While the CommandKey25 does not feature fully-weighted keys, its velocity-sensitive slim keys provide a responsive playing experience that caters to various musical styles. The keyboard offers three velocity curves and a constant-velocity setting, ensuring precise control over your expression. Now, if you want to gain even more control over your MIDI keyboard, we'd highly recommend looking for one with a sustain pedal input. This will allow you to connect a piano-like sustain pedal, giving you the ability to play held chords and sustaining lead lines. Of course, it's also a must if you want to play the controller like a traditional piano. Understanding DAW Integration The keyboard offers full integration with popular DAWs like MASCHINE, Logic Pro X, GarageBand, Ableton Live, Cubase, and Nuendo. It’s time to cut the cord and embrace the world of wireless Bluetooth MIDI controllers! Wireless MIDI controllers open up a new world of possibility for musicians – and these 8 options are the cream of the crop.

Here atMusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. Thankfully, Bluetooth MIDI doesn’t go down the same route. The bit rate transfer is considerably better with Bluetooth MIDI. In terms of connectivity, the MiniLab 3 comes with a USB-C port for connecting to your computer as well as a control input for additional expression pedals or footswitches. The MIDI Out allows you to connect the keyboard to external MIDI gear, expanding the possibilities for live performance and studio work. Equipped with a 49-note velocity-sensitive keybed, it captures the subtleties of your performance while the pitch bend and modulation wheels allow for expressive manipulation of your virtual instruments and external hardware.

Features

Recognizing the need for a wireless keyboard that doesn't sacrifice functionality or versatility, the new Although the keys are not fully weighted, they offer a professional feel and response, striking a perfect balance between playability and expressiveness. This comprehensive set of additional controls enables you to manipulate various aspects of your music production and performance with ease.

The best part is that many devices can be retrofitted to work with Bluetooth MIDI. This includes some of the older devices. MIDI controllers that allow you to play on the go without having to plug into an amp. There is currently only one of these on the market, but it is pretty crazy. The musician can play bass sounds, violin sounds and guitar sounds on it. Weight: Notable features of the Launchkey Mini include a powerful arpeggiator with customisable rhythm, beat, pattern, octave, gate, and more. The Fixed Chord mode allows you to play chords with just one finger, as it assigns a fixed chord shape to the keys that transpose as you move up and down the keyboard. The Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2 is widely regarded as having some of the best keys in a MIDI keyboard controller. This high-end model features 88 fully-weighted, hammer-action Fatar keys, which provide a realistic and expressive playing experience similar to an acoustic piano. The S88 MK2’s keybed is highly praised by pianists and professional musicians for its responsiveness and dynamic range, making it an ideal choice for those seeking the highest possible level of quality and performance in a MIDI keyboard controller.In terms of additional controls, the Hammer 88 features thoughtfully positioned controls to enhance your performance. With its deep integration with Ableton Live, Logic, Reason, and any HUI-compatible DAW, it offers a versatile and intuitive MIDI keyboard solution. I do recommend exploring as many VST’s as you can though because they all are different and known for different sounds. The most fun part of using these is that you get to use so many different VST’s with it for new exciting sounds. While the VPC1 is focused on delivering a pure piano-playing experience and so it doesn’t include additional controls such as knobs, faders, pitch bend, or mod wheels. It does, however, come with a triple-pedal accessory (F-30) that replicates the damper, sostenuto, and soft pedals found on a grand piano.