If you're just getting started in music production, you might be finding the whole thing a little overwhelming. There's a lot of choice out there when it comes to gear and software, but one thing you're definitely going to need is one of the best MIDI keyboards for beginners.
A MIDI keyboard allows you to easily play a variety of instruments in your DAW, whether that's virtual drum kits, digital recreations of vintage synths, or manipulating audio samples. They're an integral part of any studio, allowing you to control a range of parameters within your DAW, and providing an easy-to-use interface for making digital music.
For a beginner, we'd advised getting something without shedloads of features, as it's complicated enough making music for the first time. You want something that's going to integrate easily into your existing set up, and make it easy for you to translate your music ideas from your mind and into the world.
We've picked a wide selection here that should have all the bases covered for you, no matter what style of music you're making. If you'd like to know a little more before you pull the trigger, go check out our FAQ section which features loads of common questions answered by experts here at MusicRadar. Otherwise, keep scrolling for our top picks...
Our top picks
One of the most popular MIDI keyboards for beginners, the Akai MPK Mini MK3 combines all the major features you'll need to create music in a compact and great-value MIDI controller. Percussion pads, a thumbstick for pitch shifting, and plenty of knobs make it an incredibly versatile bit of kit for music production.
The Nektar SE25 offers a great way for beginners to get into music production. You get loads of functionality and a highly portable keyboard, all at a low-risk price. It's not got loads of extra features, but if you're strapped for cash it'll do the job helping you make music.
Whether you want to set up a rig that can travel around with you, or you're just short on desk space, the Korg microKEY2 Air-25 is a brilliant, compact MIDI keyboard. Wireless capabilities make it even better for reducing clutter while you work, and the joystick opens up more options too.
Best overall
Of the MPK Mini Mk3, Akai says "your entry-point into a world of pro production starts here" and it's hard to disagree, as this is a great beginner choice. Indeed, in many ways it is the ideal MIDI keyboard for a lot of users, particularly those looking for a quick and easy way to add melodies, basslines and simple chords to their projects.
For us, what elevates the MPK Mini MK3 from a simple keyboard, is the addition of eight encoder knobs which can be easily mapped to practically any parameter of your DAW, and eight full-sized MPC style drum pads.
What you get, therefore, is a full-service production powerhouse which excels in many different playing and performing situations. It’s small enough to be thrown in a backpack, yet contains enough useful features and functions to make it a highly useful addition to any studio.
Read the full Akai MPK Mini MK3 review
Best budget
If you’re someone who’s always making music on the move, a pint-sized MIDI keyboard that’ll fit in a laptop bag is an essential item. Nektar’s SE25 demonstrates firmly that features and playability needn’t be sacrificed for the sake of size and portability.
Only outpriced in the budget MIDI keyboard controller stakes by the ever-so-slightly cheaper Akai LPK25 (which doesn’t provide any form of DAW integration), Nektar’s new pocket powerhouse represents incredible value for money. We found the SE25 to be thoroughly impressive during testing, and while it's a simple, compact product, it does exactly what you need a beginner MIDI keyboard to do – no more, no less.
Where else can you get Nektar DAW integration for Bitwig, Cubase, Garageband, Logic, Nuendo, Digital Performer, Mixcraft, Reason, Reaper, Sonar and Studio One for such a low cost?
SE25 is simple enough for any beginner but has enough features plus a great free Bitwig DAW to get you going on your production journey.
Read our full Nektar SE25 review
Best compact
The microKEY-2 Air range includes 25-, 37-, 49- and 61-note models, all of which have the advantage of working wirelessly over Bluetooth. If you want to use this feature you'll have to install a couple of AA batteries, but these last for a good length of time and good old USB bus-powering is also an option.
The microKEY-2 Air 25 isn't the most controller-packed keyboard, but it gives you the basics and plays far better than many of its rivals. In testing, we also found that it's easy to set up and operate, so if you want to free yourself from the tyranny of cables, you've found the beginner MIDI controller keyboard you need.
