If you've ever wanted a portable yet highly expressive USB MIDI keyboard controller with a slightly different spin on the piano-style layout, the QuNexus just might be what you've been looking for. With 25 "keys" made from KMI's proprietary Smart Fabric, the QuNexus excels at dynamic playing styles thanks to its pressure-sensitivity and full support of polyphonic aftertouch and MPE. But the familiar piano note arrangement makes it feel similar enough to other controllers that you won't get lost while playing chords or melodies, and the additional dimensions of expression allow for some far-out playing styles that classic keyboards could never accommodate. While the two-octave note range could feel limiting to those with a background in piano, the compact design and versatile functionality more than make up for it, and will surely open your mind to new musical ideas.

Wondering how to use the expressive capabilities of QuNexus in your music? Per-note pressure and pitch tilt may be toggled on and off with the buttons on the left, as well as velocity and note-hold features. And provided you're using a MPE-compatible software or hardware synthesizer, you're free to go into your synth and assign pressure to anything from filter cutoffs to LFO modulation rates, while enjoying luscious polyphonic note glides along the way.

Despite its small size, the QuNexus is absolutely packed with hardware ports, well beyond what a basic keyboard controller would usually offer. Though making full use of its I/O requires separate accessory purchases, a few essential cables are included in the box, and everything else you would need is affordably priced. The QuNexus CV and gate I/O connects to modular synths for direct voltage control, and the right-side USB port allows for hardware MIDI output with the included adapter or connection to KMI's own MIDI Expander. If you're looking to bridge the gap with your DAW or simply use QuNexus as a plug-and-play MIDI controller, you can totally do that with the left-side USB-C port.

But the best part is that everything that the QuNexus offers can be used simultaneously, meaning it can control your DAW and modular rig simultaneously. And this extends to its onboard three-track sequencer and arpeggiator, with each track able to be routed to any MIDI channel(s) at the USB and/or expander outputs, as well as the CV and gate outputs. In fact, David puts this flexibility to great use in the video above, making use of both the CV and USB MIDI outputs to directly control various modules in his Eurorack system with tracks of the QuNexus sequencer.

Although K-Board doesn't contain the internal sequencer, the additional I/O, or compatibility with the KMI MIDI Expander, it's a no-fuss controller for anyone who wants to add MPE-capabilities to their DAW-centered studio. It's also quite possibly the most affordable MPE controller on the market right now, so it's a fairly low investment to add highly expressive playability to your music when compared to some of the other options out there.

On the other hand, the QuNexus shines as a flexible controller that can drop into a ton of different scenarios. It's more immediately equipped to handle hardware connectivity with its CV I/O and MIDI Expander compatibility, and the internal sequencer can allow you to quickly flesh out musical ideas. QuNexus extends well beyond just a "DAW/softsynth controller" and ventures into the territory of a hybrid hardware/software studio centerpiece.

USB hosts come in many shapes and sizes—most commonly a computer, tablet, or mobile device. But there certainly are other things that can operate as a USB host, whether as their sole function or among other features. In most cases, the QuNexus with the KMI MIDI Expander operates in the same way a USB Host would. To use K-Board with some of our favorite MPE-capable hardware synths, like the ASM Hydrasynth, Black Corporation Deckard's Dream or UDO Super 6, we love to use the trusty and aptly named MIDI USB Host from Kenton. This handy little box also supports bi-directional communication between USB and DIN MIDI devices, and can facilitate data merging from both sources.

There are also a growing number of Eurorack modules that function as USB MIDI hosts, whether as a simple MIDI-CV converter or as part of a fully-featured sequencer. David uses the Squarp Hermod in the video above, but other options include the Expert Sleepers FH-2 and the Shuttle Control by Endorphines.