Buy new:
To see product details, add this item to your cart.
FREE Returns
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
FREE Returns
To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.

M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3 - USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 32 Velocity Sensitive Mini Keys and Recording Software Included

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 3,838 ratings
Amazon's Choice highlights highly rated, well-priced products available to ship immediately.
Amazon's Choice in Computer Recording MIDI Controllers by M-Audio

To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
FREE Returns
Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping.
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
| Product support included
What's Product Support?
In the event your product doesn't work as expected or you need help using it, Amazon offers free product support options such as live phone/chat with an Amazon associate, manufacturer contact information, step-by-step troubleshooting guides, and help videos. By solving product issues, we help the planet by extending the life of products. Availability of support options differ by product and country.

Purchase options and add-ons

Brand M-Audio
Number of Keys 32
Connectivity Technology USB
Special Feature velocity sensitive keys; USB powered; sustain button; volume control; production software included
Model Name KEYSTATION MINI 32 MK3

About this item

  • Pro Music Production Wherever You Go – USB MIDI keyboard controller with slimline footprint and 32 mini piano style velocity-sensitive keys for a natural feel
  • Customisable Response – Mini keys with selectable velocity curves match any playing style inc’l traditional piano, synthesizer, key-based beat making; pitch bend / modulation buttons add expression
  • Immediate Creativity - Simple plug-and-play connection to your Mac or PC—no drivers or power supply required
  • Express Yourself - Octave up and down buttons for extended keyboard range, Volume knob delivers smooth control and Sustain button adds expressive capability
  • The MPC Production Experience - Includes MPC Beats Software complete with the essential production tools from Akai Professional

Frequently bought together

$59.00
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25
Only 18 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$59.00
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$20.52
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Choose items to buy together.

Compare with similar items

This Item
M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3 - USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 32 Velocity Sensitive Mini Keys and Recording Software Included
M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3 - USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 32 Velocity Sensitive Mini Keys and Recording Software Included
Recommendations
Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus - USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 37 Mini Keys, 8 MPC Pads, Sequencer, MIDI/CV/Gate I/O, Music Production Software
dummy
Novation Launchkey MK3 61-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller Bundle with Studio Headphones and Keyboard Stand (3 Items)
dummy
AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 - 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8 Knobs and Music Production Software Included, Grey
dummy
Nektar Impact GX Mini USB MIDI Controller, 25-Key
dummy
M-Audio Oxygen Pro Mini – 32 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With Beat Pads, MIDI assignable Knobs, Buttons & Faders and Software Suite Included
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Price$59.00$169.00$309.99$99.00$49.99$119.00
Delivery
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25
Customer Ratings
Portability
4.5
4.5
4.7
4.2
4.5
For beginners
3.7
3.9
4.1
3.8
3.9
Value for money
3.6
4.2
4.4
4.0
Tech Support
3.7
4.0
3.7
3.5
Quality of material
4.2
4.4
4.2
Sold By
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Focus Camera LLC
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
number of keys
32
37
61
25
32
hardware interface
usb
usb
usb
usb
usb
usb
connectivity tech
USB
USB
USB
USB
USB
USB
model year
2022
2021
2021
weight
1 pounds
2.78 pounds
1 pounds
0.8 kilograms
0.6 kilograms
1200 grams

Product information

Warranty & Support

Manufacturer’s warranty can be requested from customer service. Click here to make a request to customer service.

Feedback

M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3 - USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 32 Velocity Sensitive Mini Keys and Recording Software Included


Found a lower price? Let us know. Although we can't match every price reported, we'll use your feedback to ensure that our prices remain competitive.

Where did you see a lower price?

URL:
Price: ($)
Shipping cost: ($)
Date of the price:
/
/

Store name:
City:
State:
Price: ($)
Date of the price:
/
/


Please sign in to provide feedback.

Product guides and documents

Product Description


Simple Software Control
Enter the world of unrestricted computer-based music creation and performance with the Keystation Mini 32 MK3 keyboard controller from M-Audio - successor to the iconic Keystation Mini 32 II. Whether you’re a seasoned pro looking for just the right controller when you’re on the go, or simply looking to get started with the right mini USB MIDI keyboard, the Keystation Mini 32 MK3 is a simple, powerful solution engineered for sequencing music and playing virtual instruments on your Mac or PC. Fusing a low-profile, ultra-portable footprint with 32 natural feeling mini-size velocity-sensitive keys and comprehensive controls that expand the range of playable notes, Keystation Mini 32 MK3 provides core control to capture every subtlety of your most expressive performance.


