KMI has responded to the ticket I had opened and is stepping up to the plate to deal with the issue. I wouldn't have even pursued it after the second attempt if I didn't think this little keyboard was worth it. It really is that good, there is no comparable product in form and function. Lets talk about the things KMI does right, like updating firmware, offering replacement parts and upgrading software on a device launched nearly a decade ago (and providing the firmware and software updates free of charge). The list of companies doing these things is very short compared to those not doing them. The fact that they are iterating on their designs matters, a lot.
Good to hear I , bought a K-mix some time a go. My workflowhm I live a ” compact living, and neat things that still is working for me, this qeyboard might be it! Thanks for your tutorial/review ! And above comment is so true . I am glad!😊
Long time listener, first time caller. Thank you so much for this video!! I recently updated my black QuNexus' firmware and I felt so lost. I scoured community boards and google to find anything on the new update and I couldn't find anything. This video came out at the perfect time and it all makes sense now. I'm definitely getting the retrofit kit.
How are the pads. I bought (and returned) a Korg Nano...thing. it looks almost identical, but the pads were so cheap and wobbly. What do these pads feel like?
Maybe I'm getting old but I no longer want anything that has more to it than meets the eye. I want my eye to comfortably recognize what there is to it.
Having things cleanly layed out, even if it takes more buttons and knobs, deffinitly helps with expressing ideas and making one want to play, still, it can be nice to have a few extra functions hidden away so long as you don't need to have the manual glued to it just to remember how to use them
Great review. K board went on many trips with me… until my backpack was stolen. Was waiting to see what this offered and I like the MPE and arp modes. Very nice.
Nice review, as usual. Thanks. You forgot one function : the channel rotation mode in witch each note can be send on a different MIDI channel. I must confess I've never used it, but it's a shame because it can allow to do crazy things.
Thanks! Technically I didn't forget it ;) They no longer call it that, it has been renamed as MPE which I mentioned, and does the same thing. So, yes, you're right, and really every MPE synth/controller has a built in channel rotation mode.
@@loopop ok. Sorry for my confusion and thanks again for this nice and clear review. I expect the distribution in EU of the upgrade kit for QuNexus black. It inexpensive on KMI site, but port almost quadruple the cost. This QuNexus is an old companion and a marvellous gear for travelling and light setups.
Ask keith mcmillan about it via support ticket, if you report the stickiness they will send you the replacement red case which won't have the same problem.
I wonder if the production quality has advanced on these. When I got one a year after it was first released. I had two send two of them back because the difference between the keys and the inability of some of them to hit maximum velocity, the third one I got still had problems but I just tuned it to never output any velocity above 110 to get all keys to behave the same. The one I kept got progressively worse as the years went by and I finally had to ditch it a couple of years ago because it had just become too uneven in response. I have spent countless of hours in the per key pressure sensitivity editor but that only gets you so far. Too bad because I really really like the idea of the product and even when it only almost works as advertised it's a really nice controller to play on. I hope they have improved the hardware since the early years. I have sadly heard the same kind of issues are common with the mallet station which also uses KMIs pressure pads and is much newer and much more expensive.
I had to return three...one black and two of the red. I may have just been unlucky, but at this point I'm wary of trying again. For a small footprint keyboard for modular I've gone with an Expert Sleepers FH-2 and a NanoKey2.
The QuNexus aftertouch and tilt are really inconsistent from key to key, so I could never develop an expressive performance. I like the form factor though. But after a few years the case dissolved into a sticky mess.
If you’re keeping it, that’s good enough for me! I bought one but haven’t played with it yet. I do like the feel of it, my set up is scattered and this certainly flipped the bill for my floating work station. My main board is the Arthurian key step pro however I have a Korg Kronos I can no longer carry due to the weight. So this was a wonderful alternative for many reasons! Ty for the video!
For the past five years, I've been using this controller as my backpack controller. It's been instrumental in crafting numerous beats that have been successfully placed and featured on major label artist projects. I use it with my MPC or Reason/laptop. I was able to update and install a fresh red shell housing as my old one started to degrade and become sticky also. This controller is irreplaceable to me, but I would consider an upgrade if a 2.0 version introduced certain features. First, I'd like to see notes illuminate on playback while using my MPC, Reason, and Logic. Second, the integration of a USB-C connector. Finally, the addition of Bluetooth functionality. These upgrades, in my view, would significantly augment its versatility and user-friendliness and be worthy upgrade.
Nice. This video almost makes me want to purchase one...however I'm not travelling nearly enough to justify the purchase. It's definitely an interesting and unique device though.
@@AnnesYarak These transitions are always tricky. We have been shipping USB-C models to US dealers since Dec 1st, but there may still be older micro inventory out there.
@@MuseKinetics I'm totally confused now. On the thomann website, where I bought the red version, pictures are now connected with a red cable. on another picture you can see the usb micro connection on the same website. In the version I have now, the black cable is there, like in the loopop video. is the red version at thomann.de already updated? can you tell me that? I will definitely send back my red version with usb micro and wait....
omg thank you for this video! there is little user friendly information online about how to set this up. I found this video extremely useful. I can finally unlock the true potential of this device. I wish the editor section was a bit longer. My goal is to use it's polyphonic aftertouch to play some midi tracks in ableton. I'm looking to activate some effects with pressure and tilt functions while i play but im having issues with fine tuning the device with the editor. could you make a longer video explaining the editor in a bit more detail? Again, thank you for the information in this video. it's 2022 and i didnt think anyone else was still messing with this device!
Cool overview! Not many UA-cam videos about these particular products so it's nice to see what they are like in practice. Looks like the PolyAT/Tilt would be a major selling point for this compared to other pad controllers and sequencers. The only other option at a similar price point I can think of is the CME XKey, but it's not pressure sensitive (AT is based on how long you hold the keys down). Not sure about the ergonomics of trying to use it as a 25-note PolyAT keyboard, though. All I want really is compact, regular keyboard with Poly AT. Why do all PolyAT controllers have to be so...weird?
I picked one of these up for $75 on reverb. I’ve had it for a bit over a month now and I have to say, I really enjoy playing it. I play differently than I do with black and whites, but I love the way it inspires me to combine some finger drum style with standard keys, plus the expressiveness of all the “weird” controllers. It’s not the most intuitive controller to set up but a few sessions with the app and a few questions to the very helpful KMI support and this has become my go-to controller.
For that price I'd pick it up as an impulse purchase, but it's over €200 here in the EU which is a lot to pay for something that might just collect dust in a drawer after a few days.
Have you checked out the Hydrasynth Explorer? Bit more expensive, but it fits the bill of compact PolyAT controller and is a killer synth in its own right
Hydrasynth is cool but still a bit large and definitely more expensive and a bit overkill if you're just looking for a control surface. I'd like something closer to the Seaboard Block or Sensel Morph (both discontinued unfortunately).
@@brianleahyart the hydrasynth is compact in relative terms but not compared to this thing. this is like a large TV remote - slightly larger than an OP-Z. The hydrasynth is many many many times bigger.
hello, i have a straight up question...i use a polly d , boomstar 5080 ,anologue keys and the op 1...WHICH MPE controller would you reccomend..please help as i am going around in circles
I'm an original QuNexus owner (black) and had to deal with a very sticky device for several years. Ended up spending a couple days stripping it with isopropyl alcohol. I can no longer read the front panel, but at least it doesn't feel like flypaper. Given all that, I'm not interested in stickers. The red one looks sweet, and the new functionality seems useful. Maybe I'll do the firmware upgrade and try to figure it out.
