Best MIDI Keyboard

1 Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII Review

Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII Review

For a midi controller under $100 to be this good and this portable is unheard of!  It’s not...

9.1
2 Nord Stage 3 Review

Nord Stage 3 Review

This is a complete, master keyboard that has some of the best piano and organ tones in the...

9.6
3 Alesis VI25 MIDI & Drum Pad Controller Review

Alesis VI25 MIDI & Drum Pad Controller Review

Bottom Line – This is a solid MIDI controller with lots of control options for a traveling ...

8.4

MIDI Keyboards and MIDI Controllers used to be the way of the future. Now they are the way of the present.

With a seemingly unlimited amount of sounds, tones and loops available online there is a limit to what you can do with a traditional keyboard. Even the electric keyboard that have slots for uploading tones and sounds, have a limit to how much the keyboard can hold.

Featured MIDI Controllers


Nord Stage 3

9.6/10 Read review
96 %
Last Amazon price update was: March 25, 2024 9:22 pm
× Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com (Amazon.in, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, etc) at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
9.6 Expert Score

The Nord Stage 3 is as professional and complete of a keyboard as they come.  It really is packed with features, so while it’s easy to use, it take a little time to master.

Sound
9.8
Price
9.2
Durability
9.6
PROS
  • Rotating speaker for organ can be used for pianos and synths
  • Can control midi devices
CONS
  • Some synth tones aren't as great as others

Akai MPK Mini

9.1/10 Read review
91 %
Last Amazon price update was: March 25, 2024 8:13 pm
× Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com (Amazon.in, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, etc) at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
9.1 Expert Score

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.

Sound
9.7
Price
10
Durability
7.9
PROS
  • Affordable
CONS
  • Slightly complicated driver install

Alesis VI25

8.4/10 Read review
84 %
Last Amazon price update was: March 25, 2024 7:05 pm
× Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com (Amazon.in, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, etc) at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
8.4 Expert Score

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.

Sound
7.8
Price
9.9
Durability
7
PROS
  • Semi Weighted Keys
CONS
  • Wheels are too close to pads

MIDI Keyboards to search for the best reviews and ratings

What is a keyboard?
A keyboard can be several things. A keyboard can be a MIDI Controller, an Electric Piano, a synthesizer… In context to how we have reviewed and sorted instruments on instrumentfind.com, we will categorize everything in the piano family as a keyboard. Which will include:
Synthesizers
Midi Controllers
Organs
Electric Pianos
Fender Rhodes
Wurlitzer
Modulators
Other Related Items


View All MIDI Reviews

Most MIDI Controllers are designed in a way where there are no native sounds, meaning, without being connected to a computer with a program running that send values to the keys and pads, there will be no sounds coming from your board.

MIDI Keyboards can be Keyboards with both MIDI Controls and native sounds. There are organs, synthesizers, and electric pianos that have both native sounds and the ability to become programmable midi channels. Some MIDI Equipped Keyboards can take over other midi boards. Which means if you love the tones on your new Roland Juno keyboard, you can use the onboard MIDI send and take over another MIDI Board and send Roland Juno sounds to the external MIDI device.