Alesis Vortex Wireless 2 | High-Performance USB/MIDI Wireless Keytar Controller with Professional Software Suite

My 3rd Alesis Vortex - had the original white non-wireless, the black Wireless-II which I gifted to my son, and now this one. Packed with features, great quality. Would happily have paid $1000 back in the day for a wireless keytar!

So many cool sounds!

37 full-size keys with velocity and channel aftertouch in a lightweight keytar body. All plastic but sturdy enough for home use - I have seen some played on stage but I'd be skeptical about how long it could stand up to being on the road. Enough other controls (as well as the velocity and aftertouch) to make it very expressive though; a pitch bend wheel as you'd expect and a modulation ribbon (which can have three easily selectable assignments, a sustain button and an accelerometer - all user-definable. Then there are 8 sliders and 8 drum pads and again, all these can be assigned to MIDI CCs or Notes or whatever using the associated config app. Only if you use Windows though. The Alesis website says the MacOS version of the app is being developed/tested but I wouldn't hold your breath as it's said that for years now. So, a great controller for your home studio if you have a Windows PC with which to configure it basically.

Used on stage weekly but with some issues. First of all it operates on the 2.4 ghz band. If you're using in-ear systems on 2.4 ghz or the venue has strong wifi - you will have problems. I have experienced stuck notes too often. I even changed my IEM system to 5.8ghz to avoid this. Work around is to program at least one of the pads (I programmed all 8) to MIDI panic so I can quickly just slap any of the pads to release the stuck note. Battery life has been good with Lithium batteries - still on my first set, have bought rechargeables for the future due to cost. It's a good size unlike the Roland AX. It does rely on MIDI as it's just a controller. I've got mine paired up with a Roland Juno-D6 and it's plug and play. No need for a laptop, just set your midi channel to match the part on the keyboard and you're away. One other issue - this needs a Transpose function and doesn't have one. This caused me a problem on stage when somebody wanted to sing in a different key. Transposing on the receiving Juno D-6 does not transpose what is received from the Vortex. I look forward to the V3. Hopefully Alesis will include Transpose and upgrade the MIDI transfer from an antiquated and congested 2.4GHZ bang. CME do this over Bluetooth very effectively but switching to their solution requires power to their transmitter as the MIDI out 5 pin on this unit is not powered.

Alesis Vortex Wireless 2 – Limited Edition Red | High-Performance USB / MIDI Wireless Keytar i like the sounds and it plays Just Fantastic How do i get the Stand to put it on i can't find one Please help or it will go back in the Box lol Thank you.

This product is UNUSEABLE with the latest Mac operating systems. The basic program to actually set up the device is incompatible due to it being a 32 bit program. I checked all the requirements before I bought it. It has minimum requirements listed but no mention of maximum! A Christmas present, I spent 5 hours after Boxing Day trying to set up and work out what was wrong and how to fix it. Such a horrible stressful experience, ruined my post Christmas break. Managed to download all the other software but the one item you actually need to assign the buttons/pads can not be opened.

I gigged with this in February and it's a real joy. It's taken some time to get used to playing it as when you wear it, it's in an unnatural playing position, but after practice it's fine. Great features, functions and the wireless ability in it is great. Looks cool too!

Excellent product with amazing sounds.

