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
Are you using the latest firmware? I read a forum post that suggested that a lot of these units shipped with older firmware. I was thinking about buying one of these, so I'd be interested to know if the knob resolution problem is fixed by installing the latest firmware.
@Jim Paton Yes, I’m running version 1.08 of the nanoKEY studio firmware. This is the latest one and was put out back late 2019 (close to xmas). It fixed a BLT issue that was introduced with iOS 13.
By FAR, this is the best overview I've seen on this device. I ordered one just now, and started watching some videos. I was almost going to cancel the order until I saw this. Exactly what I need to free my inner musician. Thanks so much. You saved the day.
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.
Sometimes you gotta break up a little fight between your various pieces of gear. can be scary when one gets territorial and attacks the other, glad they're both in good spirits and haven't sustained too much damage
Somehow, both Fender and Korg come off good in this story. At the end of the day, Korg has a good rep for honest reasons. They make good shit. Have for a long time. Not saying others don't too... just... some brands, Korg among them, hedge your bet on build quality. I got this as a kind of a leap of faith in Korg. It's affordable, it's crazy portable, and... it's Korg, it's probably built well. This example is why that faith was well placed. It's not that Korg has a monopoly on quality. But, Korg does seem to genuinely try to make cool shit built well. Cool. I'm glad companies like this exist.
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)" :)
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 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 🤣
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
If you use the laptop desktop editor then there’s a lot of neat setups you can do. You can set individual midi channels for keyboard and also all pads and all knobs. So you can separate the different controlling element that way (having them go to different midi channels in the same scene).
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
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Heya Jakob, I'm confused about the difference between saving scenes for different apps and doing midi learn. If my app has midi learn, can I just set it once and then whenever I use it it automatically works? And then I can switch to a different app while performing and the new app I've mapped the midi in the past, then the nanokey studio will just automatically switch the knobs and xy to the new app? Or, do I have to be switching scenes manually? or do I have to set up a scene for every app? I'm hoping you'll say that as long as I've "midi learned" that particular app once before, then I can just switch to it on the ipad and the nanokey will just switch it's midi controls settings over. Also, do I need to bluetooth connect the nanokey studio to each app I'm using every time I start up a session? I read somewhere that you have to manually choose the nanokey bluetooth each time you switch an app? that would be crazy. I can deal with having to pair it with each app for one session if needed. Kind of a pain but manageable. OR do you just use the Korg bluetooth app to pair and it automatically chooses it for each app for you? Thanks! I'm thinking of switching from the launchkey mini mk3 which I"m having a hard time doing any midi learn with, and it only has 4 "custom modes" which are like scenes.
You could technically set upp all apps with the same scene but you’d run into problems down the line if you ever have two apps open at the same time that are mapped to the same stuff in the same scene. Twisting a knob on the controller whoops affect both synths/apps/whatever in that instance. This is why I reckoned setting up scenes in the controller with the KORG editor first. Make sure that each scene is working with their own unique MIDI CC’s and/or MIDI channels atleast. Then use specific scenes for specifics apps. That way you could have all those mapped apps open at the same time but you won’t have to run Into the issues of inadvertently tweaking the “wrong app”. That’s how I work anyway. I just switch scene when I want to control a specific app. . When it comes to saving the mapping you do inside apps, all apps treat MIDI mapping a tad differently but most of them will either save the settings you’ve done, or provide you with an option of saving the settings yourself. Hard to say without knowing what apps you’re using and there are so many. . I use AUM a lot and I’m there I have templates basically. Templates with app setup where I’ve mapped specific stuff. However if I load another project, then those mappings do not work for the new project. . There’s always two things to keep track of. The setup in the controller and then the mappings inside the app. I know, it’s can quickly get tedious to deal with but once you’ve got it setup, your good to go! And in many cases, you only have to map stuff once.
Tack Jakob! Jag har funderat ett tag på denna controller (har en nanoKeys idag och älskar den). Du gjorde valet lätt! 😁👍 Trots att tangenterna mer är som knappar, så är de på min nanoKeys anslagskänsliga, så jag förmodar att det är likadant på nanoStudio Keys. Thanks Jakob! I have been considering this one for a while and you made my choice easy! 👍 Despite the keys being more like computer keys, at least on my nanoKeys they are touch sensitive, so I guess they are also on nanoStudio Keys.