From the manufacturer

Simple Software Control

Enter the world of unrestricted computer-based music creation and performance with the Keystation Mini 32 MK3 keyboard controller from M-Audio - successor to the iconic Keystation Mini 32 II. Whether you’re a seasoned pro looking for just the right controller when you’re on the go, or simply looking to get started with the right mini USB MIDI keyboard, the Keystation Mini 32 MK3 is a simple, powerful solution engineered for sequencing music and playing virtual instruments on your Mac or PC. Fusing a low-profile, ultra-portable footprint with 32 natural feeling mini-size velocity-sensitive keys and comprehensive controls that expand the range of playable notes, Keystation Mini 32 MKIII provides core control to capture every subtlety of your most expressive performance.

Express Yourself

Everything your production demands is thoughtfully included! Use the fully assignable octave range buttons, volume knob, dedicated pitch-bend and modulation buttons to play and perform with your music software. Keystation Mini 32 MK3 also features a sustain button for genuine piano sustain.

Make Music Anywhere

Lightweight, simple to configure and made-to-move. Keystation Mini 32 MK3 is USB-powered, class-compliant and supports USB-MIDI connectivity. Plus, it supports iOS connectivity with the Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter (sold separately).

Pro Software Suite Included

Spark that initial idea or add the finishing touch to your latest masterpiece - Keystation Mini 32 MK3 includes a premium software suite for any production discipline. With MPC Beats included you have everything you need for immediate creative potential right-out-the-box!

x

6-month Subscription to Reason+ Included!

Registered customers now get a 6-month subscription to Reason+ included.

Reason+ is a creative bundle for music making that includes the Reason DAW and Reason Rack Plugin which can be used in any DAW (VST3/AU/AAX). With over 80 devices covering everything from creative synths, samplers, drum machines and audio effects, this subscription comes with 39,000 presets, 24gb of samples and new content (plugins and sounds) is added consistently.

Register your product upon purchase to redeem this offer.


From the brand

Looking for specific info?

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
3,838 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the size and value of the audio midi controller. For example, they mention it's small and portable, and fits on a small desk. That said, opinions are mixed on performance, keys, quality, ease of use, and software.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

39 customers mention32 positive7 negative

Customers like the size of the audio midi controller. They mention that it has a small footprint that allows for portability, and it fits on a smaller desk. Some say that the keyboard is very slim and can fit in most bookbags. Overall, most are happy with the size and portability of the product.

"...Build quality is good enough. It's very light but feels sturdy enough...." Read more

"...+ Very clean and stylish looking+ Small footprint allows for portability+ A great array of included software-..." Read more

"...Buy it if you're looking for a light, no frills keyboard that's so inexpensive it's practically disposable. M Audio has always done a nice job...." Read more

"I really want to love this thing. It's a great size, it looks sleek, and feels good to play...." Read more

32 customers mention27 positive5 negative

Customers like the value of the audio midi controller. They mention it's a super value buy, cost-effective, and works great for its value. Some say it'd be a great product if it was better made.

"...It is an amazing little keyboard for just $50!..." Read more

"...Buy it if you're looking for a light, no frills keyboard that's so inexpensive it's practically disposable. M Audio has always done a nice job...." Read more

"...While it may seem like a convenient and affordable option for those looking for a compact MIDI keyboard, there are several drawbacks to..." Read more

"...hard to expect too much from this little midi keyboard, but it's good for the price...." Read more

47 customers mention23 positive24 negative

Customers are mixed about the performance of the audio midi controller. Some mention that it works well, does what it says it will, and is easy to use on their laptop. However, others say that it doesn't work with Logic, may be prone to breaking or malfunctioning over time, and the cable doesn''t works.

"...It works great for my purposes. It gets its power from the laptop. Through the app, it sounds just like my Kawai piano...." Read more

"...Now this didn’t work initially either, and rather than giving up, I re-tested every single USB port. None of the front ports worked at all...." Read more

"...The keyboard worked right away out of the box, is feature light (on purpose), and is what it is...." Read more

"...Apparently, the USB port in your computer does not feed the item enough power for it to function properly...." Read more

43 customers mention25 positive18 negative

Customers are mixed about the keys of the audio midi controller. Some mention that it's an awesome little keyboard, while others say that the keys are unresponsive, difficult to use, and narrow.

