It’s definitely a good choice if you’re just starting out, or if you’re looking for a keyboard to chuck in your backpack on the way to your next session.
The controller also features 25 keys, 16 pads, pitch and mod strips, a MIDI output, and more. It is designed to be used with Ableton Live (although it can be used with other DAWs) and offers plug-and-play control over a range of the DAW’s features. Novation crams a lot of value into its small and affordable MIDI keyboard. Read more about the Panorama T4 and T6 on the Nektar website. Along with this, there are eight pads, nine 30mm faders, eight buttons, eight encoders (all MIDI-assignable), octave up/down, and a 128×64 pixel LCD screen. You can control the DAW’s faders, pan pots, transport, and track changes via the onboard function buttons, but each offers a deeper level of control by holding down the shift key (e.g. The unique selling point of these MIDI controllers: DAW integration. They both offer Nektar’s synth action MkII keys with aftertouch, which provide a semi-weighted action.
In the Nektar Panorama series lies the T4 (49 keys) and T6 (61 keys) both are intuitive and feature-packed. Read more about LUMI on the ROLI website.
On its own, the controller is very compact, just like ROLI’s other MIDI keyboard, the Seaboard Block. It features per-key pitch bend, polyphonic aftertouch, whole-key illumination, DS5.5 sized keys, and expandability through magnetic connectors.Įxpandability turns LUMI into a modular MIDI keyboard, which can be paired with multiple LUMI’s, or Lightpad Blocks. ROLI has recently announced the Lumi Keys Studio Edition, and has described it as the “ World’s first 4D keyboard”. It’s also worth mentioning it can be used with any DAW but integrates best with Studio One.įor more about the ATOM SQ visit the Presonus website. The pads can function as a standard keyboard controller, 16-step sequencer, or as drum pads, meaning the controller can be super versatile, as well as compact. This is due to its unique way of controlling MIDI, which revolves around the set of pads on the front of the device
Read more about the Oxygen Pro Series on the M-Audio website.ĭesigned to work hand-in-glove with Studio One, the Presonus ATOM SQ MIDI and DAW controller packs a lot into its small size. All of the Pro versions have eight assignable knobs, 5-pin MIDI output, while the mini key version incorporates eight performance pads, four knobs, and four faders into its compact design.
In terms of control, the Pro 49 and 61 have 16 RGB backlit velocity-sensitive pads and nine assignable faders. They’re all USB powered and feature OLED screens, smart chord and smart scale technology, auto-mapping, a built-in arpeggiator and note repeat. Read more about the MPK Mini on the AKAI website.įreshly released, the M-Audio Oxygen Pro Series is available in 25, 49, 61, and mini key versions. Incredible functionality for a desktop-friendly device. The MIDI keyboard also features a sustain-pedal input jack, USB connectivity, and a 4-way joystick for pitch & modulation control. This keybed is designed to offer a nuanced response during performance, no matter what sound you’re using. It includes 8 drum pads, 8 endless encoders, arpeggiation and its Gen 2 enhanced dynamic keybed. The MPK mini MIDI controller aims to offer “ everything the modern producer demands” in a compact size. Read more about the XKey on the CME website. Producing on the go? The XKey has to be high on your shopping list.
Remarkably light, with full-size, velocity-sensitive keys, this Bluetooth controller has incredibly impressive latency stats, plus, you can hook it up to your iOS devices. So it only stands to reason that the XKey MIDI keyboard is an innovative little device.
We recently took a closer look at its WIDI Master, a wireless MIDI adaptor that connects devices wirelessly and, quite magically, without incurring any obvious latency.