Korg NanoStudio - Gadget's Secret Weapon 

I bought one of these this week, I really like it. You cover the good and bad points well. I actually like the limited dynamics, makes it easy to play. Its quite easy to set up with TAL's UNO-LX, the Juno 106 emulator, which I'm a huge fan of on the iPad. Once the TAL app learns the knob assigment, thats it, it will work the next time. Ironically there does not appear to be a MIDI learn feature on Korg's Oddessy app, which means I can't use the Korg NanoKey Studio's knobs with it. I really like the Oddessy app, but don't understand this oversight by Korg!

Awesome I hope you enjoy it and create lots of fantastic music with it! Hey if you make anything you want to share send me a link! I’d love to see / hear what my people are up creating 😃

Thanks for the comment - I actually want to do more with gadget. It’s pretty much my favorite iPad music app.

Same! Some call it a problem some call it being prepared lol. I prefer looking at it the second way… Thanks for stopping by. Glad you liked the video. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel. I gotta do a video for Gadget 3, which just came out there’s not a lot different in my opinion a few changes, but it was due to have something. I’m kind of hoping that they released more instruments for it or enhance what they have in there already… Modulation and such or being able to combine them like you would in reason

Thanks very much!! I really appreciate it

I love the bani key - I literally have one with me everywhere I go, never know when something will inspire you. I just wish my Novation Circuit Tracks had a USB port that I could plug it into that would be amazing!

Not to mention drum pads knobs and the X/Y pad… yeah it’s got some cool features. Same key feel - I mean it is cool but the Nanokey 2 is pretty great too… are you using it with an iPad?

@@Cap10NRGMusic I don't have an iPad. I have a MacBook and an Android tablet. The MacBook seems to be the better device to use. I really like the sound of the chord and scale features, which I have noticed on a few other devices. I am clueless about music theory and my basic midi keyboard isn't inspiring me, so I think I will get something with the chord/scales help. I need something very small for travel, there aren't many options. There are some small groove pad style devices, the M-Vave SMK 25 Mini, which is similar to my current keyboard but adds chord/scale features, or the Nano Studio. The latter lights up keys in scale mode which seems like a great idea. The groove pad devices are probably too big. DAW-wise, Gadget is too expensive for my Mac at $299, so I may stick with Garageband or Bandlab Web, which I discovered yesterday- really nice and simple. Couldn't get chord helping plugins to work on Garageband so I tried 2 other DAWs but they were too cluttered and needed time to learn. Bandlab is just as simple as Garageband, so that is where I will begin.

That cord/scale feature stays in my controller!!! 😂😂😂😂

I agree they do compliment each other nicely! :). If you make anything cool send a link I love hearing what my community is into!

Hey Brian - thanks glad you are enjoying the ipad! I love mine and was actually looking at possible getting one of the new M1 pro units - but might wait until after the announcement of new gear from Apple coming in March... Anyway YED - more knobs and sliders would have been awesome. There is a device that might help you out if you need more controls... Now given you would need to plug this puppy in into a USB adapter I believe... But check this out: chucklevins.com/products/korg-nanokontrol2-slim-line-usb-controller-black?variant=32351493324863&currency=USD&msclkid=5b080b5605de127fc2f1694cdfd4e95a&

@@Cap10NRGMusic Yeah those M1s are making me feel way more confident in buying even lower tier MacBooks now, especially since iPad audio and midi is just plug and play with macs. For what it’s worth, I’ve had a lot more luck with Studiomux on Windows lately :D

@@Cap10NRGMusic Unfortunately I spent a fair bit on the Korg Gadget summer sale, so it’ll be a little bit before another hardware upgrade 😂

I do the same thing lol. Of course everybody seems to have this summer sales At the same time lol kills me every year! I just dropped about $120 at Steinberg

@@Cap10NRGMusic One of the benefits about buying expensive piano VSTs is that when you’re poor again at least you can wallow in performance-quality piano soundscapes 😎

I really like mine - I hope you’ll enjoy it too!!

I’m glad you’re liking the NKStudio - it’s a pretty cool controller. I will have to look closer to see if I can replicate that issue. I had not noticed it.

I can hardly wait for the next update - really hoping for a more complete triton or one of their more modern synths - minilogue / monologue...

@@Cap10NRGMusic Any news on the update?

