You get 25 synth action mini keys, and while you won’t be playing any sonatas on these they are perfectly decent for basslines, melodies and simple chords. It can be used as a generic MIDI controller too, though you’ll want to check with Akai exactly how well supported your particular choice of third-party software is.
It’s pre-mapped for Live and you’ll find that the controls map across beautifully, with red outlines appearing in the software to denote what you’re currently controlling. Power and MIDI are also handled by this connection so there’s no need for a power supply. There’s a single USB port on the side that you use to connect to your Mac or PC, and it’s class compliant so no drivers are required. It’s insanely portable and very light indeed, though its all-plastic construction, while solid, means you’ll probably not want to throw it around too much. Small is Beautiful The first thing to say about the Key 25 is that it is very compact.