@@roganferguson I agree that it's unreasonable. They should have owned the financial side of the defect since it happened across the entire product line. On the flipside, it's a small boutique company and it may have driven them out of business to own a screwup that large. The downside is that I don't feel like giving them more money, so won't be getting this rad new red device. They should (ethically speaking) own their mistake.
@@SR-ih1be , my K-Mix had jumpy touch faders that were nearly impossible to dial in without using two hands. Others have complained about the tuning on KMI touch controls across their product line. My K-Mix uses a crappy USB port for power, and slight wiggles will cause the device to turn off and on. KMI is just barely upgrading their ports to USB C even though better options have been available for years. And then there is the problem with the rubber coating. Are they really a boutique company, or are they just a small company making mediocre products at a boutique price point?
Is that MIDI output compatible to plug in directly with devices like Novation Circuit OG (MIDI TRS type B) or TE KO II (MIDI TRS Type A) MIDI using any TRS minijack male to male cable?
Hi; sorry but how many sequencer patterns can you save and reload ? I don't understand; for example with an analog drum machine, where there are multiple channels like the Vermona mdr you can set a kick on a sequencer and a snare on another channel of the sequencer or not ? I'm figuring out if I can replace this sequencer to the beatstep pro..Thank you
How is the sensitivity in detail? I've found that Mcmillen devices seem to be VERY uncalibrated from the factory. My bopbad and quneo are just too flaky sensitivity wise. No amount of fiddling with curves seems to help as they are somehow uneven at the hardware level across the surfaces. Oh yeah and the quneo is a sticky mess that alchohol just seems to make worse.
I show it in the video as best I can - it's not great, but it's there. I've found that if you give it a limited range (as opposed to 0-127) or limit the mod depth on your synth, you get more control and mileage out of it. Regarding sticky mess - very familiar with it from my K-Board as I mention in the video. I think the point of the Red is the new material, but obviously only time will tell.
QuNexus RED uses a new factory calibration system, we've been working hard for the past 2 years to improve our quality. If you do encounter an issue, please contact our support team directly and we will do everything we can to take care of you.
@@MuseKinetics I'm a happy player of a ContinuumMini, an ATV Aframe and a Handsonic HPD20 (all with zero RMA). They are stable reliable expressive instruments I love spending time with. Is this a device that I could learn and play on with the same expectations? Or is it not there yet? The price isn't the issue, its whether its worth the time and effort of building musical intuition with. Are you going to fix the issues with the QuNeo? They are still being sold as is.
@@alogghe It's great that you are comparing our $200 controller to products that cost $800-$1400. QuNexus packs a lot of features in a small form factor at a very affordable price. And we have worked hard to improve the calibration and consistency, compared to our older black QuNexus you will definitely see a big improvement. But it sounds like a more fair comparison would be our K-Board Pro 4, which sells for $600 and is much more focused on expressive playing and instrumentation.
@@MuseKinetics What is the difference in process with the Kboard? I lost interest in it because of my experiences with both the quneo and the bopbad. If you want some of us back as customers you really should make a video or explanation of how you calibrate these surfaces and what we should expect. Edit - Ok this is part of what I want to hear and see - """The RED models also use a new factory calibration process that measures each sensor using a constant pressure, and stores the resulting values into flash memory. The new key algorithm uses those values to compensate for differences between keys, so that you get a much more consistent performance.""" When will you extend this process to your other surfaces? IFF you made a webmidi software tool (I'm on Linux) for this I might give the red a try.
Any way I can get a download of the song you play in this review??? It is amazing!!! I could listen to that for hours!!! Love your reviews. Keep up the great work!
How would you compare this sequencer with the Keystep 37? Subjectively of course, which would you first instinctively choose for, say, a mono bass synth?
Thanks! Yes if you search music services you'll find me there, and indeed I want to include this track on my album coming out before the end of the year hopefully!
QuNexus, Bitwig + Surge... Tilt isn't working. Any ideas, guys? Poly AT works only with MPE turned off in Bitwig! Tilt on QuNexus side is working. At least I've got CV output connected to Volca Modular and it Tilt pitch bending works there. I'm using Win7, build 7601.
Edit: Not looking to undermine a small ambitious company, please check the bottom paragraph and KMM's reaction. Sold my Quneo years ago. The lack of firmware and the atrocious software / DAW implementation included really put me off. I want to make music not program an entire piece of buggy software to make it work for me (I have no issues midi-mapping like on a Novation LC/LP but this was just a step too far). Really showed me that a controller is only as good as the software it comes with. Looking at the website now, seems like they updated their software... Might be worth a go now, but I'm still not really convinced tbh also after this video....
Hello Niets. We've been working hard to improve our quality control and software development, and you can see from our downloads page that in the past 2 years we've been very busy updating our existing products and software. For the QuNexus arpeggiator/sequencer update, we didn't change the hardware because we wanted existing users to benefit.
@@MuseKinetics Awesome to hear, never really had any issues with the hardware so I can see why you wouldn't upgrade on that side. Might give it another shot if I have a use for it in the nearby future!
this is encouraging. really pleased to see the company is out here listening to what we the people have to say, & are responsive to our concerns. thanks much for that, KMM.
I can't get the channel to actually change using the Shift + MPE/Ch method. It looks like it changes on the device itself, but it does not send messages over separate channels. Same goes for when I enter different channels to the Controller tab in the Editor. The only time my Qunexus sends messages over a different MIDI channel is when I change the channel within a track. Am I missing something?
I can’t get it to work either. Sometimes it seems to randomly kick in, but then only one of the notes in the channel rotation provides pitch bend control
I was typing just as you said Monophonic which leads me to believe that only 1 key can be recorded. Sorry for the silly question when all I had to do was watch the whole video. Thanks for you informative info.
7:08 when I never ever thought Loop would give modular the finger lol. I am watching the whole video, but can you record motion with the sequencer in PAT?
Uhhh, Loopop, that music at the beginning is a little too awesome - it's consuming my attention and I keep having to go back for the voiceover! (nice job)
I really want to like this keyboard for the functionality, portability, key feel its great! The plastic is not covered in the rubber material so I suspect that issue is solved. Unfortunately I've had 2 QuNexus Red's where the keys will either get stuck down playing or play entirely on their own... It makes it really difficult to use. :(
@@MuseKinetics, does the support team still charge people $40 to fix YOUR design flaw from choosing disintegrating rubber? Because I will NEVER trust KM as long as they are forcing their customers to pay for their R&D mistakes.
Hello @Rogan Ferguson . I'm very sorry that the enclosure on your K-Mix went sticky. KMI is not a billion dollar company like Roland, Yamaha etc. It took many years for us to discover the issue with sticky enclosures, which affects less than 10% of our tens of thousands of customers. Shortly before I came on board as president in 2020, our customer service and R&D team had identified and validated the issue, and we began working on a plan to make things right. The first step was changing the enclosures (removing the soft-touch coating) so that we would have something to offer as a reliable replacement that would not have any issues down the line. That's our new ABS-Polycarbonate, and it took time (and money) to develop and then test for longevity. It was important to us that we not just use this for new products, but that we also retrofit the existing products and have replacement enclosures available to legacy customers so that we don't leave anyone in the lurch. If you still want to give us a chance, contact us through our support team, mention this post, and we will take care of you to the best of our abilities.
