However, in cases where it isn’t a priority, “Big” goes from being a problem to a luxury. So far, all the controllers we’ve seen were designed with the primary goal of staying small and portable.īecause for most musicians, that’s a top priority. Up next… The Most Comprehensive MIDI Controller of Today Ableton Push 2 – ( Amazon/ B&H/ Thomann), which has rave reviews, and is undoubtedly the most advanced (and most expensive) pad controller on the market.Novation Launchpad Mini – ( Amazon/ B&H/ Thomann), which offers most of the same features, but is significantly smaller.

Novation Launchpad Pro – ( Amazon/ B&H/ Thomann).

Perhaps the greatest bragging right of the Launchpad is: it’s one of the few controllers regularly used by musicians with unlimited budgets…and is even used by many of the top names in music today. Just like the Launchkey, the Launchpad is intended primarily for Ableton Live…but also works well with other electronic DAW’s such as FL Studio and Reason. Instead, they are used to serve a much wider-variety of functions such as:

The Novation Launchpad Pro is really an entirely unique control surface, unlike any we’ve covered so far.ĭespite its resemblance to MPC’s of decades past…the pads of the Launchpad aren’t really designed to play two-handed rhythms like you would with most pads. While you might call it the “pad-counterpart” to the Novation Launchkey… Up next… The Perfect Introduction to Pad MIDI Controllers

6 months of Reason+ subscription – so you can start using the pro DAW and its huge library right awayīut it’s main selling point is its small footprint and super simple interface, that will allow you to start using to actually make music ASAP, rather than spend weeks figuring it out.

MPC Beats – which offers an interface for beatmakers as well as a sound library.

Melodics – which gives you 60 free piano lessons.

Plus, it comes with a bunch of useful software as well: Which is why it might be a good idea for total beginners to start with something as simlple as possible, like the Alesis Qmini.ĭespite its super-low price, it has all the basic necessities, including: It’s super easy to get lost, and ultimately frustrated by the seemingly endless programming possibilities. When you’re new to MIDI controllers, and the virtual instruments they control… A Simple Keyboard MIDI Controller for Beginners

Mpc midi keyboard