I love your reviews of keyboards, as you really care about keybeds and how they feel. I don’t care too much about the knobs and such as I use iPad and it’s simple enough to use the “virtual” knobs on screen. But keyboards are hard to judge from descriptions etc. Trying to replace my LPK-25 because I think one more octave would do the trick. But then they become too long and don’t fit in my backpack. Wish they would just have keys edge-to-edge and put the mod wheels/stripes on top instead. The search continues...
Thanks for this review. Seen a couple reviews but they are in hindi...and they don't cover the important things we wanted to know. Not to forget those reviews are very old. Again thank you so much.
Thanks to this review (and MichaelPRod's) I just decided to give the 6X a chance. It had same-day free mailing so it's coming at my door in any moment. Let's see how it does. I must say I had to watch a lot of your videos to choose a decent and simple (budget) keyboard, so I'm thankful for your reviews!
Hi Thanks for the review. While using midi out (example to a korg volca), this device needs to be still powered from usb or is there a power socket/input also?
I ordered this. Just what I needed for my travel gear. I don’t want any software. Have more than need. Both USB and MIDI ?!?!? Unreal… just what I wanted…. Cant w8 w try it. Thanks 🙏
Can anyone comment how this compares to the equivalent Korg Microkey in terms of play feel. Edit: or even the equivalent Arturia Keystep - which this seems to have been inspired by
CME Xkey 37 MIDI Mobile Keyboard cosmetically appelling {apple style} with after touch. Pricy though in this video it would be a better fit with your Mac book pro same type of looks and no orange cable. Key board lower profile $189 -$200.
Hey JM - thanks again for a great video. I'm currently in the market for a small keyboard. Get this idea (similar to what you've shown us with iOS and having a number of Apps and turning on/off or mixing sounds one one board): I got an MC 101 which has amazing sounds. It does 4 tracks - each can be assigned it's own sound (EP, Acoustic, Strings, Clav). I would use a mini board like this here and just blend the sounds directly on the MC 101. Brilliant. May I make a wish for future videos? Could you actually put the midi keyboards side-by-side with similar ones. For example, to see the size differences in the keys... Peace!
It looks awesome. I just saw the X8 version on sale in my country. Should I get it for my son to continue his piano lessons, or are the keys bad for piano learning? He's learning on a cheap keyboard right now. It's decent enough but it's got 61 keys and no pedal support, which the x8 does.
The controller outputs CC messages from the knobs, it's up to the DAW or the individual plugin to map functions to the MIDI CCs. Most do though so I'd be very surprised if Logic didn't. It works perfectly with Reaper.
@@Johnmike Hi John! I just got an X3 mini and tried to connect it to my iPad Air (bought like two months ago): the keyboard powers on but it does not seem to work on GarageBand or similar.. I'm currently using a non-Apple lightning connector, could it be because of that? Or maybe because of the lightning standard itself? Any other specific software I could try? P.s.: it works on my android phone (USB-C) though!
That's something I'd expect to be in the synth you connect to, not the MIDI controller. In the synthesiser you'd choose key track as a modulation source and then amplitude as a destination.
@@Jack-fs2im Almost any synthesiser with flexible modulation routing (i.e. a mod matrix) should be able to do this. That includes a lot of soft synths and virtual analogue modules, but also on some analogue polysynths like the Behringer Deepmind. I think the Yamaha SY22 is an FM-synth, right? Something like the Korg Opsix should be able to do the kind of key scaling you're after no trouble, but I don't actually own one so double check before buying!
@@eyeball226 Thanx muchly.My old SY22 now defunct did it easily and I performed with it for 15years.It win,t match todays sounds but was still good in its day.I miss it .thanx again .
@@eyeball226 I checked out both those synths.The Korg is only 3 octaves.and neither do a Grand Piano.My SY22 had a great piano sound.Thanx anyway,stay safe.kind regards
Hi friend, is possible to use the X3 Mini as a MIDI (DIN) interface when you connected to the PC? That is, using usb MIDI and DIN (standard) MIDI at the same time, for DAW controlling of the external old hardware bypassing the X3.