Have this, love it, couple of my notes for you: 1) I don’t really rate the pads, but have mapped them to a different midi channel and use them for Transport/etc in my Daw. Perfect! 2) new buyers will need to update the firmware to make the Bluetooth function correctly on both IOS and Mac. The software to do this on Mac only functions on very old Mac OS versions. (Pre Catalina at least). That’s pretty unforgivable, but at least the editor software works, for now.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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
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?
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
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.
It really reminds me of my Korn Triton Taktile 25 as far as functionality. Great review. I didn't realize it has all those features. I might put this controller on my short list for a travel keyboard.
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😢
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.
Nice video Jakob - I never noticed the nanoKEY double-stepping thing. Weird. Wonder if they can correct that in firmware update or something... Did you report that issue to them?
No I haven’t reported it. I did the stupid thing of assuming that this is how they set it up to work. I think I did that because I had it confirmed by others that noticed this. I have two friends that asked me about it some times ago and then later I discovered a thread over at the Drambo forums where they were talking about it. forum.beepstreet.com/discussion/413/korg-nanokey-studio
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!
There is a weird hidden use of this device... man, I am a guitarist. This thing is an AMAZING tool for learning keyboards.... easy scale etc. I use Scale Guide with Chord pads... and I am learning my way around the keyboard I am a guitarist that needed a midi controller. Portable at first, bigger more serious and non portable later. This little thing was comically perfect for me
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
Me too man, I have a couple controllers, but definitely use Korg Nanokey the most, So great. Only small drawbacks is the keyboard but yea I’m it’s like large computer keys, and pc editor. Now with midi learn though I never go to pc to set up.
Midi learn makes stuff so much easier. Back in the day ... I must have spent entire days digging around inside editor apps for various controllers just to get stuff up and running for various hardware synths. 😅
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, 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'd also like to see twice as many knobs and twice as much pads on the nanokey, they could fit if they made the nanokey the size of the ipad itself, which would make sense and keep it portable. As it is though, I absolutely love it, best controller I ever bought. OH, one more thing, when you change key in the scale mode, it would be nice if the lights adjust to reflect which key you're in. As it is right now, the lights don't move, so middle C becomes A#, or Bb , or whatever key you're in, which is jarring and doesn't help if you're trying to learn the keys!!
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.
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.
Yeah the knob resolution is annoying when doing slow sweeps of stuff. It’s funny because the nanoKONTROL doesn’t do that, it’s actually doing the full 128 ticks.
In all honesty, I have no idea. I’ve been so into these nano’s that I haven’t looked at other keyboards. I haven’t tested any new ones either in a while.
Good stuff Jakob! I've had one too for 2 years or so. Overall I find it useful. My main gripe is that it doesn't run on USB power when switched to Bluetooth mode (and it goes through batteries pretty fast). Does your also do this curious thing with the pads in chord mode... where depending on your actually played velocity, it plays between a root+5 chord all the way to a 7th chord (same scale setting!). Basically the harder you hit the chord pad, the more notes in a chord it plays, never seen this anywhere else :)
Regarding the BLT / USB power thing. I made this video for you. In it I’m showing you how you can power via USB and connect over BLT. ▼ ▼ 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
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.
I really like my NanoKey Studio too, but it does only have about three volume levels. I agree that it is slightly annoying that the pads catch, but I have adjusted to this, I hit the keys bang in the centre, and then theres no problems. Its very light but well made, knobs are so good when you assign them to your synth filter, ADSR etc!
Yeah I can get how the limited velocity lvls can be frustrating. To be honest I’m one of those people who most of the time just want to turn velocity of. Yeah ... I’m a savage. 😅
I also don't have a big problem with the velocity... often with popular styles of music theres not much dynamics anyway. It can help make the mixing quicker, as I often compress keyboard parts anyway!
I haven’t seen any reports on this since iOS 13 when the same thing happened. They put out a fix for the broken BLT back then. instagram.com/p/B7_Ok4cB1Ol/
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. :(
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
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. 😂
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
You could run a slew limiter from MiRack in the chain before the target
That’s soo annoying. The total value of a synth is its filter sweep (almost) - why would korg drop the ball on this?!?
Are you using the latest firmware? I read a forum post that suggested that a lot of these units shipped with older firmware. I was thinking about buying one of these, so I'd be interested to know if the knob resolution problem is fixed by installing the latest firmware.
