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The best MIDI keyboard controller for beginners
By Al Griffin This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to MIDI keyboard controller for beginners. After 30 hours of research and hands-on testing, we think the Arturia MiniLab MkII is the best all-around 25-key MIDI keyboard controller for most people looking for an easy, cost-effective way to get into creating electronic music with computers. Arturia's controller is compact enough to fit in a backpack but has solid build quality and an uncluttered design that both beginners and experienced musicians will appreciate. The Arturia MiniLab MkII has the feel of a professional instrument. The keyboard and pads, though small, are highly responsive and can produce natural sounds from software plug-in instruments right out of the box. While customizing the controller's MIDI functions requires use of a separate app, the MiniLab MkII comes preconfigured to work with most popular computer music-making software, and it's bundled with Arturia's excellent Analog Lab Lite and UVI Grand Piano virtual instrument plug-ins. The Nektar Impact LX25+ makes a good choice for anyone who might be put off by the Arturia's small size, mini keys, and lack of onboard controls to configure its settings. This model also provides buttons to remotely control music-making software on your computer. Of all the controllers we tested, the Impact LX25+ proved the best option for live performance—the full-size keys had good action and responsiveness, and the rubber-coated pitch-bend and modulation wheels had a solid feel. The Nektar is the only controller of the bunch that doesn't offer out-of-the-box compatibility with the popular computer music software Ableton Live, but you can still configure it to work with that program. We recommend the Akai MPK Mini MKII to anyone seeking a compact, portable input device for making beats and triggering samples. The Akai's generously sized pads have a good feel and allow for a decent range of expressiveness when you're finger-drumming. And although the stiff keyboard action makes this model a lesser option for live performance, we found that the thumb-controlled pitch-bend and modulation joystick worked well. Also, the built-in arpeggiator is fun and easy to use, letting you trigger and shape complex synthesizer melodies on the fly.
