10 Best Midi Keyboard Controllers For Home Studio Recording
If you are a producer of Electronic Dance Music (EDM), owning a good quality MIDI controller keyboard would be considered as an essential piece of equipment to have in your home recording studio.
But just like rest of your studio arsenal, there are various factors that have to be considered before making a purchase.
This article will give you insight into the 10 Best Midi Controllers For Home Studio Recording, and will also explain the differences between a Midi Keyboard and a Midi Keyboard Controller.
Midi Keyboard vs Midi Keyboard Controller
What is a Midi Keyboard?
A midi keyboard is the electronic equivalent of a traditional acoustic piano. A midi keyboard has weighted touch sensitive keys that will enable you to emulate the sound and feel of playing long and short notes on an acoustic piano.
Unlike a digital piano, midi keyboards tend not have preinstalled sound banks, nor do they tend to have output speakers installed.
Some midi keyboards do have the capabilities for you to download and install various sound banks, and the output connections to enable sounds to be played through your home studio equipment.
What is a Midi Keyboard Controller?
Midi Keyboard Controllers are designed to create midi data for your Digital Audio Workstation, (DAW) or to trigger sounds from your outboard gear such as synths, and samplers.
They tend to not have touch sensitive weighted keys like midi keyboards or digital pianos, and they also tend not have preinstalled sound banks, or output speakers.
For more information on midi keyboard controllers, please read the blog post: "Designing a Studio For Home Studio Recording"
10 Best Midi Keyboard Controllers For Home Studio Recording
1. Akai MPK mini mk3
Price: £90 - €99 - $119
The Akai MPK Mini Mk3 is most definitely a good value MIDI keyboard controller for producers that want to create melodies, basslines, and drum patterns.
This Midi Keyboard Controller is compact but is also very versatile which makes this a very useful piece of kit to have in your home recording studio.
2. Nektar SE25 MIDI Keyboard Controller
Price: £45 - €55 - $55
This midi keyboard controller is light, compact, and is ideal for producers that need to make their music on the move.
The Nektar SE25 will easily fit into your laptop bag, yet it demonstrates that it's usability and features are not compromised by it's size.
The SE25 can integrate your DAW with: Bitwig, Garageband, Cubase, Digital Performer, Logic, Nuendo, Mixcraft, Reason, Reaper, Sonar and Studio One, making it extremely versatile.
The price is extremely competitive for it's functionality and versatility, sitting just under the £50 price bracket.
3. Novation Launchkey Mini Mk3 Midi Keyboard Controller
The Launchkey Mini with it's keyboard and drum pad functionality was primarily devised for Ableton Live users.
The Mk3 version has recently been updated with exciting new features that were not incorporated in it's previous versions.
These include: pitch bend and modulation touch-strips, hardware MIDI output on a TRS jack, an updated arpeggiator, and a chord memory feature.
The Mk3 version integrates with other DAWs, but if you’re a Live user, it most definitely the best midi keyboard controller to have at this price point.
4. M-Audio Oxygen 49 MKV
The M Audio Oxygen 49 costs less than the Pro version. Although it does have a few less features, it is still an excellent Midi keyboard controller in its own right.
The Oxygen features a 3-segment LED display, and 8 velocity-sensitive trigger pads. You also have access to 16 sound sources when programming, making this a worthy piece of kit for it's price.
5. Nektar Impact LX88+
Price: £249 - €289 - $319
If you’re looking for a full piano-size 88-note MIDI keyboard controller, then the Nektar Impact LX88+ is most definitely a piece of equipment that has to be given some serious consideration.
The Nektar’s Impact LX88+ comes with 88-key semi-weighted full sized keys that will give you comprehensive DAW control with it's nine sliders, nine buttons, eight knobs, eight pads, and transport controls.
The LX88+ is still reasonably compact and is also light weight, that makes it easy to manoeuvre even though it is packed with a numerous amount of useful features.
6. Roland A-88MKII
This 88 key, full-size piano action MIDI keyboard controller has had a complete overhaul, and is jam packed with new and exciting features.
The control section has been updated with new backlit pads and knobs, and also features two assignable Control Change buttons.
There are also some new added features which include, transpose and octave selectors, velocity curve options, and an onboard arpeggiator.
The A88MkII has 88 full sized ivory feel keys, 3-sensor key detection and key-specific progressive hammer action, that will deliver the feel of a real acoustic piano.
If you are a music producer that requires a full sized midi keyboard controller with the feel of an acoustic piano that is competitively priced, then the A88MkII has to be considered as one of the best options on the market.
7. Novation 49 SL MkIII
Price: £540 - €619 - $699
Novation 49 SL MkIII offers great integration into your computer and to your DAW with the intension of making the initial setup as hassle free as possible.
The 49SL MkIII comes with an eight-channel onboard sequencer, digital and analogue outputs, modulation wheels,16 pads, rotaries and faders.
8. KorgmicroKEY2 Air-25
Price: £90 - €109 - $129
The KorgmicroKEY2 Air-25 is the ideal midi keyboard controller for making music on the move. It has an excellent feature of wireless bluetooth connectivity, and can be powered by either USB or AA batteries.
If you want to free yourself from hassle of having to connect with the use of wires, then the KorgmicroKEY2 Air-25 is what you need in your home studio recording itinerary.
9. Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A25
The Komplete Kontrol A25 features a 4D Encoder (a joystick/rotary control/button combo for software navigation), eight touch-sensitive knobs for plugin parameter control, pitch and modulation wheels.
This is a sleek well built midi keyboard controller with full sized semi-weighted keys that is powered and connected via USB.
10. Arturia KeyStep Pro
Price: £339 - €399 - $399
The KeyStep Pro features four sequencing channels, each of which can record a sequence of up to 64 steps.
Each of these is polyphonic, (up to 16 notes per step). Tracks 2, 3 and 4 are equipped with an arpeggiator, while track 1 doubles up as a 24-part drum sequencer.
This midi keyboard controller combines the cross-format analogue and digital sequencing of the BeatStep that makes it idea for creating melodic rhythms.
The Keystep Pro has to be one of the best "do-it-all" midi keyboard controllers on the market right now.
How Electronic Dance Music Has Influenced Fashion
Since the dawn of time, there has always been a strong connection between music and fashion. If you think about any era of music, (past and present) there is always a style of clothing and fashion that identifies to that music genre. From the ripped jeans with chains, safety pins, and Doctor Martin Boots fashioned by Punk Rockers to the exotic frilly shirts worn by the New Romantics in the 80’s.
The Future of Music & Fashion
In the past 30 years, we have seen more collaborations with musicians and designer labels in the UK and the US. In recent years we have seen Kayne West, Cardi B, Pharrell, Beyonce, Travis Scott, Goldie, Lady Leshurr, Dave, and Stormzy collaborate with high-end fashion designers and sportswear brands.
In the past 30 years, we have seen more collaborations with musicians and designer labels in the UK and the US. In recent years we have seen Kayne West, Cardi B, Pharrell, Beyonce, Travis Scott, Goldie, Lady Leshurr, Dave, and Stormzy collaborate with high-end fashion designers and sportswear brands.