"I really want to love this thing. It's a great size, it looks sleek, and feels good to play...." Read more

"Pretty good keyboard, but too old mini usb port." Read more

"...Not to mention the keys are understandably a bit narrow because of the unit's compactness so they're easy to fat finger...." Read more

"...But at least it looks nice on my desk, where I can pretend I'll learn to play someday." Read more

35 customers mention19 positive16 negative

Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the audio midi controller. Some mention it's simple to use as plugging it into a USB port, while others say the key feel is not great, the keys are very stiff, and the keyboard's sensitivity isn't tactile.

"...This is the 3rd version of the Keystation Mini, yet the incredibly simple and excellent Air Ignite Digital Audio Workstation is only included for..." Read more

"...As expected in this price range, the keyboard's sensitivity isn't tactile nor is it something you'll be able to play nuanced notes with...." Read more

"...Controls are simple. Enjoy!" Read more

"...It's a great size, it looks sleek, and feels good to play. But here's the thing: M-Audio advertises this item as Plug-N-Play, but it's not...." Read more

34 customers mention12 positive22 negative

Customers are mixed about the quality of the audio midi controller. Some mention it's solid quality and fits on a small desk, the USB port became wiggly and eventually fell apart, and the connector to the computer is majorly flawed. However, others say that it surely is not built well enough for the rigors of a traveling instrument, the connector is major flaws and has come loose from the computer.

"...It looks fantastic, but it doesn’t feel very rugged at all. The keys fell slightly spongy and somewhat brittle, so play it with care-..." Read more

"...Build quality is good enough. It's very light but feels sturdy enough...." Read more

"...The entire thing is made of plastic and right out of the box some of the keys were not aligned correctly...." Read more

"...Incredibly frustrating and absolutely asinine. Save your money and buy something that actually works." Read more

12 customers mention5 positive7 negative

Customers are mixed about the software included with the audio midi controller. Some mention that it comes with great software and a great array of included software, while others say that the software cannot be installed and that it needs to be downloaded. Some customers also mention that the XLN virtual instruments software is highly limited and difficult to use.

"...I can edit to my modest needs from there.The unit comes with software I've never used because I already own my own so I can't rate that...." Read more

"...go to use it in Garageband, Logic Pro, etc, it will not actually control a software instrument...." Read more

"...+ Small footprint allows for portability+ A great array of included software- It looks fantastic, but it doesn’t feel very rugged at all...." Read more

"...Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3 is that the included recording software is not very user-friendly or intuitive...." Read more

11 customers mention0 positive11 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the USB port of the audio midi controller. They mention that it is poorly constructed, easy to break, and not durable. Some say that the jack is badly soldered.

"...None of the front ports worked at all. Only 1 port worked this time, which is incredibly strange given that every single USB 2.0 port on my HTPC has..." Read more

"Pretty good keyboard, but too old mini usb port." Read more

"...the USB port is too easy to break off the circuit board that is inside the casing...." Read more

"...It will break instantly. The USB jack is so badly soldered plugging it in and leaving on your desk will break it...." Read more

