stompboxjon « Use it with your iPad too »
Published on 12/05/12 at 11:28The Line 6 Mobile Keys 49 is a mobile style USB MIDI controller that is compatible with any software. You can use this MIDI controller with any computer or iOS unit. It gets its power from the USB hub on your computer so you will never have to plug it in to a wall plug and this is why it is so portable. The keyboard itself is only 49 keys which is plenty enough for your mobile set up and it is also very small being less than 35 inches wide. It has a well built pitch and modulation wheel on it with touch and velocity sensitive keys. This is the newest USB controller from Line 6, but nothing really sets it too far apart from any other model that they have made. The keys feel pretty good for it to be just a 49 key controller.
UTILIZATION
This USB controller is very easy to set up, it does come with a manual and driver disk. Once you have installed the drivers you will have no problem getting your DAW to recognize this controller. Depending on which DAW you use, you might have an actual preset for this controller but it really won’t matter because there are not a lot of knobs on this controller. In most cases with 49 key controllers you just will not get a lot of knobs or sliders mainly because there isn’t much room and that is what makes them portable. If you need more octaves you can easily shift up and down octaves with the shift button on the controller.
OVERALL OPINION
This controller has not been out too long, but I can say that it is very portable and has held up well so far. It does not come with any fancy or sought after VST’s which would have been a plus if they would have included some sort of synth sounds with it. But on the plus side you can use this with your iPads and iPhones too.
UTILIZATION
This USB controller is very easy to set up, it does come with a manual and driver disk. Once you have installed the drivers you will have no problem getting your DAW to recognize this controller. Depending on which DAW you use, you might have an actual preset for this controller but it really won’t matter because there are not a lot of knobs on this controller. In most cases with 49 key controllers you just will not get a lot of knobs or sliders mainly because there isn’t much room and that is what makes them portable. If you need more octaves you can easily shift up and down octaves with the shift button on the controller.
OVERALL OPINION
This controller has not been out too long, but I can say that it is very portable and has held up well so far. It does not come with any fancy or sought after VST’s which would have been a plus if they would have included some sort of synth sounds with it. But on the plus side you can use this with your iPads and iPhones too.