Good budget MIDI keyboard

[Hipster Bales]

AKAI MPK mini MK3

I have one, and it's awesome, and it has an arpeggiator control too so if you're a fan of arps, that keyboard is worth buying

[mixyguy2]

I also agree with novation launchkeys, and you dont need the full 88 keys usually

But they are among the most pricey of keyboards, so I wouldn't call it a "budget" option.

[whyterabbyt]

I also agree with novation launchkeys, and you dont need the full 88 keys usually

But they are among the most pricey of keyboards, so I wouldn't call it a "budget" option.

Erm, no, not even close.

https://www.thedjshop.co.uk/music-produ ... ers/88-key
https://www.thomann.co.uk/master_keyboa ... _keys.html

[Hipster Bales]

AKAI MPK mini MK3

I have one, and it's awesome, and it has an arpeggiator control too so if you're a fan of arps, that keyboard is worth buying

It also doesn't cost much either, I think I got it for about £50-60.

[chk071]

It's a bit more expensive than 80 pounds, but... https://www.thomann.co.uk/arturia_minilab_37_white.htm

I'm very happy with my Keylab 49 mk3, and also had a MiniLab mk1 once, which had great keys. Shitty encoders though, but, they're supposed to be much better with the mk3.

I would rather not get the Novation Launchkey. I had one (49 keys mk4), and, it didn't convince me. Neither the keys nor the encoders.

[jlgrimes11]

Wow I consider Launchkeys great starter controllers.

Arturia would be a competitor but can't say what is really better except maybe the pads or if you own Analog Lab or something.


Alot depends on what you are using it for (DAW, plugins). I know Launchkeys work great with Ableton but don't know about other DAWS but I heard they work decent there.

[chk071]

Wow I consider Launchkeys great starter controllers.

Arturia would be a competitor but can't say what is really better except maybe the pads or if you own Analog Lab or something.

It's maybe a bit of an unfair comparison, as the keyboard costs about 140 € more than the Launchkey, but, I think pretty much everything is better on my Keylabk mk3 compared to the Launchkey mk4 I had before (both the 49 key versions). Keys are better (actually, I'd say much better, as the Launchkey's keys are too soft/esay to press, and the Keylab's keys also feel better on the impact, as they're very nicely cushioned). The encoders are better too, I found that the Launchkey ones are too stiff, and pretty hard to turn. The faders are probably about the same, I don't think they're that important in terms of a difference.

What I really like about the Arturia is the software. The arpeggiator is so comprehensive (and still easy to use) that I often don't use a plugin for that. Very easy to create custom MIDI templates as well, with the software. What I miss on the Keylab is an option to map different pages of MIDI CC assignements. Unfortunately, that's something they cut from the mk3, they had that on the mk2. I also like that there are loads of buttons, so that you don't have to resort to cryptic key combinations you have to look up in the manual.

Anyway, as both of these keyboards are probably above the budget of the OP, I'd still rather recommend the Minilab 37. In the price range slightly above 100 € (maybe the budget can be stretched a bit), I would get that, if you can live with only 3 octaves. If you want to play hardware, it might be better to get the Keystep though, as it has CV/Gate output and all that.

P.S.: Before those keyboards, I had the novation Impulse, and had to send it in two times for hardware faults, one time the encoders, which mess up very quickly (the typical jumping in values, turning them excessively didn't fix the issue for me, and, it was an issue on all 3 units I had), and then for an issue with the pitch wheel, which didn't return to zero in the center position. I don't know how the Launchkey fares in terms of longevity, as I didn't have it that long, but, the Impulse wasn't really what I'd consider a very durable controller. Their support was great though, gotta give them that.

[BJ]

I'm actually loving the Launchkey 61 mk4. Got it a few months back and upgraded from an older Arturia 61 Laboratory keyboard. Granted I don't use the encoders much. The pads are awesome and all the midi functions. Only thing missing is aftertouch on the keys. If they ever do SL mk4 I might upgrade to that.

[tapper mike]

If your keys have a lot of features then they will put a drain on power. While I liked the features of my Panorama I didn't like the synth action of the keys. I also wasn't crazy trying to program it on the screen. Same holds true for my Necktar Panorama P1 mtc it's great for having an assortment of faders and knobs it was a pain to program them.

Some dev built a great editor for Nektar's Pacer
https://studiocode.dev/pacer-editor/#/

I can't stress this enough. If you are playing with vst's your going to want to have A Sustain pedal an Expression pedal and faders and knobs. You'll only have to go through a huge rigamaroll to get those features on a separate usb device and it will cost more to get them separately. While throw a keyboard in the garbage when you've outgrown it in six months to a year only to pay again for them in a more expensive model later or part them out to gear that may or may not work for you.

I still use my pacer if only for access to the expression pedals ports and key switching
And I also use a midi mate sparrow 5 X 5 https://themidimaker.com/products/sparr ... midi-04963


I don't like having to buy that separate but those features aren't available on the linnstrument.
In very short order when you start playing with vst synths you'll find you don't want to click and drag with a mouse on one hand and play the keys with another.

[mixyguy2]

I also agree with novation launchkeys, and you dont need the full 88 keys usually

But they are among the most pricey of keyboards, so I wouldn't call it a "budget" option.

Erm, no, not even close.

https://www.thedjshop.co.uk/music-produ ... ers/88-key
https://www.thomann.co.uk/master_keyboa ... _keys.html

um, the first link is a huge discount sales price; obviously that can make a diff. The second one is well less than I've seen it for elsewhere (even taking into account shipping to the states)...but I've no idea why you're posting links to 88-key keyboards when the OP stated they aren't looking for that.