This is part 4 in a series on various studio equipment, what it is, and how to choose!
- How to Choose Studio Headphones (Coming Soon!)
- How to Choose a Headphone Amp
- How to Choose a Microphone (Coming Soon)
- How to Choose a MIDI Keyboard (You are here)
- How to Choose a Turntable (Coming Soon)
- What are Studio Monitors?
- What does an Audio Interface Do?
- What does an Audio Mixer Do?
- What is a Soundcard?
- What is a USB DAC?
Hey there friend, and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into How to Choose a MIDI Keyboard, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this guide
- Introduction
- What is MIDI?
- How to Choose
- Connecting Other Devices
- Video
- A Couple of Great Options
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling, shall we?!
Introduction
Way back in 2006 when I was first getting into music production, I had no idea what MIDI was.
I took an electronic music course in college that year and made some cool music, but didn’t really understand sequencers, DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), Audio Interfaces, or anything related to any of that stuff.
- Related: What does an Audio Interface Do?
I was simply interested in making music!
The course I took showcased Apple Logic, which I wasn’t too familiar with either.
I ended up putting the tracks I made onto MySpace; you know, that old social network that reached its peak in popularity in December 2008 with around 76 million users.
It’s weird to think about that now; that a website accounting for over 80% of all social networking traffic could fall so hard and so fast.
- Here’s a great article from Lifewire: Is MySpace Dead?
But I digress…
It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I really learned about what MIDI actually is.
When I got serious about making music in 2007, I moseyed on over to my local Sam Ashe, marched up to the salesman, and told him I wanted to make beats.
I describe the meeting a lot more comically in my What is MIDI? article, so have a gander at that if you’re craving a laugh or 2.
What is MIDI?
But what is it?
What is MIDI?
MIDI is an acronym that stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
Simply put, it’s just data, or a representation of sound, without actually being sound.
That data gets transferred to your computer (more specifically your sequencer) as a message.
Then you can edit and quantize it yourself as small bars of information.
In MIDI, every action—such as pressing keys, turning knobs, or using sliders—is encoded as digital data (e.g., note-on/off, velocity, or control change messages). However, this data doesn’t record audio or waveforms. Instead, it serves as instructions for connected devices or software to generate or manipulate sound. MIDI is essentially a control protocol, not a recording of the sound itself.
After recording what you played through a sequencer like FL Studio, the computer sends MIDI data back to the synthesizer, which generates audio by interpreting the instructions.
Kind of mind-blowing when you think about it, and also a bit complex.
With MIDI, the recorded data consists of instructions (like notes, velocity, and timing) rather than audio. This means you can easily change the instrument or sound (e.g., from piano to guitar) by assigning the MIDI data to a different sound source, like a virtual instrument.
In contrast, when recording the audio output of a synthesizer, you’re capturing the actual waveform, so you can’t change the instrument sound afterward without re-recording. This flexibility is one of the key advantages of MIDI.
MIDI Controller
A MIDI controller does not contain any sounds; you have to program them into the device from a VST, plugin, etc.
This is the case with the FL Key Mini pictured above. While it’s still technically considered a “MIDI Keyboard” because it contains actual keys rather than just pads, it still doesn’t contain any onboard sounds.
When I’m making beats, I assign the samples to the pad and then bang away!
- Related: The KORG padKONTROL!
Other MIDI keyboards have sounds ready for you, so in a sense, it is as if you’re playing an actual instrument.
So in a nutshell, there are:
- MIDI Controllers. These come as a blank slate. You have to program the sounds yourself. The padKONTROL is an example of this.
- MIDI Musical Instruments. So Synthesizers, Keyboards, etc. These do actually generate sound, in addition to generating MIDI data. They come with different presets and instrument sounds built in depending on the model that you go with.
By now you may be wondering how you would go about choosing one…
How to Choose a MIDI Keyboard
Criteria
Are you looking for a MIDI Device that does NOT come with any sounds?
This option would be ideal if you’re a sample-based producer and/or plan to use VSTs.
A VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology. Think of it as a software representation of a musical instrument that you can emulate with a MIDI Controller.
I do enjoy making original beats from time to time, but my true passion lies in chopping and sampling.
If you’re strictly into sampling vinyl, then a MIDI controller is what you’re after.
For instance, I went to the thrift store the other day and picked up 4 really cool records from Teddy Pendergrass, Grover Washington Jr., Jerry Butler, and Johnny Mathis.
It’s been over 25 years since DMX’s “Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood” came out, but I accidentally stumbled across the sample used in the song “Slippin” without ever actually searching for it.
The record it comes from, you ask?
Grover Washington’s “Feels So Good” which I bought for 99 cents.
What are the odds?!
