RockJam 25 Key Bluetooth Midi Keyboard

I see a lot of reviews for using this device for kids as a beginner piano. This is a great product, but you have to understand what it is before buying it. If you want to buy a device for you or your kid to learn how to play piano, this isn't what you want. You'll probably want a full size keyboard with built in speakers. This will not make any noise without some kind of software. If you want to just tinker, you probably don't want this either. However, if you are like me and you want it to input notes and beats into a DAW then this is a perfect solution. It connected to the DAW seamlessly and it's worked perfectly so far. I'm using it wirelessly on tablet. There is a little bit of a lag, but I think there are ways to remedy that and you can connect using a cable if you need to. This will suit my needs and I recommend it if you also need a mobile device for use on a DAW.

The old saying is you get what you pay for this keyboard worked had everything it was advertised to have and my granddaughter loves it. Is it something to go on stage with obviously not but for kids it’s a great start highly recommend.

I played piano a little as a kid and have been wanting to get back into it. A year ago when I purchased this, I wasn't sure how serious I'd be about practicing. This keyboard has been perfect for my needs. It is low-cost, portable, and consistent/reliable. However, there are a few cons--all of which are warranted given the awesome price: - Not a great quality of sound. You could play the prettiest song in the world perfectly (which I do not claim to be able to do!) and it still won't sound fantastic because of the sound quality here. I tried a song on a Steinway after 6 months of only using the RockJam keyboard and was amazed how much nicer my playing sounded all of a sudden! - The keys are not standard sized. The compact 61-key model has narrower keys. This is awesome if you live in a small house or have small hands. But if I try a piano at a friend's house, the keys will be wider. So you can't memorize a song on this keyboard with muscle memory alone and then play it perfectly on a different piano. - There is no sustainer pedal hookup, so you have no option to upgrade this piano with a pedal. TO SUM UP: It has served me wonderfully for a year, and though its quality has not changed during that time, after a year of playing 4-5 days a week, I've decided it's time to upgrade for better sound quality. It was a great purchase for starting out.

Works good, no complaints.

The **RockJam Compact 61 Key Keyboard** is a fantastic option for beginners and hobbyists who want a portable, easy-to-use keyboard with all the essential features to get started with learning and playing the piano. Here's my experience with it, including its strengths and a few potential challenges. ### **Design and Build** The **RockJam 61 Key Keyboard** has a **compact and lightweight design**, making it super easy to move around and store when not in use. It doesn’t take up much space, which is perfect if you’re working with a small room or apartment. The **61 keys** are a great starting point for beginners, offering enough range to learn songs and practice basic techniques without feeling overwhelmed. The keyboard comes with a **sheet music stand** that clips easily onto the top, making it convenient to hold sheet music or a tablet if you're using digital resources like piano apps. The design is functional, though not the sturdiest, but it does the job for everyday practice. ### **Piano Note Stickers** One of the things I really appreciated is the inclusion of **piano note stickers**. As a beginner, having the notes labeled on the keys was super helpful for learning scales, chords, and melodies. The stickers are easy to apply and remove without leaving any residue, and they make it much easier to familiarize yourself with the keys and learn how to play songs faster. ### **Power Supply** The keyboard comes with a **power supply**, so there’s no need to worry about constantly buying batteries. However, if you prefer to use it on the go, it also has the option to run on batteries, which adds to its portability. ### **Simply Piano Lessons** The package includes access to the **Simply Piano app**, which is a fantastic bonus for beginners. The app offers guided lessons that are easy to follow and help you get started quickly. The app walks you through everything from learning basic notes to more advanced techniques, and it’s a great supplement to traditional lessons or self-teaching. The integration of lessons with the keyboard made learning much more engaging, and I felt like I was making progress faster with the interactive approach. ### **Sound Quality** For a keyboard in this price range, the **sound quality** is pretty decent. While it obviously won’t compare to a full-size digital piano or a high-end keyboard, the RockJam does a good job of providing a clear, enjoyable sound for practicing. It comes with multiple **instrument voices** and sound effects, which can be fun to experiment with, especially if you're new to keyboards. The keyboard has **built-in speakers**, and the sound output is good enough for home practice. However, if you’re looking for richer sound quality, you may want to connect external speakers or use headphones, which the keyboard supports through its **headphone jack**. ### **Ease of Use** The **interface is simple and user-friendly**. The buttons are clearly labeled, making it easy to switch between different instrument voices, rhythms, and demo songs. There’s no complex menu to navigate, so you can quickly adjust settings or change sounds as you play. This makes it perfect for beginners who just want to focus on learning to play without getting bogged down by overly technical settings. ### **Features** - **Built-in rhythms and demo songs**: The RockJam comes with a variety of **rhythms** and **demo songs** that are great for learning timing and experimenting with different styles of music. - **Recording and playback**: There’s a simple **record and playback function**, which allows you to record your practice sessions and listen to them to assess your progress. - **Headphone jack**: Practicing with headphones is a great feature if you don’t want to disturb others around you, or if you prefer more private practice sessions. ### **Portability** The **compact size** and ability to run on batteries make this keyboard highly portable. If you need to take it to lessons, move it around the house, or even take it outside for a casual practice session, it’s easy to pack up and go. This is a great feature for kids or students who may need to bring their keyboard to school or a friend’s house for lessons. ### **Challenges** - **Key Sensitivity**: One thing to note is that the keys are not **touch-sensitive**, meaning that the volume of the note won’t change depending on how hard or soft you press the keys. For a beginner, this isn’t a huge deal, but as you advance and want to work on dynamics and expressiveness, you may eventually want to upgrade to a keyboard with weighted, touch-sensitive keys. - **Build Quality**: While the keyboard is lightweight and portable, it does feel a little **plasticky**. The keys, while functional, don’t have the same solid feel as higher-end keyboards or pianos. This is to be expected at this price point, but it's something to consider if you're looking for a more durable, professional-feeling instrument. - **Limited Range**: While **61 keys** are plenty for beginners, more advanced players may find the lack of a full **88-key range** limiting. As you progress and start playing more complex pieces, the missing octaves could become an issue. However, for starting out, the 61 keys are perfectly fine. ### **Pros** - **Compact and lightweight**: Easy to move and store, perfect for small spaces. - **Beginner-friendly**: Includes piano note stickers, a music stand, and access to Simply Piano lessons, making it great for beginners. - **Affordable**: Good value for the price, with enough features to get started with learning piano. - **Fun features**: Multiple instrument voices, rhythms, and demo songs make practicing more enjoyable. - **Portability**: Can run on batteries, making it easy to take anywhere. - **Headphone jack**: Allows for quiet practice without disturbing others. ### **Cons** - **Non-weighted keys**: No touch sensitivity, which may limit dynamics for more advanced players. - **Plastic build**: Feels lightweight and not as durable as higher-end keyboards. - **Limited key range**: 61 keys may eventually be limiting for more complex pieces. ### **Final Thoughts** The **RockJam Compact 61 Key Keyboard** is an excellent choice for beginners and casual players looking for an affordable, easy-to-use keyboard. It has all the essential features to get started, including note stickers, online lessons, and multiple sound options to keep things fun and engaging. While it may not be suitable for advanced players due to the lack of touch-sensitive keys and limited range, it’s perfect for those just beginning their musical journey. The compact design and portability make it convenient for home use or on-the-go practice, and overall, it’s a solid value for the price.