@@MuseKinetics Let me ask you, is it safe/wise to do the isopropyl scrub when a unit is one piece? I have a sticky Quneo. Only 5 screws but there's obviously some witchcraft involved in splitting the case. Also, as an aside, you weren't alone with sticky soft touch rubber coating, just late to the game. I have scrubbed that stuff off of at least a dozen of my own Nikon film SLRs and data backs. There is very little more wonderful than hold a sticky camera against your face.... :/
loopop mentions an updated skin that can be purchased from KMI. I didn't find that on the website. am i overlooking something? can anybody steer me in the right direction there?
I was wondering the same thing it sounded like if we have the old one we can use the new functionality via firmware update? But I couldn’t find anything either
Up at the top of our website, "More->Parts". Available in the US now, our European distributor should be getting some soon if they haven't arrived already.
@@MuseKinetics thanks so much for getting back to us here. yeah, I've had trouble finding the actual firmware update on your site. I only see the editor download. today is my saturday, so I can finally do some real searching. I'll try your suggestion here. thank you again!!
… great video and review! I have one question I’m not sure if I misheard you but it sounds like you said that if we have the old QuNexus we can update it with the firmware and an overlay? Does this mean that our old QuNexus will have all the new functionality? If this is so will the old units after being updated also work directly with hardware via the new USB to mini dongle?
@@loopop I was just on their website it seems to be the case… this is great! I wish more companies would do upgrades like this without forcing you to buy their new product. I’ve had a lot of midi controllers come and go over the years but I’ve always kept this one. Even despite the frustration that it needed the thru- box to hook up to midi hardware. Well now that’s a thing of the past this. I’m glad I held onto the QUNEXUS is going to be getting a whole lot more use in my studio and when I travel!! Thanks for the video thanks for the info And thanks to KMI for this effective approach to upgrading their loyal customers!!! this has been the most exciting thing all week lol
Hi thanks for the review, I purchased one. But how do I know when to start recording on the sequencer. It's really difficult to find the start of the beat. Do you have any tips on that?
Thanks! You can always step sequence when the sequence isn’t playing, but if you want to record live you’ll either need to use one of the tracks as a metronome or sync to an external drum machine using clock
Great VID (as always). I'm thinking that glissandos would not be possible with QuNexus...as one might do THAT with Sensel Morph? The Morph, you may know, having a flat, contiguous surface, permits, say, 2 fingers to gliss up and down---simultaneously, the only obstacle being that the two fingers don't bump into one another. I'm supposing that the BREAK between keys would prevent this sort of smooth, continuous glissando. You're the doctor, though. OF course, a bit of a mute point, maybe, since MORPH seems to have long since left the marketplace.
OK the thing about rubber and everything assoc w/it, is that it requires HYDRATION. every three weeks or so wipe it down with a damp cloth -the salt in your sweat eats up rubber's natural ability to hold water. Canon's go hard and contract, Nikons go soft and expand, KMI uh dunno yet... love yr vidz!
There are plenty of surfaces that don't turn into toxic goo. I'm never buying another KM device after they required me to buy a $40 case for their crappy $600 mixer. Customers shouldn't have to pay for poor R&D.
Thaks for the tutorial! I recently bought a Qunexus red. The problem is that when I use It with Rings module the sound is out of tune, but when I use another sequencer Rings sounds grate. Is there any CV calibration to use the Qunexus with Eurorack? Thanks.
Hi thanks for the video. How do you change the midi channel - the 3 track limitation is this for playing 3 different midi channels at the same time? Can you easily hop from say midi channel 8 to 4 as on arturia keyboards. Thanks
how i can make my old qunexus to behave like before the update, like pushing a key up and down and pitching things and making one of those crazy sounds on my o coast
well no but after some time spend… with the editor which doesnt work here when may daw or stand alone plug in is on , i it seems that if i make a preset to A for an example with tilt to pitch it starts to work after i touch the mod wheel pad , and when i change to another B C D it stops :) anyway now its back to business:)
Would you say this would work as a pad controller for programming drums in a DAW? i was thinking about the korg nanokeys2v but it seems so cheaply made (and priced, to be fair)
Can you still quickly change MIDI channel on the fly from the keyboard? Not for a sequencer track, just for playing? This used to be done via a Live Edit mode but I can't see anything about this for the Red version.
yes you can - but note that there's a degree of "bounce" when you leave a key. pressure will almost always travel back to zero (which makes sense), tilt is a little more jumpy and unpredictable when you lift your finger off the pad
nice, missed opportunity that the usb is not usb-c, and mini jack to midi din would make more sense too. Main pro of this thing is the size imo. for the rest I'd prefer keystep. For travel, I actually use my OP-1 as midi keyboard (and as OP-1 too ofcourse). Even more portable!
Does this version still have that nasty rubberized finish. I've always loved my KM products, but the finish wears it starts to ball up and stick to everything. I had to scrape it off of my quneo with a razor after the first year because after only minutes of playing, the resin starts to ball up and form pad boogers.
I've had issues with their quality control. Personally, I wouldn't recommend their products. My K-Board registers midi notes on keys I haven't touched all the time.
If it had 3 dedicated CV and 3 gate outs then it would be a cheaper alternative to the keystep pro..... I feel like 3 sequencers with only 2 CV outs and no independent gate outputs is pretty limiting.... A few extra outs and I'd buy one for sure....... However as is I feel like it's better as a small sequencer for a mobile rig not quite enough for a multi synth studio..... Too bad it looks pretty good otherwise.
Can anyone help me with clock on the QuNexus? I'm trying to clock the arpeggiator, in any way possible. I have set the clock source in the editor (also tried on the unit itself), and the best I could do was get it to work, but it was still also going off the internal clock. Is my unit broken or what?
@@loopop I actually realized I wasn't using the right clock cables. My QuNexus was still sent to me broken...its a bummer, but the high F key gets triggered randomly by other notes, and also sometimes after it gets triggered will just play over and over at random. Guessing it's hardware as I've updated the Firmware. Also two lights are on. Just musings, I'm going to reach out to KMI today.
Too bad the sequencer length is only 32 steps. I don't like complicated devices that I will forget how to use if I'm not using them all the time, and I'd be interested in a small, simple, affordable sequencer to complement my KeyStep (without resorting to buying another KeyStep), which has 64 steps - use the KeyStep to handle chords, while this handles melody and bass line, for example. Hopefully the issues others have described here in the comments have been sorted out, or get sorted soon. Or maybe I should just deal with the complexity and get an SQ-64 to control everything.
We would have loved to do 64 steps, but one limitation was our desire for this update to be backwards compatible for existing QuNexus users. QuNexus uses an 8051 microcontroller that has 64kb of flash memory (that's shared between firmware and user data), and only 4kb of RAM. When we started the 2.0 project there was only 20kb of free memory to work with, so there was a huge task of overhauling the existing code to free up as much memory as possible. For reference, to store 8 patterns with pitch, velocity, tilt, and pressure data requires 1kb of data, which doesn't sound like a lot, but as of version 2.0.9 there is less than 100 bytes of memory free.
Random thought; I wonder if there are any new sounds to discover. Like. Theres sine, square, saw. Then there's PWM. Theres wavetables, which seem kind of similar to me. I wonder if theres anything that will just stand out as a brand new sound. Like Holy crap, ive never heard anything like that before. Just a thought.
