Whether you're a hobbyist making beats for fun or a seasoned professional producing music for your adoring fans, you'll want to have a MIDI keyboard to control your software synthesizers, drum machines, and maybe your whole DAW. In this shopping guide, we'll go over some of the best and most popular MIDI keyboard controllers we have in stock at B&H, their important features, and what kind of musicians they're best suited for.
If you need to know more about MIDI controllers and their affinity with DAWs, synths, and other hardware, check out our overview to see exactly what you need to get started. If you know already what you're looking for, read on to learn about some of the best MIDI keyboard controllers at B&H and get ready to make your next big hit!
Akai Professional MPK Series—A Trusted Classic
The Akai Professional MPK Series of MIDI Keyboards are mini-key or full-sized semi-weighted keyboard controllers that borrow some of the technology from their legendary MPC samplers for drum performance. All models have expression controls, MIDI out, CV/gate, scale and chord modes, and seamless DAW integration so any MPK can be a plug-and-play machine with whatever software you're using. You can also choose to bundle in Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) which comes with thousands of virtual instruments and effects, all pre-mapped to knobs, pads, and keys.
The MPK MINI series are small and affordable machines, coming in four variants from the super-portable MPK Mini Play with a built-in speaker and pre-loaded samples to the fully featured 25-key Akai MPK Mini IV and 37-key MPK Mini Plus, all with 8 MPC style drum pads.
The traditional MPK MIDI keyboards come in 25-, 49-, and 61-key sizes with full-sized, velocity sensitive keys with aftertouch, full MPC functionality with sixteen touch and velocity-sensitive pads, and a suite of software out of the box.
Novation Launchkey and SL Series—Affordable Functionality
The Novation Launchkey Series is a staple top pick for MIDI keyboard controllers; they're well-built, affordable machines that come with the features you need to get started. The Launchkey comes in a wide variety of sizes, from the 25-key and 37-key mini-key variants to the 25-, 37-, 49-, and 61-key full-sized semi-weighted MK4 units—the latter two include nine faders along with sixteen pads and eight rotary encoders.
There is also a newly released variant called the Novation FLKey 2—essentially the same device but setup for the specific workflow of FL Studio. If you're in need of a more tricked-out, feature-rich Novation MIDI keyboard with a built-in sequencer and CV/Gate control, check out the feature-packed Novation SL MkIII Series—quite a bit more expensive but quite a bit more to play with!
Arturia KeyLab Series
The Arturia KeyLab Series has been around for quite a while with their current models in their third iteration, split into two tiers: the flagship KeyLab MK3 series and the budget oriented KeyLab Essential series.
The KeyLab MK3 are available in 49- and 61-key variants and come equipped with some fancier features like a full-metal chassis with real wood side panels, touch sensitive encoders and faders that display parameters on its full-color context-sensitive 3.5" screen, a scale mode, arpeggiator, and chord play, and semi-weighted velocity sensitive keys with aftertouch. Theres also the fully hammer-weighted Arturia KeyLab 88 mk3 with all the same features, making for a fantastic stage piano MIDI controller focused on live performers.
The KeyLab Essential MIDI controllers come in 49-, 61-, and 88-key variants and make quite a few compromises while cutting the price roughly in half. The KeyLab Essential uses lightweight hard plastic rather than metal and wood, uses a synth action keybed without aftertouch, has a smaller 2.5" monochrome screen, and ditches the touch sensitive encoders and faders for the standard fare. The KeyLab Essential is perfect for those on a budget, but also those who need to haul their keyboard to rehearsals and gigs, making for a lightweight machine great for sketching out ideas or performing more simple parts on stage.
Nektar IMPACT Series
The Nektar IMPACT Series are budget MIDI keyboards offering a versatile range of controllers in 25-, 49-, and 61-key sizes, equipped with pitch bend and modulation wheels, eight touch-sensitive pads, rotary knobs, and either synth-action or semi-weighted keys depending on the model.
The Nektar IMPACT LX+ MK3 series, much like the Novation LaunchKey series, are synth-action DAW control surfaces—meaning there's no MIDI out or CV/gate outs, so you'll need to use it with a computer and DAW. The key feature of the LX+ series is Nektar DAW integration; download the relevant software from the Nektar Tech website and your product will be automapped for a variety of different DAWs and software.
The Nektar IMPACT GXP controllers are more of a performer's choice, eschewing the pads, knobs, and faders for more transport controls, MIDI outs, semi-weighted full-sized keys with aftertouch, dual pedal support (one for expression one for sustain) and a higher quality keybed overall.
Go with the LX+ if you want an affordable jack-of-all-trades DAW MIDI controller and go with the GXP if you're a stage performer, composer, or session player who values key action and physical hardware routing over faders, knobs, and drum pads.
IK Multimedia iRig Keys 2 and I/O Series
The IK Multimedia iRig series of MIDI keyboard controllers is a favorite among music producers on the go with their affordability, compact form factor, and built-in audio features that solve some of the problems and limitations most other MIDI controllers run into.
