Best Midi Controllers for Professional Musicians
Ranked #325 in Music, #6,970 overall
Reviews to Help You Find a Professional Midi Keyboard
Oxygen 88 Midi Controller
Avid 9900-53021-12 88-Key Midi Controller
Amazon Price: $549.00 (as of 05/29/2012)
The M-Audio%uFFFD Oxygen 88 USB MIDI controller delivers a highly expressive playing experience that's designed to satisfy players who need the feel of a piano combined with the power of a modern MIDI controller. The 88-note, graded hammer-action keybed offers impressive feel and response - while 32 assignable buttons, knobs, and faders provide complete control over your music software. DirectLink mode automatically maps these onboard controls to common DAW functions including transport, mixer, track pan, and plug-in parameters. Built-in presets offer support for popular virtual instruments right out of the box-no complicated setup required. Featuring an unparalleled combination of great feel, total control, and ease of use, Oxygen 88 is the perfect choice for both studio and stage.
Akai Pro MPK 88
Akai Pro MPK88 Hammer Action USB Midi Controller
Amazon Price: $599.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
MPK88 features an 88-key keyboard and 16 genuine MPC pads. The hammer-action keyboard is fully weighted and features aftertouch for expressive melodic control. The MPC pads are pressure and velocity-sensitive to capture every nuance of your creative concepts. The pads can access four banks of sounds, so you have 64 samples at your fingertips with the touch of a button.
Studio Logic SL-990
Studiologic Sl-990Xp 88-Key Midi Controller
Amazon Price: (as of 05/29/2012)
The Studiologic SL-990 PRO features an 88-key weighted, velocity-sensitive, hammer-action keyboard with beautiful ivory finished keys and constant strike force action for true piano feel. Performance controls include pitch and mod wheels; 8 zone-specific velocity curve settings; program and bank change; transpose; MIDI channel change; and 100 user memory locations. MIDI output plus sustain pedal input. Power adapter included.
Novation 61 SL MkII
Novation 61 SL MkII USB Midi Controller Keyboard 61 Keys
Amazon Price: $529.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
SL MkII comes with Automap, a piece of software that has been designed to make the job of assigning your hardware controls to various software parameters quick and easy. Automap enables knobs, faders and buttons to instantly control plug-in instruments/FX, as well as your sequencer's mixer, transport controls and more. Open a plug-in instrument/FX, and you have instant access to all the plug-in parameters. This allows you to assign knobs, faders and buttons, by simply clicking on the software parameter, and touching the control!
Novation Remote 61 SL
Novation Remote 61 SL 5-Octave Soft Label USB MIDI Keyboard
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 05/29/2012)
The SL shines a light on the murky world of MIDI control by providing two huge, brightly lit LCD screens that display up to 16 control names and values simultaneously. Alongside this is the intelligent Automap Universal technology, which detects the sequencer and plug-ins in use and intelligently maps parameters to the SL's pots, switches, and sliders. With these award-winning features and a massive array of assignable controls, the SL takes the headache out of MIDI controlling, making music creation as spontaneous and exciting as it should be. Plug and Play USB connection with no drivers required for Windows XP or Mac OS X. A host of exciting software solutions, including Ableton Live Lite 6 and over 1.5 gigs of loops and samples.
AKAI PRO MPK61 USB Midi Controller
Akai Pro MPK61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller
Amazon Price: $379.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
The MPK61 is a keyboard performance MIDI controller that expands the popular MPK line. Each MPK controller combines a piano-style keybed with a bank of genuine Akai Professional MPC pads, assignable Q-Link controllers and key technologies from the iconic MPC family of music production workstations. Producers, performers and DJs will appreciate the MPK61's mix of 61 semi-weighted keys with aftertouch, 16 MPC pads with velocity and pressure sensitivity, 72 assignable Q-Link controllers, MPC Note Repeat, MPC Swing and an arpeggiator. The MPK61's size is ideal for performers who need a larger keyboard than the original 49-key MPK49 offers, but also prefer the lighter weight and associated portability of a semi-weighted keyboard. The MPK61 retains the key split features from the MPK88, enabling you to divide the keyboard into two zones for performing with two different programs at once. Like its 25, 49 and fully weighted 88-key siblings - the MPK25, MPK49 and MPK88, respectively - the MPK61 empowers you to create and manipulate melodic, harmonic and rhythmic content and inspires creative production with its arpeggiator, MPC Swing and MPC Note Repeat technologies. The MPK61 comes with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition software, one of the most popular and powerful performance and production programs worldwide. Ableton Live Lite enables musicians to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. The MPK61 is a MIDI controller that sends MIDI data over USB for plug-and-play performance with Mac and PC. Because they are MIDI compliant, the MPK series works with virtually all MIDI recording, sequencing, and performance software for musical performers from keyboard players to producers to DJs and VJs.
M-Audio Axiom Pro 61
M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 Advanced 61-Key USB MIDI Controller with HyperControl Technology
Amazon Price: $408.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
The M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 keyboard controller builds on the acclaimed Axiom 61 with premium TruTouch action, proprietary HyperControl MIDI mapping technology and other cutting-edge enhancements. HyperControl automatically maps the keyboard's 65 controls to commonly accessed parameters in digital audio workstations including Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic and Reason, as well as software instruments. The constant two-way link with your host DAW means the keyboard's controls are always in sync with your software's active parameters.