It's a very capable MIDI controller with a lot of options. Some points: - By default the ribbon controller is "sticky" and controller value stays on, which is unlike most keytars that have it release to default value the moment you lift the finger. Some people have been unhappy about that. But it's not hardwired and can be easily changed with its software, so when you set it to pitch bend and return on release for guitar-like pulls it works just fine. - Same goes for pitch bend, volume control etc. that affect only "upper" MIDI channel, not "lower" one (keyboard can play 2 channels set in software). It's all configurable via software (you need to plug USB by cable to use software). You can configure default "upper" or "lower" zones, split, and what channel all controls affect individually, so set it any way you like. Split is not very usable for me, but good to have. - Freshly charged AA NiMh rechargeables are enough for 4 to 6 hours of power on state. There is no indication of battery level, it just starts to flicker and reset when batteries are low. That's not good. But generally you should insert fresh batteries before a performance or a rehearsal, and that should guarantee you won't run out of juice at the worst moment. That's the only real "con" I have. It should have been trivial to make screen or any of LEDs blink or turn red when batteries were getting low, before the device goes offline or berserk (and when it does - you can have stuck MIDI notes etc. - disaster when playing live). So make sure to use fresh batteries when it's important. You can also power via USB but it's not gonna be wireless then, so not a good option on stage. - USB wireless receiver is NOT a transmitter! It only works one way, despite DAW recognizing MIDI out, nothing is sent, as long as I can see. No program change values can be sent to Vortex to switch programs for example. Not a big deal, and make sense technologically (same inexpensive 2.4mHz radio setup as mice etc.) but good to know. - USB can only work with a computer (laptop) to control VST instrument or a hardware synth connected to the same computer. You can also connect by MIDI cable directly to any hardware synth. As far as I could research, USB to MIDI boxes do not work with this dongle, it needs a computer to send MIDI. For me, using a laptop is a good trade-of for being truly wireless on stage. Also allows me to use VST instruments as well as hardware synths. Shreddage guitar sounds amazing with Vortex, but it needs to be set up properly to use most of its functionality. - Keyboard is very ligt and feels good, just as it should, I think. It has aftertouch, which is nice for an inexpensive controller - It fits well horizontally in the second tear of my keyboard stand. You can actually use it as a horizontal keyboard without much trouble, except for the awkward pitch bend position. That's nice. - LED colors for the pads are fully adjustable through software.

Nice Keytar

Très sympa à utiliser, ludique à souhait avec des sons de guitare en Midi.

Any complaint I have about this device is with Korg, not the device itself. Be aware they have pretty much abandoned this product. That said, it's my favorite keyboard controller yet, among a dozen, or so? I prefer pad controllers and the pads on this one are not really for me, but the keys...and the rest...are EXCELLENT. Add-in that it's wireless and it becomes one of my favorite controllers used in life. The only complaint I might offer is more warning to you: give it a good line of sight between the dongle receiver and the instrument. If you start spinning around, you might lose the wonderful reactivity of the low latency MIDI. Wander too far, same thing, it'll glitch on you. Always keep that invisible tether in mind and it's a wonderful controller. My only regret is how rarely I need keys...my current favorite MIDI controller is a gamepad (via Max4Live device). Figure that one out. But when I do need a keyboard, click, there it is. I might also complain about KORG not simply designing a stand for it, but you can prop it in a good corner easily enough. The reality is that the keys size and feel make my fingers happy and that makes this thing fun to play. Wireless is the cherry on top. I am humored that Amazon wants me to address the sound quality. Um. It has no sound, Amazon. It's a controller. MINE sounds GREAT. :D They also suggest value for money...what I can say is I'll probably get near what I paid for it if I do sell it. No plans to currently.

Personalmente ritengo la keytar un accessorio divertente per uscire di tanto in tanto da dietro le quinte. Questo oggetto ha veramente tanti controlli, sul manico ha una rotella (solo per pitch bend) ed un ribbon (programmabie, compresi 3 preset per pitch ed expression), oltre che a svariati tasti come sustain ed octave switch. Il feedback dei tasti mi piace molto, piu' di quanto mi aspettassi. Il keybed e' solido e non ho avvertito nessuno slittamento laterale. E' un controller MIDI puro, quindi non ha suoni, ma difficilmente ci si presenta in live armati solo di keytar, quindi si avra' sicuramente sempre a disposizione un PC o un'altra tastiera a cui agganciarsi. Per la nicchia in cui vivono le keytar, non vedo assolutamente alcun vantaggio in spendere mille euro per una Blade quando con 250 euro puoi ottenere gli stessi risultati. Il look sicuramente e' meno aggressivo, ma anche il peso e' decisamente piu' contenuto.