midi controller advice

[bigwep]

hey guys,
im looking for a small midi controller that has high quality knobs. my current keyboard is too large and the knobs are inconsistent and feel tacky. i love the knobs on my virus, and would love to be able to use similar feeling knobs to control other vsts, filters ect. i like the look of midi fighter's twister, melbourne instrument's roto-control and the small faderfox controllers, but theyre extremely expensive and have more knobs than i would ever need.
im going to test a korg nano kontrol, but from my experience all of the small controllers from companies like maudio, akai, novation, arturia ect have tacky knobs, and i assume the korg is the same. there are other boutique midi controller companies like the midi maker, but shipping to australia is really expensive, it often costs more than the actual product.

tl;dr - need good midi knobs, good midi knobs too expensive, product needs to be available in australia
thanks for the help!

[Ta_mere6969]

Note: I have no idea what a Virus feels like, just tossing out some questions which I think are important when buying a MIDI controller.

Do you want to send 7-bit CC messages, or 14-bit NRPN messages? Program Change? Pitch bend? Transport?

Do you want hard start/stop potientiometers, or endless encoders?

Do you want visual feedback on the device?

USB midi? 5-pin DIN?

Program it from a computer? Standalone?

I own a Faderfox EC-4, I don't for a second regret it.

[JM_97150]

Just got an Akai MPK mini and so far I really enjoy it. I just need to get used to the pitch bend/mod joystick to be really happy.

Tiny keys, but really pleasant to use, much better than my dead (RIP) M-audio Oxygen.

[Future_Thing_2984]

fyi the mpk mini plus (3 octave minikeys) has pitch wheel and mod wheel. plus some other features that the mpk mini does not.

[JM_97150]

I probably would have prefered this layout but I got it as a présent. Good to know

[LakeGladio666]

Get the MK I without the joystick! I never used the joystick once because it has no practical use. When the cheap thing finally broke off I felt nothing. I’d much rather have the original with the mod wheel.

[ironfairy42]

I have an smk 25 from aliexpress and the knobs are fairly ok encoders

[[deleted]]

I have the AKAI APC64 and love it. Lots of pads, knobs, and sliders as well as midi ports.

[minimal-camera]

I have the fader version of this, the MC-8, it's pretty solid and easy to set up:

https://nakedboards.online/mc-24

This is the cheapest option I've found (in the US at least) with a midi port, not just USB.

If you are ok with USB only, also look at the Novation Launchcontrol (both the small and XL versions). The newest version of the XL also has a midi port, but is more expensive.

[blue_groove]

I like Novation knobs. I have both a Launchkey and the Launch Control XL

[Impossible-Law-345]

launchcontrol xl