I'll start off with my own experience. Please feel free to chime in :-)
M-Audio Keystation Mini 32
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/KeystationMini32.html
This is the one I currently use. Great compromise between portability and control. The keys are actually very musically to play! You can choose between different velocity curves (I personally find #0 to be great playing the piano). The range of 32 keys is also very good. Pitchbend controller/expression buttons works surprisingly fine with adjustable bend time. Sustain latch button and rotary controller adds to a very complete and affordable package. I can't actually find anything to complain about :)
Akai LPK25
Up until the keystation arrived, this was my choice of mini keyboard. But compared to the Keystation the keys are spongy and having just 25 is a bit claustrophobic.
Korg Microkeys 37
This is the one to get if you hate mini keyboards ;) Great key action that allows very rapid playing and controllable, consistant velocity. Only downside is bulky size (won't fit easily into my laptop bag) and the keyboard lacks any sustain control (the 25 version has a sustain button, though)
Korg Nanokey
http://www.korg.com/nanoseries2
This was my first venture into mini keyboards. Don't get this. You get better control playing on your laptop keyboard ;)
New Korg microKey and microKey Air
From that I tried I like Korg. Microstation can be bough cheap, and it sound amazing by itself :-)
This looks very cool and price is good. I have an M-Audio keyboard - works great and price was very good.
M-Audio Intros AIR Mini 32
Features:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/AxiomAIRMini32New.html
Get this - http://personal-view.com/talks/discussion/1983/korg-microstation/p1
it is so much fun :-)
I have a nanokey and i honestly don't like it as a learner board, although it has decent velocity.. If i had money i'd trade the nano up for a something with onboard sounds like a microkorg or Novation Mininova instead.. I've found that I really don't like messing with VSTs; i feel like i'm doing my taxes or some other godawful computer labor
CME Xkey Portable
KeyFadr – MIDI controller for Ableton Live and any other DAW.
Features:
Launchkey Mini:
Found fun thing
ION Audio Piano
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=ion+audio+piano&_sacat=0
IK Multimedia iRig KEYS
The nanokey was also my first mini keyboard which was indeed pretty bad
Nanokey is hardly keyboard at all :-) It is more DJ gadget.
I mean normal mini Korg keyboards.
I added some discussed here to audio deals
The nanokey was also my first mini keyboard which was indeed pretty bad. I'm using the Akai now, but that m-audio midi actually looks pretty good.
As I remember, yep. None of them can be compared to Korg keyboards. And it is really whole idea to have 61 keys on your table small and compact.
Remember that MicroStation has very handy special bag, hence no need to go to your notebook one.
Yep, the Korgs have excellent keybeds, but they won't fit into my my laptop bag :-) Have you tried the Keystation Mini?
Get Korg Microstation :-) Really :-) or Microkeys 61
And forget anything except Korg :-) I tried all such things.
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