It's ideal for non keyboard players wanting to play chords in any key. Chord Scale mode, on the other hand, has the pads generating chords according to a key and scale/tonality chosen elsewhere in the editing system (of which more in a moment). You'd use that for typical drum playing, though it's capable of far more. In Note/Control mode, the pads transmit MIDI notes, continuous controller data or program change messages. The trigger pads operate in one of two modes, accessed with dedicated buttons. The Octave buttons, for example, light in different colours or flash to show the extent of transposition in place. Going on to explore the rest of the control panel reveals that virtually all buttons are capable of being illuminated, giving useful feedback about their current operational state. The marketing spec mentions 'semi‑weighted', but I wouldn't go that far it's a nicely sprung synth action, pure and simple. Then only a few moments of noodling are enough to confirm that the keyboard action is honest, light and reliable. After connecting to your Mac or PC, the Taktile instantly springs into life - there's no power switch. The Simple LifeĪt first glance everything about the Taktile looks pretty straightforward and predictable, and to a very great extent that's borne out in practice. Also available via download is a proprietary MIDI driver, a dedicated Kontrol editor application for programming the Taktiles on your Mac or PC, and a plug‑in for Mac that enables DAW control in Apple Logic X and GarageBand. You get the M1Le virtual synth, Toontrack's EZdrummer Lite, AAS's Ultra Analog, Strum Acoustic and Lounge Lizard 'session' versions, Propellerheads' Reason Limited DAW, and a discount coupon for Ableton Live. Provided with each Taktile is a USB cable, a concise multi‑lingual instruction sheet (of the type that folds out to the size of a broadsheet newspaper), and a code for downloading a software bundle and some other offers. Everything seems set to provide a long working life. In typical use, and when transported, there's no flexing or creaking, and all physical controls feel consistent and reliable. A subtly sculpted, thoroughly modern‑looking top panel is married to a light, textured, futuristic base - not that anyone will ever really see it. While the Taktile's case construction is strictly plastic, it's finished to a really good standard. Connection sockets are mounted in a recessed panel on the right cheek: a USB B port for hooking up to your computer, MIDI In and Out on five‑pin DINs and a pair of quarter‑inch sockets for switch‑type and continuous pedals. A row of transport buttons promise some kind of DAW control, and there's a handful of mode buttons scattered elsewhere on the panel. In the centre of the control panel sits an X/Y touch pad with a ribbon strip beneath, next to a small OEL (Organic Electroluminescent) display that displays crisp white text on a dark black background. Those trigger pads are also just velocity sensitive but illuminate when you tap them. There's the typical modulation/pitch wheel duo, and octave transpose buttons to access the outer reaches of the pitch range. The keyboard is velocity but not aftertouch sensitive. The Taktile 25 has a bank of eight faders and buttons, and that's supplemented by another eight knobs on the 49. The Taktile 25 and 49 have similar capabilities and styling, but are differentiated by the keyboard compass (two or four octaves), number of drum‑style trigger pads (eight or 16), and the provision of physical controls. They've not traditionally been a player in the full‑size controller keyboard market, however, so what can the Taktiles offer that manufacturers like Novation and M‑Audio don't already? Touchy‑feely Korg have been riding high recently with their eclectic line‑up of Monotrons, Volcas, MS20 reissues and workstations. As their name implies, Korg's new MIDI keyboards are all about hands‑on control.
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