@Jim Paton Yes, I’m running version 1.08 of the nanoKEY studio firmware. This is the latest one and was put out back late 2019 (close to xmas). It fixed a BLT issue that was introduced with iOS 13.
By FAR, this is the best overview I've seen on this device. I ordered one just now, and started watching some videos. I was almost going to cancel the order until I saw this. Exactly what I need to free my inner musician. Thanks so much. You saved the day.
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.
Pretty sturdy plastic in these ones. I’ve dropped my several times to but there’s no dents or anything.
Sometimes you gotta break up a little fight between your various pieces of gear. can be scary when one gets territorial and attacks the other, glad they're both in good spirits and haven't sustained too much damage
Somehow, both Fender and Korg come off good in this story.
At the end of the day, Korg has a good rep for honest reasons. They make good shit. Have for a long time. Not saying others don't too... just... some brands, Korg among them, hedge your bet on build quality.
I got this as a kind of a leap of faith in Korg. It's affordable, it's crazy portable, and... it's Korg, it's probably built well.
This example is why that faith was well placed.
It's not that Korg has a monopoly on quality. But, Korg does seem to genuinely try to make cool shit built well. Cool. I'm glad companies like this exist.
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)"
:)
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.
That’s a very portable setup, wireless even with BLT, well apart from headphones.
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 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 🤣
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.
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.
I think you were probably the reason I purchased this a while back. Thanks Jakob, I love it myself! 🙏🏼 ultra versatile!
👊😘
Thanks. This video literally sold a unit :) I bought it from the Korg website. Now came back for quick tips.
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.
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.
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.
My 1st knobby/paddy midi contoller and I felt like a breath of fresh air when I started "knobing" around with it. :)
I have the Korg nanoStudio but went with the Korg Microkey2 air for the keyboard. It has been a great combination for my iPad.
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.
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.
You are correct, I read through the manual once more after someone else commented on the same thing. Thank you for the tip! 👊
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.
Do you think it would it be able to connect Bluetooth to switch for Korg Gadget ?
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!
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!
I was interested on the XY pad but the controller I have now is perfect, the Novation Launchkey Mini MK3
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.
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.
If you use the laptop desktop editor then there’s a lot of neat setups you can do. You can set individual midi channels for keyboard and also all pads and all knobs. So you can separate the different controlling element that way (having them go to different midi channels in the same scene).
@@JakobHaq I need help in chords pad. It always plays 7th chords. Could you please guide how can I play major scale.
I’ve waited so long for a video like this, had mine for a long time but all these explanations were a change in the game, thanks bro!!!
Happy I could help out!
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
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Heya Jakob, I'm confused about the difference between saving scenes for different apps and doing midi learn. If my app has midi learn, can I just set it once and then whenever I use it it automatically works? And then I can switch to a different app while performing and the new app I've mapped the midi in the past, then the nanokey studio will just automatically switch the knobs and xy to the new app? Or, do I have to be switching scenes manually? or do I have to set up a scene for every app? I'm hoping you'll say that as long as I've "midi learned" that particular app once before, then I can just switch to it on the ipad and the nanokey will just switch it's midi controls settings over. Also, do I need to bluetooth connect the nanokey studio to each app I'm using every time I start up a session? I read somewhere that you have to manually choose the nanokey bluetooth each time you switch an app? that would be crazy. I can deal with having to pair it with each app for one session if needed. Kind of a pain but manageable. OR do you just use the Korg bluetooth app to pair and it automatically chooses it for each app for you? Thanks! I'm thinking of switching from the launchkey mini mk3 which I"m having a hard time doing any midi learn with, and it only has 4 "custom modes" which are like scenes.
You could technically set upp all apps with the same scene but you’d run into problems down the line if you ever have two apps open at the same time that are mapped to the same stuff in the same scene. Twisting a knob on the controller whoops affect both synths/apps/whatever in that instance. This is why I reckoned setting up scenes in the controller with the KORG editor first. Make sure that each scene is working with their own unique MIDI CC’s and/or MIDI channels atleast. Then use specific scenes for specifics apps. That way you could have all those mapped apps open at the same time but you won’t have to run Into the issues of inadvertently tweaking the “wrong app”. That’s how I work anyway. I just switch scene when I want to control a specific app.
