My most favourite MIDI Controller and why! | haQ attaQ 

INFO! - Knob ticks - BLT & USB power ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ 💡 KNOB TICKS For those who are wondering. The 64 ticks thing seems to be happening on nanoKEY studio only. The nanoKONTROL knobs and faders are does 128 ticks. 👍 💡 How to power over USB and connect over BLT at the same time (It’s the same video on all platforms. Follow me on Instagram. 😉) Instagram ► instagram.com/p/CTMxQkuA1Nx/? Facebook ► fb.watch/7IBx6vgHif/ Twitter ► twitter.com/jakob_haq/status/1432332566082854916?s=21

This thing was on a shelf. A Stratocaster fell off a wall mount onto it, straight down from three feet above, landing whammy bar down on the XY pad. The keyboard spun in the air, crashed four feet down, bouncing off of two shelves, and ended up under a pile of books and the guitar. Almost every knob and key exploded off of it. I simply popped them back on. Other than a dent in the XY pad that doesn't affect performance, there wasn't a lick of damage. The guitar didn't seem to care either.

For anybody wondering how to change the key you're in: "While holding down the Shift/Tap button, press the Octave + or Octave - button to specify the Key (as when transposing the keyboard). The selected key is indicated by the keyboard backlighting. (¬page 8: Transpose / Key)" :)

I bought this controller because of your videos. I’m using it since 1.5 years now and I really love it. The mobile usage is just awesome. I very often take it outside and then put it in front of my iPad so that looks like the keyboard of a laptop and quite often people approached me ans asked what kind of funny music laptop I have 🤣

Just that they don’t work well in blue tooth with MacBook pro 16. Support could not help.

When I was in Milan, they had army people across the city. Some of those controlled the entrance of the biggest church. So they checked my backpack and did not want to let me in with the Nanokey. Only after calling officer in charge and me showing how I play piano on my iphone, he let me keep it if I take the batteries out. They even let me keep the batteries. Strange. I was planning to film a video playing on the roof of the church, but after all this, did not want to test my luck 😃 Now one year later I sold it on Reverb. I sent it to USA and just before it reached the buyer, it got confiscated by military people again. It even showed that in tracking info. In the end the buyer got it, after some waiting. But I guess it kind of looks like some sort of military device that both, Italian and USA army recognises from somwhere else. This video reminded me how great it was. I might get one more 😉 thank you. BTW did you manage to get some other chords than the stock? In chord mode. It played some weird combination of notes for me.

Love this controller too. Made a whole album using just it, my iPad and Gadget. This and an iPad are the ultimate mobile production rig.

I used to own many kinds of midi controller, but ended up to keep this only. It’s so easy to use, with loads of features that many big brothers don’t even have. However, this keyboard does have some potential to improve: 1) an easy way to change midi channel beside scene switch. 2) a custom scale mode with transpose. 3) a precise tempo input. 4) more chord set. 5) transport ! (at least play/stop, rec). If korg meets all above needs, I wouldn’t mind spend 50% extra money on next gen.

dude its the only controller I use...I bought it awhile ago and then kinda put it away and bought a couple other controllers and I went to put it up on eBay because I wasn't using it and so I tried it out one more time...ended up selling every controller I had but that nano key. I love it so much!

I totally agree with everything said in this video. However i would ad one thing to the wishlist for a futur version. Multi color backlight buttons so it is easy to see what scene you are working with.

My 1st knobby/paddy midi contoller and I felt like a breath of fresh air when I started "knobing" around with it. :)

wth, I have this controller, I love it, I use it a lot with my iPad, it is the reason I also didn't get another controller, and yet I had NO idea it could do all of this stuff!!! Now I'm angry I didn't bring it with me to work today, I almost did this morning, and I could be fiddling with it now instead of working! What a great and informative video this is, I guess I'm leaving early today! added: I lost two of the knobs, they protrude annoyingly. So I took them all off, and don't use them now. But I was wondering if there was a 3d printed substitued more flatted version of the knobs. I'd buy them in an instant! (64 levels or not)

I was interested on the XY pad but the controller I have now is perfect, the Novation Launchkey Mini MK3

So bummed, just bought this because it was suppose to be pure fire. However have been spending over 2 hours to try to get it to work wireless on my I pad. Still no luck. Shouldn't be this difficult. Will prob be sending it back😢

Thank you Jacob! I was rearranging my studio room, and I came across this, I n Knew I had the key and the controller, I don’t remember getting this! But glad I did, I’ve got kaoss pads 1st gen as well!

