When I bought my first MIDI keyboard it was a very exciting day as I was on the hunt for the best midis. The infinite possibilities that are provided by owning a MIDI keyboard unleashed creativity for me that I had dreamed of having for years and hoped to find amongst the best keyboards.
With a quality MIDI controller, you can essentially map the instrument to sound like just about any instrument ever made. When it comes to song writing and music production there are few things that I can think of that are more valuable.
While most high end keyboards have MIDI capabilities, there is no need to drop 4k on a new NORD if you just want to plug a MIDI keyboard up to your computer and start messing around.
While there are decent MIDI keyboards under $100, if you have a budget that can get your MIDI keyboards under $500, you can pick from several high quality options.
When determine the best MIDI keyboards for beginners we considered the cost, the durability and the function about all else.
This is a great midi controller for a professional musician on the go. I fly a lot and highly value something so small that I can work on my music on long flights without spilling into the persons space next to me or having to hope for my own row. It’s great for almost any situation a traveling musician would find themselves wanting to get their ideas recorded. And it’s a good price with great usability.
In my search for the perfect portable MIDI controller for the on the go traveling musician, the M-Audio Oxygen MK IV is one of the best options in my opinion. It is very compact, durable, and user friendly. It’s debatable which is the best compact MIDI controller, but with all the programs included and the sound bank that comes with this MIDI controller it was a no brainer for me to add this to my collection.
This was the first midi controller I ever bought and I still use it today. I have read that some models have had some issues, but for me I’m going on 9 years with this midi controller and I have pumped out a ton of music on this guy. It’s lightweight, easy to use and affordable. While I want a Prophet, that is comparing something that costs a couple thousand to something that costs a couple hundred. I will never regret purchasing this midi controller.
For a MIDI controller under $200 that is compatible with just about any music program and easy to travel with, I would recommend the Alesis VI25 MIDI Controller. The semi weighted keys are a nice touch and the buttons and knobs are great too. The pads leave a little to be desired but I would expect that from any of the cheaper MIDI Controllers and just appreciate that there is so much to work with for such a low price. Works great with Ableton especially.
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How do we pick our Top Choices for Best MIDI Keyboard for Beginners?
The main factors we look at when determining which MIDI keyboards are best for beginners, include:
Build & Function
Value
Durability
Was this MIDI built to function well?
For the most part, MIDI controllers don’t have native sounds and so the quality of sound will be reflective of your DAW (Logic, GarageBand, Ableton, FL Studios, etc.) and your computer and interface.
With that in mind we contemplate the build and function of MIDI controllers based on how well they connect, how easy it is to map the MIDI controller with your music production program and the usability of the pads, knobs, buttons and wheels.
Does this MIDI’s value meet its functionality?
For the musician that is just getting started in the world of MIDI keyboards we want you to have a high value instrument without breaking the bank. In our evaluation of price, a keyboard doesn’t NOT get a high score for being cheap.
We evaluate the cost of the instrument in relationship to the quality of the product. If the cost is lower than the value of its design, the instrument will earn a higher grade for its price point.
Determining the value in regards to price point is related to the build and function of an instrument. For MIDI keyboards, the build and function mostly relates to how easy it is to use.
Which MIDI Controllers are the most durable?
The beginner MIDI keyboard is also something that we tend to beat up a bit while we figure it out. For that, we don’t want a MIDI controller that will fall apart. If a MIDI controller has a reputations of knobs breaking or keys falling off the keyboard it will be selected in the durability section of our buyers guide.
Typically we try to avoid putting the really crappy instruments on our website and focus our efforts on the quality instruments of every price point.
I will admit that I bought a $75 MIDI Controller because it was small enough to fly with in my backpack, allowing me to write music on airplanes. The particular MIDI keyboard had a reputation of having flimsy keys with knobs and wheels that could break easily.
In my situation, I made the educated decision to buy an instrument with durability flaws because of the low price point and the build and function specs that were perfect for my travel needs. For that reason we have some instruments on the site that are not perfect but were good enough in multiple areas of scrutiny to make the website.
Chris Ryan
Chris Ryan is a musician and educator from Philadelphia, PA, an avid archivist of folk and country music, a disciple of Aphex Twin and a fervent supporter of Atlanta trap music. Chris can usually be found tracking keyboards, vocals and lap steel for the upcoming debut of his band The Cobwebs, or in FL Studio working on the next generation of trap sounds. He is conversant with, and writes about, hundreds of genres of music from all over the world.