Hey there! Thanks for subscribing first second I am waiting to be able to say anything because the beta tester contract pretty much says zip your lip LOL. However I feel they are pretty close to making these features that have come up so far available to reason plus users… That being the case as soon as it’s available in reason plus I can talk about it. Right now all I can really say is that they’re working on the hi DEF graphics which they themselves have said. They look good there are a couple things still to tweak from what I can tell but they’re doing a good job it seems. There are still some things I’m hoping for and I have not seen the new sample yet which they also said it’s coming… Or the new combinator

But trust me as soon as I know I can speak I will be posting a video. I just don’t wanna get sued you know what I mean LOL. That would suck

@@Cap10NRGMusic thanks I’m really anxious myself

Hello @holybrook welcome to the community! Yes I love this device it is super handy - and takes up almost no room! One of my coolest impulse buys actually haha

Is this usable with Gadget even if I only have an iPad ?(No other device except phone). Great video BtW

@WyattLite-n-inn hey there yeah it works great with the iPad. That’s what I use with all the time. I use it with my PC as well or my Mac. I can plug it in by USB or use it by Bluetooth but on the PC I have to plug it in.

@@Cap10NRGMusic Thanks !

@@WyattLite-n-inn you’re welcome! Please don’t forget to subscribe and like the video I appreciate it if you would

Gadget is awesome! I think it is probably my most used iPad Application (well that and Cubasis)

@@Cap10NRGMusic honestly when it comes to making beats gadget is a dream come true for me. The biggest thing besides the quality and amount of sounds and instruments is the stability. I got a 2020 ipad pro and I bought cb3 bm3 and gadget and while I cannot count the amount of times the other apps have crashed Korg gadget has not crashed once. Honestly I do not understand why this app does not have the recognition it deserves. My only gripe would be the expansions in module..granted I got them all half off but had I paid full price for em it would feel like I got ripped off. The programs in orchestral dreams and the epic choirs are so similar you almost have to wonder if they are the same samples with variations of effects like reverb on them. For ten dollars I'm happy but for 20 I will wait for a sale. Also I wish they had an option to make the mixer full screen. But overall I'm a kid in a candy store.

If you run Gadget as an IAP in AUM, you can channel Taipei to any AUv3 synth, I think. I will check though. Often I use Gadget machines as my demo things, then use something like Factory or one of the Moog synths when it comes to a final mix.

Nice - I was just thinking of doing another gadget video!

That would be amazing! I agree 👍

Hey I just sub'd to your page, good stuff - you should subscribe here if you haven't I have a bunch of mobile content coming - also check out the sound test room (ru-vid.com) he covers a lot of mobile music software. Really cool guy too (Doug and his wife Jo run the channel).

@@Cap10NRGMusic Thanks very much. I'm already subscribed to yours and I hope to be making more IOS music soon. I know Doug & Jo quite well now but thanks for the suggestion anyway. Much appreciated. Lee

@@iosmusicman Awesome! Just thought I would put it out there :D Also Thank you for subscribing!

Its still just chump change compared to something like the Teenage Engineering OP-1!

Hey thanks for the comment! Actually I’ve had no problem with the keys at all they work perfectly every time. Actually a lot longer than I thought they would considering the amount of abuse I give them LOL and their construction is very similar to a keyboard type key like a typing keyboard. But now the noise is mostly just I guess I’ll say for me LOL no one else has noticed hearing it, and when I’m usually recording with it I don’t have a microphone right there like I do in the video as I’m using it to play in the demo you know so the Clackamas of it isn’t so noticeable. It’s basically a very similar keyboard to the OP1. I would buy it again honestly the only thing is I would hope that if I would buy it again they released like a 36 key version or a 32 key version I could really use a little more than just two straight octaves of keys lol - that is my biggest complaint about it actually the number of keys… I mean it’s fine for on the road and for this and that you know but I find myself changing octaves frequently with it transposing the keys up and down to get that next higher octave or go low enough to do a particular bass sound I’m looking for. Overall though I’d give it probably a nine out of 10. It’s not my only Korg micro type keyboard device either I have the other keyboard it’s just a keyboard plugged in by USB I take everywhere with me as well to hook up to my PC or Mac with a USB cable type connection. But yeah of the people I’ve recommended it to only one didn’t like it and I’ve probably recommended it to about 50 people in real life. I guess my only other gripe would be that it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery built-in but you can of course buy those so it’s not that big of a deal especially considering that since you put them in and can replace them there’s no tech service required to change the battery. Yeah if you get one let me know I’d love to hear what you think of it. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel if you could I’d appreciate it um tell your friends I’m trying to grow the channel and it’s been kind of slow lately lol I think everyone’s on vacation :)

Yeah I kind of mentioned that at the wrong place but I did say most synthesizers lol sorry about that. Thanks for pointing that out though

Thank you - hey if there is anything you'd like to see let me know! :D

Hmmm good question. Usually I use the screen for that. As far as I know you cannot change patches or scenes with the controller. Thanks for the question - sorry the answer is what it it.