For sure, additive synthesis, physical modeling, granular synthesis, but they've all been used before so I doubt they'll be totally new sounds, they just don't sound like the ones you mentioned
@@loopop Yeah, I'm talking more like sounds not yet even conceived yet. Modular really opens things up, but its all variations of known sounds. I remember in the late 90's when I first heard trance music. My mind was absolutely blown. Ive never heard those noises before. I feel like nothings left to do that again. Wouldn't it be cool if someone discovered some new sound wave that created something so new it would be like unlocking some secret brand new sound? Haha. Just a random though.
I love my Qnexus for using with my laptop due to its size but tbh the adapters that you needed to use midi and CV where the worst idea I’ve ever seen in a midi controller…
interesting but I think a beatstep or beat step pro will do better for a similar price. that is if you already have a midi keyboard. a keystep 37 + beat step pro seems to be a very capable solution for a lot of needs (polyphonic sequencer + drum and mono sequencer + complete midi controller for daw or other). I'd also be interested in a sequencer like the torso who does a bit of randomness; but maybe simpler.
I prefer the sequencer in the Qunexus than my Keystep 37. Even though it’s only 32 you get three tracks and they can be independently muted and tweaked. Also this thing is a fraction of the size of even the Beatstep. It’s really a different use case.
@@luvinfunvan it's certainly an interesting product; but as I already have a KS37 if I need more sequencing power I'll probably go with the beatstep pro; which is just a bit more expensive and gives me a drum sequencer and a nice midi controller
Looks promising! Any possibility to connect it to Haken Continium mini?..looks as its brother..red one..)..and Organelle..)…have anyone tried it with them?
The rubber coating on my K-Mix turned into a toxic sludge after a couple of years and Keith McMillen would only offer to sell me a $40 plastic replacement cover... so never again for me. If anyone would like to trade a 1010 BlueBox for my crappy K-mix with its wiggly usb power supply and jumpy touch faders, mine has the $40 replacement case.
I have one of these and was probably more disappointed than anything I’ve ever purchased. For all the robustness in their videos, the usb connection on it was probably the worst of any product I’ve had. If you combine that with how short the cable was, I was really perplexed by that particular choice. I’ve used it about 3 times and it’s been sitting on a shelf for years, can’t sell it to someone because they’ll probably want their money back. Might go in and solder something new to the board so I can play it with some consistency again. I also had a korg nanokeys before I bought this which prompted my interest in the qunexus, was really surprised at how much more life I got from the nanokeys at less than half the price.
No I didn't, are you not seeing it now? A non-fair use respecting person or bot blocked it for several hours because they didn't like 30 seconds of it, but I muted that part and now it should be back. Please let me know if you're not seeing it...
I’ve had a QuNexus for nearly five years now, and have barely used it. I find that ergonomically, it isn’t pleasant to play anything other than the most minimal of lines. The pads are hard and uncomfortable. While I appreciate that KMI continues to update the firmware, I honestly can’t be bothered with endless shift keys to memorize and buried functionality. A small OLED display and a couple of rotary encoders would have gone a long way to making this more usable, although I don’t suppose that would have fit with their design goals. Ultimately, this product isn’t a good fit for me, and it sits buried in a junk drawer, gathering dust.
In another comment, a KMI rep points out that this is NOT an expressive instrument compared to other MPE devices at a higher price point, and suggests their $600 K-board as a better choice for someone looking for a truly expressive instrument. It would be a mistake to pay for an MPE instrument and then pair it with this cheap device.
KMI has responded to the ticket I had opened and is stepping up to the plate to deal with the issue. I wouldn't have even pursued it after the second attempt if I didn't think this little keyboard was worth it. It really is that good, there is no comparable product in form and function. Lets talk about the things KMI does right, like updating firmware, offering replacement parts and upgrading software on a device launched nearly a decade ago (and providing the firmware and software updates free of charge). The list of companies doing these things is very short compared to those not doing them. The fact that they are iterating on their designs matters, a lot.
cool good to hear
Good to hear I , bought a K-mix some time a go. My workflowhm I live a ” compact living, and neat things that still is working for me, this qeyboard might be it! Thanks for your tutorial/review ! And above comment is so true . I am glad!😊
Long time listener, first time caller. Thank you so much for this video!! I recently updated my black QuNexus' firmware and I felt so lost. I scoured community boards and google to find anything on the new update and I couldn't find anything. This video came out at the perfect time and it all makes sense now. I'm definitely getting the retrofit kit.
How are the pads. I bought (and returned) a Korg Nano...thing. it looks almost identical, but the pads were so cheap and wobbly. What do these pads feel like?
This has amazing functionality for how compact and portable it is. And the price doesn't suck. Thanks for another great review!
I like the added note overlay graphics. It's interesting that it is cut in at the shadow of the device. 👍
Maybe I'm getting old but I no longer want anything that has more to it than meets the eye. I want my eye to comfortably recognize what there is to it.
yeah this kind of magic wore off for me as well
@@bartosz_xenon Likewise.
Having things cleanly layed out, even if it takes more buttons and knobs, deffinitly helps with expressing ideas and making one want to play, still, it can be nice to have a few extra functions hidden away so long as you don't need to have the manual glued to it just to remember how to use them
Doesn’t look that deep though, I mean, I get ya but it looks easy enough.
Guess you’re not getting on with computers ehh?
Always a pleasure to see you reviews...
What an amazing bit of kit...
Great review. K board went on many trips with me… until my backpack was stolen. Was waiting to see what this offered and I like the MPE and arp modes. Very nice.
Sorry about your backpack. 😕
the outro music is just awesome. I have no idea what you talk about in your videos as I am not a musician but really enjoy your music....thanks
Thanks very much that's fine by me :)
love the outro jam, ziv!!
really lovely stuff.
That intro song is incredible
Nice review, as usual. Thanks. You forgot one function : the channel rotation mode in witch each note can be send on a different MIDI channel. I must confess I've never used it, but it's a shame because it can allow to do crazy things.
Thanks! Technically I didn't forget it ;) They no longer call it that, it has been renamed as MPE which I mentioned, and does the same thing. So, yes, you're right, and really every MPE synth/controller has a built in channel rotation mode.
@@loopop ok. Sorry for my confusion and thanks again for this nice and clear review.
I expect the distribution in EU of the upgrade kit for QuNexus black. It inexpensive on KMI site, but port almost quadruple the cost. This QuNexus is an old companion and a marvellous gear for travelling and light setups.
Was about to sell my (black, sticky) QuNexus but you’ve persuaded me to hang on to it.
Ask keith mcmillan about it via support ticket, if you report the stickiness they will send you the replacement red case which won't have the same problem.
They will sell you the new red case but it’s worth it. They have great customer support.
QuNexus Red is such a killer midi controller.
I like all the pretty lights today.
that actually is my main criteria for choosing gear
I wonder if the production quality has advanced on these. When I got one a year after it was first released. I had two send two of them back because the difference between the keys and the inability of some of them to hit maximum velocity, the third one I got still had problems but I just tuned it to never output any velocity above 110 to get all keys to behave the same.
The one I kept got progressively worse as the years went by and I finally had to ditch it a couple of years ago because it had just become too uneven in response. I have spent countless of hours in the per key pressure sensitivity editor but that only gets you so far.
