Home » GEAR: MIDI Keyboards, NEWS: Industry Headlines, OPEN LABS News, REPORTS: NAMM, The Music Manufacturers

Open Labs Announces Gen5 MiKo and NeKo Keyboards

by Christopher Laird Simmons
published Thu, 15 Jan 2009 – 19:26:18 -0800 PST
No Comment
Email this Page Share this Page Feedback

WINTER NAMM 2009 /Music Industry Newswire/ — At a press conference this morning, Open Labs announced their new line of “generation 5″ keyboard workstations. The new models include the 37 key MiKo LXD, 61 key NeKo LX5, and deluxe NeKo XXL. All models have Quad Core processors, 1TB storage (4TB with XXL), and 4GB RAM standard. All models sport updated interfaces for mixing and control, as well as MPC-replacement drum controllers with “first ever” extra assignable 17th pad for double-kick play or better high-hat control. The MiKo LXD will ship in late January. All models include a wealth of innovative and custom software applications for live music.

From their announcement: The Gen5 MiKo LXD is the latest addition to the Open Labs® products line. Using a 15” touch-screen, 37 black and white keys, external backlit QWERTY keyboard and running Windows® OS, MiKo LXD is an entirely new class of portable music instrument. This portable media work center was specifically designed for the electronic musician, music producer and today’s digital lifestyle.

MiKo LXD’s optimized Windows OS natively supports virtually any music application or plug-in developed for a PC. From Pro Tools™ to Nuendo™, Native Instruments™ Komplete™ to Spectrasonics™ Omnisphere™, MiKo LXD does it all with ease.

MiKo LXD is equipped with the new Bump MP™ integrated drum module, designed to allow the user to create beats and trigger any sound, loop or sample in real-time. Enhanced with a special Open Labs version of Guru™ from FXpansion™, key features of the Bump MP include: (16 plus 1) fully assignable pads, note repeat, max level, fixed level fader, transport controls, chromatic mode, hold, pad tune, multiple groove preset and eight engines with 24 presets per engine.

MiKo LXD is also equipped with the new Open Labs Mix/Edit controller. The mixer section consists of multiple fully assignable controls including: (8) encoders, (8) lighted buttons, (8) faders, (4 X 4) banks (total of 128 channels) and (1) master volume fader. The edit section consists of multiple, fully assignable controls including: (8) encoders, (1) LCD display (for encoders), (4) buttons and (4) banks (total of 32 control parameters).

MiKo LXD has the most relevant and compelling sounds including: Open Labs The Master’s Series Library™ produced by multi-platinum producer Mr. Porter (Denaun Porter), as well as Open Labs’ own V5™ sound, sample and loop library.

Open Labs Riff™ is an entirely new concept in virtual instrument hosting. Written from the ground up by Open Labs, Riff encompasses over six years of live performance and studio production knowledge gathered from some of the world’s top artists, engineers, composers, and producers. Its advanced features include: Live Controls™, which allows the user to create any number of virtual controls in real-time that can be mapped to various effects and other parameters. Advanced intelligence allows any number of virtual controllers to manipulate any number of other virtual controllers, providing automation for virtual instruments and effects. Rewire allows for this powerful host application to be used within any DAW program.

The MiKo offers superior mobility in a compact package. It’s perfect for working in a project studio of performing live – where creating beats, guitar and vocal multi-tracking, and DJ/VJ capabilities are as necessary as playing a keyboard.

The MiKo’s assignable Master and DJ controllers elevate live performance beyond normal application. For instance, you can trigger Mp3’s in real time, then grab audio waveforms via the touchscreen. To top things off, throw some real-time drum, bass, and vocal lines on top of your mix.

Open Labs instruments are equipped with Firewire, USB, PCI EXPRESS and an Ethernet port, allowing access to the Internet via a broadband connection. Open Labs tech support can log-in to your system, and our online technicians can remotely view and diagnose any issue – while you are still in your own studio.

We’ve included over 200 world-class virtual instruments and effects with over 20,000 presets with virtually unlimited capability for third party plug-ins and applications.

MiKo LXD Dimensions: 34″(L) X 19″(W) X 7″(H) Weight (base configuration) 38.8 lbs.

Technorati Tags: , , ,
SPHERE: Related Content — CLICK HERE to See What Else is Out There!

About The Author / Editor:


Christopher Simmons has been writing about music since 1984 when he sold his first feature to Polyphony (now Electronic Musician) magazine. He has composed music for two TV cable shows, is a member of ASCAP and PRSA, and is the managing editor for Music Industry Newswire™, as well as the CEO of Neotrope® Entertainment. His music can be found on iTunes, CDBaby, and Napster, among others. © Christopher Laird Simmons and and Music Industry Newswire. UNAUTHORIZED RE-PUBLICATION OF THIS CONTENT IS PROHIBITED UNDER U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW EXCEPT FOR QUOTING IN CONTEXT OF ANOTHER ARTICLE OR A SHORT SUMMARY LINKING TO THIS FULL STORY.

  delicious:Open Labs Announces Gen5 MiKo and NeKo Keyboards digg:Open Labs Announces Gen5 MiKo and NeKo Keyboards newsvine:Open Labs Announces Gen5 MiKo and NeKo Keyboards furl:Open Labs Announces Gen5 MiKo and NeKo Keyboards reddit:Open Labs Announces Gen5 MiKo and NeKo Keyboards Y!:Open Labs Announces Gen5 MiKo and NeKo Keyboards  Add to Mixx! 
Permalink:   http://musicindustrynewswire.com/2009/01/15/min909_192618.php

Related Stories:


Open Labs Announces SoundSlate Rack Mount Music System
Open Labs reveals new ‘Custom Shop’ for Musicians who purchase OL’s PC-based Music Instruments
Open Labs to Give 24k Gold NeKo LUX Keyboard to Winner at Beats ‘n Treats Event
Akai MPC Killer: The Open Labs DBeat is Shipping, Now in Two Flavors
Studio DIY: Custom Keyboard and Peripheral Dust Covers
Review: Open Labs NeKo XXL Gen5 DAW Keyboard Workstation

Rings With Side Stones


Leave a comment!

Add your comment below, or trackback from your own site. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS.

Be nice. Keep it clean. Stay on topic. No spam. All comments are moderated and self-promotional posts will never be visible.

You can use these tags:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

This is a Gravatar-enabled weblog. To get your own globally-recognized-avatar, please register at Gravatar.