Portable controller keyboard with audio interface

[The Elf]

I'm fancying a lightweight controller keyboard with a built-in audio interface to slim down my live rig.

Requirements:
Powered from USB or IEC mains cable - external line lumps, wall-warts and batteries need not apply.
Minimum 37 keys - ideally more, up to 61.
Full-sized synth, or semi-weighted, keyboard.
Pitch and mod wheels.
Aftertouch.
Chunky connections - not micro USB and minijacks.
ASIO driver-able.

Nice to have:
Sustain and expression pedal inputs - more ideally.
A few assignable faders, knobs and buttons.
Pads.

The IK iRig Keys 2 Pro I have is OK, but the connectors are from toyland and the lack of pedal inputs is a tad restrictive (I have ways around it).

Can anyone suggest any candidates?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Requirements:

Powered from USB or IEC mains cable — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61 powerable via USB

Minimum 37 keys - ideally more, up to 61 — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61.

Full-sized synth, or semi-weighted, keyboard — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61 (with Hydrasynth keybed).

Pitch and mod wheels — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61.

Aftertouch — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61 (with Poly-AT).

Chunky connections - not micro USB and minijacks — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61 standard quarter-inch TS.

ASIO driver-able — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61 — it has Windows drivers... I assume they are ASIO.

Sustain and expression pedal inputs — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61.

A few assignable faders, knobs and buttons — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61 8 parameter controls

Pads — It was going so well.....

Can anyone suggest any candidates? — KORG KEYSTAGE 49/61.... and something with pads on!

https://www.korg.com/uk/products/comput ... ations.php

[tea for two]

Over a decade, 2 decades earlier, brands used to be adventurous offering mishmash of useful bits n bobs on Keyboards, Synths.

Only one I had, in the noughties, which fits wot you list :
Novation X-Station.
I had the 25key, there were 49key, 61key.
SoS 25key X-Station review.
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/no ... station-25
Every now and then I've seen the 61key X-Station on an auction site.

[tea for two]

My favourite KB controller with audio interface doesn't have AT.
Line 6 KB37. I had it until last year.
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/li ... eport-kb37
It's easier to locate than X-Board.

[MarkOne]

The keystage looks great

Now if it came in white with red endcheeks (or at least not wood ones)

Why can plank spankers get their instruments in all kinds of funky finishes and keyboard players just suffer whatever the manufacturer decides (usually black)

[resistorman]

It's amazing that the Keystage can run on USB power!

[The Elf]

Thank you all.

Interestingly I've been using my Hydrasynth KB as my 4-octave upper keyboard, so that Korg looks like the perfect candidate. Glad to have it confirmed.

Couple of keyboards about to head to eBay...

[MarkOne]

Couple of keyboards about to head to eBay...

Ooh! Quiet heads up?

[alexis]

The Roland Juno DS-88 which I purchased some months ago fits all or most of your criteria.

Comes in smaller versions also

[The Elf]

The Roland Juno DS-88 which I purchased some months ago fits all or most of your criteria.

Thanks for the tip.

The DS-61 would be the one, but I'm seeing no mention of aftertouch?

And it's a Roland bender lever. Not a show-stopper, but not ideal. I actually really like Roland's lever for pitch bend, but I hate it for modulation.

A bit sparse of faders/knobs too...

Ah, and I've just seen the external PSU socket. A thousand times NO! I should have put that at the very top of my requirements list!

[Hugh Robjohns]

Er.... you did!

[The Elf]

Novation X-Station.

Thanks, but no mod or pitch wheels.

[The Elf]

Er.... you did!

Hence my !

[The Elf]

Line 6 KB37.

Thanks, but no aftertouch.

[The Elf]

Appreciate all the help in here, chaps. I think the Korg Keystage is going to win. The price is OK and it covers most of my wants. The ASM keyboard (and poly AT) is a HUGE plus for it.

I'll velcro my X-Touch Mini to one end to provide the few extra knobs and switches I need.

[sonics]

The ASM keyboard (and poly AT) is a HUGE plus for it.

I'd be very interested to find out if it is exactly the same keyboard action. Do report back with a full review if you buy one, please.
I discounted it because it doesn't match my needs. (I'm looking at the NI Kontrol S series Mk3 now!)

[tea for two]

Today I received delivery of Presonus Atom SQ controller which has polyAT, also a useful thing for me can choose scales, modes, on its display which then lights up the keys buttons for that scale, mode, according to the root note chosen on the display.
Blues, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic,
Chromatic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Phrygian, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Natural Minor, Major.
https://www.presonus.com/en/controllers ... 00102.html

Butt returing to how a decade 2 decades earlier brands were more adventerous bundling bits n bobs of useful hardware into one unit : as my Novation XStation25 and my Line6 Kb37.
Weeell, this Presnous Atom SQ is crying out for a minimal built in audio interface.
While we are at it an option to turn its lightup 32 keys buttons into alphabet letters alongside its lightup 12 smaller buttons into numbers.