Too bad because I really really like the idea of the product and even when it only almost works as advertised it's a really nice controller to play on. I hope they have improved the hardware since the early years.
I have sadly heard the same kind of issues are common with the mallet station which also uses KMIs pressure pads and is much newer and much more expensive.
I had to return three...one black and two of the red. I may have just been unlucky, but at this point I'm wary of trying again. For a small footprint keyboard for modular I've gone with an Expert Sleepers FH-2 and a NanoKey2.
@@brianbrill Please contact our support team and we will get you a replacement.
The QuNexus aftertouch and tilt are really inconsistent from key to key, so I could never develop an expressive performance. I like the form factor though. But after a few years the case dissolved into a sticky mess.
Yes, these comments sound familiar. The good thing is it can’t get much worse, so that’s a good thing for all the new buyers. I’m not one off them.
Mine also became a sticky mess. Kmi should consider different materials going forward.
If you’re keeping it, that’s good enough for me! I bought one but haven’t played with it yet. I do like the feel of it, my set up is scattered and this certainly flipped the bill for my floating work station. My main board is the Arthurian key step pro however I have a Korg Kronos I can no longer carry due to the weight. So this was a wonderful alternative for many reasons! Ty for the video!
For the past five years, I've been using this controller as my backpack controller. It's been instrumental in crafting numerous beats that have been successfully placed and featured on major label artist projects. I use it with my MPC or Reason/laptop. I was able to update and install a fresh red shell housing as my old one started to degrade and become sticky also. This controller is irreplaceable to me, but I would consider an upgrade if a 2.0 version introduced certain features. First, I'd like to see notes illuminate on playback while using my MPC, Reason, and Logic. Second, the integration of a USB-C connector. Finally, the addition of Bluetooth functionality. These upgrades, in my view, would significantly augment its versatility and user-friendliness and be worthy upgrade.
Cool beans. I'd buy one, if most things weren't always out of stock thanks to spooky BS. Love that intro music bro! So deep and mysterious.
Nice. This video almost makes me want to purchase one...however I'm not travelling nearly enough to justify the purchase. It's definitely an interesting and unique device though.
Wish this had USB C. Feels like a missed opportunity.
Or even Bluetooth but it looks like a fun device
As of January 2022, all QuNexus RED have USB-C ports (on the left) and include a RED USB-C cable.
@@MuseKinetics i just bought the red version with micro usb in january. so there is now a new red version with usb c out?
@@AnnesYarak These transitions are always tricky. We have been shipping USB-C models to US dealers since Dec 1st, but there may still be older micro inventory out there.
@@MuseKinetics I'm totally confused now. On the thomann website, where I bought the red version, pictures are now connected with a red cable. on another picture you can see the usb micro connection on the same website. In the version I have now, the black cable is there, like in the loopop video. is the red version at thomann.de already updated? can you tell me that? I will definitely send back my red version with usb micro and wait....
Lovely music in the intro
Thanks!
omg thank you for this video! there is little user friendly information online about how to set this up. I found this video extremely useful. I can finally unlock the true potential of this device.
I wish the editor section was a bit longer. My goal is to use it's polyphonic aftertouch to play some midi tracks in ableton. I'm looking to activate some effects with pressure and tilt functions while i play but im having issues with fine tuning the device with the editor. could you make a longer video explaining the editor in a bit more detail?
Again, thank you for the information in this video. it's 2022 and i didnt think anyone else was still messing with this device!
Quick question, can this recieve and send clock information lets say from my DAW to the qunexus and then to eurorack?
How do you made that transparent and color fx in Synthesia? Please
I didn't - it's done in Premiere
2021 Most posted Facebook comment on Synth forums... " loopop videos are a good place to start learning about your synth"
Cool overview! Not many UA-cam videos about these particular products so it's nice to see what they are like in practice. Looks like the PolyAT/Tilt would be a major selling point for this compared to other pad controllers and sequencers. The only other option at a similar price point I can think of is the CME XKey, but it's not pressure sensitive (AT is based on how long you hold the keys down).
Not sure about the ergonomics of trying to use it as a 25-note PolyAT keyboard, though. All I want really is compact, regular keyboard with Poly AT. Why do all PolyAT controllers have to be so...weird?
I picked one of these up for $75 on reverb. I’ve had it for a bit over a month now and I have to say, I really enjoy playing it. I play differently than I do with black and whites, but I love the way it inspires me to combine some finger drum style with standard keys, plus the expressiveness of all the “weird” controllers. It’s not the most intuitive controller to set up but a few sessions with the app and a few questions to the very helpful KMI support and this has become my go-to controller.
For that price I'd pick it up as an impulse purchase, but it's over €200 here in the EU which is a lot to pay for something that might just collect dust in a drawer after a few days.
Have you checked out the Hydrasynth Explorer? Bit more expensive, but it fits the bill of compact PolyAT controller and is a killer synth in its own right
Hydrasynth is cool but still a bit large and definitely more expensive and a bit overkill if you're just looking for a control surface. I'd like something closer to the Seaboard Block or Sensel Morph (both discontinued unfortunately).
@@brianleahyart the hydrasynth is compact in relative terms but not compared to this thing. this is like a large TV remote - slightly larger than an OP-Z. The hydrasynth is many many many times bigger.
I would love a video comparing the quneo to a launchpad!
they have almost nothing in common
hello, i have a straight up question...i use a polly d , boomstar 5080 ,anologue keys and the op 1...WHICH MPE controller would you reccomend..please help as i am going around in circles
I'm an original QuNexus owner (black) and had to deal with a very sticky device for several years. Ended up spending a couple days stripping it with isopropyl alcohol. I can no longer read the front panel, but at least it doesn't feel like flypaper. Given all that, I'm not interested in stickers. The red one looks sweet, and the new functionality seems useful. Maybe I'll do the firmware upgrade and try to figure it out.
You can buy a red enclosure from the parts page on the kmi website
@@insolace I love my alcohol skinned black one too much, I kind of feel like we've bonded
Same for my $600 KMix. I will NEVER support this BS company again after they made me pay for a replacement case to support their R&D screwup.
@@roganferguson I agree that it's unreasonable. They should have owned the financial side of the defect since it happened across the entire product line. On the flipside, it's a small boutique company and it may have driven them out of business to own a screwup that large. The downside is that I don't feel like giving them more money, so won't be getting this rad new red device. They should (ethically speaking) own their mistake.
@@SR-ih1be , my K-Mix had jumpy touch faders that were nearly impossible to dial in without using two hands. Others have complained about the tuning on KMI touch controls across their product line. My K-Mix uses a crappy USB port for power, and slight wiggles will cause the device to turn off and on. KMI is just barely upgrading their ports to USB C even though better options have been available for years. And then there is the problem with the rubber coating. Are they really a boutique company, or are they just a small company making mediocre products at a boutique price point?
Is that MIDI output compatible to plug in directly with devices like Novation Circuit OG (MIDI TRS type B) or TE KO II (MIDI TRS Type A) MIDI using any TRS minijack male to male cable?
Seems to be very good! And the price is right. More layers and CV-outs (classic pairs, not stereo cables) would be simply awesome!
Hi; sorry but how many sequencer patterns can you save and reload ?
I don't understand; for example with an analog drum machine, where there are multiple channels like the Vermona mdr you can set a kick on a sequencer and a snare on another channel of the sequencer or not ? I'm figuring out if I can replace this sequencer to the beatstep pro..Thank you
How is the sensitivity in detail?
