Best midi controller on Reddit
176 reviews from r/synthesizers, r/ableton, r/Logic_Studio and 27 more subreddits
176 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Arturia
4.4
(44)
"The $399 Arturia KeyLab mk3 88-key semi-weighted is next on my list."
"I love my Arturia Keystep 37."
"Cant go wrong with arturia you'll literally become a pro."
"Arturia Keylab Essentials 49 MK3."
"Arturia KeyStep Pro. 49 keys, plenty of MIDI options."
"I’ve got a MiniLab 3 that I love."
"For me, it’s the Arturia KeyLab 61 MkII."
"Keystep pro."
"Keystep pro."
"I really like my Arturia mini lab 3."
#2
Novation
4.4
(30)
"Novation Launch Control XL!!"
"For sure the LaunchKey 49!"
"I'm enjoying my novation Launchkey 49 MK4."
"This one is by far my favorite."
"I bought a midi hub RK006... and then a Novation Launch Control XL MKII, which is perfect for the 8 channels format of the M8."
"If you're looking at Abelton, cast your eye over the new Novation Launchkey Mk 4 - various keybed lengths. Tight integration."
"I have the launchkey and it's great! And not too expensive. Highly recommend it."
"The Novation Launchkey MK4 series has rotary encoders which makes it a huge upgrade over MK3."
"I love how nicely the SL MK3 is integrated into Bitwig via the drivenbymoss Script."
"Novation Launchkey 49 mk3."
#3
Nektar
4.3
(12)
"If you want the best possible integration for Studio One, including but not limited to controlling plugins and getting proper feedback for every parameter on the controller screen, Nektar is the way to go."
"I have a t4 and it’s solid."
"Nektar is the only choice that makes sense."
"Awesome controller for Reason, great price."
"Nektar impact 25+, it's cheap, has a fair amount of knobs."
"Check out Nektars range of controllers."
"Check out Nektar controllers. I've heard they work well with Reaper."
"Another Reason user here that uses Nektar. No one else comes so closely configured to work with Reason out of the box."
"If we’re talking keys then Nektar."
"I think in terms of mapping, nektar has the best ones."
#4
Akai
4.0
(13)
"Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3. Less than 100€."
"9 sliders, 24 knobs, 16 buttons for 89€"
"Akai mpk mini plus."
"I've owned a Akai MPK mini with 25 keys and 8 pads for about 10 years."
"You can maybe get a used mpk mini 2."
"For Ableton the APC40 MKii not the new one will give pads to launch clips, faders, knobs and more."
"With the same money you can get a used Akai MPD218, which they say has the best pads."
"I just got the akai mpk mini plus(37keys) to replace my older NI S25 mk1."
"If you’re looking for a midi controller."
"Akai midimix or novation launch control."
#5
Roland
4.4
(8)
"My default answer for this is Roland TD17."
"Anything Roland"
"My default answer for this is Roland TD17 but I’m not as familiar with other brands’ lineups."
"The a-80 is a midi controller. No speakers or sounds at all."
"The FP series is a more simple, piano focused series, better built in speakers."
"I personally own a Roland pc 200 mk2 with X support stand for 20 dollars."
"I'm big fan of the Roland A series for controllers."
"I'm using my roland s-1 as keyboard - it got internal battery and i connect it via jack midi."
#6
Native Instruments
4.8
(6)
"Komplete Kontrol S61."
"I've loved my Native S61. Been using it for ages now."
"Komplete Kontrol is great."
"My Komplete Kontrol board does everything I want and more."
"Felt like I had to buy it when I upgraded to komplete 14 collectors edt."
"The A series is in your budget with a very decent keybed too."
#7
M-Audio
4.2
(6)
"M-Audio Hammer 88 if you need 88 hammer weighted keys."
"I ended up going with M audio hammer 88"
"The M-Audio 88 key controller looks good. It has usb and midi."
"Check out the M Audio Hammer 88. Straight up keys only, decent hammer keyboard action."
"I chose an m-audio 88 semi weighted as it is budget friendly and feels better than standard keyboard."
"I was really happy with my M-Audio Oxygen 49."
#8
Behringer
4.3
(4)
"Very sturdy feature packed midi keyboards."
"Behringer Swing would be a good start."
"It's a got great features as a midi controller - options I couldn't find on much more expensive controllers."
"Behringer bcf2000 and bcr2000"
#9
Korg
4.0
(4)
"Korg NanoKontrol?"
"The smallest midi controller i know of would be a korg nanokey."
"Korg nano kontrol or nano pad. But for full potential, maybe you can look for a used touchscreen laptop."
"Korg NanoStudio."
#10
Ableton Push 2
5.0
(3)
"I’m selling my Push2 if you’d be interested in it."