Read our full Korg MicroKey-2 Air 25 review
Best for versatility
Like all Arturia gear, the MiniLab 3 is a good-looking, well-built and functional MIDI controller. It has 8 encoders and 4 sliders, providing plenty of scope for tweaking your software, including the 500 Analog Lab virtual vintage synth presets it ships with. Here, the encoders are automatically assigned to the most relevant parameters for each sound.
Weighing in at 1.5 kilos, its compact footprint means that it passes the laptop bag test easily. And while equally at home as the centrepiece of your studio, it is solidly built to withstand being hefted about from place to place.
While there are smaller, lighter beginner MIDI keyboards out there at the same price point, MiniLab MkII’s brawn, fit, finish, playability and general air of confidence put it in a physically superior class of its own, without compromising too much on portability.
Read our full Arturia MiniLab 3 review
Best 49-key
The Alesis V49 MKII MIDI controller offers a decent balance of full-size, firmly-sprung, synth-action keys and assignable hardware controls for not a lot of money at all – making it a great contender for beginners or those on a budget.
This newly redesigned keyboard sees substantial changes in the layout of the extra controls. Where the original placed its additional controllers – a set of eight pads, function buttons, pitch bend and modulation wheels and four rotary encoders – to the left-hand side, making for a wide, thin instrument, the MKII opts for a more traditional configuration.
Want to use your new MIDI controller to make beats? Well, you are in luck! The Alesis V49 MKII comes bundled with the incredibly easy to use MPC Beats music production software.
Read our full Alesis V49 MkII review
Best for Ableton
Developed primarily for Ableton Live – a version of which is included – this pocket powerhouse is just brimming with features, including pitch bend and modulation touchstrips, a hardware MIDI out, an incredibly flexible and versatile arpeggiator, a chord memory feature, and a great, deal-sweetening software bundle.
Novation Launchkey Mini isn’t exclusive to Ableton, as it plays perfectly nicely with other DAWs too, (with excellent integration with Logic and Reason, for example) but if you’re a Live user, it undoubtedly represents the best solution at this price point.
As a general-use MIDI keyboard, we found the Launchkey Mini to be more than adequate for our dual-octave, travel-friendly needs. If you want a small, velocity-sensitive MIDI keyboard with impressive connectivity, we don't think you can go far wrong with the Launchkey Mini.
Read the full Novation LaunchKey Mini Mk3 review
More options...
Delivering almost the exact same functionality as the Komplete Kontrol A-Series (see below), this eminently mobile USB 2.0 bus-powered keyboard manages to squeeze 32 mini keys and the full complement of controls into its tiny frame.
The pitch and mod wheels have been replaced with a pair of short touchstrips, but the eight capacitive knobs, 4D encoder and numerous buttons are uncompromised in their size and feel. They deliver the full experience when it comes to browsing and manipulating plugins, operating Maschine, and getting hands-on with the transport and mixer of your DAW.
The surprisingly informative OLED display from the A-Series is also in place, as is the Smart Play feature, enabling scale snapping, chord triggering and arpeggiation. And, of course, it also works as a regular configurable MIDI controller keyboard with any other software.
For us, the mini keys were the only real downside. We felt that we could live with them after some getting used to them, so if you can live with them too, this is one of the best portable and affordable beginner MIDI keyboards you can buy.
Read the full Native Instruments Komplete Control M32 review
Keys 2 Mini 25 is the smallest and cheapest model in the iRig Keys range, with 25 mini keys. The range also has 37 mini key and Pro (37 full-sized key) options. Mini 2 25 is small enough to place on any desktop, sturdy enough to stay in place there, and features direct connectivity to iOS devices.
As well as the controls we've listed above, you can delve deeper with an Edit Mode to assign MIDI options and more, using the keyboard keys to select parameters. Program buttons, assignable rotaries, a Set button and useful assignable push-button Data knob complete a good set of controls for a keyboard this size.
The keyboard is not exactly a player’s dream but it’s solid and well sprung. There are no dedicated pitch-bend and modulation dials, but if this is important, there are workarounds when you dig deeper, again with Edit Mode.
We criticised the bigger iRig Keys 2 for being a tad expensive, but this offers much of the functionality of that over a smaller footprint, and represents a well-spec’d keyboard controller for less cash, and there’s a decent software bundle too.