There are two octave/transpose buttons on the left. Those two buttons are located above the pitch and modulation. If you press and hold the "shift" key & then press up or down on the octave transpose buttons, you can transpose by half step. If you don't hold shift, you will transpose an octave. If you press and hold "shift" then press "down" on the "octave/transpose" button, you will transpose the entire keyboard's pitch -2 When you press hold the "SHIFT" button, it will read "SHF." Then, when you press down on the "octave/transpose" button once while holding shift, it will read "b01." Press it again and it will read "b02." Do that, and you will have changed the pitch -2 half steps. But the pitch bend just bends the pitch about 2 semitones, then goes back to 0 when released, just as any other pitch wheel would. Some say the pitch bend occasionally sticks on this device, and it does. It is not just the lighting that sticks. It is the pitch. That should not be. Not sure if a firmware update would solve that problem.
Hi there! i'm about to buy my first midi controller, and i'm between the MIDIPlus X2 (like this but 25 notes) and the Arturia Microlab. I'm not really a keyboard player, but i think one of these will really help me. Which one do you think is better? the x2 has some extra features but i've heard that the Arturia has much better key quality. I hope you can answer, and thanks for the videos! Cheers from Argentina
Great review! Can I use this without connecting to a computer? I want to use this on a workstation (MIDI out on the X3, MIDI in on MOTIF XF), but not sure how the X3 will be powered in this case.
yo mike one question, i wanna start learning (or maybe just playing to fill my free time) piano and decided to try Synthesia. is this device support Synthesia? sorry for weird question, i have zero knowledge on music.. thankyou soo much
Depends on what iPad you have...if you have an older one then some keyboards draw too much power...some don’t...but the main fix for this is to just get a powered USB hub
Just so we all know wazzap. The cost of production of ANY!!! mini keyboard is around 2 euros/dollaz in Shenzen, China. Whether it has wheel or stripe. Dem jokin with us bigtime! Thxfor reviews!
If you decide to buy this...Support the channel by using this link:
MidiPlus X3 Mini: amzn.to/2oA6X0H
question - would you know how to program any of the MSB LSB banks etc? That stuff confuses the hell outta me!
Appreciate the review! I was looking for info on these and yours is the first video I found in English.
i have pretty small hands so i dont think key size matters too much to me, might buy this now!! seems pretty cool, thanks for the review :)
are you going to be doing a "6 months later" video for this keyboard?
I love your reviews of keyboards, as you really care about keybeds and how they feel. I don’t care too much about the knobs and such as I use iPad and it’s simple enough to use the “virtual” knobs on screen. But keyboards are hard to judge from descriptions etc. Trying to replace my LPK-25 because I think one more octave would do the trick. But then they become too long and don’t fit in my backpack. Wish they would just have keys edge-to-edge and put the mod wheels/stripes on top instead. The search continues...
This, or the midiplus AKM322
Thanks for this review. Seen a couple reviews but they are in hindi...and they don't cover the important things we wanted to know. Not to forget those reviews are very old. Again thank you so much.
Every midi controller i've come across always have really small keys smh. Great video tho!
Thanks to this review (and MichaelPRod's) I just decided to give the 6X a chance. It had same-day free mailing so it's coming at my door in any moment. Let's see how it does.
I must say I had to watch a lot of your videos to choose a decent and simple (budget) keyboard, so I'm thankful for your reviews!
Hi Thanks for the review. While using midi out (example to a korg volca), this device needs to be still powered from usb or is there a power socket/input also?
Reminds me of of the Keystation, it they made this in black...this would be nice to pick up. Good Stuff!
I ordered this. Just what I needed for my travel gear. I don’t want any software. Have more than need. Both USB and MIDI ?!?!? Unreal… just what I wanted…. Cant w8 w try it. Thanks 🙏
I like the design of this piece of gear
Thanks for the Video! Your Info got me to buy this in the x6 version !
Is the MIDI port able to send notes from a DAW, or is it only for "played" notes ?
Great review! Definitely considering buying
Can anyone comment how this compares to the equivalent Korg Microkey in terms of play feel. Edit: or even the equivalent Arturia Keystep - which this seems to have been inspired by
A better key than the Korg imo.
