Compact 49-Note USB Controller Keyboard

The CME M-Key is a new low-cost compact USB/MIDI controller keyboard designed for playing virtual instruments and instrument sounds on your computer. Featuring 49 semi-weighted keys and numerous assignable controllers (including a joystick), the CME M-Key is a joy to play, is easy to use and easy to setup - simply connect the supplied USB cable between the M-Key and your computer (Windows XP, Vista or Mac OSX) and off you go! The CME M-Keys compact 'ultra-thin' design makes it ideal for home studios where space is at a premium and it's lightweight yet tough plastic casing means it is just begging to be partnered with a laptop computer for live on-stage performance and mobile music-making too!

49-Note Full-Size Semi-Weighted Keyboard
The CME M-Key Mobiltone features 49 full-size semi-weighted synth-action keys with a choice of four velocity curves. The curves can be used to adjust the dynamic response of the keyboard to match your playing style and the sounds being played. It is a solid and comfortable keyboard to play.

Octave Shift and Transpose
By default, the two data buttons will shift the keyboard up or down by up to three octaves. This allows you to play notes outside of the normal four octave range. By holding down the shift button, the data buttons can also be used to transpose the keyboard up or down in semitones (by up to one octave). This is useful for playing tunes in a different key without having to learn how to play them all over again! The data buttons can also be assigned to other functions.

Program Change and Bank Select
Both MIDI Program Change messages and Bank Select (MSB and LSB) messages can be transmitted from the CME M-Key. These commands are used to change sounds on a software instrument or hardware sound module/synthesizer remotely. For example, if program change were to be assigned to the data buttons, it would mean that you could quickly step through a series of different sounds mid-performance, or perhaps audition a bank of sounds when in the studio.

Control and Expression - Joystick, Slider and Foot Pedals
Whilst avoiding the sophistication of CME's more advanced controller keyboards with their vast arrays of knobs, sliders and pads, the M-Key still allows you to inject life and expression into your performance courtesy of a joystick, slider and a two foot pedal sockets.

Assignable Joystick: This defaults to pitch bend on it's horizontal axis, modulation when pushed forward and aftertouch when pulled backwards and is great for adding bends, slides, vibrato (and more!) into your real-time performance. Alternatively, the backwards (downwards) motion may be assigned to a wide range of other MIDI controllers. For example, it could be assigned to MIDI Controller number 74 which is commonly used for real-time manipulation of a synthesizers filter cutoff, and filter cutoff on a joystick is most definitely a fun way to make some squelchy synth noises!

Assignable Slider: Defaulting to adjust the volume of your sound, this may also be assigned to a wide range of other controllers as per the joystick and foot pedals.

Two Foot Pedal Sockets: You can connect either switch or continuous type pedals to the two foot pedal sockets. Switch type pedals are commonly used as a sustain pedal (like on an acoustic piano) and continuous pedals would most commonly be used to control volume (like the volume pedal on an organ), but both sockets are assignable to a wide range of MIDI controllers, so the choice is yours. When switch pedals are connected, the polarity may be selected (per socket), and this ensures compatibilty with a wide range of sustain pedals.

Easy USB Computer Connection!
The CME M-Key controller keyboard may be connected to a PC or Macintosh computer via the supplied USB cable. The M-Key is USB MIDI class-compliant with Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X which means the keyboard will automatically be detected by your computer - you do not need to install driver software. The keyboard will also be powered from the USB connection, so there is no need for a power adapter either when using the M-Key with a computer.

The USB connection sends MIDI data to your computer as you play the keys and use the controllers - a seperate MIDI interface is not required. The MIDI data is received by music software running on your computer, and the software will produce sounds accordingly from your computer's soundcard outputs / speakers / headphone socket etc.

CME MusicPack - FREE Software Bundle
The M-Key may be used with a wide variety of music software, including recommended titles such as Steinberg Sequel, Steinberg Cubase Studio 4 and a massive array of virtual instruments from music companies such as Arturia and Native Instruments too. If you don't yet have any appropriate software, fear not!... The M-Key comes bundled with the "CME MusicPack" featuring 'Arturia Analog Factory SE', 'Waldorf Edition LE' and more titles too, which means you will be able to make some computer music from the offset.

What! No computer?
The CME M-Key will not make any sound on it's own (see the CME U-Key Mobiltone for a similar keyboard with built-in sound module!) but if you don't have a computer, the standard MIDI out socket on the rear panel means the keyboard can be used to play sounds from any hardware MIDI sound module or a synthesizer with a MIDI In socket. The MIDI transmit channel is selectable (MIDI channels 1 - 16) so the M-Key could be used as an add-on keyboard to a synthesizer workstation, playing a different multi-timbral part (a different sound) from the workstations own keyboard.

CME M-Key Features:

• 49-note full-size semi-weighted keyboard
• Four selectable velocity curves
• Assignable joystick
• Assignable slider
• Two foot pedal sockets for continuous or switch pedals
• Program change and bank select
• Octave Shift and Transpose
• USB and standard MIDI Out sockets
• USB MIDI class-compliant with Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X
• USB bus-powered or AC adapter (9V 500 mA, center positive - not included)
• CME MusicPack - FREE Software Bundle
• Compact lightweight design
• Competitively priced!
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 726.5 x 210 x 58.3 mm
• Weight: 3.2 KG