Definitely a choice for the more proficient keyboardists out there.įor Logic users you get mixer, transport and plug in control of Logic’s own plugins as well and VST versions.
As such this is not a particularly portable midi keyboard controller but that aspect is more than made up with all that it offers. It will adapt to playing instruments such as piano, organ or synthesiser.
The Impulse differs in that it is a full size piano style semi-weighted, ultra responsive keyboard with aftertouch that has been designed for those who play keys.
Sticking with Novation, if you were looking for the best midi portable keyboard for Logic Pro X then the Novation Impulse 61 Keys would have to be a major contender. Nice! This would be a top choice as the best midi keyboard for Ableton. And get this, the RGB colour pads will match the colour of the clips in the software. The pads can be used to launch and stop your session view clips. Start moving those faders on the mixer and effects dry/wet controls for example. Just connect via USB and you get immediate hands on control of your synths, drum racks and session view parameters. Ableton is probably the most popular DAW on the market. The Launchpad has been designed specifically to integrate with Ableton Live.
Like the others, it comes with great software including Live Lite and Novation’s own excellent V and Bass Station synths. These will get those finger drummers tapping away and there are also 8 knobs for tweaking. Again like the others mentioned, it offers 25 synth action keys and excels with 16 velocity sensitive RGB pads. Next up is the Novation Launchkey 25 Mk2 Midi Controller keyboard.
Comes with free software and fantastic value for money make it a no brainer. And a rubberised case help protect it during travel. The USB port is recessed so no cables protrude making it easy to transport.
A great feature is playing chords with just one note, a bonus for those who don’t have great playing skills. It is extremely compact and with only four buttons and two touch strips, you still have loads of control. The Arturia Microlab is the option if you really want to go compact. Also included is Arturia Analog Lab 2 that gives you sixteen fantastic synths, pianos and organs. This is a really great small midi keyboard and it comes with a version of Ableton Lite. And the two touch strips give you pitch bend and even more modulation possibilities to get creative with your sound. These will allow you to tweak all sorts of parameters to your heart’s content. Also with 25 velocity sensitive keys, it offers 16 rotary encoders to give you huge mapping possibilities. The Arturia Minilab MkII 25 Note controller keyboard is another excellent choice and matches up to the Akai MPK. These from the likes of Splice and Loopcloud which is the largest sample library around. And when you register your MPK Mini you get some great free sounds. Note repeat is another nice touch to quickly create runs of 8 th, 16 th etc. You get octave up and down buttons and an arpeggiator with adjustable modes and resolution. There are 8 assignable knobs to map to your soft synth to control filter cutoff for example, and a 4 way joystick. It also has 8 backlit pads for playing drum sounds, for instance in your Ableton drum rack. It has velocity sensitive mini keys that are surprisingly playable. Size and Portabilityįor this article we will concentrate on portable midi keyboards for those musicians who make music on the go.Ī particular favourite of ours is the AKAI MPK Mini MKII which is a 25 key USB connected and powered keyboard.
Of course price is always a determining factor so finding the best cheap midi keyboard will be important. So it is important to define how and where you will be using it before making your purchase. There are many midi keyboards on the market with different functionality, size and portability. Midi can be connected via a dedicated 5 pin midi port or via USB or Bluetooth. This allows you to play software versions of synths and drum modules and other devices like effects. It can also connect to your digital audio workstation. It is a way of connecting hardware music synthesisers, sound modules, drum machines and other sound generating equipment. What is Midi?įirstly what is MIDI? MIDI stands for musical instrument digital interface. This will give you more flexibility as to where you can make your music. Looking to play your VST synths in a DAW on your laptop or PC, then you will want the best portable MIDI keyboard.