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.
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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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.
