Polyend has launched Keys, a low-profile mechanical keyboard that combines standard typing functions with advanced MIDI control, featuring a three-octave piano layout and open-source software for customisation.
Polyend has unveiled Keys, a mechanical QWERTY keyboard aimed at musicians who also need a normal computer keyboard. The concept combines typing and MIDI control in one aluminium-bodied device, with the number row and function keys mapped to a three-octave piano layout. According to reports from MusicRadar and Sonic State, the idea is intended to let users enter notes, record melodies and trigger external gear without switching hardware.
The keyboard also includes nine rotary controls that can be assigned either to MIDI continuous controllers or to everyday system tasks such as volume, scrolling and brightness. An integrated display is meant to show control feedback and support future software features. Polyend says Keys can connect directly to synthesizers, drum machines and other MIDI equipment through TRS MIDI, while its rechargeable battery allows stand-alone use away from a computer.
Polyend has built Keys as a low-profile mechanical board using hot-swappable Kailh low-profile switches, so individual switches can be replaced without soldering. It also supports Bluetooth and USB connections, and the keys are backlit. That puts it in the wider category of hybrid music devices that attempt to replace both a typing keyboard and a compact controller, a format that several music technology outlets described as unusually elegant in design.
The company is also presenting Keys as open source, which means the software could be extended for alternative layouts, different control modes, custom MIDI controllers and sequencer-style tools. For now, Polyend says pricing and availability have not yet been announced. The first public showing is scheduled for Gamescom in Cologne from 26 to 30 August, with colours, specifications and pricing still subject to change.
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