This is a midi controller so it doesn´t have any sound by itself. Nevertheless, it comes with a coupon to license the software version of the Korg M1, which an exact version of the M1. The sounds are cool and very useful (even for a sound engine made for the late 80's) I enjoy playing the M1 with the Nanokey and I can carry it wherever I go with my laptop!

This is a very basic keyboard controller. It have two octaves, a pitch bend, a modulator, keys to move the octaves up and down and a switch to turn your keys into CC event senders. You can edit their functions with an editor. The keys are like laptop keys but velocity sensitive. Just what it is required for a very portable solution.

As I mentioned in the "Features" section, this device is very basic. You won´t get loss using it.

It's a Korg. With normal care it will last years. Just keep in mind that this is not a weighted piano-like keyboard...it is a portable midi controller of $49!! If you can set your mind on the purpose it is meant to be, you will find that the quality is quite enough for the purpose it has been designed.

I don't think that there is another product like this one in this price range. It fits my purposes and I´m satisfied of what I get from what I paid for it

I have never contacted Korg support before. I own also an M3 and some other accesories.

For me it was so cool to have the Black version. It looks great! Also the size of it called my attention. This is the most portable midi controller I found.

Hobbyist, Active Musician

Rock, Alternative, ProgRock, Gospel, Classic

The nanoKEY is a MIDI controller, so it obviously doesn't have sounds. But when controlling Reason 4.0 on my laptop, the program's sounds have no latency being controlled from this keyboard. So that's good.

Pitch bend is included, as is a mod button. Octave shift, I think, brings this instrument out of the toy category because you can be working over a full 88 keys in a form factor smaller than a wireless computer keyboard.

Took a small bit of tinkering to get it to work properly with my setup. About what was expected. There is a "CC Mode" button immediately below the lowest key. I do not know what the button does because I have not needed it in set up or normal use. However, when accidentally pressed, my MIDI signal cuts off and the button must be unswitched. Don't know why it's happening but it's irritating.

I have to disagree with the existing review. I've had my nanoKEY for about a month. I turn the volume down on the PC and beat the heck out of the keys for maximum expressiveness - did I mention the velocity sensitive keys? They do feel exactly like laptop keys, so the action is more like tapping than pressing, but durability does not seem an issue. Works well for my electronic production style and drum programming.

Next above this in size, you have the smallest Axiom. If you don't mind paying $180 and carrying an additional laptop bag sized parcel with you, it's the vastly superior controller. Mixers, faders, pads, stop and record controls. But in order to toss a KORG controller IN my laptop bag and have 88 keys of velocity sensitive control, I was delighted to shell out $50.

I've never had to contact KORG with any problems with my Triton after all these years. I carry my nanoKEY in a neoprene wine bottle pouch by Built NY. If you can find one of these online, it's the perfect carrier because its padding is very protective. WARNING: The frame of the nanoKEY is thin plastic. It is meant for desktop use only or extremely careful carriage. Could not support even a small amount of weight, I'm sure.

I knew the thing would have a chintzy construction when I sought it out. It's so small and sleek, very minimalist. The KORG name lights up and the LEDS in various colors look pretty sharp too.

Hobbyist

Electronica, Hip Hop, R&B

Ok this is a midi controller it doesnt make its own sound, but the M1 LE program that came with it is a wonderful synthesizer program. I feel like I paid 49 for the program and not the controller. Then I looked down and im like ok this is what I bought, the keyboard not the software.

product doesnt come with accessories but has features such octave, pitch and mod.

plug and play, windows 7 didn't have a problems installing the drivers. instruction manual comes with this product but you probably wouldn't use much. like i said plug and play, just make sure your what ever sequencer software you use is set for the nano key, close and open the sequencer software and your all set.

i give it a 9 on how well its made, feels like the keyboard im typing on right now. Im hoping it can with stand the punishment just bought it from zzounds and just got it yesterday. the product is light weight and slim enough for you to put it in your back pocket, walk to your car, take it out your back pocket and place on your passenger seat, I dont forsee any problems with on the road use lol. worst aspect of the keyboard is its not long enugh, i understand the whole nano concept, but i cant play it like a keyboard, i have to to peg at it, as if it was computer keyboard.

i would say the product is price reasonably, only because you get the Korg synthesizer software with it. if it wasnt for that, korg could hang it up, i would spend an extra 30 and get something else portable but fully functional as well.

havnt had to use it, plug and play

I love the black nano Korg, zzounds should display that pic instead, it would definitely entice you to buy it. Best thing i like about the korg nano keyboard is the Korg logo that light up when i plug it in to my computer. it lets you know its on, and ready to rock. I would like for it to have had a off switch, but to each his own.

Music Producer

HipHop

N/A Since it doesnt actually generate any sound. This is a midi controller.

It has pitch bend and modulation... thats it.

Incredibly simple to play on, and Windows 7 can install drivers for it on its own.

Not built very well. Its essentially... just keyboard keys from like, a laptop keyboard. You know, the one you type letters with. The kind of keys I am using right now. Its nothing fancier than that. You will literally pay 50 dollars for an extension of your laptop keyboard with buttons dedicated to pitch bend and octave switching. In retrospect, I might as well have just USED the laptop's keyboard in a software that 'emulated' a midi keyboard with it. So, shortly after the warranty expired, one key's mounting braces totally broke. Another one fell off and I managed to resecure it (no tas good as originally) and it now only recognizes extremely rough pushes. In short, the keyboard become unusable after one year of ownersship where it wasnt even used that often and was kept in the original packaging when it wasnt in use.

