The microKEY actually has three variations: 25 key, 37 key and 61 key, which kind of rubbishes the whole concept here of a “compact” keyboard.

Korg’s microKEY has a more traditional piano-style keybed than the nanoKEY. Some of the special edition ones come in unique colors that might make for decent, inexpensive gifts for the music producer in your life. Altogether, it’s about the length of two pens placed end-to-end. The keys on the Korg nanoKEY2 are the focus here, and rather than bunch them together, Korg has spread them out: there are 25 wide pad-like keys arranged in two rows along with six pre-programmed control buttons for pitch bending, sustain, octave shift and modulation. This is a really special design but one admittedly not for everyone. Here we’re concerning ourselves primarily with keyboards, with piano-style keys – music keyboards and controllers that make the grade and won’t cost you much.

And speaking of pads: there’s another whole article to be written about controllers like the Korg nanoPAD.

Personal preferences play a big role too, from the style of keys to how many there are (which in turn changes how big, or how “compact,” a compact keyboard really is).There’s definitely a trade-off between price, compactness and robustness.

You don’t need to buy new: there are some good options on Reverb and eBay that might work better with your existing hardware or software options.And there are lots of options to be had: manufacturers like Korg and Arturia have come out with multiple compact keyboard options, many of which are available for less than $100. For musicians and producers who are working on the road, or those just starting to build or to pare down a studio workspace, portable, compact music keyboards and USB controllers are an increasingly popular option.

Best midi keyboard under 100