I have the nanopad 2 and the pad sensitivity is horrible. I was wondering what it's like on your nanostudio? I currently have the launchkey mini mk3 and love it but i would like to get something more portable.

I use this controller regularly with Gadget, and I love it. But if Korg where to make an updated version, they should make it possible to have the tempo of the arp change by the host app. Now you have to use the editor to change the internal tempo. Sadly Gadget’s tempo setting doesn’t seem to propagate to the device. So if you change the tempo in Gadget, the arp tempo of the device doesn’t change. It be cool if the could fix that at some point.

If they make a next gen model: 1. pads should light up different colors. 2. Make endless knobs. 3. Make the whole keyboard slightly bigger and make the pads less clicky (love how they illuminate, great if you are working in the dark). 4. have the kaoss pad light up. 5 have a record mode like you said in the video. 6. Have different colors, because just black is great, but if they had white, blue, red, yellow, green, etc, that would be dope. If they had that, it would be perfect.

Have you tried using the Nano key with a stand alone device like a Digitakt or an MPC unit? I would be very interested in that if it was a nice addition to a dawless type of setup.

Great video. Thank you 👌

Mine doesn’t work as the usb input stopped working within months of buying it. KORG were far from helpful and I got the impression that as far as they were concerned, it was just my tough luck, and they didn’t want to know about my problem with their defective controller, I can’t update the firmware so I now use an Arturia Keystep 37 with my iPad. It’s not Bluetooth and cost more, but I prefer to use a midi controller that I can plug in. KORG software synths are good, both iOS and VST, but I’m not impressed with their hardware and won’t be buying anymore of their controllers after they let me down so badly.

I learned a lot from this video, looks like this is the last push for me to get a Nano. You mentioned the 8 pads can save chords, which means I can send those to any app in real-time, could be very useful for me.

It would be kind of cool if the editor worked as an AUv3 in ios so that your setup could be state saved with your projects.

I have the Korg nanoStudio but went with the Korg Microkey2 air for the keyboard. It has been a great combination for my iPad.

Scale mode alone just sold me

Honestly this was the fastest return ever. It doesnt really integrate in the ways that you would think For example in the various kits for korg gears, which is what its primarily advertised for, it just doesnt work in any predictable or functional manner. 1/5 kits were even remotely playable with this thing, and even then there was some randomness going on, with certain pads getting mapped to random keys, knobs totally random and unpredictable, if they did anything at all. Theres just nothing seperating it from any generic midi keyboard other than the pricetag. The bluetooth was bad too, i had 3 failures in 20 minutes.

I wish korg would make the kontrol editor work on iOS. I wish they would make a Nanopad studio

Hello my friend, thank you very much for the good content. Any update in the synchronization with the external clock? It's pretty annoying not being able to synch the arpeggios with the bmp to reccord them properly... Any tips? Thanks again!! :D

Thanks for the video. The knob resolution would be problematic in my case, was about to purchase it and I wasn't aware of it, so I'll stick to NanoKontrol + NanoKey.

I had one and sold it. I wish I kept it because I still want another one! I replaced mine with a MK3 mini Novation which is also a good choice, better keys, and has trs midi.

The knobs being 64 tick is a deal breaker for me, someone who's primary usage is going to be the knobs... I also need the ability to input notes on one device, so the Kontrol wouldn't work. :(

Thanks Jakob 👍 a lot of the things I didn't even know were on there😊

I bought this thing 2 months ago because I've noticed you using it for a while and I liked the features. Bought a case for it too. I can carry it, both of my iPads and some large headphones in a small backpack and have a mobile studio anywhere I want.

When you use the nanoKEY studio on the bus with your iPhone in your pocket, are you able to switch between instruments, etc.? Do you have a template project that you use for this? I would love to see a video featuring this workflow.

Just bought it to bring on my trip with my iPad !

I think you were probably the reason I purchased this a while back. Thanks Jakob, I love it myself! 🙏🏼 ultra versatile!

Jacob, please could you describe which apps you mostly use the Nano with - and any that may have poor compatibility. Thanks so much, as always.

Great Job as always, Jakob (Y)

Awesome info Jakob, thanks 👏Has KORG improved the nanoKEY studio with any software updates since you shared this? Is running nanoKONTROL and KEY studio simultaneously with Gadget 3 easy with no config? I’m a iPad Pro 12.9 mobile music first these days too.

