M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3 – 88 Key Semi Weighted MIDI Keyboard Controller for Complete Command of Virtual Synthesisers and DAW parameters

Product Information

You get 3 built-in touch sensitivity settings (heavy, normal, light), and 120-note polyphone. You also get 3 effects (rever, brilliance, chorus). The only missing feature is a built-in arranger. This is a keyboard meant for stage performers. So you don't just get a standard 88-key keyboard; you also get programmable faders and buttons. A big new feature is the built-in Bluetooth which gives you wireless MIDI. This greatly enhances the keyboard's capability. Use it as a replacement controller for Ableton or Logic without worry about plugging it in.

While they were immensely popular earlier, hardware synths (either analog or digital) have become something of a niche buy recently. Modern software synths are so much more powerful than what even the best hardware synth can accomplish. You can usually get much better results by plugging a MIDI keyboard into your DAW and using a software synth like Serum. This sleek, sexy machine is the successor to the wildly popular Roland RD-800. The RD-800 has long been a standard for serious musicians – a proven workhorse with a long list of features.The easiest way to ruin your music journey (and your finances) is to buy an instrument you’re not really ready for yet. The Casio Privia PX-360 is the elder sibling of the bestselling PX-160. It boasts much of the same features but better build-quality, nicer keytops, and a standout touchscreen. In terms of connectivity, the MiniLab 3 comes with a USB-C port for connecting to your computer as well as a control input for additional expression pedals or footswitches. The MIDI Out allows you to connect the keyboard to external MIDI gear, expanding the possibilities for live performance and studio work.

This piano is built for learning, so you get a ton of educational features (such as split and layer mode). The 20W built-in speakers are powerful enough that you don't need any additional equipment. And the 5 voices (acoustic & electric pianos, organ, synth, and bass) give you a good foundation for different genres/playing styles. A MIDI keyboard is an essential tool for musicians and producers, connecting the digital world of music production to the physical act of playing an instrument. At its core, a MIDI keyboard is an electronic device that allows you to control software synthesizers, samplers, and other virtual instruments within your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or standalone software. assignable knobs & buttons for controlling virtual instruments, mix plugins, DAW controls, and more MIDI keyboards don’t produce any sound of their own, i.e. they don’t have any built-in speakers. Unless they’re plugged into a DAW, you won’t hear a thing if you press a key. Rounding up the NH keyboard action is a dynamic sound engine that automatically chooses from 4 different piano sounds based on your playing style. Should you choose to go pianissimo or fortissimo, the SP-280 will choose the right soundbank to recreate the acoustic piano effect.You might also find keys advertised with “hammer action.” These use genuine hammers like you’d find in a traditional piano, so you get more dynamic touch and depth.

What's the best MIDI keyboard for you? That depends on your preferences as a musician or producer. MIDI controllers and MIDI keyboards have loads of different features and designs, and knowing what you need in a MIDI keyboard will help determine which is the best one for you. The P45 is the successor to the P35. It's light, compact, and nearly Spartan in its design. At just about 25lbs, it is also one of the most portable pianos on this list.

The Portable Controller That Plays Like a Grand

In fact, it’s better to call them “MIDI controllers” than “MIDI keyboards”. The latter term is simply used to differentiate them from controllers that don’t have piano keys, such as the Ableton Push. Ableton's popular Push 2 MIDI controller (Image Source) Over the years, digital sound producing capabilities have improved drastically. And with it, the quality of digital pianos on the market. The PX-160 uses Casio's AiR (Acoustic and intelligent Resonator) sound engine. This is similar to Yamaha's Pure CF sound engine in that it is based on sounds recorded from a 9-foot concert grand piano. Combined with the tri-sensor action, this delivers a superb playing experience.