Behringer POLYKEYS 61 Previewed at a $199 Target Price
10 hours ago
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Behringer POLYKEYS 61 is a new MIDI controller with 61 keys with polyphonic aftertouch, a long ribbon controller and promised open-source firmware. Behringer is aiming for a $199 price, but that remains a target rather than a confirmed retail price. The controller has been previewed in an official photograph, while its release date and many technical details are still unknown.
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Table of contents
What Behringer POLYKEYS 61 adds to a compact keyboard
The Behringer POLYKEYS 61 combines 61 keys with polyphonic aftertouch and a ribbon controller above the keyboard. Polyphonic aftertouch can send different pressure values for individual held notes, rather than one pressure value for the whole keyboard. The receiving synth or plugin must support per-note pressure before you can use that expression. Behringer has not documented the aftertouch curve, resolution or selectable modes.
The ribbon gives players another way to shape a sound without taking a hand far from the keys. Behringer has not said what it sends, how it is configured or whether it can be calibrated for accurate pitch control. The polyphonic-aftertouch claim also does not confirm MPE support, which works differently and covers more than pressure. Our explanation of what MPE is explains how per-note expression works in a compatible setup.
The top panel has plenty of hands-on controls
The current photograph shows a controller built for more than playing notes. There are nine vertical faders, nine rotary controls, a central display with surrounding buttons and transport controls, and 16 pads on the right. Pitch-bend and modulation wheels sit above the left side of the keyboard rather than beside its lowest key. Behringer has not explained how these controls are assigned or stored.
The company has also not confirmed whether the pads sense velocity or pressure, whether they light up, or whether the rotary controls are endless encoders. Zones, splits, user presets and DAW control scripts remain undocumented as well. If terms such as CC messages and MIDI channels are unfamiliar, our explanation of what MIDI is and what it is used for covers the basics.
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Open-source firmware still needs an explanation
Behringer says the firmware will be open source, but the practical details have not been published. There is no POLYKEYS 61 repository, license, source tree, build guide or flashing method in Music Tribe's official open-source collection. No public source code or documented way to install modified firmware is available yet.
Open-source firmware could make later customization possible, but it does not confirm that users will be able to add an arpeggiator or sequencer. Behringer has not announced either feature, and the available processing power and memory are unknown. The company also needs to explain how firmware updates will work and what parts of the controller will be open to developers.
Price and Availability
Behringer has set a $199 target price, while the release date, regional prices and retail availability remain unannounced. The company has not published a product page, manual, connection list, dimensions or weight, and the controller is absent from its current MIDI catalog. You can check whether Thomann has listed the POLYKEYS 61, but no dealer page was confirmed as of November 2, 2026. For now, the official Behringer announcement is the main source of confirmed information.
Check for the POLYKEYS 61 at Thomann
Behringer has not confirmed a Thomann listing or release date yet. Check the shop for future availability and final regional pricing.
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