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A MIDI controller is often among the first things a producer buys for their studio, right after a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). This applies whether it’s for a professional studio or a home studio. Here we’ve put together a guide for you who are about to buy your first MIDI controller.
What is a MIDI controller? 🎹
MIDI controllers come in many different sizes and styles. Most often they take the form of MIDI keyboards with keys, but they can also be guitars, drum pad controllers, and even finger rings that convert movement into MIDI signals.
A MIDI controller is a jack-of-all-trades in your studio. It can be used to play software instruments, programme drums, control your DAW and automate parameters in plugins. The right MIDI controller can streamline your workflow when it comes to music production. You’ll most likely discover new ways to produce music that are more intuitive than sitting and clicking with the mouse.
If we set aside the shape of a MIDI controller, they work by sending MIDI signals to your PC or Mac. The MIDI signals tell the computer which notes to play and how they should be played. So a MIDI controller can’t work without a computer—just like a car can’t work without fuel.
In this guide, we’ll mostly be talking about the more common MIDI Keyboards and MIDI controllers with pads and buttons.
There’s no single correct answer as to which MIDI controller is the best. We all have different needs and budgets available, so you should choose the MIDI controller that fits YOU best.
If it’s important to you to be able to take your MIDI controller with you when you travel, you might want to buy a lighter MIDI keyboard with 25 keys that fits in a backpack. If, on the other hand, you’re a composer recording several octaves at a time, you may want a full-size MIDI keyboard with 88 keys for your studio.
If you’re aiming to master advanced and creative production methods like DJ and producer Fred Again, you may need to move completely away from MIDI Keyboards and instead buy a MIDI controller with buttons and pads such as the Novation Launchpad.
What does a MIDI controller cost? 💵
So how much should you expect to pay for your new MIDI controller?
It can have a big impact on your choice, and of course you should choose something that fits your budget. Luckily, MIDI controllers are available in all price ranges. The price of a MIDI controller can affect many things—for example the number and type of pads, knobs and keys, the quality of the materials, and which extra features it has for e.g. live performance.
Budget MIDI Keyboards
The cheapest MIDI Keyboards in our range is Arturia MicroLab, which is available for approx. 600,- kroner. Arturia MicroLab has 25 keys, 4 function buttons and touch strips for pitch bend and modulation. MicroLab easily fits in a backpack and is compatible with Android and iPad, so you can produce music on the go.
Premium MIDI Keyboards
At the other end of the scale, for 3.945 kroner you can get the top model Arturia KeyLab MKII-61. Here you get 61 high-quality velocity-sensitive keys, 16 RGB backlit pads, 9 faders, 9 rotary knobs, as well as dedicated DAW and transport controls. With KeyLab MKII-61, you can control your entire DAW in an intuitive and streamlined way. KeyLab MKII-61 comes with thousands of sounds thanks to the included software Analog Lab and Piano V.
The golden middle ground
A good versatile MIDI Keyboards for the price could be an Arturia Minilab MKII, where you get 16 rotary knobs, 8 velocity-sensitive RGB backlit pads and 25 keys for 689kr. Pitch bend and modulation on this keyboard are provided via two touch strips. MiniLab MkII has everything you need when creativity is unleashed in your home studio or on the go.
Which size suits me?
How many keys do you need on your new MIDI Keyboards?
MIDI Keyboards are available with 25, 37, 49, 61 and 88 keys. Below, we will go into which size suits you and your needs, whether you are a pianist, a professional or a beginner.
MIDI Keyboards for beginners and for on the go
If you are new to producing music or need to be able to take your MIDI Keyboards with you on the go in a backpack, you should consider sticking to 25 keys. Here, you should also keep an eye on the weight of the MIDI Keyboards to make it as comfortable as possible to transport. For most beginners, 25 keys will be sufficient, as you can play a bassline or a melody, which often is not played across more than two octaves.
All MIDI Keyboards have buttons for shifting up and down in octaves, so you do not need to worry that there are notes you cannot play with 25 keys. Small MIDI Keyboards can come with mini keys that are slightly narrower than the keys on a piano. They make the MIDI Keyboards more compact, and it should not be a problem if you just need to get your ideas quickly into your DAW.
