Best keyboard for production
Hi I want to buy a keyboard for production but I do not know which one to choose.I use ableton for production.Can you tell me which is best and what you have to say for Alesis q25.I hope that you understand and please help me.
What is your budget? There are loads to choose from out there, just depends how much you want to spend mate?
150-200 €
Are you sure 25 keys will suffice?
And if so, why not to take the Miditech i2-Control 25 Black? It seems to be quite more functional!
If you expect great build quality you should rather go with the AKAI Mpk mini.
If you would like to expand your creativity I would recommend having a look at the M-Audio Oxygen 49
MOTIF XS6 Music Production Synthesizer Workstation Keyboard is also a good one you can also try this .
To be honest the thing i regret the most out of all my music purchases is buying the mpk mini, the keys are just too small and i would definantly recommend buying at least a 49 key board, just so you don’t need to buy again if you decide to teach yourself some chords or what not. but apart from that if you just need something small and light then it should be great for because it is just that!
im a fan of my axiom pro 69 not gunna lie
A 25 key controller is a little too small if you know how to play a keyboard instrument. I play piano, and a 49 key is fine for this sort of work. I had a 25, and really it’s too small IMO.
Second, a decent keyboard is important. Thirdly, look for something that easily maps to your software (ableton in this case). I first had a Novation Impulse, but had trouble with it dropping it’s USB connection when on a hub.
I’m now using an M-Audio Axiom Pro 49, and am quite happy with the build quality as well as their automapping software package (used in Logic).
Depends if you want a hardware synth or software synths. For hardware you can’t go wrong with a Virus TI (Although incredibly expensive). For software controllers, I’ve used the M-Audio stuff, didn’t like the build quality or the clicky knobs, Akai’s stuff can be troublesome to program the midi CC’s. But Novation really has their stuff together, very expensive for a midi controller, but the build quality is second to none. Also it has a Fatar keybed which plays really smooth and just feels great, automap is pretty sweet too.
I’m trying to sell my Novation SL25 MKII because 25 keys simply isn’t enough. Go big or go home.
I bought an MPK mini because I wanted something I could leave in my backpack. Returned it after 2 days (thankfully, the guy at GC didn’t remember their policy about not returning stuff that came with bundled software…which I didn’t use anyway). The thing feels like a worthless piece of shit. Ableton and Logic both have a 1-ish octave keyboard mode for the computer keyboard that feels at least as good. And the thing costs $70ish. Absolute rip off. I’d be okay with it at $35 or $40…kinda like my lpd8 that I got for $25 when GC was having a sale. Nice for that price…not worth it’s normal cost by a long shot.
I liked the Oxygen keyboard I played, and I’m vaguely okay with my keystation 49e (feels meh, but it was free to me). M-Audio makes okay keyboards.
But, for the most part, budget MIDI keyboards kind of suck. I’d suggest going to a store and trying them out if you can.
M-audio Oxygen 61 is really good.
I am still searching for a great midi keyboard to replace my old Casio. It will definitely have 61 keys but I am still not sure if I should go with the Axiom Pro or the Novation Remote 61 SL MKII which has more controls. For the same huge amount of money the
Arturia AE The Laboratory 61 would be a great deal as well as this keyboard controller comes with 3500 synth patches. 
Yeah, consider the AE. I think it was mostapha or somebody who said the hardware integration wasn’t great with so few controls (not trying to point fingers, just clarifying), but you should consider if you’re looking for soft synths. I can personally vouch for their minimoog plugin sounding great, and I hear pretty good things about their other analogue modeling plugins. If you’re curious I think soundonsound did a write up on some of their soft synths.
I started on an akai mpk mini which served its purpose as a good learning tool to put down basic melodies and drum patterns. decided to upgrade to an axiom 49 as i was getting to frustrated with only having two octaves to play on. Having the extra keys really makes a difference in terms of creativity in working out melodies. The axiom is especially nice as the keys are semi weighted and have aftertouch which can add a bit more feeling to your arrangements without having to mess around in the sequencer too much. On another note i found the mpk mini more useful as an effects panel for traktor, i mapped to pads and knobs to control chained effects and it has been fantastic, may have to post the map to djtt at some point
Do the Axiom keys feel at all as crappy as those of the oxygen? I need more keys myself but I figure if they’re as bad, I’ll save for an SL or something of the sort.
Personally I hated the Axiom keys, absolute rubbish. The SL keys are so much better it’s not even comparable. But the best thing to do is goto Guitar Center or whatever and feel em out for yourself.
I also would like a 61 keyboard, but I can’t bring myself to pay $600+ for the SLMKII from Novation. No midi keyboard should be that expensive, period! At that price I’m better off getting a used hardware synth that actually has built in patches, and use the midi-capabilities for the software side.
I have the Axiom “PRO”, and like it quite a bit, keyboard wise. It’s a solid (and pretty heavy) controller, the keys feel good to me, better than my old Novation Impulse. I used to have an old Axiom 25, and the “PRO” is notably better.