Reloop Intros Keypad Compact MIDI Controller

reloop-keypad

Reloop has introduced the KeyPad – a new compact MIDI controller for Live and other DAWs.

Here’s a video demo of the KeyPad in action:

Features:

  • Compact USB MIDI keyboard with DAW control and drum pads
  • Combines the most useful functions for music production in one device
  • Drum pads: 16 velocity sensitive trigger pads with backlit LEDs
  • Keyboard: 25 mini keys with 9 playable octaves
  • Control section: 8 channel faders with endless encoders (pan), 2 control knobs, (send/return) and three backlit function buttons (mute, solo, rec)
  • Full integration and easy plug and play for Ableton Live 9
  • DAW transport controls (play, stop, rec, scene up/down, play/ stop clips, overdub, set marker, marker left/right, cycle, tap, metronome)
  • On board arpeggiator with multiple modes and internal/external MIDI clock
  • Chord feature: easily play the most common chords in this versatile mode
  • Scale mode: choose from four different scales and always hit the right key
  • Shift button for second layer control and selection between two performance scenes
  • Fully USB powered controller requires no external power source
  • Other MIDI mappings available as download
  • Ableton Live 9 Lite included (value upgrade opportunity)

Pricing and availability are TBA. See the Reloop site for more info.

19 thoughts on “Reloop Intros Keypad Compact MIDI Controller”

    1. Yeah, we’ve been clamoring for this for ages… You can get a box for the Qunexus that will translate its output to regular MIDI DINs so… not really, but at least you don’t need a whole computer. Other than that, i think only the full-size 25 key controllers have full MIDI out.

      This is pure speculation, but Akai has a couple products out now with 1/8in MIDI out jacks. Neither of them are keyboards, but if you’re patient (and Akai does something smart for once) I *suspect* that their next round of MPK mini (or whatever they call it) might have the same.

    2. the korg microkontrol has both mini keys and midi in/out, it has also a similar design, but with less knobs and fairly more expansive than 150$ here in Italy (around 200€)

  4. This looks like Korg’s Nano key/pad/kontrol combined but better. If anyone wants to buy all three Nanos and intends to use them for their home studio I think Reloop’s would be a better choice. And if the price is going to be $150 then it would just be slightly more expensive than all three Nanos and the price would be justified and besides it also contains Ableton LE.

    1. Exactly. I wonder how flexible it would be for working in something besides Ableton though (Logic, Cubase, etc). Otherwise I like the all in one form factor.

    2. I think this might be a good choice for making sketches on the road. The korg nano controller series is nice, but the build leaves much to be desired, plus the fact that if you want to use all three at the same time, you need 3 USB ports. We’ll have to see if this is built to stand some hard knob twisting, and the road, but it looks very much like the nano korg which, in my experience, the faders really can’t take to much stress without falling out. I guess it might also be good for people just starting out on producing, to get a feel, and then get into some more serious stuff. I think all controllers are useful, but some are less useful, if you already own other controllers that fit more your work flow and style. In the end, when it comes to controllers, it all comes down to personal taste. If the build is strong enough, and the price is under 150€, I will certainly consider it for travel, to not carry around my Novation 25 SL MKI. If you are seriously into production and you think you dig this one, I would certainly recommend the Novation SL MKII, and if you are short on budget, find a used MKI. You wont regret it. =)

    3. Graham: I think it could work just as well. Maybe the developers will update its drivers with a standard mapping for other DAWs, like for example plug the controller in, open Reason, create a Redrum and load a drum bank and start creating beats. That would of course make it easier for those just starting into music production so they don’t have to worry about manual mapping. When I bought a cheap no brand MIDI keyboard with controller knobs I had no idea how to map the knobs. Upon reading the digital manual it came with I thought that you either have to be a professor at MIT or sell your soul to Cthulhu to understand its esoteric language. That frustration takes its toll on the enthusiasm to make music.

      Nan: I thought about making music/sketches “on the road”, Personally I’d find it a bit cumbersome to make music with a a laptop and this product while on a plane/train or sitting at the beach under an umbrella. For sketches I have an iPhone (I don’t own an iPad) or just sing the melody in the voice memo app. However a nice thing about Korg’s is that one of them fits perfect below the keyboard (on top of the track pad) on a 15″ laptop, so that’s more “on the road”. But then I guess it’s up to the user of course to decide how much is too much of equipment for the road and then there’s the issue of durability of the product as well.

  6. Piece looks OK but those knobs are incredibly too small and crammed for proper knob twisting! Same with the short, squatty faders. I wish designers these days would pay more attention to ergonomics and feel rather that trying to pack in as many features and controls in the smallest form factor possible.

  8. you know, when i was a beginner at computer music i would have loved to have had one of these! this thing isnt for the veteran synth owner who needs midi and cv control to all their devices. come off it!

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