5 of the Best MIDI Keyboard Controllers for Beginners

The world of music production is filled with different tools and gear to help artists, producers, and enthusiasts freely make and manipulate sounds to express their creativity. One of the most critical equipment for any home studio environment is the MIDI controller.

Standing for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, MIDIs are devices that offer piano-like key beds, knobs, faders, buttons, and pads that allow you to control different parameters on your digital audio workstation (DAW). In general, MIDI controllers don’t make any sound by themselves. Instead, they connect to a computer to control digital instruments, effects, sound sequences, and virtually any adjustable parameter that you map it to.

Choosing the proper model heavily depends on your skillsets, intended use, and creative purposes. If you’re a pianist getting into the world of music production, full-size keys can be a much better investment than a compact MIDI that comes with mini keys. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a MIDI controller to create beats with, opting for a model that comes with velocity pads can be a more suitable choice. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best MIDI keyboard controllers for beginners.

1. Arturia KeyLab Essential Mk3: excellent all-around MIDI at a fair budget

Easily one of the best valuable MIDIs on the market, the Arturia KeyLab Essential Mk3 checks many boxes as a versatile and reliable keyboard controller with a fabulous and practical design. It comes with full-size keys, eight backlit pads, nine knobs, nine faders, dedicated pitch and modulation wheels, and numerous buttons to control your DAW.

 It comes in two sizes: 49-key (four-octave) and 61-key (five-octave), though the former can feel limiting when playing both chords and melodies simultaneously.

Besides the decent build quality, another thing that makes this MIDI controller a good investment is its intuitive DAW integration. If you’re using Ableton as your main DAW, you’ll definitely appreciate how seamlessly the layout allows you to control different parameters around the workstation. Although it might take a little MIDI mapping to get the full potential out of the KetLab Essential Mark 3 in Logic Pro, it still features one of the best DAW integrations I’ve seen on MIDI keyboards in its league.

The dedicated buttons for scale and chord modes, as well as an arpeggiator open so many creative doors for working with synths and creating catchy melodies. USB-C connectivity is another valuable feature that makes this MIDI future-proof, especially if you have one of those newer Macs or any other computer that doesn’t support older USB inputs.

Last but not least, a huge selling point of the KeyLab Essential Mk3 is the included software package. Arturia bundles this keyboard controller with the Analog Lab V, which includes 2,000 studio-grade presets. You can find anything from vintage synths and strings to orchestral sounds, drums, and horns in Analog Lab V. Other included software are Ableton Live Lite, LoopCloud, Melodics, and Model D. The KeyLab Essential Mk3 is retailed at $269 on Amazon.

2. Akai MPK Mini Play MK3: maximum creativity in a small package

The primary feature that sets this MIDI controller apart from others on the market is that it can be used as a standalone device. The MPK Mini Play MK3 is a battery-powered device that promises up to 14 hours of playback. Moreover, it comes with a built-in speaker and a headphone jack that you can use to monitor what you’re playing. To make it a completely independent keyboard controller, Akai featured an onboard sound library in the MPK Mini Play MK3 that includes over 100 drum and instrument sounds. 

The Akai MPK Mini Play MK3 features a two-octave mini key bed (25 keys) with velocity sensitivity, eight backlit pads, four assignable knobs, and a joystick that you can use to control pitch, modulation, and anything else that you map it to. Moreover, you have access to buttons for creating arpeggiated sounds and repeating notes.

You can also use the MPK Mini Play as a regular MIDI controller by connecting it to your computer via a USB cable. Compared to other options in its price range, it comes with fewer knobs and adjustable controllers. The The three software included with this device are MPC Beats, Mini Grand (a grand piano virtual instrument), and Hybrid 3 (virtual synthesizer). You can purchase the Akai MPK Mini Play MK3 for roughly $150 on Amazon.

3. Arturia MiniLab Mk3: compact, budget-friendly, and great value

Whenever I’m traveling, the first thing I pack is my Arturia MiniLab Mk2 MIDI controller. The rigid build quality and the compact size make it the perfect portable MIDI controller for my personal use. The MiniLab Mk3 offers everything from the Mk2 model in a redefined package.

The 25-key mini piano layout feels solid, though the velocity sensitivity is a bit too soft for heavier hands. However, it is nothing you can’t get used to after using it for a couple of hours. Instead of wheels, the MiniLab features two touch-sensitive stripes for modulation and pitch, which surprisingly work well. Moreover, you have access to 10 rotary knobs and four faders that you can map to different parameters.

The keyboard features eight backlit pads that get the job done, although the miniature size and the linear layout mean the MiniLab Mk3 is not the most practical option for playing complex rhythms using pads. You can assign 16 samples to these pads and switch between two sets with a dedicated button on the controller.

Like the KeyLab, the Arturia MiniLab Mk3 comes with a bunch of useful software. An intro version of the Analog Lab software instrument package offers a long list of presets, the Model D piano emulator sounds rich, and the Ableton Live Lite is an excellent introduction to professional DAWs. The Arturia MiniLab Mk3 is priced at $109 on Amazon.

4. Nektar SE25: most budget-friendly option

If you want an entry-level MIDI keyboard controller without breaking the bank, the Nektar SE25 can be a good introduction with a two-octave mini-piano layout. Like other models on this list, the Nektar SE25 connects to your computer via a USB cable.

Unlike most other MIDI controllers, it does not feature an input for a sustain pedal. However, as you can imagine, it is not a MIDI keyboard for playing complex piano pieces or chords with long sustaining notes.

The SE25 is very compact, which makes it a very light and portable MIDI keyboard. However, I still prefer carrying the Arturia MiniLab over this if I want to make music on the go.

Besides the mini piano keys and a couple of basic control buttons, the Nektar SE25 does not offer much else. The lack of faders and pads makes it a less versatile package than most other two-octave models. The Nektar SE25 is a Midi controller keyboard that stands true behind, "what you see is what you get". It's not trying to do anything that it can't. It's simple, basic, and cheap. I always have one laying around the studio just in case I need it.

 If you need a compact and entry-level MIDI, you can opt for a Nektar SE25 on Amazon for about $50.

5. Nektar Impact LX88+: full-size piano keys at a great price

If you’re an experienced piano player looking for a keyboard controller that resembles your instrument, the Nektar Impact LX88+ can be an excellent entry to the world of MIDI. The most noticeable advantage of the Impact LX88+ over other 88-key MIDIs is its relatively affordable price tag.

With 88 full-size keys, the Impact LX88+ gives you access to all of the octaves on the piano. It is an excellent option if you’re planning to use orchestral instrument emulators in a DAW to compose scores. Moreover, it features eight backlit pads, eight knobs, nine faders, and nine assignable buttons under each fader that allows you to control different parameters when making music.

The downside is that you won’t have a fully-weighted hammer-action key bed, but that is a compromise you should be willing to make if you’re looking for an inexpensive option. The semi-weighted keys on the Nectar Impact LX88+ are still really good, just not piano-level good.

The keyboard controller comes with Bitwig Studio 8-track, which is certainly not the most advanced digital audio workstation. It is more of an introduction to the world of music production. You can find the Nektar Impact LX88+ on Amazon for $320.