Microcontroller for 5 key keyboard

[adventurepoop]

I'm working on a 5 key keyboard, and need to figure out if i need a microcontroller and if so what would work well. I need 5 io for the keys, will I need any to get it to work with usb? What would be cheapest?

[metalliqaz]

You could use the same one that the Techkeys card uses. ATmega16u2.  It's real cheap and it can use some common firmwares

[i3oilermaker]

Teensy is probably the easiest solution for getting started.

[adventurepoop]

Teensy is probably the easiest solution for getting started.

For the first one that I'm working on now I'm using an adafruit trinket, I'm looking for something in the event that I make more

[adventurepoop]

As for the ATmega, there are four of them? One is like half the price of the other, what is the differences?

[hasu]

If you are looking for the cheapest chip Atmel AVR will not be answer.
I'm sure PIC18F14K50 is cheaper than those AVR, but I don't know what the cheapest is. I also want to know.

[metalliqaz]

I think Boiler is right.  If you are beginner level with the AVR product line, then you probably want the Teensy.

[komar007]

You can check out the VUSB project (http://www.obdev.at/products/vusb/index.html)
With some luck you can try to run USB even on chips like attiny2313. It won't do USB full speed, but for the purposes of a 5-key keyboard it might be enough.