MIDI Instrument, Keyboard, etc.
What if you like to play the keyboard, and would prefer some sounds already programmed in?
If this is the case, then a MIDI Instrument is what you’re looking for.
Other Criteria To Consider
Back in the day, using a MIDI keyboard required physical MIDI cables (pictured above), which are unidirectional and only transmit data one way. This is why two cables—one for input and one for output—were typically necessary.
Nowadays, MIDI cables aren’t always required, as many devices connect directly via USB. However, some devices still have MIDI ports for compatibility, and you can use a MIDI-to-USB cable if the device lacks a USB connection. Some modern units include both USB and MIDI ports, offering flexibility. Years ago, you might have needed a MIDI hub to connect a MIDI keyboard to your computer, but with USB-enabled devices, this is no longer necessary.
Connecting Other Devices
You also have the luxury of perhaps daisy-chaining more than one piece of gear, using the THRU ports that come with various other synths and drum machines.
The problem there is that they all have to share the same 16 MIDI Channels of your original device.
This becomes more trouble than it’s worth when you consider that you’ll be limited in how many instruments can be used and recorded within a single track.
The workaround for this is to get a multi-port Interface, which has 8 sets of In/Outs all carrying a total of 16 channels.
In essence, you’d have 128 which, is more than enough.
Dimensions and Weight
Another important consideration is the size.
Do you need something that you can take with you on the go?
If so, you’ll want to invest in something smaller and more portable.
A great option for travel would be the Novation Launch Key or FL Key Mini that I have (specifically made for FL Studio).
FL Key
If you decide on something for the studio, pay attention to how much desk space you’ll be working with.
For me, it’s not a lot. Almost every spot is occupied.
I have the padKONTROL, dual monitors, a turntable, a bevy of headphone amps, studio monitors, and headphones to consider.
Take note of what you have on your desk and plan accordingly!
Other Things To Consider
Build Quality.
You’ll want something that’s going to stand the test of time and not break down.
Remember: you get what you pay for. Still, the $100 FL Key pictured above, while light, is pretty robust and built well.
How many keys do you want?
Generally, most come with either 25, 49, 61, or 88.
Which you go with depends on your budget and how much flexibility you’re after.
Even though something like a 25-key unit only covers 2 octaves, with some keyboards you’re provided a way to expand upon that and utilize other various octaves via some sort of control.
For instance, the FL Key has Octave + and – buttons.
Sensitivity.
It’s also nice to have a keyboard with a good trigger response time. My padKONTROL and FL key are excellent in this regard.
The old AKAI MPD18 that I sold was not.
The pads were extremely hard and not all that fun to use, which is a common downside to their products in general.
A keyboard is similar in this way; most of the budget models won’t afford you the great sensitivity of something like an actual piano, but they are pretty decent nonetheless.
Faders, pads, and other knobs.
Both the padKONTROL and FL Key have a cool feature that I still use.
The X-Y pad on the padKONTROL allowed me to change the pitch and create some cool effects. The FL Key has a Pitch and Modulation function that behaves similarly.
A lot of other keyboards have these features as well; it just depends on the unit in question.
The Akai MPK Mini MK II is an example of a keyboard that utilizes pitch in the form of a joystick.
Other features to consider include An Arpeggiator, a Modulation wheel (controls tone, vibrato, etc.), Rotary Knob, etc.
Software & Mapping.
You’ll also want to consider a keyboard with bundled software and some virtual instrument sounds built in.
For example, the FL Key (any size) comes with an array of software to get you started and presents an incredible value for the price.
- Required Reading: Novation FL Key Mini Review: The Answer To Most Of Your Prayers
The most important thing to remember is to try and choose a MIDI keyboard that’s compatible with your Sequencer.
Years back, almost none of them worked well with FL Studio. For a long time, I used the Korg padKONTROL which, while technically “compatible” was not intuitive at all. Fortunately for us, the passage of time means making music is a lot easier than it was when I first started.
Video
Here’s a great video that goes into a lot more depth. Be sure to subscribe to his channel!
A Couple of Great Options
For Beginners Just Starting Out
With any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
The Akai MPK Mini MKII or Novation Launch Key/FL Key are my recommendations for units that work seamlessly with most of your sequencing programs including FL Studio.
If you’re like me and use FL Studio, just get the FL Key. You’ll thank me later.
Here’s a great comparison of the two. Make sure you Subscribe to Taetro’s channel!
If you’re working in other programs, the LaunchKey is more of a general-use type of keyboard that pairs well with almost anything.
Learn More:
Well, that’s about it for today folks! I hope you’ve come away with some valuable insight on How to Choose a MIDI Keyboard…
What are you currently working on? Let me know!!
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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-Stu