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When it comes to saving the mapping you do inside apps, all apps treat MIDI mapping a tad differently but most of them will either save the settings you’ve done, or provide you with an option of saving the settings yourself. Hard to say without knowing what apps you’re using and there are so many.
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I use AUM a lot and I’m there I have templates basically. Templates with app setup where I’ve mapped specific stuff. However if I load another project, then those mappings do not work for the new project.
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There’s always two things to keep track of. The setup in the controller and then the mappings inside the app. I know, it’s can quickly get tedious to deal with but once you’ve got it setup, your good to go! And in many cases, you only have to map stuff once.
Never used the pads on mine, but I now get an idea how they might be used. Great overview- thanks!
My pleasure! 👊
Had the Nanokontrol Studio for a while and love using it with Gadget and I've just got the key too so this is great! Thanks.
Got a used nanokey on its way from reverb right now. Can’t wait to get started using it!!
Tack Jakob! Jag har funderat ett tag på denna controller (har en nanoKeys idag och älskar den). Du gjorde valet lätt! 😁👍 Trots att tangenterna mer är som knappar, så är de på min nanoKeys anslagskänsliga, så jag förmodar att det är likadant på nanoStudio Keys.
Thanks Jakob! I have been considering this one for a while and you made my choice easy! 👍 Despite the keys being more like computer keys, at least on my nanoKeys they are touch sensitive, so I guess they are also on nanoStudio Keys.
Have this, love it, couple of my notes for you:
1) I don’t really rate the pads, but have mapped them to a different midi channel and use them for Transport/etc in my Daw. Perfect!
2) new buyers will need to update the firmware to make the Bluetooth function correctly on both IOS and Mac. The software to do this on Mac only functions on very old Mac OS versions. (Pre Catalina at least). That’s pretty unforgivable, but at least the editor software works, for now.
Haven’t heard this before, great heads up
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?
The only controller I've purchased for my ipad/iphone - it's so portable and useful!
Just bought it to bring on my trip with my iPad !
Great video Jakob. I have one but have not fully utilized it yet. I will now. Thanks. Cheers. Lee
Loved the Video!!!
Great video. Thank you 👌
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?
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.
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 recently changed it for an Atom SQ. Great controller also.
Get review! Does the scale mode work with any plugin or only korg plugins/apps?
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.
Works nicely with my Akai Force.
Nice wireless hookup with the live2
Works just fine with my MPC One, along with NanoKontrol Studio. In wired mode, through usb-hub of course
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?
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
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?
Thanks Jakob 👍 a lot of the things I didn't even know were on there😊
My pleasure!
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!
I've had this controller for over 2 years and I never knew about the "Easy Scale"... :D
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
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.
Let me know if you get one. 👊
It really reminds me of my Korn Triton Taktile 25 as far as functionality. Great review. I didn't realize it has all those features. I might put this controller on my short list for a travel keyboard.
KORG puts a lot of fun stuff in their products. I’ve always liked that about them.
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😢
Great as always, sold on the easy mode
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.
Scale mode alone just sold me
Nice video Jakob - I never noticed the nanoKEY double-stepping thing. Weird. Wonder if they can correct that in firmware update or something... Did you report that issue to them?
No I haven’t reported it. I did the stupid thing of assuming that this is how they set it up to work. I think I did that because I had it confirmed by others that noticed this. I have two friends that asked me about it some times ago and then later I discovered a thread over at the Drambo forums where they were talking about it. forum.beepstreet.com/discussion/413/korg-nanokey-studio
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!
There is a weird hidden use of this device... man, I am a guitarist. This thing is an AMAZING tool for learning keyboards.... easy scale etc. I use Scale Guide with Chord pads... and I am learning my way around the keyboard
I am a guitarist that needed a midi controller. Portable at first, bigger more serious and non portable later.
This little thing was comically perfect for me
Well damnnnn. Im sold.
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
Thanks, good to know.
Thank’s for this so useful video !!!
Do you know if this works on Ableton Live? I can get the keyboard working, but not the dials. Thanks for the video.
Me too man, I have a couple controllers, but definitely use Korg Nanokey the most, So great. Only small drawbacks is the keyboard but yea I’m it’s like large computer keys, and pc editor. Now with midi learn though I never go to pc to set up.