Any difference with the X6 mini? other than more keys obviusly
CME Xkey 37 MIDI Mobile Keyboard cosmetically appelling {apple style} with after touch. Pricy though in this video it would be a better fit with your Mac book pro same type of looks and no orange cable. Key board lower profile $189 -$200.
Thanks for your video. Can you assign a number different to 1 to the modulation capacitive thingy?
Hai, i'm Denny from Indonesia. I really need your opinion to decide my next midi. Which one get a better key bed feels, NI M32 or Midi plus x3? 🙏
M32..best feel hands down
@@Johnmike thank you very much man. I really like your review. God Bless ya!
Hey JM - thanks again for a great video. I'm currently in the market for a small keyboard. Get this idea (similar to what you've shown us with iOS and having a number of Apps and turning on/off or mixing sounds one one board): I got an MC 101 which has amazing sounds. It does 4 tracks - each can be assigned it's own sound (EP, Acoustic, Strings, Clav). I would use a mini board like this here and just blend the sounds directly on the MC 101. Brilliant. May I make a wish for future videos? Could you actually put the midi keyboards side-by-side with similar ones. For example, to see the size differences in the keys... Peace!
It looks awesome. I just saw the X8 version on sale in my country. Should I get it for my son to continue his piano lessons, or are the keys bad for piano learning? He's learning on a cheap keyboard right now. It's decent enough but it's got 61 keys and no pedal support, which the x8 does.
It would be a good buy for that
@@Johnmike thanks
Do the buttons (when CC remapped) work as momentary or toggle? And can this changed somewhere? (via the keyboard or maybe within DAW (Logic?))
Nice review man, did it hold up well?
Light on the mod 👍
Hi Mike,
How does this keyboard integrate with Logic Pro X? Is it possible to control VSTs using the knobs ?
The controller outputs CC messages from the knobs, it's up to the DAW or the individual plugin to map functions to the MIDI CCs. Most do though so I'd be very surprised if Logic didn't. It works perfectly with Reaper.
How do you turn on key velocity?
Very nice review !!!!! X3 vs keystep? Opinion..? Im the 60th liker.. subed a months ago.. bell botton today!! More power!
Dope! Welcome to the family!! And I kinda like this one over the keystep...but the keystep does come with software...X3 doesn’t
John Mike tnx!!!
@@Johnmike Thanks a huge lot!!! That was exactly my question!
Hi John Mike, I was interested in acquiring this keyboard, between midiplus x3 vs arturia microlab which is better? I would use it with a nanopad 2
I like this keyboard very much...only drawback is it doesn’t come with any software...so if you are good with that...it’s a great buy
Thanks, man!
Thanks John... looks good. Is it just standard USB powered or also iPad?
The iPad will power it
@@Johnmike Hi John! I just got an X3 mini and tried to connect it to my iPad Air (bought like two months ago): the keyboard powers on but it does not seem to work on GarageBand or similar.. I'm currently using a non-Apple lightning connector, could it be because of that? Or maybe because of the lightning standard itself? Any other specific software I could try?
P.s.: it works on my android phone (USB-C) though!
The one thing I miss most is being able to change the “envelope” of the sound to enable lower keys to be louder or softer etc.
That's something I'd expect to be in the synth you connect to, not the MIDI controller. In the synthesiser you'd choose key track as a modulation source and then amplitude as a destination.
@@eyeball226 thanx,but have yet to find a synth with such a capability.I had a Yamaha SY22 and that had it,not seen it since
@@Jack-fs2im Almost any synthesiser with flexible modulation routing (i.e. a mod matrix) should be able to do this. That includes a lot of soft synths and virtual analogue modules, but also on some analogue polysynths like the Behringer Deepmind. I think the Yamaha SY22 is an FM-synth, right? Something like the Korg Opsix should be able to do the kind of key scaling you're after no trouble, but I don't actually own one so double check before buying!
@@eyeball226 Thanx muchly.My old SY22 now defunct did it easily and I performed with it for 15years.It win,t match todays sounds but was still good in its day.I miss it .thanx again .
