MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. If you want to take your music to the next level (think sound effects and modulations), you should explore the possibilities with a MIDI keyboard.
While a MIDI keyboard can look a lot like a regular keyboard, they usually don’t make a sound on their own. MIDI controllers can also come in various shapes and sizes, have 25 to 88 keys, and knobs and sliders which you can assign triggers for. They’re great for all musicians, whether you’re into techno, hip-hop, or classical music.
MIDI keyboard or MIDI controllers are used for sending MIDI signals to other synthesizers or computers. Most models offer multiple key configurations, so you can pick the best one for your needs and portability requirements. For example, M-AUDIO’s popular model Keystation MK3 comes with 88-keys or you can choose their 49-Key or their Mini 32 MK3.
With these MIDI keyboards, users can play and create music with freedom and ease.
The Akai Professional Advance 49 often gets compared as the cheaper version of the Komplete Kontrol MIDI board. You can use it as a stand-alone keyboard for a live gig using a MIDI out port and a power adapter.
A one of its kind gestural MIDI ring controller. You can wear the Genki Wave on you finger and use natural gestures moving your hand to control sound. This MIDI controller recognizes six gestures: Tilt, Pan, Roll, Vibrato, Tap, and Click.
If you are already way deep in the Native Instrument ecosystem then this is for you. Native Instruments has several models for MIDI keyboards but if you are serious about music production then this is for you.
One of the cheapest yet highly reviewed MIDI boards. It comes in 49 keys, 61, and 88 Keys. We love it for its simple layout – it removes all the pads and sliders which gives you that pro feeling. It has both a pitch and modulation slider.
Once you’ve experienced the Native Instrument environment we feel like there is no going back. Komplete Kontrol users usually do an upgrade with S61. It has pro-grade Fatar keybeds with aftertouch – 61 semi-weighted keys with pitch and mod wheels. With pre-mapped control of Komplete instruments and hundreds of Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) instruments.
If you’re serious about music and want a keyboard that can do it all, the Oxygen Pro is for you. M-Audio’s highest end offering comes with semi-weighted keys, meaning that it feels and plays like a real piano. Playing on the Oxygen Pro feels much more realistic and accurate compared to using a cheaper keyboard with hollow keys.
You also get 16 customizable RGB-lit pads and 8 assignable knobs, along with 9 assignable faders and the usual pitch and modulation wheels. What’s even better is that the Oxygen Pro features Auto-Mapping, which means you can instantly map all the keyboard’s controls to your DAW without having to individually assign each function.
The Oxygen Pro is available in a variety of key configurations, including the most popular 49 and 88 key versions.
Besides being a MIDI keyboard, Arturia’s Keystep 37 also functions as a sequencer, which means you can hook it up to your hardware synthesizers. This is great for musicians and producers who want to use more than just a keyboard to create their tracks.
