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Have you ever wanted to be able to compose music on the go but were concerned about large instruments or a small range of sounds? Worry no more! Aspiring artists now have a portable and adaptable option in keyboard and MIDI controllers, thanks to technological improvements. With the help of these cutting-edge instruments, you can discover your musical creativity more easily than before by combining a wide variety of sounds with playable keys or pads.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO GROW YOUR MUSICAL ARSENAL OR ARE A BEGINNER, THIS ENTIRE THIS GUIDE TO MIDI CONTROLLERS IS A MUST-READ.
To get you started, below are our top five choices in MIDI/Keyboard Controllers in various pricing ranges:
MOST COMPATIBLE - NEKTAR IMPACT LX MINI
Are you a producer that uses multiple DAW’s? The Impact LX Mini is the perfect MIDI controller that supports MIDI mapping across multiple DAW’s. The DAW integration from this MIDI controller supports Cubase, Cakewalk, Digital Performer, FL Studio, Garageband, Logic, Nuendo, Reaper, Reason and Studio One. The buttons are pre-assigned to the DAW of your choice making your music making experience a breeze! The Transport & Navigation buttons are really helpful to ensure that you do not have to keep reaching out to your Mac/PC, just simply use the controller to do so. The 8 x Velocity sensitive pads are a great tool for tracking your drum patterns. You also have 8 x encoder knobs that are super intuitive and respond to your DAW’s devices and instruments just the way you would expect it to. The 4 way joystick is an insane expression tool for controlling Modulation and Pitch bends to make your workflow a whole lot quicker.
BEST FOR ABLETON LIVE - NOVATION LAUNCHKEY MINI MK3
If Ableton Live is your choice of DAW, look no further than Novation for your MIDI controller needs. The Launchkey Mini MK3 is a beast with a 25-key controller with 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads, Pitchbend Touch Strip, Modulation Touch Strip, and eight Rotary Knobs to get control of your Abelton devices. It’s compact enough for a small workspace and to tug around in a small backpack. The transport functions make it very intuitive to record song ideas on the go. The Octave and Transpose are handy tools. The 16 RGB pads are perfect to Navigate scenes in Abelton and this make the integration really ideal for Abelton users. The SmartChord function is a really interesting way of expression your creative ideas on the fly.
MOST FUNCTIONAL - AKAI PROFESSIONAL MPK MINI MKIII
The MPK Mini MKIII is a great device for those of you that are looking for multi-functionality from a compact device. With 25 mini keys and 8 velocity sensitive pads this device is designed purely for performance. The endless encoder knobs not only work as adjustment for your DAW’s devices but also serve to tweak other parameters such as Division, Swing, Mode, Octave, Latch, Sync etc. The unique 4-way joystick is great form of expression for Modulation effects and Pitch bends. The OLED display is a very helpful visual feed to have during performances. If your looking for functionality then this is going to be the best 25 key MIDI Controller that you can get your hands on!
VALUE FOR MONEY- ALESIS V25 MKII
If you’re looking for something simple, intuitive and affordable then look no further than the V25 MKII. This MIDI controller has full size velocity sensitive synth action keys. The body is lightweight with a really sturdy chassis. It is a great tool for budding music producers looking to travel and record their core ideas and get their creative workflow in place. The pitch bend and modulation wheels are great for expression with the octave buttons giving you instant access to the whole piano range. The 8 velocity sensitive pads are exactly what you need to get your beat patterns humanized. The Tap Tempo feature is also handy to keep your song writing flowing naturally. The Arpegiator and Note Repeat function are among other great tools that help trigger your ideas on the go. The encoder knobs give you remote access to control device parameters that are running in your DAW.
THE ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR COMPOSING - BEHRINGER U-CONTROL UMA25S
Drummers who want to dabble in music production will find the Behringer U-CONTROL UMA25S to be an ideal lightweight and intuitive keyboard controller. Its 25 velocity-sensitive keyboard lets you play drums expressively, and the assignable knobs make it simple to adjust effects and sounds. Additionally, the integrated audio interface removes the need for additional hardware, enabling you to connect to your computer straight and begin producing beats immediately. The UMA25S is an excellent instrument for budding drummers to go into the realm of digital music production because of its easy-to-use controls and straightforward setup.
AKAI PROFESSIONAL MPK MINI MKIII