Beautifully Simple or Incredibly Complex
4 Stars
Beautifully Simple or Incredibly Complex
+ Plug and Play on Mac OS-X+ Very clean and stylish looking+ Small footprint allows for portability+ A great array of included software- It looks fantastic, but it doesn’t feel very rugged at all. The keys fell slightly spongy and somewhat brittle, so play it with care- On Windows 10 it can be a nightmare to get working, or incredibly simple- I have 2 of these, one sits flat, one came slightly bent and it wobbles slightly on flat surfaces- If you decide to use it, the software needs to be downloaded, requiring creating a profile on M-Audio, the regestering your serial number. Pro Tools First requires multiple registrations, one for the program, one for Pace Software’s iLock Security, all for a highly watered down version of Pro Tools. The XLN virtual instruments software is highly limited and also requires setting up a profile if you decide to use it. Most of the best software based keys are locked behind an expensive paywall- This is the 3rd version of the Keystation Mini, yet the incredibly simple and excellent Air Ignite Digital Audio Workstation is only included for free with the first oneNow based on what you see so far, there are more negatives than positives, however, I can break it down further. On my Mac, I simply plugged it in, and it worked. I didn’t install anything extra at all. It worked across the board without any noticeable latency. I tested it in Logic Pro, Garage Band, Presonus Studio One and even far more basic mini apps. Next came Windows 10. I have 2 HTPC builds with 2 series Intel i5 processors, 1 larger and very powerful tower build with an Asus Zonar DSX sound card and an Intel i7, and 2 newer PC Laptops, 1 brand new Intel Core i9 model Dell XPS, and a lower end Acer Aspire with an Intel i5 7 series processor. All of these have the latest updates for Windows 10. On my i7 tower, the Keystation Mini MK3 was plugged into a USB 3.1 port. There are many online sites claiming that the Mini MK3 will only work on USB 2.0. In my case, this wasn’t an issue at all. Now there is an odd issue where due to how short the cable is, I used a USB 3.0 extension cord. This cord works on every high powered USB 3.0 device I own, including my Logictech Brio 4K webcam, which drinks power from the USB port. On the MK3 which only requires 5 volts from the USB 2.0 port, the extension cable prevents it from working on Mac or PC. It’s worth noting that the Asus Zonar DSX soundcard on my desktop comes with low latency Aiso audio drivers designed for USB Midi devices. Next I tested the MK3 on my i9 laptop directly, there were no issues on any of its USB 3.0 ports, and there’s no external soundcard, just the standard laptop motherboard audio. The MK3 also worked fine on my Acer Aspire, there are 2 USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0 port. It worked across the board on all 3 ports as a simple plug and play.Now I went to my main HP small form factor Intel i5 2500 based HTPC located in my room. This HTPC also has a USB based Asus Zonar U3 Dolby Live sound card. This is where the nightmare setup occurred. Plugging the MK2 into any of the 4 front USB 2.0 ports simply did not work. Those ports have powered my larger and smaller Intous model Wacom Styluses, as well as my wireless X-Box One Controller adapters, and numerous other devices in the past. There are 9 USB ports. I tried installing the software suit from the M-Audio website after regestering everything, that didn’t work. I tried using the Device Manager to locate drivers either online or on my system, that didn’t work. I opened up Air Ignite 1.4.1, which I got when I found out it wasn’t included, it’s supposed to simply work with it, it didn’t pick it up. Then after restarting, unplugging every USB device and unistalling them in device manager, that also didn’t work.What did work was going online and downloading the free ASIO 4 All program. When it’s installed, you need to check all 3 options on the installer, including the offline settings option. Now this didn’t work initially either, and rather than giving up, I re-tested every single USB port. None of the front ports worked at all. Only 1 port worked this time, which is incredibly strange given that every single USB 2.0 port on my HTPC has been tested to work with a wide array of plug and play devices. Once it showed up properly as the Mini Keystation 32 MK3, it showed up in Acustica MixCraft 7, Air Ignite 1.4.1, my friend has 1.3.1, and after contacting the company that makes it, they verified that those are both the exact same. 1.3.1 is the one that’s bundled for free with the first Keystation, 1.4.1 is simply the one that’s not entirely free that you purchase separately, despite having a newer version number. That’s just wrong in so many ways as those who have the free version may be tempted to purchase the newer one. That being said, on Windows 10, this device can be plug and play, or a literal nightmare to get working.The other thing that should be mentioned if you have an Asus Zonar U3 USB sound card, it’s not low latency ASIO compatible, you need to install the free ASIO 4 All, which will use a few processor cycles to force the lower latency you’ll need for Midi devices like the MK3. On any modern i5 series Intel chip, from the first gen one to the latest one, this isn’t really an issue for Digital Audio Workstations. My older MacBook Pro is a 2008 core2duo model attached to an Alesis Mixer, while I have vastly more powerful PCs, and a newer i7 MacBook Pro given to me by my job for graphic design work, the MK3 works the same across both without issues. The Mac does however come preconfigured for low latency Midi devices. Modern motherboards do too. Older mother HTPC motherboards simply don’t, so the ASIO 4 All driver rectifies this by using modern CPU power to reduce the latency of Midi devices. This is most likely why the Keystation Mini works right away on some Windows 10 PCs and not others. The odd USB extension cord issues and the short USB cord, as well as not working in USB ports that have powered devices that use far far more power than 5 volts is bad. A lot of these issues could be rectified if M-Audio simply included a driver for Windows that would make it work accrues the board. My case is an unusual one because I have a lot of PCs due to working primarily as a graphic designer/web designer, and a DJ/music producer on the side. If I didn’t have the ability to test it on so many devices, I would’ve simply returned it because it should come with drivers. The instructions mention downloading ASIO drivers for Windows, but that didn’t fix the issue initially, it was in combination with another fix. The instructions also didn’t mention that ASIO 4 All is literally the only freely available version of ASIO for Windows, or that if you use your CPU to reduce latency, you need to keep the samples at roughly 512 to avoid any audio popping. Lowering it to 128 without a newer motherboard or internal soundcard like the ones on my non HTPC builds, can indeed cause issues, so even with it, you’ll still have slight latency. Meanwhile on my Asus Zonar DSX sound card, the latency is 2 milliseconds, which is lower than it is my newer i9 XPS laptop. Again, if M-Audio simply included class compliant Windows 10 drivers instead of boldly claiming on their website that it works across the board as a plug and play midi device on Windows 10, or suggesting you buy a 100 plus dollar audio interface to make a 50 dollar midi keyboard work, there wouldn’t be any issues at all with any recent version of Windows.With all that being said, if you’re a Mac user, it’s as sublime and simple to use as plugging it into a USB port, and having it work even on my trusty 2008 Core2Duo MacBook Pro. Now on 2 of the 5 of my Windows 10 PCs, it was a nightmare to simply get working. Both HTPCs had the same exact issues. It worked on both on my PC Laptops, and on my larger i7 tower desktop, but I can’t say for certain if it would’ve been the case if my Asus Zonar DSX didn’t have custom ASIO drivers which installed with the sound card.
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2020
16 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2019
Customer image
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Simple or Incredibly Complex
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2019
+ Plug and Play on Mac OS-X
+ Very clean and stylish looking
+ Small footprint allows for portability
+ A great array of included software
- It looks fantastic, but it doesn’t feel very rugged at all. The keys fell slightly spongy and somewhat brittle, so play it with care
- On Windows 10 it can be a nightmare to get working, or incredibly simple
- I have 2 of these, one sits flat, one came slightly bent and it wobbles slightly on flat surfaces
- If you decide to use it, the software needs to be downloaded, requiring creating a profile on M-Audio, the regestering your serial number. Pro Tools First requires multiple registrations, one for the program, one for Pace Software’s iLock Security, all for a highly watered down version of Pro Tools. The XLN virtual instruments software is highly limited and also requires setting up a profile if you decide to use it. Most of the best software based keys are locked behind an expensive paywall
- This is the 3rd version of the Keystation Mini, yet the incredibly simple and excellent Air Ignite Digital Audio Workstation is only included for free with the first one