I've found that Mcmillen devices seem to be VERY uncalibrated from the factory.
My bopbad and quneo are just too flaky sensitivity wise. No amount of fiddling with curves seems to help as they are somehow uneven at the hardware level across the surfaces.
Oh yeah and the quneo is a sticky mess that alchohol just seems to make worse.
I show it in the video as best I can - it's not great, but it's there. I've found that if you give it a limited range (as opposed to 0-127) or limit the mod depth on your synth, you get more control and mileage out of it. Regarding sticky mess - very familiar with it from my K-Board as I mention in the video. I think the point of the Red is the new material, but obviously only time will tell.
QuNexus RED uses a new factory calibration system, we've been working hard for the past 2 years to improve our quality. If you do encounter an issue, please contact our support team directly and we will do everything we can to take care of you.
@@MuseKinetics I'm a happy player of a ContinuumMini, an ATV Aframe and a Handsonic HPD20 (all with zero RMA). They are stable reliable expressive instruments I love spending time with.
Is this a device that I could learn and play on with the same expectations? Or is it not there yet?
The price isn't the issue, its whether its worth the time and effort of building musical intuition with.
Are you going to fix the issues with the QuNeo? They are still being sold as is.
@@alogghe It's great that you are comparing our $200 controller to products that cost $800-$1400. QuNexus packs a lot of features in a small form factor at a very affordable price. And we have worked hard to improve the calibration and consistency, compared to our older black QuNexus you will definitely see a big improvement. But it sounds like a more fair comparison would be our K-Board Pro 4, which sells for $600 and is much more focused on expressive playing and instrumentation.
@@MuseKinetics What is the difference in process with the Kboard?
I lost interest in it because of my experiences with both the quneo and the bopbad.
If you want some of us back as customers you really should make a video or explanation of how you calibrate these surfaces and what we should expect.
Edit -
Ok this is part of what I want to hear and see -
"""The RED models also use a new factory calibration process that measures each sensor using a constant pressure, and stores the resulting values into flash memory. The new key algorithm uses those values to compensate for differences between keys, so that you get a much more consistent performance."""
When will you extend this process to your other surfaces?
IFF you made a webmidi software tool (I'm on Linux) for this I might give the red a try.
Any way I can get a download of the song you play in this review???
It is amazing!!! I could listen to that for hours!!!
Love your reviews. Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much! It's currently only available on Patreon but I do want to release it as part of an upcoming album in a few months
How would you compare this sequencer with the Keystep 37? Subjectively of course, which would you first instinctively choose for, say, a mono bass synth?
Are you kidding with that outro?? Best melody I’ve heard in a long while! Can I buy this song? What’s it’s name and do you go by loopop?
Thanks! Yes if you search music services you'll find me there, and indeed I want to include this track on my album coming out before the end of the year hopefully!
QuNexus, Bitwig + Surge... Tilt isn't working. Any ideas, guys? Poly AT works only with MPE turned off in Bitwig! Tilt on QuNexus side is working. At least I've got CV output connected to Volca Modular and it Tilt pitch bending works there. I'm using Win7, build 7601.
KMI QuNexus MIDI , do that thing comes with big keys?
Edit: Not looking to undermine a small ambitious company, please check the bottom paragraph and KMM's reaction.
Sold my Quneo years ago. The lack of firmware and the atrocious software / DAW implementation included really put me off. I want to make music not program an entire piece of buggy software to make it work for me (I have no issues midi-mapping like on a Novation LC/LP but this was just a step too far). Really showed me that a controller is only as good as the software it comes with.
Looking at the website now, seems like they updated their software... Might be worth a go now, but I'm still not really convinced tbh also after this video....
Hello Niets. We've been working hard to improve our quality control and software development, and you can see from our downloads page that in the past 2 years we've been very busy updating our existing products and software. For the QuNexus arpeggiator/sequencer update, we didn't change the hardware because we wanted existing users to benefit.
@@MuseKinetics Awesome to hear, never really had any issues with the hardware so I can see why you wouldn't upgrade on that side. Might give it another shot if I have a use for it in the nearby future!
this is encouraging. really pleased to see the company is out here listening to what we the people have to say, & are responsive to our concerns. thanks much for that, KMM.
@@doctorauxiliary You're welcome!
Maybe I missed it, but what do the pads feel like? Are they like the Korg Nano Controller? (Hard, cheap plastic)
No, they are soft and velocity/pressure sensitive
But should I purchase one???🤔
I can't get the channel to actually change using the Shift + MPE/Ch method. It looks like it changes on the device itself, but it does not send messages over separate channels. Same goes for when I enter different channels to the Controller tab in the Editor. The only time my Qunexus sends messages over a different MIDI channel is when I change the channel within a track. Am I missing something?
I can’t get it to work either. Sometimes it seems to randomly kick in, but then only one of the notes in the channel rotation provides pitch bend control
Question??? When I record a track, am I limited to only playing 1 key at a time versus play 3 cords to play a cord. Thanks, this red Q is so powerful.
I was typing just as you said Monophonic which leads me to believe that only 1 key can be recorded. Sorry for the silly question when all I had to do was watch the whole video. Thanks for you informative info.
7:08 hey, right back at ya buddy. :)
some musicians flip samples, I take a different path
7:08 when I never ever thought Loop would give modular the finger lol.
I am watching the whole video, but can you record motion with the sequencer in PAT?
Nvm, found my answer, bummer.
Now you understand why the finger
@@loopop Yeps..
Uhhh, Loopop, that music at the beginning is a little too awesome - it's consuming my attention and I keep having to go back for the voiceover! (nice job)
Glad you enjoy it! It play at the end without me getting in the way...
I just got one and it has USB-C which is really nice
I really want to like this keyboard for the functionality, portability, key feel its great! The plastic is not covered in the rubber material so I suspect that issue is solved. Unfortunately I've had 2 QuNexus Red's where the keys will either get stuck down playing or play entirely on their own... It makes it really difficult to use. :(
Hello Michael, please contact our support team through our website and we will get this resolved.
@@MuseKinetics, does the support team still charge people $40 to fix YOUR design flaw from choosing disintegrating rubber? Because I will NEVER trust KM as long as they are forcing their customers to pay for their R&D mistakes.
Hello @Rogan Ferguson . I'm very sorry that the enclosure on your K-Mix went sticky.
KMI is not a billion dollar company like Roland, Yamaha etc. It took many years for us to discover the issue with sticky enclosures, which affects less than 10% of our tens of thousands of customers. Shortly before I came on board as president in 2020, our customer service and R&D team had identified and validated the issue, and we began working on a plan to make things right. The first step was changing the enclosures (removing the soft-touch coating) so that we would have something to offer as a reliable replacement that would not have any issues down the line. That's our new ABS-Polycarbonate, and it took time (and money) to develop and then test for longevity. It was important to us that we not just use this for new products, but that we also retrofit the existing products and have replacement enclosures available to legacy customers so that we don't leave anyone in the lurch.
If you still want to give us a chance, contact us through our support team, mention this post, and we will take care of you to the best of our abilities.
