Novation FLkey Mini 25 MK2 review

The current US Novation FLkey Mini 25 (MPN NOVFLK25MIN2) combines a two-octave mini-keybed with sixteen expressive pads, eight encoders and controls designed around FL Studio. It is unusually narrow at 13.33 inches, but its external MIDI socket is a 3.5 mm TRS Type-A jack rather than five-pin DIN. This is a research-based assessment of the listed configuration and documentation, not a hands-on test.

A compact span with a specific use case

Twenty-five mini keys can be a sensible fit when the main job is entering bass notes, a short melody, chords or a part that will be recorded in layers. The FLkey Mini 25 provides octave controls, Scale and Chord modes, and an arpeggiator, so a shorter physical range does not prevent it from sending notes outside the keys' immediate register. Those tools do not put more notes under both hands at once. If the arrangement needs broad two-handed reach without octave shifts, compare a full-size 37-key option or a longer board before choosing for footprint alone.

Novation identifies these as synth-action mini keys. Its sources do not specify the measured spacing or confirm aftertouch on the keys. That distinction matters because the sixteen velocity-sensitive pads do have polyphonic aftertouch: pad pressure is not a substitute for pressing a held keyboard note. A player who needs a particular key feel should treat the published key description as a starting point rather than a tactile guarantee.

FL Studio controls, pads and visual feedback

The design puts much of a beat-making session within reach: sixteen RGB pads can trigger Channel Rack sounds or patterns, eight endless encoders handle mapped mixer and plugin parameters, and dedicated transport, navigation and pattern controls reduce menu travel. The OLED provides feedback about the selected mode and parameter. Novation also lists pad and encoder Custom Modes through Components, alongside its Scale, Chord Map, Fixed Chord, User Chord and arpeggiator features. These are MIDI-control tools, not an onboard drum machine or sound engine.

The FLkey range is officially supported by Image-Line, while Novation describes compatibility with other DAWs through HUI. That broader mode should not be read as a promise of the same depth of mapped control in every host. The US product specification lists custom FL Studio scripts for version 26.1.1 or later; verify the current software version, operating-system support and firmware before depending on one workflow. The current page describes a time-limited FL Studio Producer Edition bundle, but software terms and entitlements can change and should be checked at registration.

USB-C to a computer; TRS MIDI to hardware

The Mini 25 is USB-C connected and bus-powered when used with a computer; the documented package includes a 1.5-metre USB-C-to-USB-A lead. A computer with only USB-C ports may need a different lead or a suitable adapter. The other MIDI route is a 3.5 mm TRS Type-A output. That can send control data to external instruments, but it is not a full-size five-pin DIN socket. If a receiving synth uses DIN, check the required Type-A TRS-to-DIN adapter and whether the exact package includes it—the documented box contents list only the keyboard and USB cable.

The manual also describes operating the MIDI output without a computer when the controller is powered by a separate 5 V USB supply rated at least 500 mA. That is a power arrangement, not a built-in sound source. An external synth still needs its own power and audio monitoring; a DAW instrument still needs a host and a way to hear its audio. The sustain socket is a separate 6.35 mm input, and the guide describes support for sustain pedals and momentary foot switches. The Mini therefore offers more routing flexibility than a USB-only board, but the TRS adapter and downstream audio plan remain real setup checks.

Footprint, dimensions and a source conflict

Novation lists the body at 338.5 mm wide, 176.8 mm deep and 49 mm high; the current user guide rounds those dimensions to 339 by 177 by 49 mm. Both sources express the width as about 13.33 inches. That is well below the finder's selectable 16-inch minimum cap, but the bare chassis measurement does not reserve room for USB, sustain or MIDI leads, cable bends, hands or neighbouring gear. Leave practical clearance on the actual desk or tray.

The US product page lists the weight as 0.78 kg while the version-9 guide says 0.82 kg. Because those official figures do not agree, this assessment does not use weight to rank or match the model. Check the exact package and seller listing if a weight limit matters. The guide also recommends checking firmware updates through Novation Components; plan for that setup step rather than assuming every mapping is current immediately.

Where it fits—and where it does not

This configuration is most compelling when a very narrow body, 25 mini keys, pressure-responsive pads and hands-on FL Studio control matter more than a wide playing range or a direct DIN jack. Its 3.5 mm output can be workable for a carefully planned hardware rig, and the documented standalone USB-power option adds flexibility, but neither changes the connector type. For direct five-pin MIDI, compare the full-size FLkey 37, which has 37 keys and a DIN socket; for a similarly compact general-purpose controller, compare other 25-key models by their pad and port evidence. The exact model suffix, cable, TRS adapter, host version and audio path are the buying checks that matter most here.

Novation US FLkey Mini 25 product page · Novation FLkey 2 Mini 25 downloads and documentation · FLkey 2 Mini 25 User Guide, version 9.