If you are looking for the best keyboard for music production, then this blog post is just what you need! We will go over some of the best keyboards on the market so that you can find your perfect fit. Whether you want an all-in-one MIDI controller or a simple piano keyboard, we have something for everyone. If you are still unsure about which one to choose, check out our comparison table at the end of this article and answer some questions based on your needs.
Are You In A Hurry And Looking For A Few Keyboards for Music Production Highlighted? Well Here Are The Top 3 Keyboards for Music Production For You:
8 Best Keyboards for Music Production Reviewed
This Pyle Pro 49-Key Electronic Keyboard features a piano-style keyboard with 49 standard keys, 100 preset songs and rhythms, an integrated drum pad, and a microphone input. It’s perfect for playing along to your favorite tunes or as a karaoke machine. The built-in stereo speakers provide full sound output while the built-in drum pads allow you to play drums along with your music. This keyboard is easy to use – just plug it in and start playing!
The QMini is a USB-powered MIDI controller that’s perfect for producers, songwriters, and performers. It offers 32 mini keys with velocity-sensitive action and an array of buttons, knobs, and pads to control your music software and it fits right into your backpack. The QMini has everything you need to create tracks anywhere inspiration strikes.
The Roland MC-707 Groovebox is the ultimate portable music production center. You can create a song or perform a live set without connecting to a computer. The Groovebox uses an SD card for saving Project Data and Audio Data, and it includes one with Project data containing drum loops and audio samples that will get you started making music right away. The Groovebox has 8 tracks and 128 clips (16 clips per track) so you can record your own sounds or import audio from other sources such as CDs, MP3 players, or mobile phones.
The MX49 is a powerful, portable, and affordable music production synthesizer. It comes with all your favorite Motif XS Voices, VCM Effects, Easy Split/Layer Performance Mode, and 16-Part Multi Timbral and 128-note Polyphony. Complete Analog and Digital Connectivity to expand your sound pallet.
Yamaha MOXF6 Music Production Workstation is a professional-level digital workstation that’s loaded with features to help you achieve your musical visions. This 61-key, semi-weighted keyboard instrument features an advanced version of the acclaimed AWM2 tone generator and a total of 124 voices including acoustic and electric pianos, strings, organs, synths and more. The MOXF6 also comes equipped with a powerful sequencer that can record up to 480 notes at once for producing complex arrangements.
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The Alesis V25 is a powerful and portable USB/MIDI controller keyboard for producing music with virtually any software. The 25 full-sized, velocity-sensitive keys are perfect for playing virtual instruments or triggering clips in Ableton Live. Eight velocity- and pressure-sensitive backlit pads offer tactile control over your beats, while four assignable knobs and buttons allow you to record, manipulate, and perform with effects and virtual instruments within your software.
The MIDI PLUS AKM320 USB MIDI Keyboard is a 32 mini-keys velocity-sensitive keyboard. It has pitch, modulation, octave, transpose functions. The sustain interface does not include sustain pedal. You can use the sustain button to play notes or chords continuously. This keyboard is plug and plays with Windows, Mac devices via USB B-type to connect computer.
The Keystation Mini 32 MK3 is a USB-powered MIDI controller designed for traveling musicians and mobile producers. The unit’s 32 mini-keys are velocity-sensitive and have aftertouch giving you expressive control over your performance. A full array of controls allows you to program and perform with external instruments, effect processors, DAWs, or virtual synths.
5 Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Keyboards for Music Production
1. Digital vs. Analog
This is probably the most polarizing of all choices one will make when considering what kind of keyboard to purchase but I’ve found that there are reasons for serious consideration in both cases. Analog keyboards have been around for decades and currently still serve as the standard on which new generations are modeled. Many producers swear by these types of instruments due to their warm sound, a wide range of sounds available, and flexibility with recording/sequencing software. Indeed, analog synths can produce some truly unique sounds that digital keyboards won’t touch but they come at a cost. The majority of older models were extremely limited in terms of sequencing possibilities due to their complex circuitry while newer models have significantly adopted user-friendly interfaces similar to those found on digital instruments. As for sound, analog keyboards will always be “warmer” but this is simply due to the nature of their circuitry and not necessarily a qualitative difference between sounds produced by different models. For instance, modeling technology has allowed developers to create extremely realistic sounding instruments that mimic real-world counterparts down to even minute details such as harmonic resonance and tape noise (sounds like those heard in songs such as Alice Deejay’s Better Off Alone ).
2. Price point
This one should probably go without saying but there are pianos/keyboards available at pretty much any price range you can imagine. If you’re reading this article I’m assuming you’re trying to find something moderately priced but still high quality so let’s narrow the price range down to $500-2000. For my personal needs, I would consider this an acceptable range but you may want to spend more or less depending on your own situation (Are you a professional with real clients? How much are they willing to pay for an instrument?). Keep in mind that some keyboards come bundled with synthesizers while others require them to be purchased separately. If you’re just looking for a keyboard then it’s best not to buy one that comes bundled because chances are pretty good you won’t ever use the included synth.
3. Programmability
A lot of keyboards out there have tons of knobs, sliders, pads, etc. These are perfect if you want direct control over parameters on your virtual instruments but what if you want to create your own sounds? Many synthesizers will allow custom programs to be stored and recalled from the keyboard itself. These types of keyboards make it extremely easy to tweak a sound without having to go through various menus on your computer screen. If this is a feature that interests you then it’s worth keeping an eye out for certain models that have physical representations of parameters such as sliders or knobs rather than simple buttons which require a lot more work to use, especially in live situations where split-second changes are needed.
4. Keybeds
Keyboards come with several different types of keybeds so let’s touch base on those before I dive into other features you should consider. By far the most common type of keybed is that of an evenly balanced, full-weighted action with round, uniform keys. These kinds of keyboards are generally the industry standard and serve as a good baseline for keyboard players who may need to play different brands/types in different settings. Semi-weighted keybeds are usually favored by synthesists because they feel more like piano action due to the fact that only the very centermost part of each key has this same weight or resistance while the remaining parts are either lighter or heavier respectively. This gives you access to much faster repetitions when playing chords in succession without any discernible drop in velocity which is something even some “pro” keyboards don’t offer.
5. Other Considerations
While the five points above are definitely the most important, they aren’t everything so keep reading if you want to know more!
External Designs – Since these instruments typically have a lot of knobs and sliders sticking out of them it’s always worth seeing how they will fit in your surroundings. Make sure there is enough space between each control for your own comfort as well as making sure nothing is blocking any faders or switches on stage. This can be especially challenging if you perform live with subpar equipment which doesn’t provide you with sufficient stands, racks, etc.
3 Advantages Of Keyboards for Music Production
1. First of all, it makes it easier to find the right notes when playing melodies or harmonies on your computer. This will make everything sound better and make working in your DAW (digital audio workstation) more enjoyable. If you only want to play drums, don’t get a keyboard – just buy a dedicated drum pad controller instead.
2. There is no need to use key commands anymore unless it is for something very specific that will speed up your workflow immensely in the long run and save you tons of time. So you can concentrate fully on tweaking knobs, pull-down menus, and all the other cool things you can do in a DAW.
3. Controllers come with knobs, faders, buttons, and pads that allow you to map them to certain functions in your DAW’s mixer or instruments. This way you have instant control over volume levels, panning positions, or any other function without ever touching a mouse. Just click on a button and move a fader – very convenient.
The Bottom Line
We’ve compiled a list of the best keyboards for music production, and we want to hear what you think. Which ones do you like most? The poll is at the end of this article so be sure to let us know which keyboard brand comes out on top!
