Best midi keyboard for Ableton?

[Schalenberg]

Learning Ableton from a friend of mine and he told me to get a 25 key midi keyboard to get started. I'm not a fan of small keys after viewing some videos of various keyboard. I'm looking at the Launchkey 25 (not the mini). Any recommendations?

[ImNotDedYet]

Are you much of a keys player? If so, in my opinion, 25 keys will be too small and frustrating for playing any two hand-type stuff. If you're not, and just want something for leads and basslines, 25 keys should do the trick.

Don't know the launchkey, but like my Akai Max49, which I started out with a 25. Good key bed and good pads with a lot of control for MIDI parameters available. But, we'd probably need to know your budget and what you're looking to get out of the controller - merely entering your MIDI notes with a keybed, pads for entering drums, knobs/sliders for parameter control?

Another more expensive option since you're using Live is Push. It's a different way of entering notes, but if you're not already accustomed to playing keys and you learn the patterns on the Push - it provides a great integration and control for Live.

A final consideration if you have any free inputs on your interface and you're interested in branching out to hardware is a Novation Bass Station 2. It can function just fine for a MIDI controller for entering MIDI notes into Live, but you also get the benefit of custom hardware synth capabilities, and very good capabilities at that.

[Schalenberg]

I appreciate the response. I'm not a keys player. My buddy is using a shitty little 25 key semi-weighted keyboard which he tells me is all I need. But I can do a little better; something around $100. I was thinking Push, but honestly I just want to get eased in as smoothly as possible. So I'd really just be entering MIDI notes as you mentioned. I also though of the Axiom, but I read some things about a "blue screen of death." I also read the Launchkey works well with Ableton from the get go.

[William Gibson]

A cheap 25 key board and push are leagues apart. Thats like comparing a porche to a pinto.
I had a brief conversation with Kwal about this. Its all personal preference. He prefers keys, I REALLY liked the push. Push is going to do way more then just keys. Push is an amazing front end to Live. If you have the dough and really want to learn, I think you will love push. If your just dipping ur toe in the water, try a cheap 25 or 49 key controller.

.02 from the shitter.

[Deejaesnafu]

i also recommend the push. it is a vital tool for any level user, especially if youre not a trained musician. you will find yourself literally learning theory while you make music. ive also shown mine to people that play keys and guitar, and they had fun with it. plus it does a wealth of other functions, its a way better investment than an axiom, trust me ive used both.

[Kwal]

I never wanted push, not even once. Not sure why lol. I work 100% in arrangement view so I had my style down and incorporating push would just be weird and slow me down. im sure it does more, but I was too lazy to do the research. I'm a midi keyboard guy all day.

[Schalenberg]

Kwal, how's the launchkey mini working out for you? Find the keys uncomfortable?