Midi learn makes stuff so much easier. Back in the day ... I must have spent entire days digging around inside editor apps for various controllers just to get stuff up and running for various hardware synths. 😅
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, 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.
Hi there! Thanks for this! That is the controller at 0:41, to the left of the Korg?
Hey Jakob, how do you setup scenes on pc with editor, all scenes another midichannel and all nobs other cc number?
I wish korg would make the kontrol editor work on iOS.
I wish they would make a Nanopad studio
This would be a great addition, actually. #korg
Great overview 👍 thanks
Just that they don’t work well in blue tooth with MacBook pro 16. Support could not help.
Great Job as always, Jakob (Y)
I'd also like to see twice as many knobs and twice as much pads on the nanokey, they could fit if they made the nanokey the size of the ipad itself, which would make sense and keep it portable. As it is though, I absolutely love it, best controller I ever bought.
OH, one more thing, when you change key in the scale mode, it would be nice if the lights adjust to reflect which key you're in. As it is right now, the lights don't move, so middle C becomes A#, or Bb , or whatever key you're in, which is jarring and doesn't help if you're trying to learn the keys!!
Yeah, I’d love to see a “pro” version of these with metal housing, more knobs and some extra added fun modes.!
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.
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.
Yeah the knob resolution is annoying when doing slow sweeps of stuff. It’s funny because the nanoKONTROL doesn’t do that, it’s actually doing the full 128 ticks.
What’s the best weighted or semi-weighted compact MIDI controller out there?
In all honesty, I have no idea. I’ve been so into these nano’s that I haven’t looked at other keyboards. I haven’t tested any new ones either in a while.
Good stuff Jakob! I've had one too for 2 years or so. Overall I find it useful. My main gripe is that it doesn't run on USB power when switched to Bluetooth mode (and it goes through batteries pretty fast). Does your also do this curious thing with the pads in chord mode... where depending on your actually played velocity, it plays between a root+5 chord all the way to a 7th chord (same scale setting!). Basically the harder you hit the chord pad, the more notes in a chord it plays, never seen this anywhere else :)
Regarding the BLT / USB power thing. I made this video for you. In it I’m showing you how you can power via USB and connect over BLT.
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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
And yeah I do get a weird chord pad mode behaviour.
@@JakobHaq you rock! This was by far the nicest RTFM nudge I ever got in my life, thank you for being so kind :)
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.
I really like my NanoKey Studio too, but it does only have about three volume levels. I agree that it is slightly annoying that the pads catch, but I have adjusted to this, I hit the keys bang in the centre, and then theres no problems. Its very light but well made, knobs are so good when you assign them to your synth filter, ADSR etc!
Yeah I can get how the limited velocity lvls can be frustrating. To be honest I’m one of those people who most of the time just want to turn velocity of. Yeah ... I’m a savage. 😅
I also don't have a big problem with the velocity... often with popular styles of music theres not much dynamics anyway. It can help make the mixing quicker, as I often compress keyboard parts anyway!
Hi Jakob since I updated my iPad mini to 14.8.1 iOS the nanoKEY studio don't connect via Bluetooth :( Any idea? Or only I find this problem?
I haven’t seen any reports on this since iOS 13 when the same thing happened. They put out a fix for the broken BLT back then. instagram.com/p/B7_Ok4cB1Ol/
What iOS version where you using before the update?
@@JakobHaq if I remember well 14. ?.? But now I download iOS 15 and HOPE :) Thank You for the fast reaction.
No connection with 15.1 :( It was my best companion I hope KORG fix it some day
Yeah it might actually be that iOS 15 broke it. Make sure you report it to KORG.
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. :(
How do you play on different Midi Channels in AUM? It only seems to work on channel 1.
Is there any latency when using Bluetooth?
Question about changing scenes - is it instant? thanks for the video, great stuff.
Yes, instant!
See them and presets. There’s nothing locked to a sequence. So it’s NOT like scenes in something like Ableton. Just a switch.
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
how sturdy it is, want to give it to my 5 year old to go nuts
Dude I had no idea the knobs cut the CC values in half, or 2 values per tick, huh, thanks for the heads up.
always wanted it and .... still waiting for an upgraded keys version lol .... hope korg will make it one day :)
good stuff. Thanks.
What app are you using?
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. 😂
Try the Novation Launchkey Mini MK3, I have it and its perfect for my needs and small and portable
Thank you