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!!

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.

Great feel, keys were what I was worried about... but when I received it I was relieved to be happy that the keybed felt so good. Overall great keyboard, besides the button mapping (not considering the wheel, pitchbend or volume slider) I just couldn't figure out how to use it, and I use custom-programmed TouchPads in my studio for things that include those functions anyways, the keyboard I used before I didn't use these buttons, but I still wanted that keyboard button functionality for once, just because. The User Manual is very much not a helpful one when it comes to mapping, it does not describe which command refers to which button and so forth. The listing above the keybed does clearly state the wheel and fader commands but not the transport, record -and-so-forth buttons. Really had to play around with it just to understand the sliders. I know THOSE work atleast. The octave buttons work great as well. I cannot find videos anywhere by Alesis or in general about how to map these buttons however so I gave up on the record and transport buttons. Composition feels great, it is plastic but DEFINITELY not cheap plastic. It feels great really. The keyboard comes with a plastic adhesive that sticks to all the keys at once, just peel it off ofcourse, but I did find it left a very squeaky feel to the keys for like 6 hours of playing before they began to feel normal but whatever it feels great now. Just a packaging precaution is all that it was. I like that there is Pro Tools First included, and additional software. That's super cool I guess. Look, if you want a good keybed, well functioning and nice feeling faders (wheel, pitchbend, volume) and nothing else really matters, I would recommend. Had to subtract a star for programming. It is just plug and play magic, and I'm happy. There are not a lot of informative reviews, not only is Alesis a smaller company, but this is a newer product, hence the little discussion and reviews. So I tried my best to give you the gist of it.

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.

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.

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?

I needed a small form midi controller to sit on my Yamaha digital piano. This little keyboard fit the bill nicely. I use it with my iPad to run various instrument apps. The key-bed is much better than the earlier generation of the same keyboard. It also comes with some nice software to boot. A real bargain, as I got mine from the Amazon warehouse and saved $18. Highly recommended!

2025 Update ============= I just want to add that I'm utterly sick of this keyboard and it's lack of reliability. It's USB connection is pure garbage. It randomly works sometimes and doesn't 99% of the time. It neither works with my iPad, my laptop, or my desktop. Nothing is damaged with the connector or the cable. I've tried at least 10 different cables with no luck. I'm downgrading this garbage to 1 star. I got this MIDI controller for use with my iPad and also with my desktop PC. I use it mainly to play some sampled harmoniums and liked this keyboard because of the range of keys. Most other 32-key keyboards don't have the same range as this. I find this key range to be perfect for working with a virtual harmonium and can use it for live performance. The keys are not weighted, but I was definitely not expecting that for this size and price range. They do have a nice soft feel to them and get the job done. I really hate the Mod and pitch bend buttons. I would have preferred mini wheels over these buttons. You have to actually hold down the mod button and it resets as soon as you release it. Definitely not useful if you want to keep the mod wheel setting at a specific position, which is impossible with this. The biggest issue I have with this keyboard is the USB port. No matter what port I connect it to on my laptop or desktop computer, it comes back as unrecognized. The only solution I found was to buy a USB-C cable and then a USB-C to A converter to connect it to the computer. For some bizarre reason, that works perfectly fine. But using a straight USB-A cable never works! Overall, this is a wonderful little MIDI controller. I love the fact that I can pack it in my laptop with my iPad and I have a mobile music studio!

Gracias a este controlador he podido llevar el trabajo fuera del estudio, el material es resistente, las teclas no son del todo cómodas, pero sirven bien, hay que tener en cuenta que son teclas minis. Por 40 dólares es la mejor opción en este rango de precio. Supera en calidad de materiales, sensibilidad de teclas y tamaño compacto a una de sus competencias como es el midiplus k32, y en relación al precio supera al M audio mini 32 que está un poco más elevado de precio (también es un excelente controlador, pero este es más económico y traen casi los mismos complementos). Si está pensando en elegir alguno de los mencionados, vaya a por este seguro.

La verdad que para producir música va fenomenal no hay que instalar nada en el pc lo enchufas por usb y listo además pesa poco por lo que si tienes poco espacio como yo no es molesto tener que guardarlo y sacarlo cada vez que quiera usarlo

Best value basic midi controller. Keys are somewhat sensitive. Very easy to connect to pc and ipad (with usb interface). Sale price very good deal. Recommended for basic to intermediate users.

La migliore per qualità e prezzo

SUPER....nice product good one also it as velocity sensitivity ... I downloaded the fl studio trial version and using this device .. also its mpc beats also works well ... a quality product. loved it ...go for it.