Great video, Jakob. Is it true that you can't change the midi channels directly? Only through changing the scenes, that you program before with different midi channels in Korg Editor. Thank you for your videos

Top tip.... My ipad wouldn't "see" the Korg over bluetooth after the ios was updated... If this happens to you load up Gadget and connect that way. After that the keyboard can be used in all the apps. I find the chord pad mode the most disappointing... maybe its me but I just don't find any of the programmed chords usable for a chord progression?... Unless I am missing something shouldn't the 8 pads be mapped to the circle of 5th's say 3 major, 3 minor chords for a given key with two another chords being augmented or 7ths?

I’m still can’t quite wrap my head around midi. I’ve been using keyboard apps with my IPad and created about 90 songs. But I’m just scratching the surface of what’s possible.

Great review Jakob. My go-to midi controller for a long time has been a 49 keyboard setup. It takes up way too much space. That's the appeal of the nanokey's small footprint. Add the USB when you need it and if not, it's got Bluetooth. Hopefully this will be on my desk soon.

One of the reason I got the Novation launchkeys pro mk3 25 keys is for the record chords mode to pads function. I really wish the nanokeys studio had that function. Is there a micro keyboard with those function today?

Probably a stupid question, but is there a 3rd party AA battery that can be charged while inside of the nanokey using its USB option? effectively making the nanokey itself rechargeable?

I discovered yesterday that they didn't update the necessary firmware for using it on Mac since 3+years. So you buy this and cannot use it. A

Have you had any issues with your ipad OS DAWs not accepting a wired connection with the nanokey studio. I get a Bluetooth wired connection but I can’t seem to get my iPad Pro M1 to see the wired connection. In the manual it says I must use the USB cable included. I have no idea where the original cable is, do you know if there is an issue with using a standard usb to micro usb cable?

Great explanation

Please i saw this video 3 times, is the nanokontrol2 also with the issue of the knobs skipping from 2 to 2? This is a deal breaker for me because i use alchemy synth a lot

Hey Jakob, how do you setup scenes on pc with editor, all scenes another midichannel and all nobs other cc number?

good stuff. Thanks.

I’m waiting for an update version… but it stills a great compact controller

Just a side note: MIDI Clock does work, but only over USB. You can choose to have the nanoKEY send clock, or to have the arp be driven by external clock. If you leave it on Auto, clock will be sent as long as no clock is being sent in. I'm guessing maybe you weren't able to get clock working is because you were connected via Bluetooth.

Thats so strange about the 64 resolution. Ah well. For most things it will prob be fine for me

i use it alongside an old cme uf6 on both pc & ipad, korg really packed a lot of goodies in this thing. i can sync the arp to any reaper project tempo by simply enabling midi clock send option to the nanokey in the midi setting page…it is not super-tight but it works. dunno about the mobiles, though.

Can someone reccomend a video on what scenes are or do? I am new to MIdi controllers and google didnt help.

Dude I had no idea the knobs cut the CC values in half, or 2 values per tick, huh, thanks for the heads up.

My biggest wish if there's another version is for the ability to change global MIDI channel onboard. Second is the knob resolution. That kinda sucks but doesn't cause me to notice it very often.

What’s the best weighted or semi-weighted compact MIDI controller out there?

Ironically I am just about to sell this! But it's just because it's not really for me and I'd rather spend the money I get back on other things. I think it could be the best MIDI controller on the market if they got a rechargeable lithium battery on this and better pads, even if that meant a 10% price increase. I would personally recommend this to people who make solo or single note/chord (with macros on this?) intensive music where you don't cram all your fingers on the keys, so chiptune, piano house, ambient... and those who want an XY pad, so maybe people who make stuff with MAX or just really need that Kaoss-style modulation. If you want this mostly for your studio due to the size factors, you're gonna feel like you need to get something like a separate Maschine Mikro MK3 and M32 very soon. Good on the move but I think most will grow out of it on the desk, because obviously most all-in-one solution tend to skimp on one or more factors.

Thanks. (For the easy scale tip and for all your vlogs). I own a nanokey studio and also want an iOS app ánd chord recording! Please Korg!

I've had this controller for over 2 years and I never knew about the "Easy Scale"... :D

Can the 8’drum pads switch banks Sony can control 64 pads on a sampler like Lola sampler or do you just get the 8 ?

Love it.

Do you know if this works on Ableton Live? I can get the keyboard working, but not the dials. Thanks for the video.

