Like many musical instruments, a 61-key electronic piano can be hell to transport, with its long profile making for an unwieldy travel companion, whether you’re commuting in a train, driving to a show, or flying to a different city. Unless, of course, that keyboard can break apart into five separate sections like Kombos, a modular keyboard.
That’s right, this 61-note MIDI keyboard is made up of five detachable modules, allowing you transport the entire instrument inside a backpack. Even better, you don’t have to use all five modules together, as the darn thing will still function even with just two (25 keys), three (37 keys), or four (49 keys) of the modules connected, provided the leftmost and rightmost sections are included. Simply put, we doubt you’re going to find a more portable 61-note keyboard anywhere else.
Each Kombos module has a push-lock mechanism that allows you to assemble them by simply pushing individual sections together. The locks are sturdy, too, ensuring you can use it comfortably on your lap and carry it around like any regular keyboard. It can work with any existing MIDI devices, along with MIDI apps on Windows, OSX, iOS, and Android, so you can use it to make music, regardless of your preferred setup. An onboard battery allows it to run for up to eight hours between charges, giving you a full workday’s worth of music-making utility.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for Kombos. Pledges to reserve a 61-key unit starts at $299.