Korg Nanos
TECH
TECH SPEC
USB buss-powered
Mini USB connection
Dimensions: 30mm x
83mm x 14 – 29mm
Korg Kontrol Editor software
for creating and editing
templates
Nano Key:
25 keys with velocity and
four velocity curves
Buttons for modulation,
octave up/down and pitch
up/down
Special Midi CC mode
Nano Kontrol:
BIG TRICKS, LITTLE BOX
Nine knobs and sliders and
18 buttons.
Transport buttons: rew/
Korg’s Nano micro controllers have been flying off shelves — we
play/FF/loop/stop/rec.
investigate why…
Scene button with four user
memories
Nano Pad:
12 trigger pads with
W
ith so many of us DJing
NANO KONTROL
or perform pitch bend operations. When
velocity and four velocity
and producing tracks on
The Nano Kontrol has four scene layers,
either of the flam or roll buttons are used curves, XY pad, roll, flam,
laptops now, the Korg
which quadruple the amount of usable
in conjunction with an enabled trigger pad, hold buttons.
Nano seems like the
controls to 144. Despite their diminutive
the XY will default to controlling the rate/ Scene button with four user
perfect choice of controller with which to
size, both the knobs and the sliders are
intensity of the accent. memories
get creative.
very easy to grip and smooth to the touch.
The three different Nano models all share
There is a small amount of resistance and
NANO KEY
the same lightweight form, which has been
overall it’s easy enough to set precise
Last up is the Nano Key. The two-octave
proportionately designed to match a Mac
values, as well as perform quick sweeps
keyboard features flat keys that respond
Book perfectly. Sit it on top of the track-
through the full range.
nicely to velocity, which makes them a
pad area of a laptop or just in front of it
Upper and lower ranges can be set for
much better alternative.
VERDICT
and the height and width make it feel like a
all controllers and the buttons can be
The octave and pitch bend buttons are
natural extension of the computer.
assigned to Midi CC or Note on, with toggle
fixed, but there is an extra CC mode, which
BUILD QUALITY 3.5
and momentary action.
turns the keyboard into buttons for firing
EASE OF USE 4.5
The three different units in the range all
In Midi CC mode, a button can also have an
off Midi CC messages with on and off
FEATURES 4.0
cover a specific set of duties.
automatic attack and release rate assigned
values.
VALUE FOR MONEY 5.0
The Nano Kontrol supplies nine faders and
SOUND QUALITY N/A
similar to the envelope on a synth — useful
knobs plus a dozen buttons; The Nano Pad
for a variety of functions, from controlling
Overall, it’s hard to find fault with the
provides 12 rubber trigger pads and a mini
volume to performing a crossfader sweep.
Nanos, given the asking price. All three are
HYPE
touch-sensitive XY pad; while the Nano
Highly portable Midi controllers
This means that the Midi CC value can rise
highly useful and their portable, compact
with specialist functions at a
Key is shaped like a two-octave keyboard
and fall between its max and min values
design is a great asset. The buttons on
bargain price.
complete with black and white keys.
with one button press, a nice little trick
the Nano Kontrol can occasionally get
that can be applied in any number of ways.
stuck under the cut away, but only on rare GRIPE
All three units are plug-and-play as far as occasions when they are pushed hard
No on-board memory for
Midi drivers go, and arrive pre-programmed
NANO PAD
additional templates.
with one built-in preset. Korg have some
The Nano Pad, meanwhile, shares some of Small but powerful
editing software available, which can also
the features from the full-size Kontrol Pad,
controllers that strike a
be used for storing and loading additional
including a dozen velocity sensitive pads
nice balance between
templates — this can be downloaded from
and buttons for hold, flam and roll accents.
PRICE
price, performance and
the website at
korg.co.uk.
The pads can be programmed with the same
£36 (Key)
build quality.
The editor is a good place to learn the
options as the buttons on the Nano Kontrol
£42 (Pad & Kontrol)
full capabilities of each Nano, as they all
including Note on, Midi CC and attack/
have some hidden tricks that come as
release rates.
CONTACT
unexpected surprises.
The XY pad can spit out Midi CC messages
korg.co.uk / 01908 857100
4.5/5
www.djmag.com
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DJ470.tech_korg.indd 111 19/1/09 20:56:23
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