Synido Scale Pocket puts scale learning, a MIDI keyboard, and built-in sounds in a new compact, battery-powered device.
Every modern musician has a MIDI keyboard—many in-the-box producers use it as their primary instrument, while others use it simply for keyboard input. They have evolved in recent years.
Many now feature built-in scale and chord functions that make creating music easier. Learning how to use them isn’t the focus. The Chinese company Synido released Scale Pocket, a MIDI controller that serves as both a MIDI input device and a scale-learning tool.
Synido Scale Pocket
Scale Pocket is a new MIDI controller designed to help musicians learn scales. The Synido Scale Pocket requires no computer or additional software. The hardware operates standalone as a classic MIDI keyboard for both hardware and software applications.
It features 24 velocity-sensitive, illuminated, color-coded keys arranged in a two-octave layout from C to B. Velocity is adjustable in two modes right on the hardware: velocity-sensitive or fixed. It also has octave up/down and sustain buttons.
At 209 x 88 x 24,3 mm and just 199 g, it is a compact, lightweight MIDI controller you can take anywhere.
Scales On The Fly
The key feature of the Scale Pocket is that you can change the keyboard tuning to a different scale without endless menu-diving. Better yet: there is no menu or screen at all. Two sliders handle this task and implement the selection directly
One slider sets the scale, selectable from 11 different ones: major, minor, dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, locrain, and more. It would be nice to add custom scales in the future. The second slider, directly below the first, sets the root note from C to B.
Synido also ships the Scale Pocket with stickers that let you customize the keyboard layout if you use a specific scale more often.
As a bonus, it also features built-in sounds. More precisely, you can select from 12 built-in sounds (voice) using the first slider. It includes a piano, M Box, accordion, guitar, marimba, harmonica, glissando, violin, drum kit, and more.
Connectivity
On the back of the hardware, you have TRS 3.5mm jacks for MIDI IN and OUT, so you can also use it with external synths. Then, it houses a 3.5mm headphone jack to output the internal sounds and a USB-C port,
The USB-C port handles both power and data. This allows you to use it with a power bank, laptop, or wall adapter. Alternatively, you can use 4 AAA batteries for 6 hours of wireless play.
Synido Scale Pocket First Impression
The new Scale Pocket is a portable MIDI controller that lets you learn and play scales hands-on on your computer or with external hardware. Adding custom scales via firmware would be a nice feature. The same goes for chords.
Synido Scale Pocket is available now for around $53,99 on the official website and at the official AliExpress Synido store.
More information here: Synido
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