IK Multimedia has announced that iRig KEYS, an ultra-portable universal MIDI controller keyboard for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch with 30-pin connector, as well as Mac/PC, is now shipping.
iRig KEYS offers a unique combination of portability, playability, and functionality. Because it’s class-compliant on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac/PC, it’s plug and play — no driver downloads or software or app installations are necessary.
iRig KEYS is also entirely bus powered via the dock connector on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, and the USB port on a Mac or PC, so it can be used virtually anywhere.
It works well as a mobile controller for all iOS MIDI compatible instruments and studio apps, including GarageBand; IK’s iGrand Piano, the new piano app; the iOS and Mac/PC versions of SampleTank; as well as any MIDI-compatible software or DAW plug-ins for Mac/PC.
Many of iRig KEYS’ features are designed to allow keyboardists to play with the expressive techniques that they’re accustomed to. To that end, the keyboard is equipped with mod and pitch wheels, 37 velocity-sensitive keys (enough for two-handed parts) a MIDI programmable knob, and an input for a sustain pedal or an expression pedal.
Five backlit soft-touch buttons are provided for editing, including Program and Octave up/down buttons, and a SET button for saving and recalling up to four user presets.
In Edit Mode it’s possible to transpose, select one of six preset velocity curves, set the MIDI transmit channel and program change number, and assign the knob to a particular MIDI controller.
iRig KEYS comes with free apps for iOS and software for Mac/PC. For the former, users can download SampleTank FREE from the App Store, which provides a collection of 68 sampled acoustic and electronic instruments, or iGrand Piano FREE, a great sounding piano app.
For the Mac/PC, iRig KEYS purchasers are entitled to download SampleTank 2 L, a sampling workstation (plug-in or standalone), that normally retails for $79.99/€59.99, and comes with a 2GB instrument collection.
