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What are the best MIDI keyboards on the market today? You’re forgiven if you’re not quite sure what they are and why you might need one. When it comes to studio purchases, few items are as unsexy—and yet potentially game-changing—as a MIDI keyboard. Compared to monitors, microphones and vintage synthesizers, these keyboards can seem humdrum. Why? To start, they don’t make any sounds on their own—they control other devices, whether software or hardware. And the sliders, knobs, and buttons might require a bit of under-the-hood routing before they become useful. But a well-chosen MIDI keyboard can open up your studio practice remarkably. Whether you’re tapping out basslines with a pint-sized controller or investing in a behemoth unit with enough assignable controllers to function as a freestanding mixing console, every MIDI keyboard can bring you out of the dinky, hemmed-in world of mouse clicks and into a more dexterous process.
And with the leaps-and-bounds increase in quality of software synths, plugins, and digital audio workstations like Ableton Live, Logic, Pro Tools and other similar programs, plus the oft-overwhelming abundance of free effects and sample packs, a customizable workflow may be the most powerful tool you have. “To me it’s all about immediacy” says Billie Eilish producer Finneas, in an interview with AWAL. “The way I want any home studio to function is… as fast as I can think of an idea I want to be able to articulate it.”
What is a MIDI Keyboard?
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is the near-ubiquitous communications protocol used in hardware and software alike. Developed in the early ’80s as a way to universally synchronize synthesizers and drum machines, its simplicity and elegance have kept it in use for almost 40 years, with a 2.0 version introduced remarkably only earlier this year. The basics are as follows: you press down a key on a MIDI keyboard, which sends information to your computer or synthesizer—at a minimum, it transmits which note is played, when it’s turned on and off, and how hard you strike the key (aka velocity). The synth does the rest of the work from there. This programming can then be applied to other controls like faders or knobs (arranged on your keyboard in a manner not dissimilar to a car’s dashboard), and mapped to essentially any parameter. It’s like having a piano that can play the entire orchestra.
So where to begin? Electronic composer Ben Vida advises, “When you’re getting started, don’t overcomplicate things for yourself. Take a little time to figure out how you want to integrate a MIDI controller into your studio. You might find that something simple and inexpensive will do the job.” Is portability important? If so, consider a reduced range of keys, or perhaps a lighter build. If you’re a seasoned player, the responsiveness of weighted keys, engineered to mimic the feel of an honest-to-goodness piano, will be non-negotiable. If the open expanse of the DAW is as much your instrument as any synth, then you’ll need a keyboard that goes well beyond the keys. How about an expression pedal to control the sustain? Aftertouch, for that pressure-sensitive vibrato? The list goes on.
Thankfully, the market is flush with options, each addressing many often overlapping priorities. (We should note that most of the options listed below come in various sizes, scaling up from 25 to 49, 61 and 88 keys). And further cause for relief—MIDI keyboards, compared to their vintage synth counterparts, are relatively inexpensive. Even on the pricier end of the spectrum, you won’t have to take out a second mortgage. So here are 11 of the best MIDI keyboards for your home studio.
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