Pyle-Pro PMIDI100 for DJ's
Pyle-Pro PMIDI100 Professional Digital MIDI Controller w/VIRTUAL DJ Software Included
Amazon Price: $114.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
This professional DJ MIDI/USB controller lets you take control of your music on your computer. Use your favorite DAW (Reason, Logic, Ableton) or the included Virtual DJ software to cut up your mix. This controller has tons of controls - 17 knobs, 4 sliders and a crossfader, 12 buttons, and two scratch pads. Easily play/pause, sync, set loops, jog through music, pitch control, and tweak your sound with the 3-band EQ. It easily plugs into your computer's USB port for power and control.
VESTAX TYPHOON Pro for DJ's
Akai Pro MPK88 Hammer Action USB Midi Controller
Amazon Price: $599.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
Typhoon is an all-in-one bundle of digital DJ hardware and software, offering total control to mix, scratch, and play music like a DJ, right at your fingertips. The included software transforms your computer into a full-blown DJ system. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned pros, plug Typhoon into your computer and become a DJ. The Vestax Corporation is a company that keeps producing products with its uniqueness, foresight, and reliability for the people who do music actively from inputs to outputs of sounds. Vestax's mission is always to deliver products demanded by world's top class musicians, DJs, music creators, and fans that all desire to have reliable music instruments and equipment. Vestax aims at producing premium products with the world's highest level of technologies to live up to clients' needs collected in its international sales division, sales outlets, and exhibitions that take place around the world. Vestax is not a company operating for itself only. The products are always developed from users' standpoints and what Vestax feels proud most is that the products represent a part of culture in music. They go on the market after a long process of repeated discussions with top musicians, trials and errors, and strict quality control on production lines.
Cakewalk A-300PRO USB/MIDI Keyboard Controller
Amazon Price: $239.00 (as of 05/29/2012)
The Cakewalk A-300PRO keyboard controller is a welcome companion in the studio, on-stage, or anywhere you feel musically inspired. Combining the best of Roland engineering with Cakewalk's legendary ease-of-use, the A-300PRO USB/MIDI controller has the features and feel you need to get the most out of your music performances and productions. The A-300PRO keyboard works perfectly with a wide variety of software on Mac or PC, including Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Garage Band, Logic, Nuendo, Pro Tools, SONAR, and the included Production Plus Pack. Best of all, the Cakewalk A-300PRO controller keyboard is easy to set up. If you can plug-in a USB Cable, you'll be making music in no time at all. The Feel of a Roland-Quality Instrument When you perform with the Cakewalk A-300PRO controller, you're tapping into the benefits of over 30 years of Roland keyboard development. The MIDI controller's superior key mechanism provides aftertouch and increased sensitivity for a wide range of expressive dynamics in your performance. Rounded key assemblies offer responsive reaction to your touch and more comfortable glissando. Plus, enhancements have been made to eliminate vertical shake and reduce the already low mechanical noise on key strokes. With the addition of selectable Velocity curves, you can fine tune the A-300PRO to match your playing style. No matter what your skill level, you'll appreciate the feel of this quality instrument. Everything at Your Fingertips The A-300PRO has been ergonomically designed to put everything at your fingertips. All controls are easily accessible and intelligently laid out to make performing and producing music an inspiring affair. Whether you're playing your favorite virtual instrument or working in your digital audio workstation, 9 knobs, 9 sliders, 4 buttons, and a dedicated Transport section offers fully assignable control of all the features you need. The sure-grip, rubber-coated Pitch Bend/Modulation Stick offers expressive control of bot.
M-Audio Ozonic Firewire
M-Audio Ozonic Firewire Audio / MIDI Controller
Amazon Price: $200.00 (as of 05/29/2012)
Ozonic combines a keyboard and full audio/MIDI interface in a package that's compact enough to take with you anywhere. Features like a professional synth-action keyboard with three assignable zones and 40 assignable MIDI controllers complete with transport buttons make it ideal for harnessing the full potential of your software studios. The built-in audio interface with mic/instrument preamps and headphone monitoring lets you work with loops and layer your own vocals, guitars and more.
Check out these other recording equipment
What do you like the most about making music on the computer?
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waldenthree.net
Apr 1, 2012 @ 5:33 pm | delete
- You play Keyboard may be ? Wow . Love music with keyboard part of a band. Congrads on yur Squidoo level 60. Conversations helps with wisdom. Thanks.
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waldenthree.net
Apr 1, 2012 @ 5:33 pm | delete
- You play Keyboard may be ? Wow . Love music with keyboard part of a band. Congrads on yur Squidoo level 60. Conversations helps with wisdom. Thanks.
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GizmoButler
Feb 19, 2012 @ 4:00 pm | delete
- As a drummer, I don't need a stage, and bright lights, I use MIDI to prove that I can make even better music, and recordings than a LOT of guitarists, and keyboardists I know, and sing a LOT better than they can too. Then I...YES I get all the girls. They're also smarter than the ones the other guys get. HA!
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skiesgreen
Feb 18, 2012 @ 5:32 pm | delete
- Good resources.
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orandze
Dec 15, 2011 @ 12:24 am | delete
- I have Pro Tools and I love it. My main Squidoo goal is to get enough money to be able to buy one of these. Cool lens!
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