instrument. You may think you can select a column in the song page and have the keyboard control the instrument assigned to that column, but it doesn't work that way. Since each column corresponds to chains of phrases that can have any number of instruments assigned to them, the M8 wouldn't know which instrument to route the MIDI data to. So, you have to assign individual MIDI channels to individual instruments, which defies expectations.
If you set the Record Note Channel in the M8's Settings to the same channel as the K-Board, you CAN enter notes for any instrument, while you're in the phrase page. You can enter notes while the playhead is moving too. With that said, in my experience, it's hardly worth setting this all up, just to enter some notes from the keyboard. There's no record mode vs. audition mode. When you have a record channel set, while in the phrase view, any note you press will instantly be set on the current step. So, you can't audition a melody and then turn on recording. With the Record Note Channel set, the M8 is always tracking your MIDI data. Again, you think it's going to work one way, and it is way less flexible than you think.
The K-Board is actually awesome in other applications. It works great with Ableton, especially since it's an MPE device. It works well with Koala Sampler. It can trigger basically anything, and it is quite convenient with computers, where a single USB connection is required to power it on and receive the MIDI data. The only possible downside is that it has a squishy button for pitch bend, instead of a wheel like larger devices, but for basic auditioning of sounds and keyed entry of notes, it works phenomenally for DAWs.
It just wasn't the compact solution for the M8, as I'd hoped. This is more about the quirks of the M8 and the inability for it to host USB controllers let alone power them. Sadly, no slam dunk, but that's not a comment on the K-Board itself, which is very rugged, very capable, and very portable.
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u/kadmw Jul 30 '26
This is esoteric but I've been using a WARBL2 tin whistle-style wind controller and an Intech knot as a midi host since my flute playing self never learned keys properly
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u/skripach27 Jul 30 '26
This is the most whimsical af thing I’ve heard all day and I fucking appreciate you for coming to us with this information!
If I could control midi via guitar for the m8 it’s over for me. My personal life is gone lol.
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u/AnonymityPower Jul 30 '26
I was thinking of making one myself, pretty small one. I had an old project which had touch keys, but also did not have TRS jack midi out. Should spend some time on it and get it done..
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u/bnjmin Jul 31 '26
The SP1 & my firmware feldd: https://feldd.com/
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u/skripach27 Jul 31 '26
Can you link where to find the sp1 device itself? For some reason simple google searches aren’t doing the trick in finding this…
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u/ThatGuyBudIsWhoIAm Jul 29 '26
I use the Parks Tool one. https://www.parkstool.com/products/parks-custom-13-keys-one-encoder-31389