Dude, I have the same niggle with my AKAI MPK Mini 1 and my LPD 8 - I can’t edit the functions without opening up desktop software and like, right now Im on holiday - brought the MPK with me and I can’t change what notes the pads are assigned to which is super annoying. As I get more controllers, for that reason they may become the controllers I leave in my studio, attached to the desktop. Im still looking for the ideal lightweight small keyboard for throwing in my backpack. The keys on the MPK mini feel like i’m pushing biscuits through treacle. 😂

I like everything about this controller but the issue with the nobs is an epic fail from korg . Its almost unbelievable . If you say thats how it is i believe you for sure . Also check out my original music on my youtube when you can . I would love to do a live set with you if possible with cameras set up so people can see that were playing live ios instruments . Ttys :)

Great information. I remember nothing of it

Get review! Does the scale mode work with any plugin or only korg plugins/apps?

Never used the pads on mine, but I now get an idea how they might be used. Great overview- thanks!

Thanks. This video literally sold a unit :) I bought it from the Korg website. Now came back for quick tips.

Can I use it with my phone

How do you play on different Midi Channels in AUM? It only seems to work on channel 1.

64 steps in CC values seems weird.. I mean you could hear stepping even with 128 values sometimes! Other than that, it seems great for mobile music making.

Cool! Hey JaKob ! the ARP tempo issue... Works only with usb midi. nanokey BT uses only internal clock. Add it to the Wish list!!!! KORG FIRMWARE UPGRADE PLEASE!

My most favourite video, CHORDS SCALES ARP! clearly demonstrates the features. I think one thing I would love KORG to add is more arp controllability on the fly with the knobs acting as the rate or division like Arturia.

it gets alot of flak for the keys but i like them, especially for ripping fast leads :)

If I may add, possible add transport section and perhaps one more octave. And, perhaps different color way like the Electribe sampler series,red, blue, etc. #korg Appreciate your overview, Jakob. I had the KontrolStudio but sold, I see the price has gone up, perhaps the demand is higher for these units, now. I remember when they first came out...glad they have withstood.

Actually I am quite disappointed with my nanokey studio. Great device in many ways (form factor, bluetooth, integration with gadget and ios) but I really can't stand that toyish keyboard, which, for me, is an essential feature in a midi controller.

my biggest beef with mine is the touch pad does not (in my unit) reach the full lower value of x axis or the full upper value of the Y axis. If anyone knows a way to calibrate the touchpad Id be most appreciative. Considering ordering a second unit to see if I get lucky.

Is there latency?

Well damnnnn. Im sold.

Is there any latency when using Bluetooth?

Great video Jakob. I have one but have not fully utilized it yet. I will now. Thanks. Cheers. Lee

Great explanation

Hi 👋 Jakob. I follow you for many years now and when I saw you using the NanoKey Studio for the first time I thought: I want this controller too! Meanwhile (years later..) I still haven’t bought it (yet). The thing that’s holding me back are the use of pads instead of keys 🎹 But I think I can get used to it. Great 👍 video. Best wishes, Emiel333

How about SpaceCraft Granular on this MIDI Controller?

Was going to get the nanoKey studio bit the stepping is a deal breaker for me. Went with an Arturia MiniLab mkII and couldn't be happier!

Too bad the micro usb on this keyboard broke after six months. And bluetooth is a pain in the ass.

Hey Jakob, perfect video! I recently purchased Nanokontrol Studio as well. Do you plan to do a similar video about it? I searched all the interenets back and forth and there's no concise tutorial like this anywhere. Especially for those who want to use it with Korg Gadget.

I hated the hard plastic so much I got rid of a few days after buying it. I wish they'd update the pads to be more standard like in terms material/feel...

Can anybody tell me if the arp can work while the easy scale mode is on as well? I had a Taktile 49 back in the day and i really miss that feature

Thumbs up before watching and no regrets afterwards as I comment now. I was literally looking into both of these controllers a couple of days ago so this info is very helpful!

If it could output CV s then I could consider buying it. Nothing than Arturia Keystep Pro is a decent MIDI controller to me yet. It's pitty that only Arturia (or maybe I'm loosing something?) did made a pretty universal and powerful midi controller yet. Yes, having CV outputs is essential.

just bought my own. so far it is dope! also, i’m starting to get switch control to get my bluetooth keyboard to give me some navigation in korg gadget. between these two my workflow is really accelerating. :D

Thank you

Have you ever managed to use the jog wheel on the nano control?

does it have to have batteries in it, i power it over usb but it works with nothing. just updated the firmware and had high hopes but its still just a box with lights on it.

i would like to see encoders instead of knobs too. that would be best for me. that chord record idea is nice too. i would like to see infinity rotatory encoders instead of knobs. oh