This article has critically examined all the best digital piano MIDI controllers of the moment. Since we want to provide ideal options for you, the 10 items found on this list were carefully rated by their reviews, affordability, functionality, convenience, and quality. Read on for a clear overview of each of the top 10 best digital piano MIDI controller that includes their features, uses, and our recommendations. The following MIDI keyboards are great not only for professional studios but also for any musician or artist who wants to create music from their own personal computer.
Our Top 5 Best Digital Piano MIDI Controller Options
Below is a comparison table of the top 5 best digital piano MIDI controller found in this article.
| Product | No. & Type Of Keys | Price Range | Dimensions & Weight | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Arturia MiniLab MkII 25 Slim-Key Controller  |
25, not weighted | $$ | 14″ x 9″ x 1.5″, 1.84 lbs | 5 stars |
Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII  |
25, not weighted | $$ | 12.5″ x 7.13″ x 1.75″, 1.65 lbs. | 4.5 stars |
Akai Professional LPK25  |
25, not weighted | $ | 13.4″ x 3.8″ x 1.1″, 1 lb. | 4.5 stars |
Novation Launchkey Mini, MK2 Version  |
25, not weighted | $$ | 8.66″ x 14.96″ x 3.07″, 2.38 lbs. | 4 stars |
M-Audio Keystation 88 II  |
88, semi-weighted | $$$ | 9.8″ x 3.6″ x 53.9″, 17 lbs. | 4 stars |
10. M-Audio Oxygen 49 MKIV 49-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller
This keyboard is 32.04 x 9.56 x 3.7 inches, 6.39 lbs. Its features include 8 velocity-sensitive pads, 9 assignable, 8 assignable knobs, and transport buttons. It also comes with software for Pro Tools and VIP and other options ideal for guitar amp, digital piano, and any professional sound design. As for the keys, they are pressure sensitive and velocity-responsive.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Pads are highly sensitive to velocity. | Costumers have claimed that the buttons weren’t as velocity-sensitive as expected. However, they can be calibrated |
| Controls for loop, record, play, stop have a handy location. | |
| This is a great choice for beginners |
A product overview is available on YouTube.
9. Midiplus AKM320 midiplus MIDI Keyboard Controller
This item is 4.92 x 18.11 x 1.18 inches, 1.59 lbs. Features include 32-note velocity sensitive keys, pitch and modulation wheels (which behave more nicely than knobs), octave and transpose buttons, as well as a sustain switch interface. This is the lowest price point you can get. In exchange, owners receive quite a surprising music device that is plug and play.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Basic features. Just connect it to a computer, open software, and start working. | Users have to press down hard. |
| Ideal for a home recording studio. |
8. M-Audio Keystation 49 II
This product is almost the same as our No. 5 on this list but smaller and less expensive. It’s 31.88 x 7.67 x 2.95 inches, 4.54 lbs. The M-Audio version includes Pro Tools and SONiVOX Eighty-Eight Ensemble with purchase. On top of that, you get 2GB of sound library spanning 500 different compositions.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Velocity sensitivity is of quality. | Sensitivity is not as sharp for the white keys as the others. |
| Simple plug and play MID with 32 non-weighted keys. |
7. Alesis V49 Keyboard Controller
This device has USB connectivity, drum pads, assignable knobs and buttons, pitch and mod wheels, octave up and down buttons, as well as sustain-pedal input. Purchase includes Ableton Live Lite 9 and Xpand!2 which are enough to make this the best digital piano midi controller for tech lovers. It’s 9.6 x 37.6 x 4.5 inches and 7.98 lbs. For a 49-key MIDI, digital musicians get a lot of value as they can work with sound effects, adjust volume, change parameters, and more from one board.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Highly customizable regarding velocity, pad behavior, etc. | Drum pads may double hit from time to time. |
| Slim design that fits into a small workstation, but with full-size keys. |
A product overview is available on YouTube.