I mean, 50 dollars for a year of use isnt bad. It isnt great either. Spend 150 dollars a on a portable that will last you at least 3 years instead.

Did not deal with Korg. Not worth associated fees to 'fix' something that was broken on a PCB level.

I think it looks pretty hot.

Hobbyist

Techno

No sound (it's midi controller)

Came with a usb cable which is all you need

Plug and Play (easy)

Well it's not great for a standalone controller. It's cool when u want something portable when you sit on the bed or are in a car or even sitting under a tree. Prepare for the most annoying sound ever which is the clicking of the keys that are designed like computer keyboard keys. It gets the job done.

The price is right for what it is.

It's Korg..You'll never need it.

Hobbyist/Active Musician

Electro/New Wave/Italo/Electronica/Techno

Sound doesn't really apply to a midi controller.

Features are pretty spartan on this controller, but that's expected/intended for that size. IMO this controller's main feature is its small size.

Plug-and-play easy to use.

During unpacking one of the keys including its complete mechanism of 5 or six tiny plastic parts fell off the keyboard. There was no way for me to get it back in. The remaining keys felt extremely flimsy and wobbly. The keys are the same/similar mechanism as the keys on a laptop computer but unlike my laptop this keyboard feels very cheap and unreliable.

For a keyboard that is build so poorly that it's useless even $50 is too much.

I only dealt with Zzounds for the refund and they were great.

I think if the quality were high enough for this to be a reliable device, I'd say anybody who wants utmost portability the "I want factor" should be pretty high. However since it's essentially useless, what's the point.

Hobbyist

Jazz

This is a midi controller, so it doesn't have any sounds.

Good features, pitch bend, modulation, CC control.

Very portable and easy to use.

You get what you pay for: read some reviews on youtube. The keys will pop out, and it seems the keys have the same feel as a laptop qwerty keyboard.

This should be a lot cheaper.

Not sexy looking at all.

Musician

Electronica

Sound? This is just a USB-MIDI controller. The only sound is the rattle of the keys. However, I intend to use this to play with music on my netbook while at a coffee shop. In that case, I will be wearing cans anyways, so a little extra noise is no big deal. The included Korg M1 soft synth is kind of nice, though, and has some great sounds.

There is really not a lot here. Just 25 keys, an octave buttons, pitch-bend buttons, a mod button, and a CC mode button (which I have never used). Simple, but most of what you need.

This think is very easy to use. It was recognized instantly under Windows and Linux. You can install the Korg driver software in order to do some customization. However, if you are happy with the default settings, you do not need to install anything!

OK. This thing is absolutely NOT built like a tank. The keys look and feel like laptop keys (which they basically are). This thing is NOT super-durable. Baby it. I wish that Korg had included a snap-on cover for the top to protect it.

A ultra-small, portable, 25-key controller for $50? Great deal! The build quality is not super-strong, but what do you expect for the money? Do you want larger keys or better build quality? Then spend more money and get something else. I think that for its intended purpose, this is a very good deal.

I have not needed any support. The (optional) driver works and is dead simple. At this price, the hardware should be considered to be disposable if it breaks.

This product invented a new category class -- ultra-portable keyboard controllers that are intended to work with a laptop. Akai has since come out with something that looks to be better for not too much more money, but give Korg credit for inventing a ground-breaking product (which they have a tendency to do).

Hobbyist

Electronica

This thing does not really have any sound -- it is a controller. The included license for the M1 software synth is kind of nice.

Pretty good features. It does not have the arp like the Akai LPK25. It does have pitch bend.

Very simple to use.

I had previously reviewed this and gave it good marks. However, mine broke when I had it in a cabinet, and slid a magazine on top of it. That little act tore off two keys, which I could not get put back. I would have expected to be a little sturdier than this. If I need another product like this, I am going to go for the Akai LPK25.

Good value if you baby it. If you break it, fifty bucks out the window.

I did not use support. The thing was out of warranty when it broke.

It was the first of its kind, so I cut it some slack. However Akai now makes a better products for $20 more.

Hobbyist

Electronica

It has no sound, its a MIDI controller with cheap breakable keys that Korg wont repair...

Came with nothing but a cable and some trial software that took me ours to find online

Easy before your keys start breaking off.. I'm pretty easy on my gear but this thing is just really cheaply made and broke before I got to even have fun with it.

Made of the cheapest chinese plastic you could think to find... the keys are a similar design to keys on a laptop only laptop keyboards are way more durable. This thing is really really poorly made, dont waste your money like I did

Would be better value if it were made better

There is none... on their site there is no link for warranty information. no one wants anything to do with these

I did want this thing. I was stoked to be able to travel without using my big MIDI keyboard but its really just a junky gimmick

Hobbyist

All

No sound, USB controller

WOW! It has pitch/mod controls. no plug for sustain pedal 1/8 would bee nice.

Smaller than normal keys but easy to use

indures a lot, the keys velocity sensitive (I actually used it in a gig)

Good price, would be nice to have a package deal with the other Nano Kontrols

Don't need it

I have it (must be good it keeps selling out)

Active Musician, Recording Engineer

R&B, Pop, Rock, & Hip Hop