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This leads to a much more authentic and enjoyable keyboard experience. Another plus is the MPC-like pads. You get great pads and great keys in the same unit — you can't ask for more. Read full review. Heck, it isn't even the best on this list.
But it does everything that you ask of it, and it won't burn a hole in your pocket. If you're at this level, your needs aren't basic enough to be fulfilled by a mini controller.
Nor do you know enough to make full use of an expensive Akai or Nektar Panorama. You know full-sized keys and JUST enough controls to make making music more intuitive. The keyboard is synth-action and velocity sensitive. It doesn't have the feedback of semi-weighted keys, but for intermediate level players, the keys are sensitive and springy enough. The 8 backlit pads are small but highly responsive. Despite the limited soundbanks and small size, they make finger drumming possible.
The faders and knobs don't have the chunky resistance of higher-end controllers, but they get the job done. Not a killer feature but useful and missing from several competitors in this range. It's not all perfect, of course. The build quality is nothing to write home about. The key action will disappoint serious piano players. And durability remains questionable. Despite its flaws, it worked wonderfully well for my needs at the time. The MK2 improves on every aspect of its earlier iteration.
The end result is a astonishingly well-built and capable controller at a price tag that's affordable for virtually every musician. Let's start with the keyboard. Yet, they are quite comfortable.
You don't get aftertouch but you do get three touch sensitivity settings. You won't enjoy playing Chopin on it, but for studio production, the keyboard works perfectly well. The baby MPK comes with 8 rubbery, velocity sensitive pads. They're not as large and sensitive as Akai's APC controllers but they get the job done. Apart from the pads, you also get 8 programmable knobs.
You can also choose between two sound banks. You get the same functionality while saving space. Akai essentially packs in a huge number of features into a tiny device.
Its dimensions are smaller than a laptop's and it weighs just about the same as an iPad Pro. Then there are the software features. There are plenty of flaws — the keys aren't great for playing and the pads could do with an upgrade.
This essentially reduces the impact a pad controller can have in your studio or live performance environment. This is the reason why top pad controllers support Ableton out of the box. You can remap them to support Logic Pro, but it requires a bit of effort. The APC40 continues on that robust tradition with one of the best designed and best-built pad controllers on the market.
Everything about this unit screams quality. The pads have a MPC-like responsiveness. And the knobs have a clickiness that makes using them a delight. This has also led to a reduction in pad size, which are now RGB backlit i. There is a huge array of buttons below the pads, plus a set of directional arrows to control the DAW.
The major issue which is true for most pad controllers is poor Logic Pro integration. There are few brands I trust more to make high-quality keyboards than Roland. Their controllers are never quite as jazzy as the latest Nektars, nor quite as hyped as Akais, but they always deliver where it matters the most: key quality and playability.
The key version of Roland's mid-range controller, the APro compare price Amazon , Guitar Center — is no different. This not only feels better, but also has a non-slippery surface — great when you're sweating after a long jamming session.
That's not all. The keyboard has custom velocity settings. You can adjust the velocity curve to match your playing style. Turn it high if you really like a fast, responsive keyboard. Turn it low if you like to dig your fingers in and belt tracks out. The keyboard isn't the only thing on offer, of course. Not everything is perfect. The dynamic pads are tiny, and the knobs move a little too freely.
The faders also don't have the mechanical heft of the keys. But if you're willing to overlook them for the fantastic keys, you'll love this Roland. And then there are times when you'd rather have something tiny that can squirrel away in a corner of your desk. It's just about a foot long and is so light that its official weight is in ounces, not pounds FYI, it's about 0. Which variant you buy and how you use it will vary a lot.
A lot of producers I know use the 8 fader variant as a makeshift mixer. Others use the key variant as a highly portable keyboard. Given the price, you can even buy all three and change them around based on what you need at the moment. There some obvious flaws on the Nanokey.
The silicone buttons tend to get stuck. And the faders are plasticky. But it will complement one nicely. But it if you want something highly portable, or if you already have a full-sized keyboard and want something to complement it.
Namely, have good and the right number of keys, have plenty of controls, and integrate well with Logic Pro. Keyboard controllers are great for composition. You get full-sized piano keys that makes it easy to play chords and melodies. Pad controllers are great for launching clips and creating spontaneous compositions. If you want to hammer out a few drum patterns or take control of your music on the fly, you should choose this option. There is no sessions view like in Ableton, which limits what you can do with pad controllers.
Hybrid controllers offer the best compromise between controls and composition. A good hybrid controller would give you between pads as well as full-sized keyboards.
This way, you can launch clips, hammer out drum patterns, and compose entire tracks — all from the same controller. Unless you have extensive piano playing experience, I would recommend that you stick to hybrid controllers. Another option — which a lot of pro producers follow — is to get a regular keyboard controller and pair it up with a dedicated pad controller. Think of a setup like this:. This would give you the best of both worlds — a full-sized keyboard for composition, and a pad controller for controlling your DAW.
Your best option is to spring for semi-weighted keys. These tend to be on the expensive side but offer better playability and comfort. If your goal is to just enter MIDI notes and play out a few chords or melodies, synth-action keyboards will work perfectly fine.
