midiplus X6 mini -Key Controller, white

I bought this keyboard to have 61 keys that I could play that would also fit on my desk. I tried a full size 49 key (Alesis QX 49), but it didn't really feel good to play and it wasn't as compact as it could be. I tried the Korg Nanokey, which is surprisingly good, but it was simply too limited for what I wanted. I almost went for the Korg 61 Microkey, but then I came across this. It was about $50 cheaper than the equivalent. So I gave it a try.It has a more interesting design than the Microkey in my opinion. It is white instead of black, touch sensitive mod and pitch pads instead of the typical wheels, and lots more leds, which i'm a sucker for. The casing is mostly metal, which is great, though there are a few plastic pieces at the ends. The knobs feel good, the buttons click well, and the fact that there are rgb leds under them is a nice surprise.What about the keys though? They are the most important part after all. I can say that I'm satisfied with them. The keys themselves are significantly smaller than full size keys, but I haven't had to adjust much to play it well. I should point out that I have small hands, so it is probably easier for me than some others. The key feel is nothing special, with a typical springy resistance, but I like them nonetheless. I prefer this feel to the Alesis QX 49 that this keyboard is replacing, although only by a small margin. I can't be sure, but I feel like I've noticed a slight rub with some of the keys. I'll come back to this review if this continues and it degrades the keys. It seems fine for now, and it doesn't bother me. The touch sensitivity feels about right, though it's no where near the "correctness" of my Korg Triton LE. The Triton is a hammer action keyboard though, so it's not really a fair comparison. For a spring resistance keyboard, the X6 does a good enough job. Ultimately, it's fun and enjoyable to play, and that's the most important part in my opinion. It's also been doing a perfectly good job recording to my DAW.If you are looking for a compact 61 key keyboard, I don't think you can beat this, and certainly not at its $100 price range. The build quality is surprisingly good, the keys feel good, and it has an attractive design. I think it will last, but I will revisit this review if it wears prematurely. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase.

No, it's not the best keyboard. But for the price, it punches far above its class. The lower and upper case halves are metal and feel very sturdy. The end caps are plastic but looks as though they will take a beating. The keys themselves are also plastic as expected. The whites have semi-gloss sheen, while the black keys have a matte finish. The keys are miniature similar to other manufactures but are slightly shorter than most. I am quite pleased with the key action. Not quite as nice as Arturia Minilab Mk II, but far nicer than my Novation LaunchKey Mini Mk 3 or my M-Audio Oxygen Rev 3. I think with a little break in time they will smooth out. While light on knobs and buttons, they all can be reprogrammed from the keyboard. No software needed.CONS: The velocity curves are not great. Level 1 is very soft and level 2 is almost too hard. Level 3 is almost as though velocity is disabled with only the lightest feather touch will register anything less than full. The pitch bend strip from time to time will stick instead of returning to center. This doesn't happen often but if you quick flick it just right it will peg to full up or down. The LED light levels are quite blinding, to the point they bleed thru the white plastic bevels around the strip. All these issues are very very minor.

Bought this specifically for its portability. I play piano and didn’t realize the black keys are less wide than a standard piano. The white keys are the regular size of a standard piano but are shorter in length. Other than that, I like the feel of the material. It also looks sleek and modern. I would recommend this for anyone who either produces music and need something light and small on the go, or have a small music studio, or need a second portable keyboard for any use. If it’s NOT your main and only piano, it will be a nice purchase.

Being an inexpensive Chinese keyboard, I felt like the Midiplus X6 was a gamble, but it turned out to be a very good one. It has everything you need in a footprint no larger than it absolutely needs to be. It's very aesthetically pleasing, and the somewhat smaller keys make the whole thing remarkably portable and appropriately sized for most desks.The smaller keys and the lack of weights means it isn't a substitute for a full size, 88 key weighted keyboard for classical pianists, but it is enough to scratch that itch when you want to learn half of Moonlight Sonata and Maple Leaf Rag without committing your mortgage to a grand piano.It really shines for sampled instruments, and does everything you need, plus the knobs are useful for controlling volume swells, low-pass filters, pitch shifters, and anything else you want for wild experimentation. I can't recommend it enough if you're on a tight budget.

Build quality is good, keys are small. The issue is the black keys are very hard to press, making this a keyboard something you will not enjoy playing.

When I first took it out of the box, I found that, instead of cheap plastic that I expected, the body was made of a very heavy anodized aluminum. The black keys have a matte finish, and they all feel nice, as far as mini keys go. The knobs are pots, not rotary encoders, which is fine. Velocity sensitivity is fine.Works out of the box in Debian 12, in LMMS, Ardour, and Sunvox.If you are a fan of mini keys, I would recommend it, if not, then this one is not for you.