MIDI is a computer language that allows electronic devices to communicate, and it’s become a popular standard for making music.
It’s been around forever, since the president of keyboard maker Roland suggested the idea of a standard protocol to other electronics and instrument companies in 1981.
The spec was published in 1983, and synthesisers, drum machines and sequencers soon followed. The technology was made available to all manufacturers to help it become successful, and has adapted over the years to include new connections such as Firewire and USB, as well as becoming a standard file format for electronic music.
The classic way to use MIDI, which stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is to connect a keyboard to a computer and use it to trigger sounds and effects - it doesn’t transmit an actual audio signal, just digital information that the receiver can interpret in any way it has been programmed. As such, MIDI keyboards don’t require speakers or any way of actually making a noise, but the tech can be fitted to other instruments, and one can control another such as when a sequencer triggers a drum machine.
What should you look for in a MIDI keyboard?
When choosing a keyboard with MIDI use in mind, things to consider include its size and number of keys - a smaller controller will work for drum tracks, while a full-sized model will be much better if you’re including piano or other instruments that require a wider spread.
Some keyboards come with mixing knobs or faders, while others are more barebones, leaving that sort of thing to the workstation they’re connected to. Check for compatibility, as while MIDI is a universal musical language there can still be moments when a certain keyboard and piece of software won’t talk to one another.
If you have the chance, it’s well worth trying a keyboard out before you buy it, as the differences in key or pad construction can make a huge difference to the way they feel to play on.
Here, then, are some of the best MIDI keyboards available today.
Best MIDI keyboards at a glance:
- Best for all-round excellence: Arturia Keylab Mk II - £429, PMT Online
- Best for a more compact option: Akai MPK Mini Mk 3 - £75, Amazon
- Best for Ableton Live users: Novation Launchkey Mini Mk3 - £86.95, Amazon
- Best for just keys: M-Audio Keystation 49 MK3 - £85, Amazon
- Best for sequencing: Arturia Keystep Pro - £399, Amazon
- Best for full-size keys: Nektar Impact LX88+ - £238, Amazon
- Best for a serious home studio: Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2 - £602, Andertons
- Best for wireless convenience: Korg microKEY2 Air-25 - £85, Amazon
Find out more below
Akai MPK Mini Mk 3
Best for: a more compact option
MIDI keyboards don’t have to cost a lot, and this Akai model is great value for money, featuring both keys and drum pads as well as some bundled software. Small enough to be portable, but with enough versatility in its 25 mini keys, you’ll wonder if you’ll need anything bigger.
New to the Mk 3 is an OLED display for visual feedback on MIDI channels, and with Akai’s Complete Music Production Starter Kit software in the box, it might be all you need to get started in music production.
Buy now £75.00, Amazon
Arturia Keylab Mk II
Best for: all-round excellence
Available with 49, 61 or 88 keys, the Keylab Mk II also comes with DAW controls and is bundled with Arturia’s Analog Lab 3 application which offers 7,000 synth and keyboard sounds. It’s a well-made keyboard, with an aluminium casing and integration with apps such as Logic or Pro Tools thanks to magnetic overlays.
There are 16 RGB pressure pads arranged along the top of the unit, and the keys themselves use a hammer action with a real piano feel. Three auxiliary pedals can be attached, and there are expression control inputs, nine large faders and rotary encoders, as well as the all-important MIDI and USB connection.
Buy now £429.00, PMT Online
Novation Launchkey Mini Mk3
Best for: Ableton Live users
Designed for use with the Ableton Live software, though perfectly good if you prefer something else, this 25-note mini keyboard has 16 drum pads as well as device macros and transport and mixer controls so you spend less time using a mouse and more time where it really matters.
You can use the Launchkey Mini without a computer too, but Ableton Live Lite is included in the package along with the ASS Session Bundle for classic piano and guitar sounds, and an exclusive strings package from Spitfire Audio.
Buy now £86.96, Amazon
M-Audio Keystation 49 MK3
Best for: just keys
This MIDI keyboard concentrates on the music, with 49 natural feeling full-size velocity-sensitive keys but no additional complications beyond pitch and modulation wheels and volume control.
The semi-weighted keys are well-damped, and the keyboard needs little in the way of drivers or configuration to work with your audio app of choice (Ableton Live Lite and MPC Beats are included).
It’s low-power too, and can get enough juice to run from an iPad with no extra batteries.
Buy now £85.00, Amazon
Arturia Keystep Pro
Best for: sequencing
This 37-note keyboard has two MIDI outputs and one input alongside a USB port, so it’s well-equipped for life in a studio that demands more than a simple keyboard/computer connection.
As it’s compact in size and there are multiple extra controls arrayed across the top, the keys aren’t full-size, so anyone wanting a natural piano feel might need to look elsewhere, but for keyboard wizards looking for a hub of creative tools to build their tracks around, the Keystep Pro offers a lot of capability for the money.
Buy now £399.01, Amazon
Nektar Impact LX88+
Best for: full-size keys
This full-size 88-key semi-weighted keyboard is compatible with all MIDI software, and features eight drum pads as well as faders, transport buttons, pitch bend and more, including a foot switch input. This allows for an extensive amount of control over your DAW software, and a backlit colour-coding system helps to sort out the inevitable complexity.
At 18kg and 1.27m across, it’s not exactly easy to throw in a bag, but there is iOS compatibility and a separate power input if needed. The Bitwig 8-Track software is included, with over 50 digital instruments across eight audio or MIDI tracks, along with Cherry Audio plugins and a package of loops and samples so you can get stuck right in.
Buy now £238.00, Amazon
Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2
Best for: a serious home studio
The full 88-key version of this MIDI keyboard joins 25, 49 and 61-key models and brings with it fully weighted, hammer action keys. It will control Logic Pro, Ableton GarageBand and more, but the native Komplete 14 software brings all kinds of synth and drum sounds, as well as top-notch effects that you can start using straight away, and gives access to the entire Native Instruments library.
The keys are the standout feature of this MIDI keyboard, however, as they give the impression of playing on a ‘real’ piano, no matter what kind of sounds you’re making.
Buy now £602.00, Andertons
Korg microKEY2 Air-25
Best for: wireless convenience
There are larger versions of this MIDI keyboard available (up to 61 keys), but the 25-key model is surely the one to get just for its sheer portability and compactness. With wireless connectivity, you can slap it down on a desk anywhere and get to work composing and playing, without having to scrabble around for a cable first (though you will need batteries).
Capable of controlling any MIDI device, there are a limited number of controls on the keyboard itself, though you can switch between octaves and use the joystick for pitch bend or modulation. The included Korg software bundle also offers versions of popular DAW plugins, and comes with Reason Lite so you can get started straight away.
Buy now £85.00, Amazon
Verdict
Buying a MIDI keyboard is a personal thing, and you may want to try a few before you commit, as the action of the keys and the ergonomics of the whole setup will matter enormously.
The Akai MPK Mini Mk 3 helps with this by coming with interchangeable fascias to support various popular apps, adding a degree of customisation right out of the box. Add to this its metal casing and general high build quality, and you’ve got a MIDI keyboard that will be a top choice for all kinds of music-making applications.
