Korg Keystage Control Keyboard offers MIDI 2.0, Polyphonic Aftertouch
The future has arrived – finally!
Korg Keystage, Korg’s first MIDI 2.0 keyboard controller, with polyphonic aftertouch, audio out and official integration with Ableton Live.
Korg today introduced Keystage, its first and new MIDI keyboard controller that features MIDI 2.0 and Polyphonic Aftertouch.
Korg Keystage features unparalleled DAW integration, plus powerful arpeggiator and chord functionality.
Coming in both 49 and 61 key variants, the controller is equipped with a semi-weighted keybed that can muster polyphonic and channel aftertouch as well as MPE, which has been developed with Ashun Sound Machines of Hydrasynth fame.
As for DAW integration, a huge number of digital audio workstations are covered, but currently, it’s only Ableton Live that has official integration, alongside Korg’s own Gadget 2.0. Both of these will have limited editions bundled with the keyboard. Check the full list of supported DAWs below…
Ableton Live (Official Integration)
Korg Gadget (Official Integration)
Cakewalk
Cubase
Digital Performer
FL Studio
GarageBand
Logic Pro X
Pro Tools
Studio One
The promise with MIDI 2.0 is that you won’t have to worry about running scripts or mapping MIDI just to get your DAW to talk to your controller, which is exactly what Keystage promises – seamless plug-and-play compatibility.
Aside from the the new keybed, other tactile control comes in the form of your standard pitch bend and modulation wheels. While parameters are tweaked via eight control knobs, with each rotary sitting above an OLED screen for visual parameter feedback.
Playback options are aplenty with an arpeggiator that comes with a ton of patterns and includes aftertouch-triggered ratchets, randomization and gating, while the chord mode is rammed to the gills with a suite of 32 chord sets and a further 32 slots to save your own.
In the I/O department, you are treated to USB-B, MIDI, expression and damper ports which are also joined by two unbalanced 1/4″ TS outputs and a stereo headphone output. There are no audio inputs, so this will be purely for monitoring purposes with audio being handled at 44.1 kHz, 16-bit.
What they say about it:
“As the first keyboard to adopt the MIDI 2.0 Property Exchange, Keystage puts unparalleled integration and control at your fingertips, taking your music-making experience to a whole new level.
Featuring a new keybed design with outstanding touch response, Polyphonic / Channel Aftertouch and MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) compatibility, Keystage offers hands-on control and instant visual feedback through its parameter-dedicated OLED screens. It features a powerful arpeggiator, an array of chord modes, integrated audio outputs, and official integration with Ableton Live.”
Korg Keystage is available now, priced at $599.99 for the 49-key model and $699.99 for the 61-key model.
Korg Keystage Poly Aftertouch Controller Overview:
Full specs:
- Keyboard
- 49 keys or 61 keys Polytouch* keyboard
- Features velocity sensitivity, aftertouch, and polyphonic aftertouch
- Velocity curves: 21 (-10 to +10)
- Octave range: 7 (-3 to +3)
- Controllers
- Pitch bend wheel, modulation wheel
- parameter control knobs × 8
- VOLUME knob
- SETTINGS button
- WRITE button
- EXIT button
- SHIFT button
- ARP button
- CHORD button
- VALUE ^/ buttons
- VALUE dial
- PAGE —/+ buttons
- transport buttons
- TEMPO button
- OCTAVE —/+ buttons
- Display
- Main display: Organic EL (electro-luminescence) display
- Sub display: Organic EL displays x 8
- Scenes
- 16
- Arpeggiator
- Arpeggio rhythm patterns: 20
- Chord mode
- Preset chord sets: 32
- User chord sets: 32
- I/O
- USB port, MIDI (IN, OUT connectors), EXPRESSION jack, DAMPER jack
- Audio output
- AUDIO OUT (L/MONO, R): 6.3 mm TS phone jack (unbalanced)
- Headphones: 6.3 mm stereo phone jack
- Control inputs
- Damper (half-damper supported)
- Expression
- MIDI
- In, out
- USB
- Type B
- MIDI/audio interface
- MIDI: 1 in/1 out
- Audio: 2 ch out
- Audio format: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit
- Power
- USB bus power or AC adapter (9 V DC, : Korg KA350, sold separately)
- Power consumption: 5 V/500 mA or less (when powered via USB), 4w (when using an AC adapter)
- Dimensions
- Keystage-49: 814 × 234 × 82 mm
- Keystage-61: 979 × 234 × 82 mm
