USB-C and MIDI ports on a Roland A-88 mkII … while the Komplete Kontrol S49 also has 5-pin MIDI The NI Komplete Kontrol A49 only offers USB … But they work well for playing the occasional chord progression or bassline, and they’re great for triggering samples and loops. These small keyboards obviously aren’t made for playing sophisticated piano parts.

If you’re used to normal-sized keys, playing on slim keys takes some getting used to. Are MIDI Keyboard Controllers with Mini Keys a good Choice?īesides keyboards with normal-sized keys, many manufacturers now also offer compact MIDI keyboard controllers with slimmer mini keys. If you’re looking for a keyboard controller for on the go, the key is to find the right balance between size/weight and the required keyboard size for what you want to play. MIDI keyboard controllers with 49 or more keys are bulkier and heavier. MIDI Keyboard Controllers are often available in several different sizes, like the Nektar Impact LX+ familyĪ typical 25-key keyboard with mini (slim) keys is about the size of a sheet of paper, often weighs less than a kilogram, and fits in a backpack – the perfect travel companion. Certain models offer pre-configured controller assignments for controlling DAWs and software synthesizers. In addition to this, some controllers are equipped with drum pads, arpeggiators, or step sequencers. Many keyboards also offer knobs, faders, and various function buttons for controlling DAW software, software synths, or other MIDI sound generators. But they all have one thing in common: They have a keyboard that outputs the played notes as MIDI data. MIDI keyboard controllers are available in a wide variety of configurations. What Features do MIDI Keyboard Controllers offer?

The transmission of the control data takes place via traditional 5-pin MIDI jacks or MIDI over USB. For this purpose, MIDI keyboards often have various programmable controllers besides the actual keyboard, such as rotary knobs, faders, drum pads, and more. Instead, its job is to control other gear such as synthesizers, DAW software, software synths, or even mobile apps using MIDI data. A MIDI keyboard controller, also called a controller keyboard or master keyboard, is a keyboard that doesn’t have any built-in sounds of its own.

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