Read the full IK Multimedia iRig Keys 2 Mini review
Native Instruments' Komplete Kontrol experience is the company's way of delivering all the software control your need, with a very tactile experience. This A25 delivers that experience in an incredible value package.
Available in 25-, 49- and 61-key versions (we reviewed the A25), the A-Series borrows many of the S-Series’ best features (see above), including the 4D Encoder (a joystick/rotary control/button combo) for software navigation; eight touch-sensitive knobs for plugin parameter control; beefy pitch and mod wheels; and most of the same backlit buttons, albeit laid out slightly differently.
There are, however, two major cuts: the dual colour screens and the unique per-key Light Guide LEDs. Even with those things taken away, though, and the reduced level of Maschine integration, we’re still very much blown away by the value proposition presented by the A25 and the A-Series keyboards in general.
Komplete Kontrol A25 is perhaps needlessly larger than other 25-key units. But it is incredibly well-built and wonderfully playable and has the Komplete Kontrol experience at a truly irresistible price.
Read the full Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A25 review
Launchkey 37 Mk3 is a great controller for Ableton Live but can also be used well with other DAWs.
Common to all of Novation’s Launchkey devices (there are 25-, 37-, 49- and 61-key variants) is a sleek, matte-black look and low-profile design, along with a series of new features designed to take advantage of updated elements of Ableton Live.
These include a button to activate Live’s Capture MIDI tool, along with Push-style device-control, which makes use of eight rotaries sitting along the top of the controller. These latest Launchkeys also gain excellent standalone Chord, Scale and Arpeggiator modes, which can be used with or without a computer. All controllers in the Launchkey range get a hardware MIDI out, so users can take advantage of these features to control hardware synths too.
Other than that there are 16 backlit, velocity-sensitive pads, a compact parameter screen and a decent crop of buttons for browsing and transport control. Both the pads and the keyboards themselves have been upgraded for this generation, and both feel great, with decent velocity response (although no aftertouch).
Ultimately, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a better Live-centric keyboard, and there’s little here not to recommend.
Read the full Novation LaunchKey 37 Mk3 review
ROLI released the original LUMI Keys illuminated keyboard as an educational aid to make learning to play more fun and interactive. It is now available as LUMI Keys 1 and this, LUMI Keys Studio Edition, with extras like polyphonic aftertouch and light-guided composition.
The unit feels solid and well-constructed, with keys that are narrower than on a standard piano keyboard. The keyboard feels a little plasticky under the fingers, and the key travel seems oddly shallow, but not the worst we’ve ever played and it is functional. The light-up keys are a delight, rainbow-colourful and extremely bright. You can, for example, generate full chords from a single note input, all of which are displayed on the keyboard. This is very cool indeed, and a great way to learn new chord voicings.
Also on the educational front, the LUMI iPad app (which connects via Bluetooth) is expertly executed, with plenty of video content. Although the 24-key limit restricts learning to one-handed parts only, the Watch-Practise-Challenge learning formula, together with the presentation of awards and challenges, form an effective and addictive learning process.
ROLI products have always offered an innovative, likeable and refreshingly different approach to expressive control. LUMI Keys Studio Edition offers a serviceable and relatively affordable way into the ROLI ecosystem.
Read our full review Roli Lumi Keys Studio Edition review
FAQs
What is a MIDI keyboard?
MIDI (Music Instrument Digital Interface) is the communication standard that enables most electronic MIDI instruments to communicate with one another. Importantly, it allows you to play traditional notes on a keyboard and have them either trigger software instruments or other hardware keyboards or sound modules. The note information (C,D, E and so on) is recognised by the receiving software or hardware so that it triggers the correct note.
Your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) reads the MIDI note value and other data, like how hard you press the note, and gives you the option of recording the notes you play. This is the very backbone of how you put a piece of music together in your DAW. You can play and record a bass sound, or even drums, with your MIDI keyboard, and build a piece of music up track by track in this way.
And the best bit is that MIDI keyboards allow you to 'play in' notes at whatever speed you like, so while they have traditional black and white notes, like a piano, you don't need to play like a professional concert pianist to use a MIDI keyboard!
