IK MULTIMEDIA IRIG KEYS I/O 25

Whatever music software and platform you use, it’s not very rock’n’roll to paw at a glass screen or click a mouse. But when starting out, the sheer range of kit available for live play can be intimidating. IK Multimedia’s irig Keys I/O 25 does a good job of packaging everything you need into a compact gadget that won’t take over your house.

Plug it into a computer or tablet – irritatingly short proprietary USB-C, USB-A and Lightning cables are bundled – and you can smash out a chart-topper on the 25 full-size keys and eight pads. There are knobs to twiddle, two sliders, and buttons to trigger secondary functions and (in theory) play/record in software.

Around the back, there’s a 3.5mm headphone port, stereo jack outputs and a pedal input. But the best bit is the combo input jack (with 48V phantom power), which lets you connect a guitar or mic – so you don’t even need to have a separate audio interface.

In use, the velocity-sensitive keys feel great, as do the pads (although they need a bit of a whack to trigger). Usefully, IK Multimedia bundles software to drive it all; less usefully, the version for Logic and Garageband doesn’t work beyond the keyboard and sliders with M1 Macs. However, the unit can be programmed so you can coax its pads and knobs to control Logic – and aspects of other apps (like Korg Gadget) too.

The other snag is that the unit silences ipad speakers, forcing you to use headphones or monitors. But grumbles are countered by this keyboard’s versatility. With more control sets and a software editor for customisation, it’d be perfect. As it is, it remains a great buy for someone who’s keen to get into making music (or who’s already there) and just wants all the important bits in a single box.

Key specs

● 25 keys, 8 pads (velocity-sensitive)

● 3.5mm headphone out, dual stereo 1/4in out ● JACK/XLR combo input with switchable 48V phantom power ● 373x208x65mm, 1.26kg

STUFF SAYS A compact yet feature-rich keyboard that will grow with your needs ★★★★✩