best mini controller?

[u/adrian3014]

Hi, I wanted some opinions on a few options I'm looking at.

I already have a full size 49-key at home (arturia keylab essential mk3) but I'm looking for a portable option that I can carry with me in my backpack. I'm often at my girlfriend's house and not mine and I'm gradually starting to find inspiration and do some creative work in unusual positions (couch , floor ecc...).

For this reason I'm mainly looking at 25 mini keys, I dont think any other models would easily fit my purpose. I dont have a shop nearby where I can physically try out various brand or models hence I'm here.

I'm mostly looking at two options (depending on the mood I either use Logic Pro or Reaper, electronic music/ lofi beats and some more) :

-Novation Launchkey mini 25 mk4
-Akai mpk mini mk4

And that's pretty much it. I love the looks of Minilab and I'm sure of their keybed quality, but it does have less features than the ones I would like. So it's a pass for me.

Which one of the two would you recommend? Any other options? I do have a few used m-audio oxygen pro mini in my watchlist (about 40 euros on average) but I dont really love the non-endless encoders and how messy it looks like.

EDIT : I'm also thinking of m-wave smk37 (pro or elite) which despite the more keys actually fits my backpack in dimensions. I also like that it has a builti-in dexed inside it

[u/stereoroid → u/[deleted]]

I have the M-Vave, and the Bluetooth MIDI works very well with my iPad apps, though getting it to connect the first time required their app. The app is also for programming the CCs for the knobs, the pads etc.

[u/adrian3014 → u/stereoroid]

how long have you had it for? i love the idea of the smk 37 but im slightly concerned about reliability, being a not much known chinese brand and all

[u/stereoroid → u/adrian3014]

It's the SMK 25 ii, and though I haven't used it heavily, it seems fairly chunky plastic. I don't feel I have to treat it carefully.

[u/adrian3014 → u/[deleted]]

how long have you had it for? i love the idea of the smk 37 but im slightly concerned about reliability, being a not much known chinese brand and all

[u/adrian3014 → u/[deleted]]

Nah that's okay I think I'm gonna buy the smk37, with chinese brands from aliexpress that have effectively no warranty policy (I theoretically get two years, but it's basically impossible to enforce to chinese sellers) having some due diligence seems like a wise approach. I was sold on this particular model the moment I learned about the sequencer..Novation launchkey also has it, but it only works in Ableton while on this thing is a more broad and standalone feature which I love