6. M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 II 32-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller
What makes this M-Audio Mini 32 II MIDI controller stand out is its suite of features including pitch, sustain, and modulation controls. The keyboard controller comes equipped with Pro Tools software. It’s 17.5 x 5.38 x 2.25 inches, 0.5 lbs. This is the ideal choice for projects focused on bass-lines, chords, and melodies. While simple, this is a convenient plug-and-play controller that gets the job done.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Compact design for digital musicians always on the go. | Mini-sized keys may be inconvenient for those with larger fingers. |
| Modulation buttons occupy a strategic location for easy control. |
5. M-Audio Keystation 88 II
This controller has USB connection, octave, pitch, modulation, and transport controls, as well as a 5-pin MIDI output for an external device. Included with purchase are Pro Tools and SONiVOX Eighty-Eight Ensemble. It’s 9.8 x 3.6 x 53.9 inches, 17 lbs.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Mid-level price. | Some customers said the keys were not as velocity-sensitive as expected. |
| Semi-weighted keys. | |
| It has a 4-star average in reviews. |
4. Novation Launchkey Mini 25-Note USB Keyboard Controller, MK2 Version
This MIDI keyboard is designed for use in Ableton Live. Features include drum pads and knobs. Ableton Live Lite, XLN Audio Addictive Keys, Novation Bass Station, V Station virtual instruments, and Loopmasters samples are the additional glam you will get if you choose this candidate for the best digital piano midi controller. It’s 8.66 x 14.96 x 3.07 inches, 2.38 lbs.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Affordable. | Mini-sized keys which may be inconvenient for those with larger fingers. |
| Semi-weighted feel with a reassuring switch when pressing keys to the bottom. |
A product overview is available on YouTube.
3. Akai Professional LPK25 MIDI Keyboard Controller
This keyboard has a built-in arpeggiator and offers USB connection. With a 25 velocity-sensitive keys in miniature, On top of that, it includes editing software for Mac and PC. It’s 13.4 x 3.8 x 1.1 inches and weighs only 1 pound which makes it one of the most portable MIDI controllers.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Extremely small and lightweight. | Not ideal for people who want to use such a gear in only one location. |
| There are numerous iOS apps that work with this unit. |
A product overview is available on YouTube.
2. Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII MIDI Pad & Keyboard Controller
The features of this keyboard include USB connection, 25-synth-action mini-keys, 8 drum pads with two banks, and 8 assignable control knobs. Included with this purchase, you’ll find virtual instrument download packages and VIP. It’s 12.5 x 7.13 x 1.75 inches, 1.65 lbs. If you want the best digital piano midi controller for a slightly lower price point than our #1 keyboard; get this one.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Once you set up the keyboard as you please, it’s easy to use from that point on. | Akai provides few official tutorials for this model at the moment. |
| Budget-friendly. | |
| Unique 4-way joystick users can control for easy modulation. |
1. Arturia MiniLab MkII 25 Slim-Key Controller
This one stands out enough to obtain our top recommendation for purchase. This MIDI keyboard comes in first because it is compact, functional, affordable, and has the highest customer rating. Features are comprehensive, from 16 assignable encoders, 2 banks of 8 RGB drum pad to pitch and modulation controls. Purchase includes Analog Lab Lite, Ableton Live Lite, UVI Grand, and MiniLab MK II. It’s 14 x 9 x 1.5 inches, 1.84 lbs.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| A quality build. | Works best with Arturia VSTs only. |
| User-friendly AnalogLab software for professional productions. | |
| Everything is highly reconfigurable up to the colors of the pads. |
A product overview is available on YouTube.
Conclusion
And there you have it! Hopefully, this list of the top 10 best digital piano MIDI controller models of this year gives you a lot of options to choose from. Please weigh in your own thoughts on these products or include some recommendations of your own that weren’t in this article in the comment section below!
Last update on 2022-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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