@@eyeball226 I checked out both those synths.The Korg is only 3 octaves.and neither do a Grand Piano.My SY22 had a great piano sound.Thanx anyway,stay safe.kind regards
Hi friend, is possible to use the X3 Mini as a MIDI (DIN) interface when you connected to the PC? That is, using usb MIDI and DIN (standard) MIDI at the same time, for DAW controlling of the external old hardware bypassing the X3.
MidiPlus X3 Mini or Nektar SE 49?
If go with the se49 for full sized keys
Is it also possible to fix the pitch with that? Like pitch -2 and keep it there for example, or does it reset all the time you use the pitch bend?
There are two octave/transpose buttons on the left. Those two buttons are located above the pitch and modulation.
If you press and hold the "shift" key & then press up or down on the octave transpose buttons, you can transpose by half step. If you don't hold shift, you will transpose an octave. If you press and hold "shift" then press "down" on the "octave/transpose" button, you will transpose the entire keyboard's pitch -2
When you press hold the "SHIFT" button, it will read "SHF." Then, when you press down on the "octave/transpose" button once while holding shift, it will read "b01." Press it again and it will read "b02." Do that, and you will have changed the pitch -2 half steps.
But the pitch bend just bends the pitch about 2 semitones, then goes back to 0 when released, just as any other pitch wheel would.
Some say the pitch bend occasionally sticks on this device, and it does.
It is not just the lighting that sticks. It is the pitch.
That should not be.
Not sure if a firmware update would solve that problem.
@@V3RYG00D thank you so much !!!
does it have aftertouch...? list of midi keyboards with aftertouch...?
It doesn’t
Hi there! i'm about to buy my first midi controller, and i'm between the MIDIPlus X2 (like this but 25 notes) and the Arturia Microlab. I'm not really a keyboard player, but i think one of these will really help me. Which one do you think is better? the x2 has some extra features but i've heard that the Arturia has much better key quality.
I hope you can answer, and thanks for the videos!
Cheers from Argentina
Thanks for reaching out...if it’s about keyfeel I would probably go with this one..if you want added software I would go with the microlab
@@Johnmike thank you!
how is the weighted keybed compared to the keybed of the arturia keysteb with aftertouch?
I like this bed better but it doesn’t have after touch
Great review! Can I use this without connecting to a computer? I want to use this on a workstation (MIDI out on the X3, MIDI in on MOTIF XF), but not sure how the X3 will be powered in this case.
Yea you can...and you can power it via the USB port using a phone power brick
@@Johnmike Thanks for this info! I bought the X3 and use the USB port on the MOTIF as the power source. And then use MIDI to transfer signal.
Does it have an inbuilt speaker? Or does it play only from computer audio?
No...only from computer...no internal sounds
yo mike one question, i wanna start learning (or maybe just playing to fill my free time) piano and decided to try Synthesia. is this device support Synthesia? sorry for weird question, i have zero knowledge on music.. thankyou soo much
It should
i had the x8pro version from this company and the keys are just too springy. Not so good when you try to make runs and arpeggios.
Would it be good for a hobbyist music producer like me? I don't play piano very seriously.
Hi John do you know if this midi keyboard can be connected to an iPad and powered using the iPad?
Depends on what iPad you have...if you have an older one then some keyboards draw too much power...some don’t...but the main fix for this is to just get a powered USB hub
John Mike I have an iPad Pro and iPhone X. One of your comment here shows it can be powered via iPad so I just ordered it. I will try. 😊
does this keyboard need power anymore, or just enough from the usb ?
Just enough from usb
Damn no aftertouch, that’s a dealbreaker. Gotta go with the Keystep 37 instead
From Amazon "Product specifications Piano key :25 force sensitive keys". The X3 is touch sensitive.
@@ALOISC1 That's referring to velocity, not aftertouch.
Just so we all know wazzap. The cost of production of ANY!!! mini keyboard is around 2 euros/dollaz in Shenzen, China. Whether it has wheel or stripe. Dem jokin with us bigtime! Thxfor reviews!
Like 2 euros if You buy one piece on the street market.
Smh
Cool
Can I hook this up to android phone?
No
@@Johnmike Lots of android phones support USB hosting and MIDI over USB. You need an adapter, but the same goes for connecting to iOS devices.
yeeeeeet
sana all
This is not good i use 1year
Why ?