I’m looking into it…

@@Cap10NRGMusic Thank You! :)

Hey there OK so here’s what’s up first the software them using in the video is called Gadget it is by Korg, and it is essentially the software that that controller was built for. The controller works with a bunch of stuff though so you know it’s just a generic midi controller but it was designed primarily for use with Gadget. It is not free release the version that I have is not, there is a free version like a Gadget LE version I believe and it’s pretty awesome I think you should check it out it’s my favorite iOS application bar none. As far as the pads not producing the cords you want unfortunately I don’t really know if there’s a way to change the type of chord. I would recommend downloading the manual because the cords are based on the scale type that you’re using… The scale tape can be changed using the shift and scale buttons which are the pad three and four thereby giving you different cord types but I don’t know if any of them are going to make you happy try them out see what happens there is no way to make your own way chord pads they are built-in. There’s a whole bunch of information in that manual on how to transpose the cords to the key you want them in and then how to select the different keys also it mentions the types of our page agents and that’s type of things that are in there it’s in there check it out the manual can be downloaded off of the Korg website. The other thing is that if he using iOS I would say check out Cubasis - this is not free either but it will let you set up your cord pads to be wherever you want them to be without restricting them to preset versions because it just lets you apply whatever notes you want or whatever cord you want to cord pads and play them with keys I believe. I hope that helps if not let me know I’ll see what else I can do I don’t think there’s much more I can do I tried everything including using the editor to modify it so it would give you what you wanted but it doesn’t look like there’s anything else to do there

Hey there Shane - yes if you use a MIDI keyboard you’ll be playing in chromatic mode. If there is anything else feel free to hit me up. Please don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t already,

Hello Karen - Welcome to my channel! To be honest almost any iPad should be able to run it fine. I run it on the original 12” pro as well as an iPhone 8, and iPhone 12, and a 2019 iPad Pro. (I got the pros because at the time I really wanted the pencil ✏️ feature - I do a lot of sketching, cartooning, and take notes, but you do no need a pro). Basically if it’s within the last 6 years I know you’ll be fine. Heck I used to use it in an iPhone 5 - small screen but it could handle it nicely. So basically - get an iPad you like and grab a copy! It’s on sale right now as well!! And font forget to subscribe!! :)

Hey there I’m not sure actually I’ll have to take a look. I am temporarily out of commission I have the flu

Hey there Naza James Reyes. I am not really clear on what you are asking. Are you asking if you can assign the controls on this keyboard to control and electribe?

@@Cap10NRGMusic hi bro, no. There are other Korg midi controllers, like the nanokeypad 2 or the Korg electribe2, that comes with the function GATE ARP. That buttons/function is not in this controller ...(it comes with ARP , but not GATE ARP), maybe is there a way to create/assign this features in this controller

Hmmm - well the Electribe is a groovebox I believe. As far as assigning this functionality to this device… I’m not sure and I really think that might be something that would be done in its firmware. Sorry man

Wonder if it’s defective? I don’t have noticeable latency - sorry for the poor experience.

Oh man let me tell you I have been up and down the controller highway path - the KORG is my favorite for portability, but the keys do feel like buttons... I REALLY wish they had gone with the material the drum pads are made out of, but I am super happy with it other than that.

I just thought of something and forgot to mention it before. If you don’t mind a cable - you can get an adapter from Amazon that has a lightning port and USB port and still plugs in the lightning adapter on your phone so you can charge it while you’re using the USB for about $14. And you can get the AKAI MINI KEYBOARD these things are pretty sweet feel good because the keys are actual keys even though their mini keys have eight pads and eight knobs. They even have one that has built-in sounds now I guess for about 119… Pretty good functionality for the money and still they’re pretty easy to carry are used to carry one around me all the time

@@Cap10NRGMusic - *I really hate using usb cables on iPads. For studio stuff, I’ll use a MIDI Controller with USB, tho. Lately, I am keen on getting the Akai Pro LPK25 wireless or the CME X-Key. The overall reviews seem better for the Akai. Interestingly, the Akai LPD8 wireless drum pads seem discontinued.*

The XKey runs with other Bluetooth 'drivers' (apps) on iOS. With AUM, it connects directly (feature recently added to AUM).

