Korg NANO goes wireless and smart
The Korg Nano series has proven to be an exceptional range of controllers for the tech company with sales that must have even surprised them.
Originally intended as portable controllers aimed at the laptop producing generation the Korg Nano series has found its way onto the stages of many festivals and clubs where DJ/Producers use Ableton Live to perform their music, especially the nanoKontrol.
The new Korg Nano series unveiled at NAMM 2016 boasts two models namely the new nanoKey and nanoKontrol controllers. The big news with both of these is that they are wireless MIDI controllers.
nanoKEY Studio
Although wireless connectivity is perhaps what will grab most people’s attention with the new Korg Nano series there are some other very cool new features on the nanoKEY Studio.
As you can see from the image below image below the nanoKEY Studio has quite a bit more going on than the original nanoKEY, sporting a host of extra rotaries, buttons, launch pads and even an XY pad. The battery operated unit connects wirelessly [Bluetooth] to iPhone/iPad, Mac or Windows.
It is of course a tad bigger than the original but Korg assure us that it is still very, very portable. We are also assured in their press release that these new Korg Nano controllers are very stable in wireless mode and also have low latency.
The 25 keys on the nanoKEY Studio are velocity-sensitive and there is a Scale Guide which uses LED lights behind the keys to help the non-keyboard players. There’s an arpeggiator with a selection of patterns plus a dedicated Korg Kontrol Editor and a huge selection of bundle of software and apps that come with the nanoKEY Studio.
nanoKEY Studio product page
nanoKontrol Studio
The nanoKONTROL Studio is also a wireless Bluetooth/USB MIDI controller. As with the nanoKEY, the new nanoKONTROL Studio has substantially more features than the original, but still manages to be portable enough to throw in a backpack.
Korg says, “You have the all controls you need to operate your DAW: sliders that feature generous spacing and stroke, plus a convenient jog wheel.”
The nanoKontrol Studio supports any MIDI compatible device/software but also has a dedicated Control Surface plugin for Logic Pro X and GarageBand users and includes the Korg Kontrol editor too as well as the massive range of bundled software (details below).
Retail price for each of these two new Korg Nano controllers is expected to be $139 – in SA Rand we’re estimating – R 2995 (including import duties etc)
nanoKontrol Studio product page
Bundled Software with the Korg Nano Studio range
- Korg Gadget Le (iOS)
- Korg Module Le (iOS)
- Korg Module Le (iPad)
- Korg Lecacy Collection M1 (plugin)
- UVI Digital Synsations (plugin)
- AAS Ultra Analog
- AAS Strum Acoustic Session
- AAS Lounge Lizard Session
- Propellerhead Reason Limited
- Ableton Live $50 discount coupon
Korg South Africa
Watch the promo video for the new Korg Nano Studio range
[youtube_sc url=”ZP-ElX43FOg”]