What beginner MIDI keyboard should I choose?
When choosing a MIDI keyboard, most are plug and play and should work out of the box with your DAW or music software. You need to look out for the keyboard type and how many extra controllers – the knobs, dials, switches and sliders – the keyboard comes with.
The keyboard type you choose very much depends on the type of player you are. You might be new to music production with a computer, but come from a traditional piano playing background. If this is the case, you will probably want a more traditional type keyboard, with larger keys and even a semi-weighted feel. These are usually more expensive, but we have options at different price ranges in this guide.
If you are not a traditional 'player' and just want something for simple inputting of drum beats, recording bass and melody lines and basic chords, you can get away with keyboards that just trigger the right notes. MIDI controllers with mini keys should do the job just fine.
These can be smaller and cheaper and some people find that mini keys can be just as responsive and easy to play as full-size versions. However, you might find you quickly grow out of cheaper-feeling keyboards, so do try to audition different keyboard styles before you buy.
In terms of knobs and sliders – the control side of a keyboard – again these come in all shapes and sizes. If you just want to play instruments like virtual pianos and synths, you don't need to have too many extra controls. However if you want to play soft synths and tweak their dials and knobs, having a hardware rotary on your MIDI keyboard assigned to a virtual synth knob certainly makes for a better and more tactile experience.
The bottom line is that the more you pay the better your keyboard feel and the more controllers you will get. However, if you are totally new to music production, a sub $/£100 keyboard from our guide will suffice. They have the advantage of being cheaper and more portable than their larger brethren and take up a smaller footprint on your work surface.
What is DAW integration?
You can use a MIDI keyboard to control your DAW, as well as to play and record its instruments. If you want to do this, then look out for extras like a set of transport buttons to press the Play, Record, Fast Forward and Rewind options in your software. Or you might want your keyboard to come with hardware sliders. These can then be assigned to the various mixer channels in your DAW so you can push your DAW faders up and down to make volume changes, just like on a traditional studio mixer.
Many of the best beginner MIDI keyboards also come with mapping templates for the most popular DAWs – Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, etc – making it easy to get up and running and start producing music right out of the box. They usually come with software bundles that are great for beginners too, so we detail extras like this in our buyer's guide.
What cables do I need?
Most MIDI keyboards work via USB, both for communicating via MIDI and receiving power. This means there isn't always a traditional 5-pin MIDI out, which you will need if you have some hardware MIDI synths to connect it to or want to experiment with external gear. So a traditional MIDI output is a nice tool to have. Other connections available in some of our buyer's guide picks include expression pedal inputs for connecting a pedal (which might be used to add effects via MIDI), or audio connections. MIDI keyboards don't create sound themselves so these connections are not included for this. Where you see them included above, the MIDI keyboard is doubling as an audio interface (in two of our examples) so you don't need a separate device for this operation.
How we test
MIDI keyboard controllers come in all shapes and sizes, from small-form desktop units with few controls, right up to 88-note larger keyboards with weighted piano-action style keys. Obviously price is a factor, so we weigh up all of the controls – knobs, sliders, pads and keys – versus the price and what style of player the keyboards are aimed at.
This can range from the mobile producer, who just needs a small wired or wireless keyboard to throw into a shoulder bag, to the more advanced player who requires the aforementioned professional standard keyboard and where mobility is not so paramount.
Like audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards should be easy to set up – hopefully plug and play – and many also come with software bundles to get you up and running in music production. Again we'll look at each of these bundles which usually represent hundreds of $/£ of software, seemingly thrown in for free, to see how they really do shape up.
Finally, of course, the actual controls and keyboards are also tested to see how responsive they can be. Keyboards, particularly at the lower price point, can be very cheap in feel so we also test how well they play for velocity (volume) and aftertouch (when you press the keys down further to trigger different sounds and effects).
It's fair to say that the more you pay, the better and more piano-like this response, and the more controls you get, although as with cheap audio interfaces, there are some great controllers out there for less than $/£100.
Find out more about how we make our recommendations and how we test each of the products in our buyer's guides.
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