MIDI keyboard controllers

USB controllers from Arturia, Novation, NI and Akai: keys, pads, faders and DAW integration.

Top rated MIDI controllers

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  1. Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk38.4
  2. Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk38.4
  3. Arturia KeyLab 61 Mk38.3
  4. Akai MPK Mini Mk38.2
  5. Akai MPK Mini IV8.2

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About MIDI controllers

A MIDI controller makes no sound of its own: it sends notes, velocity, and knob and pad data to a computer or hardware module, and the sounds come from software. In our database the range starts at pad-and-key minis (Akai MPK Mini Mk3 at $119, NI Komplete Kontrol M32 at $139) and runs to fully weighted 88-key boards like the Arturia KeyLab 88 Mk3 ($1,299, a Fatar TP/110 keybed) and Novation's SL MkIII ($819.99).

Rows to compare: the keybed — minis use light synth keys, while 88-key models range from semi-weighted (Launchkey 88 Mk4, Keystation 88) to fully weighted (KeyLab 88 Mk3); integration — whether the board auto-maps to your DAW, as the Komplete Kontrol and Launchkey lines do for theirs; and the controls: pads, faders, arpeggiators, screens. What you don't get at any price is sound — budget for software.

Controllers suit producers and anyone whose instrument is a DAW. If you also play piano, the hybrid path — a digital piano with USB MIDI — covers both jobs, though with fewer pads and faders.

Frequently asked questions

Can a MIDI controller make sound on its own?

No — it needs a host: a computer with a DAW and plugins, or a hardware sound module. No controller in our database has a built-in sound engine.

How many keys do I need on a MIDI controller?

Keyboard players usually want 49–61; producers often do fine with 25–37 plus pads. If you play piano parts, go 88 — see the weighted models.

Do I need a MIDI controller if I have a digital piano?

No — most digital pianos send MIDI over USB. A controller adds pads, faders and DAW integration; the piano adds a real action for playing.

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