IK Multimedia

Way back in February 2013 ( 187), we
scored IK Multimedia’s iRig Keys mini
keyboard 9/10 in our review, citing its unique-at-
the-time combination of onboard iOS
connectivity and regular USB for Mac/PC, and
decent playability, as worthy selling points. The
£60 asking price was very reasonable, too.
In 2019, the market is awash with options for
the mobile producer in need of a backpack-
friendly ’board, so IK have rebooted their take
on the concept with the iRig Keys 2. This three-
octave mini keyboard improves on the original
in pretty much every department – as it should,
given that the price has almost doubled, too.
There’s also a bigger version with full-size keys –
the iRig Keys 2 Pro (€183) – but we’re only
looking at the regular iRig Keys 2 here.
Small but mighty
The iRig Keys 2 feels more sturdy and is easier
on the eye than its predecessor, and although
it’s signiicantly larger in all three dimensions –
at 518x139x54mm versus 503x120x40mm – it’s
still eminently portable.
A cut-out in the back panel houses ive
physical connections. The micro-USB port
outputs data and/or draws power from a
connected computer, USB charger or USB
battery pack. Lightning- and USBA-to-micro-
USB cables are included, and the computer-free
powering options enable the iRig Keys 2 to be
juiced for use with hardware synths, drum
machines, etc. Catering to that particular
scenario are two MIDI ports on 2.5mm jack
sockets, into either of which the single included
adapter cable can be plugged for conversion to
a 5-pin DIN MIDI port. The unit appears as a
class-compliant MIDI interface (no driver
installation required) in any host DAW, but if you
want to take full advantage of it as such – ie,
using the input and the output at the same time
– you’ll need to splash out another tenner or so
on a second adapter.
The remaining two holes comprise a 1/4"
pedal input and 1/8" headphone socket that can
also feed a powered monitoring setup. Yes, the
iRig Keys 2 is also a class-compliant stereo-out
audio interface, which owners of iOS and
Android devices lacking in headphone jacks will
certainly appreciate. Countering that somewhat,
though, is the inability to power/charge said
phone or tablet while the iRig Keys 2 is
connected. Once again, the lack of dedicated
power supply socket with pass-through via the
micro-USB port is disappointing.
The 37 velocity-sensitive mini-keys are quite
irmly sprung in terms of resistance, and exhibit
no lateral travel whatsoever, giving them a solid,
consistent feel. As before, you’re not going to be
giving any solo recitals with it, but for on-the-go
production duties, they’re perfectly adequate –
as are the equally robust and solidly seated
pitch and mod wheels.
The inal – and, arguably, most important –
functional upgrade is the addition of a bank of
control knobs. See With knobs on for the
lowdown on these.
’Rig society
As you’d hope, given the inlated pricetag, the
iRig Keys 2 is a serious step up from version 1. It’s
wonderfully compact, it plays as well as can be
expected, and the new knobs are very useful. A
great option for the roving muso, then, albeit a
comparatively expensive one.
Web ikmultimedia.com
IK Multimedia
iRig Keys 2 €159
The sequel to the world’s irst genuinely iOS-friendly mini keyboard
takes things up a notch in terms of both MIDI and audio
Verdict
For Compact and solidly built
Keys feel good and play well
Pitch and mod wheels
Four knobs and an encoder for MIDI CCs
MIDI I/O and audio output
Against Only one MIDI adapter cable
No phone/tablet charging pass-through
Quite pricey
With its premium build quality, audio and
MIDI I/O, and assignable knobs, the iRig
Keys is a ine portable controller keyboard
8 / 1 0
Alternatively
Native Instruments M32
270 » 10/10 » £99
If you’re invested in NI’s Komplete
ecosystem, this could be the mini
keyboard for you.
Korg microKEY 2, 37-key
NA » NA » £69
Doesn’t have anywhere near the
functionality, but costs almost half
as much.
While the integration of an audio output
brings a new (and necessary, with iOS and
Android devices increasingly audio jack-free)
angle to iRig Keys, for many, the four freely
assignable knobs (v1 had just the one) and
assignable rotary push encoder will hold
greater appeal. And actually, it’s efectively
eight knobs, as the ‘58’ button switches them
between two banks of four MIDI CCs.
The iRig Keys 2 has no software editor, so
assigning MIDI CCs to the ive controls – as
well as changing MIDI channel, velocity
sensitivity and more – is done directly on the
unit itself, old-school style. Holding down the
two Octave buttons enters Edit mode, in
which the MIDI keys are used for parameter
selection and data entry.
The other controls on the top panel
comprise headphone Volume, Octave Up and
Down, Program Change Up and Down, and a
button for saving and stepping through four
complete setup states.
With knobs on
98 / COMPUTER MUSIC / January 2020
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CMU277.rev_irigkeys2.indd 98 08/11/2019 12:20