The iRig Keys 2 Series focuses on flexible MIDI routing and monitoring with 2.5mm TRS MIDI I/O ports for controlling an external analog synthesizer or drum machine and a dedicated headphone output so you don't need to rely on external speakers or your computer's output. It comes in a 25- and 37-mini key size as well as a 37-key full sized pro variant.
The IK Multimedia iRig I/O is a fully featured MIDI keyboard with a 24-bit/96 kHz audio interface built directly into the machine, allowing you to record microphones and physical instruments directly into your software without an external audio interface—very useful for producers on the go!
Kawai VPC1
The Kawai VPC1 is a professional grade wooden graded hammer-action piano with the authentic simulated feel of a real grand piano—to an almost obsessive degree. The VPC1 has bass note counterweights so that the lower notes have more resistance than higher notes, as well as let-off simulation which recreates the subtle notch/click feeling when pressing a piano key so softly it doesn't strike the string. The VPC1 is the closest a MIDI keyboard will get to the feel of an actual grand piano. It even includes all three piano pedals with damper, sostenuto, and soft controls.
This keyboard is meant for professional pianists who need a controller and is priced like one (it's by far the most expensive product on this list, maybe the most expensive USB/MIDI keyboard out there). The VPC1 is a monster of an instrument weighing in at 65 lb and has no faders or knobs—the top of the keyboard is empty, cleared off in order to place a laptop or tablet, and includes a sheet music stand as well.
The software bundled with the Kawai VPC1 is an incredible feature with automatic integration and custom touch/velocity curves (the speed and weight of the keys are variable) from a selection of popular virtual piano packages approved by Kawai's software developers, including Pianoteq, Synthology Ivory II, Galaxy Instruments, and Alicia's Keys. Get the authentic recreated sound of a plethora of different legacy pianos all on one platform.
Any serious or virtuosic pianist who needs a MIDI controller should look no further than the Kawai VPC1.
EXPRESSIVE E Osmose CE
The original synth-engine powered Expressive E Osmose was released in 2023 and was one of the most accessible and intuitive MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) synthesizers on the market. It didn't rely on strange gooey pads or synthetic rubbers—it was a real keyboard that reacted to your wobbles, pressure, and attack the way you would wish a real piano could. The popularity of the synth exploded, so EXPRESSIVE decided to release the E Osmose CE, a version without the synth-engine, making an excellent (but expensive) MIDI controller that works in a way nothing else in the market does.
So, without the synth engine, is this instrument still worth it? Well, that's ultimately up to you, but EXPRESSIVE did a bang-up job providing what's needed to use the Osmose CE right out of the box with more than 900 expressive MIDI presets that react to the instrument naturally. This is a synth/ controller you're going to want to try out before you buy, but after you try it out, you might never want to go back.
M-Audio Hammer 88 – Real-Feel Weighted Keys on A Budget
M-Audio has a bit of a goofy reputation, making both budget gear and insanely well-equipped digital instruments. But as a professional musician and piano player, trust me when I say that the key action of the M-Audio Hammer 88 is fantastic, especially for its price. As a full-sized 88-key hammer-weighted keyboard, it has the kind of feel you'd get from a Yamaha Clavinova or another high quality and expensive electronic performance keyboard, and its size and weight reflect that (walking it home was an ordeal).
The Hammer-88 comes in two versions, one with only a pitch/mod wheel, transposition, and volume controls for those who just want a great keyboard and one with a full suite of pads, rotary knobs, faders, and transport controls created for people who need a real-feel piano while having control of their synth or DAW.
StudioLogic SL Series
The StudioLogic SL Series is a high-level professional series of MIDI controllers for players who need an authentic feeling piano keybed and streamlined DAW control. The StudioLogic SL controllers come with an ultra-luxurious Fatar-branded TP/110 keybed, an intuitive workflow and UX, onboard display, with the full suite of MIDI DIN audio outs, support for three separate foot pedals, and stereo output with a ¼" headphone jack.
You can choose between a 73-key (just a fun number of keys, I love prime numbers) and 88-key hammer action keybed or a much more expensive and luxurious 88-key real wood graded hammer-action keybed (with Fatar TP/400 keys)—all feel excellent and premium, especially for the price.
Like the IK Multimedia keyboard controller, the StudioLogic SL series has a built-in USB audio interface, so you can route audio from your DAW directly out of the keyboards ¼" stereo outputs, perfect for stage performance or just for getting gear out of the way. As such, the SL series has onboard DAW transport functions, so you can play, stop, record, and loop your music directly from the SL's control panel.
With the SL, you'll also get Numa Player 2, Studiologic's free software synth engine. Already mapped to the SL, you'll be able to start making music as soon as its out of the box.
With its hammer weighted keys, the StudioLogic sits somewhere between a stage piano and a MIDI controller, especially when you see that the pitch and mod wheels are eschewed for analog sticks akin to a PlayStation controller without the caps.
