Being a part of the music industry asks for more than pure talent. Good studio equipment makes up for more than 50% of a musician’s success. While no one is expecting that you invest in top-notch products right from the start, doing your research and buying the essentials is a must.
Investing in a proper MIDI controller will allow you to arrange and express your sounds the best way possible. In the past few years, the MIDI controllers have become quite popular. Among all, it is the Korg brand that constantly comes up with high-quality models.
The Korg nanoKONTROL2 Midi Controller is the right buy for any musician that enjoys working on laptop and netbooks. Without further ado, let’s check out the highlighted features of this bad boy.
Korg nanoKONTROL 2 Midi Controller
While MIDI controllers are known to get quite expensive, the Korg 25-Key is the perfect example of an affordable product that doesn’t lack quality.
Low profile, with a sleek design and a plug and play feature, this product is great for a home or a professional studio environment.
Coming with eight channels and a dedicated transport control section, it is an excellent buy if you want to record high-quality tracks.
Who is this product for?
The Korg nanoKONTROL2 is a great buy for anyone who is interested in creating high-quality music. While MIDI controllers are usually a thing for more experienced musicians, this one is quite simple to use, and as it has a multi-function control surface, and supports a number of complex software options (including DAWs), it is fit for beginners. Whether you are experienced or you are just making your way up in the music industry, this affordable product may be the right choice for you.
What’s included?
It is critical to know what is included in the offer. Talking about this one, you get a slim-line USB keyboard that is connected to a PC with a USB cord. Still, it doesn’t include a USB cable and you will have to get this separately. Along with that, there is no TS input for a sustain pedal, but Korg has made up for this by including a sustain button.
Overview of features
If we were to compare it to its competitors, the Korg nanoKONTROL 2 certainly is one of the best-looking controllers on the market. Apart from having a multi-function control surface, it has a low profile and a sleek design that perfectly fits a laptop working environment. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can connect it to only your laptop/netbook, as it can be successfully used with your Windows or Mac device.
As we mentioned above, it comes with eight channels that all include three buttons, a fader, and a knob, making it simple and easy to control and adjust the right settings, pan, and volume. The market button feature adds to its convenience as you can mark the critical points from which you will continue your recording.
Apart from being compatible with almost any DAW software, you can download the Korg Kontrol Editor for free, and enjoy all the benefits of max and min values. Although it is quite small compared to some of its competitors, this MIDI controller packs a lot of power. Still, it is not ideal for more complex work as it is not compatible with Pro Tools 12 and similar software.
Along with that, you shouldn’t expect it to sustain through heavy use as it is quite flimsy, and not as sturdy. Last but not least, the clicking sound of the keys can get quite annoying for people that are into details. But overall, it is a product that has good value for any beginner that is just starting in the music industry and doesn’t want to miss the benefits of a proper MIDI controller.
How to use it
Installing and using this controller is quite simple. It is a USB keyboard so there is nothing you need other than a connectable cable and PC to power it through. Being compatible with a number of major programs, you can download the Kontrol Editor Software on the Korg website and adjust the settings as you like.
Pros
- Affordable
- Sustain button
- Compatible with most DAW
Cons
- Not as sturdy
- Doesn’t support Pro Tools 12
- Doesn’t include USB cable
Worlde 25 Key USB Midi Controller
While the Korg nanoKONTROL 2 is a good buy, the Worlde 25 Key Midi Controller does make up for some of its cons. It includes a USB cable and features a lightweight and portable design that has 8 sensitive color pads. Along with that, it comes with an adjustable octave feature, and a pressure sensor that will allow precise settings.
Conclusion
The Korg nanoKONTROL2 is a good quality MIDI controller for people that want to experiment and add extra groove to their recordings. While it is not ideal for experts and high-quality mixing tasks, this product stands at great value taking into consideration the low price point.