Best Computer Recording MIDI Controllers in 2022

Last update: November 28, 2022

Can Audacity record MIDI?

Yes, Audacity can record MIDI. MIDI is a standard protocol for connecting musical instruments, computers, and other electronic devices. By using a MIDI interface, you can connect your keyboard or other MIDI controller to your computer and use it to control the software.

Can I use my computer keyboard as a MIDI controller?

Yes, you can use your computer keyboard as a MIDI controller. All you need is a MIDI interface, which you can connect to your keyboard and your computer. Once you have the interface, you can use any MIDI software to create music.

Can I use my piano keyboard as a MIDI controller?

Yes, you can use your piano keyboard as a MIDI controller. If your keyboard has MIDI ports, you can connect it to your computer using a MIDI cable and control your music software with it. Alternatively, you can use a USB MIDI interface to connect your keyboard to your computer.

Do you need an audio interface for MIDI?

MIDI is a standard for connecting musical instruments and other electronic devices. It does not carry audio signals, so you need an audio interface to connect MIDI devices to your computer.


LTGEM Travel Hard Carrying Case for Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII & MPK Mini Play | 25-Key Ultra-Portable USB MIDI Drum Pad & Keyboard Controller Review:


For the Akai MPK Mini, this casing is excellent. Since it is not particularly rigid, I wouldn't advise packing it alone in a passenger's carry-on. However, because of its shape, it fits quite well in a larger suitcase. The case appears to be really nicely put together, and the padding is fairly excellent. I've read online that some Akai MPK Mini cases have a strong chemical smell, which is probably caused by the low-quality materials they were built of. This LTGEM situation is an exception to the rule. It almost has no smell when it is first opened. This greatly relieved my concerns because I was afraid it would have the same issue as other cases in the similar price range that have been mentioned in reviews. I'm not sure how they did it, but thanks to LTGEM for selling a product made of better materials for the same price as the other subpar products. Overall excellent case, and I wholeheartedly endorse it!



Arturia MiniLab MkII 25 Slim-Key Controller Review:


I prefer Arturia. A MicroBrute, Keystep, Pigments, and their V Collection 7 are further items I own. I purchased this as a desktop module for Ableton, and it works well for that use. Once you connect through MIDI, a lot of built-in automatic control is available (painlessly). There are countless knobs, and each one has just enough pushback to add finesse. The tight pads provide excellent control. My only problem is that I intended to bring this along on vacation so I could work on some songs. It definitely works well for one-handed use on stage. Any type of two-handed playing, however, falls around 5 keys short of a conventional G-chord on the left and anything but the most basic one-octave riffs on the right. I ultimately decided to take my Keystep instead (also one key short on the second octave right, but overall much more useful). If I want to "play piano," I should certainly size up to a broader bed, in my opinion. However, for short riffs where you can manually change the octave range up or down as you loop, this is wonderful, really durable, comes with excellent software, and has beautiful responsive (springy) velocity keys.



Nektar (IMPACT LX25+) Review:


Incredibly small keyboard with full-sized keys.Two different controller keyboards are available. One M-Audio has 49 keys, while the other has 61 keys. But this is even better than they are. Being forced to focus on just two octaves rather than playing around with a longer keyboard may also help one become a better keyboard player. You can more easily "see" patterns and chords with just two octaves. However, buttons allow you to move up and down to all 88 keys. However, playing two octaves at once is a useful teaching technique.And because it's smaller, there's room on my keyboard stand for a cat. And a cat is now pretty much always present there. A board on a towel on a keyboard stand serves as the stand.PROS: —Good construction. Keys work well. Pads feel wonderful in the hand.—Can command your DAW, effectively converting soft synths to hardware synths.—You don't have to be confined to using a computer; you may play it while sitting across the room. On a softsynth that has been auto-mapped, you can alter the preset patches. You can also modify some of the parameters on some. Play keys and drum pads in addition. The other keyboard that can do that is M-audio, but it doesn't do it nearly as simply and tastefully as this one.—Easy to map your DAW (after registration, download software from manufacturer's site)—When you play them, pretty lights on the pad change color! looks bizarre at night.—Keys are a little stiff. Maybe some people don't like it. Probably not a good idea if you suffer from hand pain. However, playing it might really make your hands stronger.—Pressing the keys makes a physical noise. Make a thumping noise.EDIT: 2 WEEKS OF CONSTANT PLAY shown a significant decrease in the keyboard's dull thump. I believe the keys are still stiff, but playing it actually made my hands stronger (! ), thus it's no longer a problem. I like the vibe.Someone else in this thread said that switching synth patches remotely required two presses, however Cubase doesn't work that way. Simply use this keyboard to move up or down the list in your DAW one at a time.Overall, I'm quite pleased with it. For $100, you get a whole lot of controller.