"Push 2"
"Try to look for a used push2. Basically will be all you need."
#11
Ableton
4.7
(3)
"Dude, just get a Push 2/3. You’ll be getting this and so, so much more."
"Can’t see past a push. There is nothing better for this task."
"2nd hand push!"
#12
Midi Fighter
4.3
(3)
"For general control of values I use a midifighter twister, it is great and super customisable."
"I prefer midi fighter twister."
"I've got a Midifighter Twister all mapped how I like it."
#13
Oxi One
5.0
(2)
"I would get an Oxi One"
"Oxi One if you want to be programmatically entering in patterns."
#14
TouchOSC
5.0
(2)
"Touch OSC all the way."
"I recommend TouchOSC for parameter control."
#15
Novation Launch Control XL
4.5
(2)
"Love my Launch Control XL"
"I also use a novation launch control xl."
#16
Arturia KeyStep 37
4.5
(2)
"I went with a Keystep 37 and I’m realizing it’s a fairly comprehensive solution for both."
"Have you considered a Keystep 37?"
#17
Akai APC Mini
4.0
(2)
"Apc mini mark 2 should work nicely."
"We have a AKAI APCmini in our kit that works pretty good."
#18
Yamaha
4.0
(2)
"Used Yamaha P-series is a good place to start if you need a built-in sound engine"
"Check out the older Yamaha S-08. It’s a synth, that sounds pretty bad, but the keybed is 88 key weighted that feels amazing."
#19
Arturia Keystep
5.0
(1)
"The reigning king of controllers for hardware is still the Arturia Keystep."
#20
Akai APC 40 MK2
5.0
(1)
"I use and recommend APC 40 Mk 2."
#21
Samson Graphite 49
5.0
(1)
"You should look the Novation Impulse 49 or the Samson Graphite 49."
#22
Studiologic
5.0
(1)
"I don't think you could go wrong with the Studiologic SL88 Studio 88-key Keyboard Controller"
#23
Novation Impulse 49
5.0
(1)
"You should look the Novation Impulse 49 or the Samson Graphite 49."
#24
Korg MicroKorg
4.0
(1)
"My pick would be a MicroKorg and midi interface."
#25
Faderfox EC4
4.0
(1)
"Faderfox EC4 has been nice for knobs for me."
#26
Roland SP404 MK2
4.0
(1)
"The roland sp404 mk2 works with koala"
#27
Korg NanoKontrol 2
4.0
(1)
"Korg nanokontrol 2?"
#28
Samson
4.0
(1)
"Honestly the Samson graphite 49 was pretty great."
#29
Arturia KeyLab 49
4.0
(1)
"The Launchkey or Arturia 49 has all 3 plus keys."
#30
Mackie
4.0
(1)
"The Mackie control devices work beautifully too."
#31
Akai MIDI Mix
4.0
(1)
"Akai midi mix 8 faders but you can bank left and right."
#32
Faderfox
4.0
(1)
"Faderfox pc12 plus faderfox mx12."
#33
Akai APC 64
4.0
(1)
"I use an Akai apc 64, some people don’t like the touch faders but I like them."
#34
Presonus Faderport
4.0
(1)
"Launch key mini 25 and presonus faderport."
#35
Doepfer
4.0
(1)
"I know of exactly one - the Doepfer D3m waterfall controller."
#36
Nord
4.0
(1)
"You'd probably need to look into a few stage boards like Nord Electro, Roland VR730, Yamaha YC."
#37
Novation Launchkey Mini 25
4.0
(1)
"Launch key mini 25 and presonus faderport."
#38
Maschine
4.0
(1)
"Yes, you can definitely use the Maschine Mikro MK2 as a MIDI controller."
#39
Korg NanoKontrol2
4.0
(1)
"I think you'll need 2 devices, along the lines of a Presonus Atom and a Korg NanoKontrol2."
#40
Presonus Atom
4.0
(1)
"I think you'll need 2 devices, along the lines of a Presonus Atom and a Korg NanoKontrol2."
#41
Arturia MiniLab 3
4.0
(1)
"What about the Arturia Keylab Essential 49 or the Arturia MiniLab 3?"
#42
Arturia Keylab Essential 49
4.0
(1)
"What about the Arturia Keylab Essential 49 or the Arturia MiniLab 3?"
#43
Akai APC 40
4.0
(1)
"Get a used APC 40. Those go pretty cheap."
#44
CP
4.0
(1)
"It really is the best mini key experience you can have in terms of feel"
#45
Electra
4.0
(1)
"Maybe this midi controller as it has a lua scripting engine: [https://www.electra.one/]"
#46
Panorama
3.0
(1)
"I have the Panorama P6 (the keyboard). While the integration with bitwig is perfect"
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