Of course, you can buy a MIDI Keyboards with more keys if you have the space and the need. However, most beginners often buy a MIDI Keyboards with only 25 keys.
MIDI Keyboards for pianists and keyboard players
Are you an experienced keyboard player or pianist who wants to play with both hands?
Then 25 keys are simply not enough for you. Producers with strong piano skills often buy a MIDI keyboard with 61 or 88 keys, as it gives more room to develop. Here you should also pay attention to whether the MIDI keyboard comes with full-size keys, as these will feel more like the keys on a piano. MIDI keyboards with 61 and 88 keys also take up quite a bit more space than the small ones, so remember to measure whether you have room in your studio.
MIDI keyboard for professionals
If you’re a professional producer, you most likely already have a MIDI controller of one kind or another. But we can hopefully help you find the right size for your next MIDI controller. As a professional, all sizes of MIDI keyboards can be relevant to you.
So here it really comes down to the need that has to be met. If you need a MIDI keyboard when you visit other producers, you should look for one with 25 keys that doesn’t weigh much. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for an upgrade for the studio, you can treat yourself to a MIDI keyboard with 88 keys. These often come with lots of buttons, knobs, pads and faders, so you can control everything in your DAW effortlessly while you produce.
If you’re missing something extra when you perform live, it might not be about the size, but the feel. Something like a ROLI Seaboard RISE 2, with advanced aftertouch functions, could be an option for you.
How do you make music? 🎵
It’s worth thinking about what your workflow usually looks like when you’re assessing which MIDI controller suits you best.
Do you play big chords and love expressing your feelings with every single press of the keys?
Then you should look more towards a MIDI Keyboards with weighted or semi-weighted keys, which means they feel more like a real piano and register how hard you press them. If your MIDI keyboard is never going to leave your studio, you can also treat yourself by buying one with 49, 61 or 88 keys, so you have plenty of room to express yourself. Just remember to pay attention to whether you have enough space for the large keyboards in your studio.
Are you a producer who mainly makes electronic music or similar?
Then weighted keys are not what you should prioritise most. Here, most people will buy a MIDI keyboard with drum pads for programming your drums, and knobs for automating various parameters in your plugins. MIDI keyboards can also come with different types of pitch-bend and modulation functions. If you use modulation to control, for example, an LFO, it’s important to check whether the MIDI keyboard comes with something you like. They can be physical wheels as well as touch controls, etc.
Are you a beat-focused producer who always starts your production with the drums?
Then you should look for MIDI Keyboards that have velocity-sensitive drum pads. This will give you greater freedom to create your drumbeat exactly the way you want, as they register how hard you press. Here you can also choose to move completely away from MIDI Keyboards and instead buy a dedicated beat pad controller, as previously mentioned, for example the Novation Launchpad. Here you will have many more options for putting together beats live and really making use of your finger-drumming skills.
Which DAW do you work in?
It is worth keeping in mind which DAW (Digital Audio Interface) you produce music in when looking at MIDI controllers. The vast majority of MIDI controllers are made to work with all the popular DAWs.
But a few MIDI controllers work exclusively with one DAW, such as Ableton Push 2, which is made directly for Ableton Live. So if you have already decided to go with Ableton Live, this could be an option for you.
Some MIDI controllers are made primarily for one DAW, but still work with others. However, the user experience will be more streamlined in the DAW the controller is made for, as they often have buttons that match the software interface.
Which MIDI controller should you buy, then?
You should buy the MIDI controller that fits your exact needs and your budget. With our guide in mind, you will hopefully find it easier to make a well-informed choice when buying your next MIDI controller. If you are hungry for more knowledge, you can read our user test of 5 popular MIDI Keyboards. Of course, you can also find many more MIDI Keyboards here on our website.
We hope it has become easier to find exactly the right MIDI controller for your studio.
If you feel like dipping your toes into your own music production, take a look at our studio equipment, such as an audio interface, studio microphones or acoustic solutions