Now based on what you see so far, there are more negatives than positives, however, I can break it down further. On my Mac, I simply plugged it in, and it worked. I didn’t install anything extra at all. It worked across the board without any noticeable latency. I tested it in Logic Pro, Garage Band, Presonus Studio One and even far more basic mini apps. Next came Windows 10. I have 2 HTPC builds with 2 series Intel i5 processors, 1 larger and very powerful tower build with an Asus Zonar DSX sound card and an Intel i7, and 2 newer PC Laptops, 1 brand new Intel Core i9 model Dell XPS, and a lower end Acer Aspire with an Intel i5 7 series processor. All of these have the latest updates for Windows 10. On my i7 tower, the Keystation Mini MK3 was plugged into a USB 3.1 port. There are many online sites claiming that the Mini MK3 will only work on USB 2.0. In my case, this wasn’t an issue at all. Now there is an odd issue where due to how short the cable is, I used a USB 3.0 extension cord. This cord works on every high powered USB 3.0 device I own, including my Logictech Brio 4K webcam, which drinks power from the USB port. On the MK3 which only requires 5 volts from the USB 2.0 port, the extension cable prevents it from working on Mac or PC. It’s worth noting that the Asus Zonar DSX soundcard on my desktop comes with low latency Aiso audio drivers designed for USB Midi devices. Next I tested the MK3 on my i9 laptop directly, there were no issues on any of its USB 3.0 ports, and there’s no external soundcard, just the standard laptop motherboard audio. The MK3 also worked fine on my Acer Aspire, there are 2 USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0 port. It worked across the board on all 3 ports as a simple plug and play.

Now I went to my main HP small form factor Intel i5 2500 based HTPC located in my room. This HTPC also has a USB based Asus Zonar U3 Dolby Live sound card. This is where the nightmare setup occurred. Plugging the MK2 into any of the 4 front USB 2.0 ports simply did not work. Those ports have powered my larger and smaller Intous model Wacom Styluses, as well as my wireless X-Box One Controller adapters, and numerous other devices in the past. There are 9 USB ports. I tried installing the software suit from the M-Audio website after regestering everything, that didn’t work. I tried using the Device Manager to locate drivers either online or on my system, that didn’t work. I opened up Air Ignite 1.4.1, which I got when I found out it wasn’t included, it’s supposed to simply work with it, it didn’t pick it up. Then after restarting, unplugging every USB device and unistalling them in device manager, that also didn’t work.