@@MuseKinetics Let me ask you, is it safe/wise to do the isopropyl scrub when a unit is one piece? I have a sticky Quneo. Only 5 screws but there's obviously some witchcraft involved in splitting the case. Also, as an aside, you weren't alone with sticky soft touch rubber coating, just late to the game. I have scrubbed that stuff off of at least a dozen of my own Nikon film SLRs and data backs. There is very little more wonderful than hold a sticky camera against your face.... :/
loopop mentions an updated skin that can be purchased from KMI. I didn't find that on the website. am i overlooking something? can anybody steer me in the right direction there?
I was wondering the same thing it sounded like if we have the old one we can use the new functionality via firmware update? But I couldn’t find anything either
Up at the top of our website, "More->Parts". Available in the US now, our European distributor should be getting some soon if they haven't arrived already.
@@MuseKinetics Thanks if I updated my black QuNexus and grabbed an overlay my older black QuNexus will have all the functionality of the new red one?
@@MuseKinetics thanks so much for getting back to us here. yeah, I've had trouble finding the actual firmware update on your site. I only see the editor download. today is my saturday, so I can finally do some real searching. I'll try your suggestion here. thank you again!!
… great video and review!
I have one question I’m not sure if I misheard you but it sounds like you said that if we have the old QuNexus we can update it with the firmware and an overlay? Does this mean that our old QuNexus will have all the new functionality?
If this is so will the old units after being updated also work directly with hardware via the new USB to mini dongle?
I believe so! I see KMI is commenting so hopefully they get to this one and confirm
@@loopop I was just on their website it seems to be the case… this is great! I wish more companies would do upgrades like this without forcing you to buy their new product. I’ve had a lot of midi controllers come and go over the years but I’ve always kept this one. Even despite the frustration that it needed the thru- box to hook up to midi hardware. Well now that’s a thing of the past this. I’m glad I held onto the QUNEXUS is going to be getting a whole lot more use in my studio and when I travel!!
Thanks for the video thanks for the info And thanks to KMI for this effective approach to upgrading their loyal customers!!!
this has been the most exciting thing all week
lol
@@habitat2990 You are welcome! You can get the decal kit and a MIDI out cable on our website
Hi thanks for the review, I purchased one.
But how do I know when to start recording on the sequencer. It's really difficult to find the start of the beat.
Do you have any tips on that?
Thanks! You can always step sequence when the sequence isn’t playing, but if you want to record live you’ll either need to use one of the tracks as a metronome or sync to an external drum machine using clock
@@loopop okay thanks. Thought there might be some kind of indication I had missed
Great VID (as always). I'm thinking that glissandos would not be possible with QuNexus...as one might do THAT with Sensel Morph? The Morph, you may know, having a flat, contiguous surface, permits, say, 2 fingers to gliss up and down---simultaneously, the only obstacle being that the two fingers don't bump into one another. I'm supposing that the BREAK between keys would prevent this sort of smooth, continuous glissando. You're the doctor, though. OF course, a bit of a mute point, maybe, since MORPH seems to have long since left the marketplace.
OK the thing about rubber and everything assoc w/it, is that it requires HYDRATION. every three weeks or so wipe it down with a damp cloth -the salt in your sweat eats up rubber's natural ability to hold water. Canon's go hard and contract, Nikons go soft and expand, KMI uh dunno yet... love yr vidz!
The red is not covered in rubber so no issues there.
There are plenty of surfaces that don't turn into toxic goo. I'm never buying another KM device after they required me to buy a $40 case for their crappy $600 mixer. Customers shouldn't have to pay for poor R&D.
Can you use an external (cv) clock?
Thaks for the tutorial!
I recently bought a Qunexus red. The problem is that when I use It with Rings module the sound is out of tune, but when I use another sequencer Rings sounds grate. Is there any CV calibration to use the Qunexus with Eurorack?
Thanks.
My pleasure! Have you contact the company's tech support? They're quite responsive!
Thaks for the advice. I would talk to them :)
Hi thanks for the video. How do you change the midi channel - the 3 track limitation is this for playing 3 different midi channels at the same time? Can you easily hop from say midi channel 8 to 4 as on arturia keyboards. Thanks
yes you can there's a shift combo for it labelled on the panel
@@loopop yes just read the manual cheers!
how i can make my old qunexus to behave like before the update, like pushing a key up and down and pitching things and making one of those crazy sounds on my o coast
Have you contacted support?
well no but after some time spend… with the editor which doesnt work here when may daw or stand alone plug in is on , i it seems that if i make a preset to A for an example with tilt to pitch it starts to work after i touch the mod wheel pad , and when i change to another B C D it stops :) anyway now its back to business:)
Would you say this would work as a pad controller for programming drums in a DAW? i was thinking about the korg nanokeys2v but it seems so cheaply made (and priced, to be fair)
sure
Can you still quickly change MIDI channel on the fly from the keyboard? Not for a sequencer track, just for playing? This used to be done via a Live Edit mode but I can't see anything about this for the Red version.
yes you can SHIFT + MPE/CH
@@loopop if the new K-Boards had that function I'd be getting one of those, but they dont! Thanks for confirming the Qunexus does
@@loopop This does not work for me when playing live. Only within a track.
Hey, loopop, best eurorack case for travelling? I believe 104hp is the ideal size.
I don't really travel with my modules so I wouldn't know. I'd look for something that would close with the cables still connected
What do you connect that keyboard to when you're on the road?
Personally to my laptop via usb. If you travel with a synth/modular/semi modular it could work with that too
You can assign the keys to send CC values? That seems like maybe the killer feature for me.
yes you can - but note that there's a degree of "bounce" when you leave a key. pressure will almost always travel back to zero (which makes sense), tilt is a little more jumpy and unpredictable when you lift your finger off the pad
The old QuNexus gets mouldy in the tropics
Thanks!
Excellent!
nice, missed opportunity that the usb is not usb-c, and mini jack to midi din would make more sense too. Main pro of this thing is the size imo. for the rest I'd prefer keystep. For travel, I actually use my OP-1 as midi keyboard (and as OP-1 too ofcourse). Even more portable!
FYI they just released an updated version with USB-C. No minijack for midi yet though
Keith alwayse be sneaky
Can it be hooked up to an Android? Thanks. Looks cool...
Nevermind, I ordered it. If I can get it to work with Android I'll keep it.
Should work but I've not tried it
@@loopop Thanks. I ordered one and will try it.
one more octave and id buy this instantly, but all i really want kmi to do is fixing the midi of the k-mix
Does this version still have that nasty rubberized finish. I've always loved my KM products, but the finish wears it starts to ball up and stick to everything. I had to scrape it off of my quneo with a razor after the first year because after only minutes of playing, the resin starts to ball up and form pad boogers.
I discuss this in the video, no, they fixed it
Has anyone had luck using external CV clock? Haven't gotten it to work yet
I've had issues with their quality control. Personally, I wouldn't recommend their products. My K-Board registers midi notes on keys I haven't touched all the time.
Hello Dominic, please contact our support team and we will take care of you.
It's very nice , for the price.
If it had 3 dedicated CV and 3 gate outs then it would be a cheaper alternative to the keystep pro..... I feel like 3 sequencers with only 2 CV outs and no independent gate outputs is pretty limiting.... A few extra outs and I'd buy one for sure....... However as is I feel like it's better as a small sequencer for a mobile rig not quite enough for a multi synth studio..... Too bad it looks pretty good otherwise.
you got it exactly right. It has a lot going for it as a mobile device but doesn't replace a bigger controller in studio.
The intro track reminds me of Max Richter.
