Best MIDI keyboard - buyer guide

Midi keyboards have become mandatory equipment in any commercial or home studio.
The midi language allows us to perform musical ideas in a traditional instrument form, such as the piano keys.
The market for remote controllers has become a large and competitive market, which is good for the price.
Join us to know which Midi keyboard will suit you best

What is a MIDI keyboard?

A midi keyboard is a piano keyboard of different lengths which uses the MIDI language to transfer music from the keyboard to a virtual instrument in the software. Its development aims to allow musicians to create music from the computer at a higher level by controlling the virtual instruments in the traditional way of playing. A dedicated USB or a special midi connection makes the midi keyboard connection. 

Today, the midi keyboard is joined by various buttons, knobs, and pads to allow the creator full control of the software through the midi controller. Some companies produce small midi controllers adapted for home and travel studios to full-length keyboards for professional musicians.

The history of the MIDI keyboards

The first MIDI keyboard was released in 1982 by Sequential Circuits. The Prophet-5 was known as a five-voice polyphonic synthesizer that featured a built-in keyboard and sequencing capabilities. This breakthrough at the time allowed musicians to easily create and record complex musical passages. The Prophet-5 quickly became the flagship keyboard of the Sequential Circuits company and set the standard for all subsequent MIDI keyboards.

In the following years, several other companies released their MIDI keyboards. These included the Roland D-50, Yamaha DX7, and Korg M1. These instruments were all highly influential in their own right and helped shape popular music’s sound in the 1980s and 1990s.

The 1990s saw the advent of digital piano technology, which allowed for a more realistic piano sound. This led to the development of MIDI controllers that were specifically designed for use with digital pianos. These controllers featured weighted keys that mimicked the feel of a real piano and quickly became the preferred choice of a keyboard for many professional pianists.

The important things

There are some things you want to take advantage of before you decide on the keyboard you want to purchase, so we’ve arranged them in an orderly list with pros and cons so you can make a smart purchase.

Keys Quality

Even if you are not a professional player, but even more so if you are
You should check the quality of the keys to get maximum playing quality
Sometimes due to saving space or production costs, certain manufacturers reduce the size of the keys or their quality, and when you play a lot on the keyboard, you feel the difference in performance
Therefore, if you buy a mini keyboard, expect small keys, but in a full-size keyboard, look for the keys with the highest quality playing experience.

Knobs, Pads, and Faders

Today no keyboard does not come with various controllers such as pads for drumming, buttons for controlling functions in the software, knobs, faders for controlling different mixer parameters, and more.
The number of controllers and their combination depends on your personal need. For example, suppose you are interested in a keyboard that will serve you live. In that case, choose a keyboard with as many different controllers as possible so that your interference with the computer is minimal.
It is also essential to ensure they are comfortable to press, especially with the pads.

Quality materials and construction

This, indeed, is the least important, but you should pay attention to it
I always prefer to buy products from well-known companies, so I am sure that their construction quality is always at a high level without compromise

Compatibility

.Compatibility is an important part of choosing the best midi keyboard
All keyboards are compatible with any software that supports the Midi language for the avoidance of doubt.
But some keyboards are built specifically for a certain software (such as the FLkey built in cooperation with Novation), and the various controllers were built in accordance with the workflow of the software
You definitely don’t have to buy a customized keyboard, but if you liked the other parameters of the keyboard and it is also compatible with your software, that would be a big plus.

software package

Today it has become an integral part of the device itself. The various companies bring with the keyboards an excellent software package that can include everything a beginning producer needs to start producing (DAW, plugins, and free music programs for a year) That’s why it’s important that you buy a keyboard that meets your needs and your permissions, this can be a massive saving of money, sometimes even more than the value of the keyboard itself.