What did work was going online and downloading the free ASIO 4 All program. When it’s installed, you need to check all 3 options on the installer, including the offline settings option. Now this didn’t work initially either, and rather than giving up, I re-tested every single USB port. None of the front ports worked at all. Only 1 port worked this time, which is incredibly strange given that every single USB 2.0 port on my HTPC has been tested to work with a wide array of plug and play devices. Once it showed up properly as the Mini Keystation 32 MK3, it showed up in Acustica MixCraft 7, Air Ignite 1.4.1, my friend has 1.3.1, and after contacting the company that makes it, they verified that those are both the exact same. 1.3.1 is the one that’s bundled for free with the first Keystation, 1.4.1 is simply the one that’s not entirely free that you purchase separately, despite having a newer version number. That’s just wrong in so many ways as those who have the free version may be tempted to purchase the newer one. That being said, on Windows 10, this device can be plug and play, or a literal nightmare to get working.

The other thing that should be mentioned if you have an Asus Zonar U3 USB sound card, it’s not low latency ASIO compatible, you need to install the free ASIO 4 All, which will use a few processor cycles to force the lower latency you’ll need for Midi devices like the MK3. On any modern i5 series Intel chip, from the first gen one to the latest one, this isn’t really an issue for Digital Audio Workstations. My older MacBook Pro is a 2008 core2duo model attached to an Alesis Mixer, while I have vastly more powerful PCs, and a newer i7 MacBook Pro given to me by my job for graphic design work, the MK3 works the same across both without issues. The Mac does however come preconfigured for low latency Midi devices. Modern motherboards do too. Older mother HTPC motherboards simply don’t, so the ASIO 4 All driver rectifies this by using modern CPU power to reduce the latency of Midi devices. This is most likely why the Keystation Mini works right away on some Windows 10 PCs and not others. The odd USB extension cord issues and the short USB cord, as well as not working in USB ports that have powered devices that use far far more power than 5 volts is bad. A lot of these issues could be rectified if M-Audio simply included a driver for Windows that would make it work accrues the board. My case is an unusual one because I have a lot of PCs due to working primarily as a graphic designer/web designer, and a DJ/music producer on the side. If I didn’t have the ability to test it on so many devices, I would’ve simply returned it because it should come with drivers. The instructions mention downloading ASIO drivers for Windows, but that didn’t fix the issue initially, it was in combination with another fix. The instructions also didn’t mention that ASIO 4 All is literally the only freely available version of ASIO for Windows, or that if you use your CPU to reduce latency, you need to keep the samples at roughly 512 to avoid any audio popping. Lowering it to 128 without a newer motherboard or internal soundcard like the ones on my non HTPC builds, can indeed cause issues, so even with it, you’ll still have slight latency. Meanwhile on my Asus Zonar DSX sound card, the latency is 2 milliseconds, which is lower than it is my newer i9 XPS laptop. Again, if M-Audio simply included class compliant Windows 10 drivers instead of boldly claiming on their website that it works across the board as a plug and play midi device on Windows 10, or suggesting you buy a 100 plus dollar audio interface to make a 50 dollar midi keyboard work, there wouldn’t be any issues at all with any recent version of Windows.

With all that being said, if you’re a Mac user, it’s as sublime and simple to use as plugging it into a USB port, and having it work even on my trusty 2008 Core2Duo MacBook Pro. Now on 2 of the 5 of my Windows 10 PCs, it was a nightmare to simply get working. Both HTPCs had the same exact issues. It worked on both on my PC Laptops, and on my larger i7 tower desktop, but I can’t say for certain if it would’ve been the case if my Asus Zonar DSX didn’t have custom ASIO drivers which installed with the sound card.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image Customer image
Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
32 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2021
2 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2021
One person found this helpful
Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Juana Elena
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
Reviewed in Canada on March 6, 2024
Customer image
Juana Elena
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
Reviewed in Canada on March 6, 2024
It works very well and does not take up much space, it is easily handled.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
Juan Ford
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente controlador midi
Reviewed in Mexico on February 4, 2024
Fabio Pedroza Vieira de Melo
5.0 out of 5 stars Ótimo custo benefício com qualidade!
Reviewed in Brazil on August 22, 2023
One person found this helpful
Report
Patric
5.0 out of 5 stars Prisvärd och smidig
Reviewed in Sweden on March 16, 2024
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE THIS OMG
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2024