Can anyone help me with clock on the QuNexus? I'm trying to clock the arpeggiator, in any way possible. I have set the clock source in the editor (also tried on the unit itself), and the best I could do was get it to work, but it was still also going off the internal clock. Is my unit broken or what?
Have you tried customer support?
@@loopop not on this product but if it’s anything like the K-Mix I will either get no response or a rude one 😅
@@Ancaja123 try and please let me know, I think there’s new management there
@@loopop I actually realized I wasn't using the right clock cables. My QuNexus was still sent to me broken...its a bummer, but the high F key gets triggered randomly by other notes, and also sometimes after it gets triggered will just play over and over at random. Guessing it's hardware as I've updated the Firmware. Also two lights are on. Just musings, I'm going to reach out to KMI today.
Too bad the sequencer length is only 32 steps. I don't like complicated devices that I will forget how to use if I'm not using them all the time, and I'd be interested in a small, simple, affordable sequencer to complement my KeyStep (without resorting to buying another KeyStep), which has 64 steps - use the KeyStep to handle chords, while this handles melody and bass line, for example. Hopefully the issues others have described here in the comments have been sorted out, or get sorted soon.
Or maybe I should just deal with the complexity and get an SQ-64 to control everything.
We would have loved to do 64 steps, but one limitation was our desire for this update to be backwards compatible for existing QuNexus users. QuNexus uses an 8051 microcontroller that has 64kb of flash memory (that's shared between firmware and user data), and only 4kb of RAM. When we started the 2.0 project there was only 20kb of free memory to work with, so there was a huge task of overhauling the existing code to free up as much memory as possible. For reference, to store 8 patterns with pitch, velocity, tilt, and pressure data requires 1kb of data, which doesn't sound like a lot, but as of version 2.0.9 there is less than 100 bytes of memory free.
Pretty cool
How much are these? Price for the unit
price check links in the description
1 second in and i’m telling myself i wanna buy this
Typo in the description, btw (Empress Effects listed as Empress Empress Effects)
Thanks - fixed!
Random thought; I wonder if there are any new sounds to discover. Like. Theres sine, square, saw. Then there's PWM. Theres wavetables, which seem kind of similar to me. I wonder if theres anything that will just stand out as a brand new sound. Like Holy crap, ive never heard anything like that before. Just a thought.
For sure, additive synthesis, physical modeling, granular synthesis, but they've all been used before so I doubt they'll be totally new sounds, they just don't sound like the ones you mentioned
@@loopop Yeah, I'm talking more like sounds not yet even conceived yet. Modular really opens things up, but its all variations of known sounds. I remember in the late 90's when I first heard trance music. My mind was absolutely blown. Ive never heard those noises before. I feel like nothings left to do that again. Wouldn't it be cool if someone discovered some new sound wave that created something so new it would be like unlocking some secret brand new sound? Haha. Just a random though.
Thanks so much for this video but this thing is confusing to me.
I love my Qnexus for using with my laptop due to its size but tbh the adapters that you needed to use midi and CV where the worst idea I’ve ever seen in a midi controller…
That’s a nice improvement on this one just USB to 5 pin cable.
interesting but I think a beatstep or beat step pro will do better for a similar price. that is if you already have a midi keyboard. a keystep 37 + beat step pro seems to be a very capable solution for a lot of needs (polyphonic sequencer + drum and mono sequencer + complete midi controller for daw or other). I'd also be interested in a sequencer like the torso who does a bit of randomness; but maybe simpler.
I prefer the sequencer in the Qunexus than my Keystep 37. Even though it’s only 32 you get three tracks and they can be independently muted and tweaked. Also this thing is a fraction of the size of even the Beatstep. It’s really a different use case.
@@luvinfunvan it's certainly an interesting product; but as I already have a KS37 if I need more sequencing power I'll probably go with the beatstep pro; which is just a bit more expensive and gives me a drum sequencer and a nice midi controller
Arturia makes vastly better products, and Arturia's product support is excellent.
Looks promising! Any possibility to connect it to Haken Continium mini?..looks as its brother..red one..)..and Organelle..)…have anyone tried it with them?
I've not tried but it does sound like a cool pairing!
@@loopop thanks!..if you dare..please inform us here..)..or there!..I will wait!..
The rubber coating on my K-Mix turned into a toxic sludge after a couple of years and Keith McMillen would only offer to sell me a $40 plastic replacement cover... so never again for me. If anyone would like to trade a 1010 BlueBox for my crappy K-mix with its wiggly usb power supply and jumpy touch faders, mine has the $40 replacement case.
i had the same peeling issue, i just fully peeled it and the problem is gone. Still i hope they changed their coating material by now.
dear kmi, if you update the k-board (usb-c, thanks), pls make it blue.
We hear you loud and clear
@@MuseKinetics and thus you have delivered!
I have one of these and was probably more disappointed than anything I’ve ever purchased. For all the robustness in their videos, the usb connection on it was probably the worst of any product I’ve had. If you combine that with how short the cable was, I was really perplexed by that particular choice. I’ve used it about 3 times and it’s been sitting on a shelf for years, can’t sell it to someone because they’ll probably want their money back. Might go in and solder something new to the board so I can play it with some consistency again. I also had a korg nanokeys before I bought this which prompted my interest in the qunexus, was really surprised at how much more life I got from the nanokeys at less than half the price.
Did you contact their support? They seem to be pretty good at helping with issues, curious if they addressed that too. Overall I hate MicroUSB too BTW
An affordable mpe keyboard?? Take my money
It would be nice if they just made a midi USB version with less connectivity and a lower price, for those with just a laptop setup
They have one called k-board - no arp or sequencer though
Almost the same price than Korg SQ-64... And you can't compare the features... Thank you for the review but this piece of hardware is not useful...
Like all KM products, this is priced at at least double for what I would pay for it.
Quiet agree
You deleted your video on Atmos?
No I didn't, are you not seeing it now? A non-fair use respecting person or bot blocked it for several hours because they didn't like 30 seconds of it, but I muted that part and now it should be back. Please let me know if you're not seeing it...
@@loopop It is back. Are you able to edit the videos after they are published? Just curious if YT gives influencers more options.
@@xfloodcasual8124 I doubt I have anything you don’t. Editing options are very limited to muting and extracting parts
Should have been a 16 channels controller to justify this price.
I’ve had a QuNexus for nearly five years now, and have barely used it. I find that ergonomically, it isn’t pleasant to play anything other than the most minimal of lines. The pads are hard and uncomfortable. While I appreciate that KMI continues to update the firmware, I honestly can’t be bothered with endless shift keys to memorize and buried functionality. A small OLED display and a couple of rotary encoders would have gone a long way to making this more usable, although I don’t suppose that would have fit with their design goals. Ultimately, this product isn’t a good fit for me, and it sits buried in a junk drawer, gathering dust.
FOURTH!!!!
Did someone say polyphonic aftertouch?!?!?
In another comment, a KMI rep points out that this is NOT an expressive instrument compared to other MPE devices at a higher price point, and suggests their $600 K-board as a better choice for someone looking for a truly expressive instrument. It would be a mistake to pay for an MPE instrument and then pair it with this cheap device.
this would be perfect if it was battery powered, and it came in other colours ;-)
Micro and mini USB? Why? Seems like USB C is still something futuristic for some manufacturers.
As of January 2022, all QuNexus RED come with a USB-C port and RED cable