MIDI keyboards come in a range of key sizes, going all the way from 25 keys to full-sized key keyboards. Anything beyond 32 keys makes it difficult to keep the keyboard size and weight low enough for lugging around. But portability comes with its own compromise — smaller keys. Most portable keyboards reduce the width and length of keys to fit them into a small form factor. This greatly impacts their playability, especially if you have fat fingers as I do. I usually recommend people to get a regular 49 or key keyboard for their main studio use, and buy an additional mini keyboard for carrying around.
If you have a smaller desk, it could completely ruin your setup. So before you spring for a larger keyboard, measure out your desk. You should at least have 3 feet of extra space before you even think of getting anything beyond 49 keys. As much as the idea of a full-size key keyboard is appealing, it is just plain overkill for most musicians.
Nor will the EDM or hip-hop pieces they produce ever involve complex melodies that require simultaneous bass and tenor keys. Plus, larger keyboards are plain intimidating.
On the flip side, anything below keys also impacts playability. For most people, keys represents the ideal size. It gives you access to four octaves of range.
If you plan on playing slightly more complex pieces, you can upgrade to a key keyboard. But otherwise, 49 keys is more than enough. In my case, I rely minimally on keyboard controls. I use my desktop keyboard shortcuts for most things. The mechanical noise is also minimal. Buyers said they liked the feel of this keyboard over some of the cheaper counterparts, as well as its size.
The Novation Launchkey keyboard controller is marketed as a USB controller for Ableton Live but it works fine for Logic too, and is a decent option at a reasonable price point too. This unit is fully USB bus powered and class compliant. The MK2 is available in key, key, key and key mini configurations, giving you a few options to choose from depending on what you need.
Customers enjoyed all the features included on this MIDI controller as well as its lightweight design. And, it could be great in a studio setting too. You also get eight backlit velocity sensitive MPC drum pads with Note Repeat and Full Level for programming drums, triggering samples and controlling virtual instruments and DAW controls, as well as eight fully assignable Q Link knobs for mixing, tweaking plugins and more.
They also pointed out, however, that it can take a while to get used to the workflow. Of course, it works with Logic and this fact is stated in the product description. Reviewers said this keyboard exceeded expectations, noting its feel, keys and price as its main benefits. So, advanced players may want to steer clear, but those looking for a solid entry to intermediate level controller will like this one.
Buyers liked that the IK Multimedia controller was easy to set up. They also liked the feel of the keyboard and even said it works great with Logix Pro X. The compact and portable Worlde 25 key MIDI controller comes with 25 mini keys three velocity sensing settings , octave shifting, eight anti-slip degree rotatable knobs, eight force-sensing drum pads with eight virtual , eight faders, wood imitation rim, pedal interface, and it works with Mac or PC.
Customers liked how easy the controller was to use. They also appreciated the quality and plug and play design. Some found the setup process difficult, and others said the table feels flimsy and cheap. Negative reviews are a little all over the map, however, so your opinion on the keyboard may differ.
At this point in time, there are fewer platform agnostic hardware tools than ever, with most of them featuring a plug and play USB design. Are you a fan of semi-weighted or weighted keys? Do you want velocity sensitive pads? Additional knobs, buttons and faders?
Many of the factors already mentioned are going to be the main contenders here — keys, pads, knobs, faders, pitch and modulation wheels, and so on. How many do you need? How should they be laid out? How should they feel especially in the case of keys — semi-weighted, weighted, etc. Layout does affect workflow. Workflow is probably on equal footing with functionality, so far as its importance is concerned.
Some products hold up to more abuse than others. But if you need to move it from time to time, and plan to use it all the time, that could be a different matter entirely.
Size, for better or for worse, is an often-overlooked factor when shopping for a MIDI controller. We like to remind our readers to spend responsibly and not go into debt for gear related purchases.
Use your budget as a measuring stick for how much MIDI controller you can afford, as it makes it easier for you to narrow down your options. In that sense, a MIDI controller is a highly individual purchase decision.
It depends a lot on how you plan to use the MIDI controller, as some people just use it to sketch out ideas or play simple bass and synth lines, while others use it to compose and arrange for full orchestras. So, be sure you identify what you need before committing to any one product. Get exactly what you need. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it.
Want to learn how to do that? There was a time when recording studios had to purchase multiple keyboards and pianos so they could have access to as many different sounds as possible.
And by no means was this cheap. Guitars come in a variety of sizes. This is good news, because human beings were not created equal. Some of us have big hands while others have smaller hands. Finger length and thickness can also vary.
If you have smaller hands, you should find an instrument that works for you. A portable recorder can come in handy in a lot of situations. Or, maybe you need to capture some live audio to go along…. Looking for a quality harmonica? But for the most part, there are only a few brands that have the market cornered because of the quality of instruments they make. Sometimes, as a musician, you just want to be free of constraints.
Wireless guitar systems are perfect for these situations, and it just so happens…. Skip to content. Previous Previous. Next Continue. Similar Posts.
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