The RJMK Mini25 is an excellent budget MIDI keyboard. At $36 I paid, I should have gotten more than one. Right now it is in the $70 range, unless you need a battery and wireless, I would go with a different model from Akai or M-Audio, and look for it used or b-stock at this price, sometimes with a lot of useful software. A USB type-C connector can also be used for USB MIDI or to recharge the built-in battery. The pads, endless encoders, screen, knobs and joystick offer a lot of control for something so small and cheap. The main reason I am writing this review is to document that it uses a TRS 1/8" Type A MIDI connector. This is actually the more uncommon wiring for MIDI - you may or may not need an adapter for another device depending on if it is A, B, or switchable. It does not have a tradition 5-pin connector. Bluetooth appears to work although I had some initial issues. I have yet to test the latency but this is a unusual feature in this price range. The sustain pedal 1/4" input is great to have. Keys are small (not quite the same as my mini keys) and springy, basically imagine the worst synth style keys that still have some sensitivity. Same with the pads. They work for basic use, better than a touch screen, pcb, or button keyboard. Even with these cons, it is a 5/5 for value, as they are expected at this price.

I bought this because we just gave away an old piano in preparation for a move. That piano was slightly out of tune, dampeners were worn out, and of course it weighed 400 pounds or whatever. It was still way better than this, and I miss the piano already. But we'll make do with this trash keyboard until we've moved, and then look for someone giving away a piano again (which is how we got the last one). The default "piano" sounds somewhat like a piano, but there are 200 different "tones" that cover a relatively narrow range. Individual instrument quality is basically at the level of what I remember from the 80s -- ranging from close but not quite, to not even remotely like the stated instrument. It's so bad that 160 of the 200 tones don't even have names, they're just "popular tones" (and many of these overlap the base tones with very slight differences). Also, let's talk quickly about the 61-key layout. I get that's what most of keyboard use, but you end up losing both the highest and lowest range of a normal piano. My problem is that there's no "shift one octave" function here. I don't ever -- EVER! -- need the top two octaves on a standard piano, because I'm a beginner / amateur. But the bottom two octaves actually get a modest amount of use -- all but the last maybe four or five keys. I wanted to be able to tell the keyboard, "Hey, make middle C start 12 keys to the right of where it normally sits" so that I'd have access to that bottom octave. You can't do it with the RockJam (nicer keyboards can do this, but they cost a lot more). Playing the keyboard, there's only an "on" or "off" detection for pressing the keys -- there's no finesse. The keyboard also resets to defaul settings every time you power on, which consists of LOUD volume, piano tone, etc. I don't mind some of that, but volume should remember the last setting at the very least. The power cord is also very short, so you'll need an extension cord if you want it anywhere except right above the outlet. Is it worth the money, though? I mean, it's super cheap, which is why I bought it. How bad could it be? I've thought, repeatedly, about returning it in just the first week. I haven't done so, mostly because I figure the only way to get a substantially better sounding keyboard is to spend five times as much. Just know that you're getting a cheap quality keyboard to go with the cheap price. It's a rank beginner keyboard with the basic functions, nothing more. Thankfully, my kids (who are the real reason I bought this, so they can continue to practice) aren't as picky as I am.

This midi keyboard was the perfect complement to my study