IK Multimedia

IK Multimedia IP-IRIG-KEYS-IN iRig KEYS 37-Key MIDI Controller

3.7 (192 reviews)

Three octaves of velocity-sensitive keys in a bus-powered package that connects to iOS or USB without a driver install.

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Overview

The IK Multimedia iRig Keys is a 37-key MIDI controller built around velocity-sensitive mini keys, with onboard pitch bend and modulation wheels, an expression/sustain pedal input (TRS), and a dual-connection system: Lightning for iOS devices and USB for Mac/PC. The USB class compliance is the technically important detail here — it means the host operating system's native MIDI stack handles the device without proprietary drivers, which eliminates a common point of failure in mobile and studio setups where driver conflicts or OS updates can break a controller. On iOS, Core MIDI integration is equally clean. The keyboard is entirely bus-powered, drawing current from whichever connection is in use.

This controller is designed for producers and composers who need a compact, deployable MIDI input device — the kind that lives in a laptop bag and comes out in a hotel room, rehearsal space, or client studio. The 37-key range covers three practical octaves for sketching melodic and harmonic content, and the physical pitch bend and mod wheels are a real advantage over touchstrip-based controllers at a similar price point. Where the iRig Keys shows its constraints is in deep performance control: there are no assignable encoders, pads, or faders, making it a focused compositional input device rather than a full DAW controller. For that specific role — plug in, sketch the idea, move on — it is consistently well-executed.

Key Features

37 velocity-sensitive mini-keys (3 full octaves range plus one note)

Core MIDI (iOS) and USB class compliant (Mac/PC) - plug and play

Powered from the iOS device or Mac/PC USB

Comes with SampleTank FREE iOS and iGrand Piano FREE apps (download from the App store)

Comes with free Mac/PC virtual instrument: SampleTank 2 L (download from IK User Area)

Specifications

Keys
37 velocity-sensitive mini keys (3 octaves + 1 note)
Connectivity
Lightning (iOS), USB (Mac/PC)
Power
Bus-powered (iOS device or USB)
MIDI Protocol
Core MIDI (iOS), USB Class Compliant (Mac/PC)
Controls
Pitch bend wheel, modulation wheel, expression/sustain pedal input (TRS)
Onboard Audio
None (MIDI controller only)
Included Software
SampleTank FREE (iOS), iGrand Piano FREE (iOS), SampleTank 2 L (Mac/PC download)

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Bus-powered operation via Lightning or USB eliminates the need for a wall adapter, making the iRig Keys genuinely portable without a power management burden.
  • Core MIDI (iOS) and USB class compliance mean zero driver installation on Mac, PC, or iOS — the keyboard is MIDI-ready in under 30 seconds of plugging in.
  • 37 keys spanning 3 full octaves plus one note provides enough range for melody, bass, and chord parts without octave-shifting for most songwriting tasks.
  • Pitch bend and modulation wheels are onboard physical controllers — not touchstrip approximations — preserving expressive performance data that flat-surface alternatives cannot replicate.
  • Expression/sustain pedal input extends controllable MIDI parameters without requiring a separate interface or additional hardware chain.

👎 Cons

  • Mini-key width is a meaningful playability limitation for pianists — hand span and finger placement technique do not transfer 1:1 from a standard 88-key instrument.
  • No onboard sound engine or audio output means the keyboard is completely dependent on a connected app or DAW; it produces no sound in isolation.
  • 37 keys require frequent octave transposition for arrangements spanning more than three octaves — a workflow interruption on more complex parts.
  • No assignable knobs, faders, or pads limits parameter automation and performance control to pitch bend, modulation, and the single pedal input.
  • Lightning connector for iOS compatibility means it requires an adapter for use with USB-C iPad models — an additional accessory purchase not included.

Frequently Asked Questions

No on all three counts. The keyboard draws power directly from the connected iOS device's Lightning port or from USB bus power on Mac/PC. It is USB class compliant on Mac/PC — plug in and it appears as a MIDI device in your DAW immediately. iOS connectivity uses Core MIDI, which is native to iOS without any app installation for MIDI routing.
The iRig Keys is a pure MIDI controller — it transmits note on/off, velocity, pitch bend, modulation, and CC data only. It has no audio output, no onboard sound engine, and no audio interface circuitry. Sound generation happens entirely in the connected app or DAW.
These are mini keys — smaller than standard piano-width keys. The 37-key span covers 3 full octaves plus one note, which is a practical range for melody, chord voicing, and basic two-hand playing. Players accustomed to full-size weighted or semi-weighted piano keys will notice the reduced key width immediately; technique adapts but is not equivalent to a standard-width keyboard.
The iRig Keys transmits on MIDI channel 1 by default and supports standard note velocity, pitch bend wheel, and modulation wheel messages. It also accepts an expression/sustain pedal input (TRS, pedal sold separately) for additional CC transmission. There are no programmable pads, knobs, or faders — MIDI output is limited to the onboard controls.
It functions as a MIDI controller connected to one device at a time via Lightning or USB — it does not split signal to multiple hosts simultaneously. As a Core MIDI device on iOS, it can be used as a MIDI input source by any app on the connected device that supports Core MIDI, including DAWs that distribute MIDI internally between apps using Ableton Link or AudioBus.