Buying Guide: Keyboard MIDI Controllers

What's a MIDI controller, anyway?

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) technology lets musicians play a single controller keyboard to trigger sounds from multiple synthesizers and samplers. Developed in the 1980s, MIDI has been an established industry standard for decades -- and it's more useful than ever. Today, a performer can play a MIDI controller to drive virtual instruments on a laptop or tablet. With a single lightweight MIDI controller and a hard drive full of samples, you can easily bring thousands of sounds to the gig.

How can I use a MIDI controller in my home studio?

MIDI is a powerful tool for music production. For example, you can record MIDI data while monitoring the sound of one particular synthesizer, then instantly switch to another sound when the recording is done. Most DAW software includes MIDI sequencing tools that let producers edit notes individually on a piano roll, quantize to a metronome, time-stretch, transpose, and on and on. To use these tools, you'll need a way to capture your performance in the first place -- like one of the MIDI controller keyboards in this guide, plus a MIDI cable or a USB cable to connect the controller to your computer.

How many keys do I need?

If you like to play one-handed synth leads or basses, 25 keys may be all you need. If you're looking to play piano arrangements, you'll want 61, 76 or possibly all 88 keys. The most popular size for MIDI controllers is 49 keys -- big enough to play two-handed, but not too big to fit on your studio desk. Most compact keyboard controllers have octave buttons that let you scroll up and down to access the piano's full 88-key range.

Weighted vs. semi-weighted vs. synth-action keys -- what's the difference?

These terms all describe the keyboard's action -- the way in which the keys respond to the player. Fully weighted keys feel the most like an acoustic piano. Since the keys have counterweights on the far ends, they require a bit more force and finger independence to play -- and the keyboards themselves can get very heavy! Synth-action keys, on the other hand, are light and springy and offer little resistance. Synth-action keys are found on lightweight controllers, entry-level keyboards, and most electronic organs. If you find fully weighted keys too heavy, but spring-loaded synth-action keys too light, semi-weighted keys are the perfect happy medium, and are commonly found on professional controller keyboards.

What does "hammer action" mean?

In an acoustic piano, pressing a key lifts a damper off the piano's strings and "throws" a hammer to strike them. The harder you press the keys, the harder the hammers hit, and the louder the sound. Of course, in an electronic keyboard, there's no need for strings. However, in their quest to replicate the feel of the acoustic piano's action, manufacturers can build a version of this elegant hammer mechanism inside higher-end electronic keyboards -- and refer to it as hammer action. Keyboards with graded hammer action require a heavier touch on the lower notes and a lighter touch on the higher notes, just like an acoustic piano.

What is escapement?

Try pressing an acoustic piano key as softly and slowly as you can, and you'll feel a slight bump of resistance about two-thirds of the way down. This is the "point of sound." Consider what's happening inside the piano: a hammer momentarily hits the strings, immediately bounces back so as not to interfere with their vibration, and is ready to strike again. The mechanism by which that hammer strikes the strings once and immediately "escapes" (even if you keep holding the key down) is called the escapement. You'll feel the subtle resistance of the escapement on all acoustic pianos -- it's part of what gives a piano its distinctive "feel." A keyboard with escapement will feel more natural to the player that's used to playing an acoustic piano.

What is aftertouch? Do I need it?

If you use a keyboard to play horns, winds, strings, organs, synths, or any sound capable of a long sustain time, aftertouch can help you add expression to your playing. On an aftertouch-sensitive keyboard controller, once you've already struck the key and are holding the note, you can apply more pressure to trigger an aftertouch event. Lean into the keys to widen the rotary speaker effect on an organ, add vibrato to the end of a string part, open the filter on a synth lick, make a saxophone "growl," and so on. While aftertouch may be unnecessary for the classical pianist, it's an ergonomic way for synth players to control those cool, expressive effects without having to reach for a modulation wheel, joystick or extra foot pedal. Aftertouch is a feature that's usually only found on higher-end MIDI controllers, but once you've used it, it can be tough to go without!

Performance pads -- do I need them?

Want to use your MIDI controller to play percussion sounds? While it's possible to trigger drum samples on keyboard keys, some producers prefer the natural feel of velocity-sensitive performance pads. Many keyboard controllers include a bank of 8, 12, or 16 pads that are perfect for laying down beats and launching loops. You can also add a standalone pad controller to your setup.

Now that I have a MIDI controller, which software instruments should I get?

Once you've connected your MIDI controller to your computer and fired up your DAW software, you're ready to start triggering sounds! While most DAWs come with at least a few software instrument plug-ins to get you started, you can expand your musical palette by installing third-party virtual instruments. Want samples of classic keyboards? Check out Keyscape. If you're looking for a virtual instrument that lets you design original sounds from scratch, or import your own samples and mangle them into something new, you have to check out Spectrasonics Omnisphere -- don't worry, it's also got lots of presets to get you started. And for the producer who just can't get enough virtual instruments, there's Native Instruments Komplete -- an all-encompassing collection of virtual synths, samples and effects plug-ins.