@@tybowesformerlygoat-x7760 Actually the KORG stuff doesn’t seem to apparently install a new driver either; there’s not a specific driver you don’t have to go install software to make it work. The driver is a mostly built into the device that I believe we’re talking about here there is definitely a driver of some kind in the device because something needs to tell iOS what’s going on. Also if there is a driver for the Korg that we’re talking about here it’s probably just software to configure it to tell it what knobs do if you want to set default functions I have an actually seen it I don’t use it I just use it out of the box. There are things you can do with say the AKAI that do require sone software intervention. As far as the iOS device is concerned it’s a Bluetooth signal coming in with MIDI data. It’s kind of up to the device to decide what it sending a cross that channel…

In gadget in the lower left-hand corner there is the area where you pick your scale. You can also select to play chords within that scale I think that’s what I was talking about I can’t remember off the top my head I’ll have to see if I can find that part of the video and see what I was mentioning there. Other than that on the Nano studio you can select to use chords Using the pads I believe I would have to look at it to tell you I’m not in front of it at the moment.

Hey there Renee! Thanks for the question - though compatibility with Android us not specifically mentioned… it does appear to work with my older Samsun galaxy tablet with FL Studio - so I’m going to go with a blanket yes. It’s just a Bluetooth device - also works with PC, Mac, and iPhone :) - please sub if this was helpful!! Thanks

You might be able to - blue tooth… not sure though. I don’t have Gadget for the switch, unfortunately. That would be cool though

Well unfortunately the issue is that the Android OS is way behind on audio capabilities it makes writing music software for it really difficult. Korg does make the plugins used in Gadget as VSTs that can be used on a windows PC. If you are wanting to use Android - Steinberg DID release Cubasis currently version 3.4 which is a really great DAW on both IOS and Android. What Platform are you looking to support and what kind of music do you want to make with it. I’m happy to help you find a solution.

Battery life is pretty good - I mean probably 8 hours on fresh regular "caliber" alkaline batteries (energizer anyway)... Personally - I use the cable a lot with it to save batteries - but when I do use actual batts - I am typically using rechargeable batteries (I just hate waste) but I do often carry a set of fresh energizers incase... The ONE thing that I would have really appreciated on this device was an integrated / replaceable battery (or battery pack - could have reused a digital camera battery pack or something I feel like). I hope you love yours as much as I do! I actually just bought a new Akai MPK Mini (people asking for reviews and google apparently "likes them" so let's see what happens lol...)

@@Cap10NRGMusic I’ll get the Nanokey studio this Wednesday. I do have a Alesis Q25 Midi keyboard that gets it’s power from the iPad Pro with a special adapter can I do the same thing the Nanokey studio.

Yes you can :) that’s what I do mostly

Hey - well I’m sorry you are disappointed with the Nanokey Studio, but I’m happy you found a device that you like. I love my AKSI MPK minis -they feel better. But that NKS (Nano key studio) gave me Bluetooth - which opened my USB port up for a decent audio interface. At the very least it doesn’t add to the draw on the iPad battery. I do wish they would have done something better than feeling like a typing keyboard, but it’s fine. Gets the job done nicely

@@Cap10NRGMusic thanks for your reply, I can understand your point of view. Nanokey studio is great in some ways: bluetooth connectvity, form factor, great integration with gadget and ios. But, at the end, it is essential for me to "get in touch" with the keyboard first of all. In other words I need to have the right feedback from the instrument in order to make my music...you know what I mean.

I absolutely understand. Same reason my favorite keys and controllers are what they are. Ahem and manufacturers of controllers are welcome to try to sway me with free goods 😉. My favorite Keynes over all is my MONTAGE 6… It was quite expensive (imho) but boy - when I sit in front of that and play - the buttery smoothness of them makes time just melt. Wish there was a $200-$300 equivalent. Closest I have found is the AKAI MPK 2 49. Also feels good but just a little too springy

@@Cap10NRGMusic I agree: Yamaha is really good at making keyboards and keybeds. I own a Reface dx, which is overall quite limited but it has the best minikeys I ever found anywhere. I also own a Jupiter XM, which is fantastic in sound generation capability and for making music on the go but the keybed is not so good...

Have you tried the companion app? I usually use this with my iPad and gadget - I have bc e not had any limitations this way. Software can in many ways compensate for hardwares initial deficiencies. Are you referring to the chord pads?

@@Cap10NRGMusic I mean changing chords 3th to 7th or maybe 1st inversoin in "easy scale" mode (grey buttoms). it's impossible to do... I also found a bunch of softwares for this, and now the "easy scale" mode itself is completely useless for me :(. that was the advantage of this midi keyboard... stupid korg...