For today’s digital music producer, having access to a MIDI controller or keyboard is as necessary for music production as a mouse and keyboard are for using a computer.
5 MIDI Keyboards That Will Have Your Fingers Singing
| MIDI Controller | Price | Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akai Professional MAX49 | $399.99 | Amazon | |
| Alesis Q49 | $99.99 |  | Amazon |
| Novation Impulse 61 | $339.99 |  | Amazon |
| Alesis Vortex | $330.00 | Amazon | |
| Akai Professional MPK61 | $499.99 | | Amazon |
In spite of the staggeringly large number of options available for users to choose from, selecting the controller that best suits your needs doesn’t need to be hard.
In this article, we’ll go through five fantastically designed MIDI controllers that can help you drastically speed up the creative process that are considered to be the most popular in the music production community!
1. Akai Professional MAX49 USB/MIDI/CV Keyboard Controller Red:
This keyboard was undoubtedly made with the professional musician or producer in mind!
Features include 49 semi-weighted keys, 12 easily programmable MPC pads for ultra-intuitive drum programming, and up to eight backlit LED touch-sensitive faders grouped into four banks, which allow you to assign up to 32 discrete parameters at once!
Of course, at $499.00, it is indeed a bit pricey, but with all the advanced features, it’s certainly worth a purchase if you’re looking to step up your level of control in the studio!
2. Alesis Q49 USB/MIDI Keyboard Controller
For users in search of more budget-friendly options, the Alesis Q49 is a smart choice and very sleek to boot!
Aside from the usual fare that come with most if not all standard MIDI keyboard models (such as the pitch bend wheel, modulation wheel, program change functionality, and the octave transposition buttons, for example).
It is particularly respected for its nearly universal compatibility with just about any music production setup imaginable!
3. Novation Impulse 61 MIDI Controller
Novation has gone to great lengths to produce an outstanding MIDI controller that feels more like an instrument than a controller.
Not only is it outfitted with semi-weighted keys that are coupled with assignable aftertouch parameters, but it has also been specifically designed to seamlessly integrate with most DAWs and plug-ins on the market.
This is made possible through the innovative Automap software, which allows users to assign knobs, faders, and transport buttons of the Novation Impulse 61 to virtually any DAW, plug-in, or standalone music creation software provided by the likes of Native Instruments, FXpansion, or Waves, for example.
4. Alesis Vortex USB/MIDI Keytar Controller with Accelerometer
Designed primarily for onstage performers, this MIDI controller comes equipped with both traditional and USB MIDI ports so that users can easily integrate it with their specific setups.
Along with an adjustable strap and battery-powered capability, the Alesis Vortext USB/MIDI Keystar is ergonomically designed to allow users to strum, slide, twist, and jam to their heart’s content with nine forward-facing controls, a MIDI-assignable touch strip, and up to 37 velocity and aftertouch-sensitive keys.
5. Akai Professional MPK61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller
As an ideal solution for the performer, producer, and DJ extraordinaire, the Akai Professional MPK61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller features a smorgasbord of MIDI controller features that will have you tweaking your projects and favorite virtual instruments for hours on end.
Key features include 61 semi-weighted keys with aftertouch, 72 assignable Q-Link controllers, MPC Note Repeat, and MPC Swing.
Additionally, it comes bundled with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition, which introduces users to Ableton’s seamless workflow and features.
