Alesis Q49 MKII - 49 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Full Size Velocity Sensitive Synth Action Keys and Music Production Software Included

Great little full-size 88, so easy to take to gigs, and does most everything I’d want it to. Amazing for the price!! Easy delivery.Something is funky with the way the expression pedal (you can set it to different midi channels- I set it to Soft) works with Mainstage. I’m trying to use it to change patches. So my workaround is plugging the sustain into expression (second jack) and the secondary pedal into sustain. And assigning them opposite, basically. However, then if I press both pedals at the same time, notes get stuck on. Not a big deal, it still works perfectly as long as I don’t press both at the same time, and it’s a very specific and sort of uncommon thing I’m trying to do with two sustain pedals- one being used as a patch change.I use it at most of my gigs now!!

I have been learning to play music with this thing and it seems to be doing the trick. I can now make sounds that almost resemble music lol. Its very well constructed seems durable and made with good materials. The keys are very responsive. I love the pressure sensitive keys as it makes the sound more intense or softer with the amount of pressure used. I love the size for its portability. Oh and all the free software available for different instruments and effects is amazing. So many plugins available. I am pleased with this purchase and it didn't break the bank.

Number one question about the MIDI controller will be, how do the keys feel? It's not hammer action, and no one will mistake it for an acoustic piano, or digital piano, but the keys feel solid, and an acceptable compromise with synth action. For my purpose (recording MIDI input), and ability level, after getting used to it, you don't think about the action. The keys are not slippery, and the black keys are non-glossy.Piano realism will depend greatly on the software. Reason with Radical piano instrument sounds fantastic. The "included" software is convoluted to download, and merely adequate if you have nothing else.As a controller, I have still not been able to use the controller buttons. Alesis Q99 does not come up as a controller preset, and the other Alesis models don't work. Could be just me, and I don't really need that feature. Pitch, modulation and sustain all work great, and velocity on the keys is great (again dependent on the software).Bottom line, this is a fantastic value for the price, solidly constructed, but not for advanced piano performance (a big step up for synth sounds).

I have an iPhone SE (1st gen) and Windows 10 PC. It works with those devices for sure. When it comes to Android devices, it's gonna be a hit or miss. I can only speak for the devices that I do actually have. If you took a chance on an Android that works, please share your experience.Moto Z Play, Android 8.0 - does NOT work. It doesn't even power up the keyboard. Tried with an OTG with power input and still doesn't work.Walmart ONN 10” tablet, Android 9 Go - device recognized, but practically unusable. The tablet/apps recognize the device. BUT! The latency is pretty bad. Also, some keys get "stuck". I'm guessing the processor/hardware is just too slow.ATT Radiant Core U304AA, Android 9 - device recognized, but practically unusable. Got this phone from ATT as a free upgrade because of their network updates. Again, this seems more like incapable hardware, not incapable OS. Latency is unnoticeable, but the sound eventually starts crackling like the CPU is overloading.Moto E5 Play, Android 8 - surprisingly WORKS perfectly. This was just an ATT prepaid phone off the shelf. It is able to power up the device, the OS and apps recognize it, latency is unnoticeable. It seems that the hardware is very capable to provide very stable performance. Only caveat is to set the display to stay on for as long as possible. Even with battery optimization turned off, my MIDI app seems to go to sleep with the screen is off and when it's in background.So, it is a bit unpredictable. Why the Moto Z Play, which is a much better phone than the Moto E5 Play, doesn't work...I don't know. It would be difficult to lay out minimum requirements in that context. So, I can understand why Alesis just doesn't want to even mention it.

A very simple product. Good 88 key controller with decent action. At this price point you are most likely going to get lightweight action at best, not fully weighted, but the lightweight action also works well for percussion parts, organ, etc. Portable, feels solid not cheap.

I considered this and the identical m-audio model and upon reading the reviews there was a lot of concern brought to the fact that the m-audio seems to be very finicky to get working power wise, like it demands more than the 5v than usb gives or something?No such issue with this keyboard, I even have it running through a non-powered usb hub that also has my mouse and its perfect. Size is perfect, see the comparison above next to my (already small) apple magic keyboard 2. Lovely keyboard, keys feel nice, plugged and play'd with garageband immediately. Possibly the best 60 bucks i ever spent music-wise?