Novation Launchkey Mini 25-Note USB Keyboard Controller, MK2 Version Review:


I adore this product utterly. Since I used to play the piano many years ago, I've thought about getting a MIDI controller for a while. The fact that it had been so long since I had played the piano made me hesitant to purchase one for fear that the small keyboard would be too intimidating and restricting. Despite the fact that I wasn't a very advanced pianist to begin with, I was able to quickly advance to the point where I can now produce music that I am not embarrassed to share with others. It will take some getting used to if all you have ever played is a full-sized piano, but you will soon get the hang of it. Speaking of feel, the keys themselves are my only quibble. In essence, the distance between the starting point of the key travel and the point at which the key pushes really cause the sound feels excessive. Again, there is nothing you can't get used to, but for the following release, the developers might want to pay more attention to the keys. The current version of Ableton Lite is included, which is a plus, and while I'm sure this MIDI controller will function with almost any DAW, Novation controllers are made especially for Ableton. This offers complete functionalities in Ableton that other controllers might not. Ableton is a reliable program used by professional DJs, and once you register your copy of Ableton, you will find plenty of free add-ons, purchaseable add-ons, and upgraded versions well worth buying if you are into creating music. The learning curve for any DAW is steep if you are new to MIDI and Digital Audio Workstations, but Ableton is a solid program used by professional DJs.You can learn how to use the controller and Ableton by watching videos online, but after a day or two you'll be able to create and perform music at home.I reduced the rating from five stars to four because of how the keys felt. Even so, I wholeheartedly endorse this for someone just starting out.



Novation Launchkey 49 USB Keyboard Controller for Ableton Live, 49-Note MK2 Version Review:


I've been playing the mandolin in bands, home recordings, and acoustic jam sessions for almost 15 years. Since roughly 10 years ago, I have also created amateur recordings utilizing a variety of hardware-based digital multi-track recorders. I turned to computer-based recording in the past year after learning about the software systems' accessibility and astounding breadth of capacity. My software of choice is Mainstage 3 and Logic Pro X. In order to use the many software instruments and other digital music production approaches, I quickly learned how important a midi controller was as I got more familiar with the OSX music creation software. This required acquiring not only a new musicianship skill but also the technical details of digital music production techniques since I have almost no keyboard proficiency. I felt prepared to make a judgment on what would be my best first midi hardware buy after spending a few months getting acquainted with the features of Logic and Mainstage. In this review, I discuss how well I think this controller lived up to my expectations as well as the characteristics I anticipated I would need to best support my advancement toward a foundational level of proficiency.I first required a keyboard that wouldn't make learning to play the keyboard difficult. I came to the conclusion that I required full-sized keys, as well as pitch bend, modulation, aftertouch, velocity sensitivity, and a suitable number of octaves. Despite the fact that I lack any relevant experience with which to compare this controller to these standards, I must admit that I am quite happy with how well this keyboard lived up to my expectations. The key bed feels sturdy and functions efficiently despite not being weighted. The Launchkey 49 seems more than sufficient, while being a long way from a full-sized 88-key behemoth. The pitch and mod wheels are dependable and quick.I anticipated that I would require a sufficient number of knobs and sliders so that I could map screen controls in Mainstage and assign them to physical midi controls with some flexibility. Despite the fact that Launchkey controllers are specifically made to map to the Abelton Live interface, I have found that this controller is sufficiently adaptable for a variety of Mainstage patch configurations, with enough physical controls to manage a number of instrument parameters, effects sends, patch changes, etc.I assumed I would need a number of drum pads. I pictured utilizing them to launch background tracks, loops, drum sequences, and one-shot clips rather than for finger drumming. Launchkey 49 provided enough pads to investigate each of these options without the need to purchase a separate pad controller. The 16 drum pads are sensitive and sturdy. They perform flawlessly for the purposes I intended them to have in Mainstage. Although Abelton's plug and play functionality for the pads' RGB back lighting is great, I have not yet worked out how to use Mainstage's RGB lights. The ability to at least use the rear lights to illuminate the pad or pads that are in control of an active clip or sequence would be beneficial.I've used the controller a little bit to operate the Launchkey 49's free Abelton Lite software. This controller is fantastic in the current software environment.In conclusion, it appears like The Launchkey 49 offers an entirely suitable keyboard and control surface for a very affordable price as a starter controller for a beginning pianist and digital musician/producer. At this time, I can say that I am extremely satisfied with this controller and that I foresee not replacing it as I look to add gear to my setup but rather keeping it as a component of an expanding rig.



Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII | 25 Key Portable USB MIDI Keyboard With 8 Backlit Performance Ready Pads, 8 Assignable Q Link Knobs & A 4 Way Thumbstick Review:


It's a fantastic piece of gear for a beginning musician, but there is a learning curve, so keep that in mind before you buy. You are making a MIDI controller purchase (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). MIDI controllers do not generate sound on their own, unlike a synthesizer. It is really just a tool for program control. Therefore, even after installing the software and plugging it in, there won't be any sound until everything is configured properly and sounds are put onto the pads. Therefore, I believe it is a little misleading to refer to it as a "plug-in and go," as some people do.After learning how to set it up and operate it, it is simple to use.- I like it.- A good entry point into the world of electronic music.- Cost effective.Cons: - The program setup can be a little frightening, but fortunately there are tutorials available to guide you.- The controller doesn't appear to be very easy to use, at least according to Akai. Every helpful tutorial I discovered was written by a third party, not the business. They should take the time to provide more tutorials; that would be wonderful. Unless I simply failed to locate them? Nothing really regarding HOW to actually utilize the software; everything I discovered was just about how to set it up.-There isn't much software included. With MPC Essentials, you can't utilize the knobs; you need Ableton or a similar program. You cannot utilize the knobs for effects in your track, or perhaps I should say that you cannot. Although I think you can use it for other things, I'm still not sure how.I'm still learning how to use this, but the more I've learned about it and discovered sounds I enjoy, the more fun it has been to use.Just a little advice: - When setting up the software, be careful to know where all of your data are located. To load your VST content into MPC Essentials, you will need to know where it is.-When you're prepared to begin loading sounds, use Program 2. The program for Program 2 has the pads arranged such that everything correlates as it should.-If you're unfamiliar with it, read the instructions and conduct a lot of research. Trust me, it's time well spent.



Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII LE White | White, Limited Edition 25 Key Portable USB MIDI Keyboard With 8 Backlit Performance Ready Pads, 8 Assignable Q Link Knobs & A 4 Way Thumbstick Review:


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Novation Launchpad Ableton Live Controller with 64 RGB Backlit Pads (8x8 Grid) Review:


This device is AMAZING for Ableton Live and undoubtedly useful in other contexts as well. It very well adheres to the entire Ableton paradigm, with scene buttons on the left, just like in the session view onscreen, and helpful controls on the other three sides so you don't have to perform live with your head buried in your laptop too much. When you switch to note mode, it enters one of two modes based on the type of track that is currently playing: either a drum mode with a 4x4 pad arrangement lighting up for finger drumming, or a melodic note mode for synth performance. Since the note mode is not at all like a piano keyboard, it took me some time to figure it out. However, after some time, I suddenly realized that it is exactly like a bass or guitar fingerboard in that moving up or down a row moves you up or down a fourth. If you have played either bass or guitar, you will become accustomed to note mode very quickly. Additionally, the pads have aftertouch and velocity, and the way the pads light up is amazing.This gear could be my all-time favorite.



midiplus, 32-Key Midi Controller, 32-Key (AKM320) Review:


The price of this keyboard is perhaps the first feature you will notice. Compare this to the M-Audio Keystation Mini 32, which is the closest relative. The ADM320 costs approximately a third less! What is the catch then? What is incorrect about this? Nothing! For greater control of those capabilities, this incorporates heavy duty pitch and mod wheels rather than just buttons. It also has lighted octave and, most significantly, transpose buttons. Although they are quite handy, transposition buttons are absent from many much more expensive keyboards. The octave and transposition buttons function as usual, and if you simultaneously press up and down, they return to neutral (and the backlights go off). Another helpful feature is a smooth-operating volume slider. Do I really need to remind you to keep the slider at its maximum position, which is all the way to the right? Do it, for those who are new to this. For effect, you only shift it to the left, where the loudness is lower. If you use "midi learn" mode in your software, the volume slider can also be made to perform other functions, such as pan. Surprisingly for such a small keyboard, there is also an input for a sustain pedal. This and the M-Audio differ significantly in that this cannot be programmed for various velocity curves and other parameters. However, the velocity curve that it comes with is perfect. The overall quality, fit, and finish are all of the highest caliber. Since there isn't much to learn about this keyboard, it also comes with a sturdy six-foot USB cable (USB A to USB type B) and a brief instruction booklet. But for newcomers, the instructions do an excellent job of describing everything. The white keys on this are an inch longer than those on the M-Audio when compared in size. With the exception of the keys being a little longer, the M-springy Audio's sensation is similar to this one (my preference is less springy). You do indeed get a lot for your money with this! This has really impressed me, especially considering the cost. If you want a tiny midi keyboard with a 32 key range, there is no reason not to pick this. Additionally, a beautiful, robust box is included for storage. On YouTube, I discovered a fantastic demonstration before making a purchase. Although it is in Portuguese and not in English, he does an excellent job explaining it and making it simple to comprehend, so you can see that it works as I have explained.



Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII LE Black | Black, Limited Edition 25 Key Portable USB MIDI Keyboard With 8 Backlit Performance Ready Pads, 8 Assignable Q Link Knobs & A 4 Way Thumbstick Review:


It's a fantastic piece of gear for a beginning musician, but there is a learning curve, so keep that in mind before you buy. You are making a MIDI controller purchase (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). MIDI controllers do not generate sound on their own, unlike a synthesizer. It is really just a tool for program control. Therefore, even after installing the software and plugging it in, there won't be any sound until everything is configured properly and sounds are put onto the pads. Therefore, I believe it is a little misleading to refer to it as a "plug-in and go," as some people do.After learning how to set it up and operate it, it is simple to use.- I like it.- A good entry point into the world of electronic music.- Cost effective.Cons: - The program setup can be a little frightening, but fortunately there are tutorials available to guide you.- The controller doesn't appear to be very easy to use, at least according to Akai. Every helpful tutorial I discovered was written by a third party, not the business. They should take the time to provide more tutorials; that would be wonderful. Unless I simply failed to locate them? Nothing really regarding HOW to actually utilize the software; everything I discovered was just about how to set it up.-There isn't much software included. With MPC Essentials, you can't utilize the knobs; you need Ableton or a similar program. You cannot utilize the knobs for effects in your track, or perhaps I should say that you cannot. Although I think you can use it for other things, I'm still not sure how.I'm still learning how to use this, but the more I've learned about it and discovered sounds I enjoy, the more fun it has been to use.Just a little advice: - When setting up the software, be careful to know where all of your data are located. To load your VST content into MPC Essentials, you will need to know where it is.-When you're prepared to begin loading sounds, use Program 2. The program for Program 2 has the pads arranged such that everything correlates as it should.-If you're unfamiliar with it, read the instructions and conduct a lot of research. Trust me, it's time well spent.


How can I use a MIDI keyboard without DAW?

If you want to use a MIDI keyboard without a DAW, you can do so by connecting the keyboard to a computer or other device that has MIDI input and output capabilities. Once the keyboard is connected, you can use a MIDI sequencer or other software to record and edit your performance.

How can I use my laptop keyboard as a MIDI Pro Tools?

There are a few ways that you can use your laptop keyboard as a MIDI controller in Pro Tools. One way is to use a MIDI interface that connects to your keyboard and then to your computer. Another way is to use a USB MIDI interface. You can also use a MIDI controller that is built into your laptop.

How do I record my MIDI controller?

Assuming you have a MIDI controller and a computer, you can record your MIDI controller by doing the following: 1. Plug your MIDI controller into your computer using a MIDI-to-USB cable. 2. Launch your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) of choice. 3. Create a new project/track in your DAW. 4. Select your MIDI controller as the input device. 5. Hit record and start playing your MIDI controller. 6. When you're finished recording, hit stop and export your track.

How do I record my MIDI piano to my computer?

If you have a MIDI piano and want to record it to your computer, you'll need to connect the MIDI piano to your computer using a MIDI interface. Once you have the MIDI interface connected, you'll need to use a recording program that can record MIDI data. Once you have the recording program set up, you should be able to record your MIDI piano performance to your computer.

How do I use my laptop keyboard as a MIDI controller logic?

There are a few ways that you can use your laptop keyboard as a MIDI controller logic. The first way is to use a MIDI interface. This is a hardware device that will allow you to connect your keyboard to your computer. The second way is to use a software program that will allow you to use your keyboard as a MIDI controller. The third way is to use a USB MIDI controller. This is a hardware device that you can plug into your computer and use as a MIDI controller.

How does a MIDI controller connect to a computer?

MIDI controllers are devices that are used to control sound on a computer or other electronic device. They are often used by musicians to create and control music. MIDI controllers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most have a keyboard and some sort of control surface. Some MIDI controllers also have other features, such as faders, buttons, and knobs. MIDI controllers typically connect to a computer or other electronic device via USB. They may also have other ports, such as MIDI or CV/Gate, which allow them to control other devices. MIDI controllers