BLIND TESTING THE CHEAPEST MIDI KEYBOARDS!

[@shanebesselman5296]

Andrew: Hey I blind test some new keyboards! Stevie Wonder: Hold my beer

[@francescoideo9330]

*beer spilling*

[@user-hy8ld2zk6e]

IDrandomguitarcovers I was your 69th like. Remember me.

[@dontwatchthatvideo3796]

@@francescoideo9330 this is the guiltiest laugh ive had in a while nooooooo LMFAO

[@brianb.8028]

Actually made me chuckle

[@greatgradegaming9082]

Sub to meamlous if your under arrest of the first half of this your under arrest of footage from the basement Johnny Mullins

[@themandownstairs4765]

Imagine some EDM producer doing a live performance and you bluetooth connect your Korg to their Ableton and play your own solo lmaoooo

[@Sloomow]

SAVE THE MILKS yes

[@arnav4253]

Lol

[@vaishnav_mallya]

Plot twist: He's playing recorded music

[@ChaosRayZero]

@save the milks The opening synth-drums to Never Gonna Give You Up could work too. =^p

[@ireadysucks3026]

@@ChaosRayZero on my electric drum set it has the exact synth drum toms that are in never gonna give you up so whenever I record with my bros I always just play the intro

[@GrantStinnett]

I swear you must have had to cut out 3 hours of (questionably) witty banter to get this video so concise and smooth. Fun hang!!!

[@stabgan]

But did you had the real knob time afterwards , if you know what I mean

[@djbowlz2128]

Way to take the most expensive one grant.

[@EconaelGaming]

Get a bluetooth pedal, maybe you can use it for sustain

[@BeNormanYo]

Hey Grant, where can I get my hands on a hat like yours? 😁

[@GrantStinnett]

BeNormanYo I actually got it when traveling in CA. It says Mineral King CA on the side. I got it from a small tourist shop when passing through. Not sure how to find them online.

[@addressadam]

Cool tip for those with ableton but don't have pads. Record tapping on the table with mic. Right click, convert to midi. Turns out to be way more responsive than most pads.

[@fredlup607]

Sorry, who the f**k is Albert Einstein? Did you mean Adam Davies?

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

What a cool trick. Does that really work? I guess it's good when you want those more extreme dynamics in your drums but it should take a lot of time to do the whole drum set.

[@addressadam]

@@PaulTheSkeptic Yeah I usually tap out a few bars of what I want the grove of the song to be, so its not all in time with the grid and has some feel. and then you just use those notes to write the drum beat as you would usually.

[@CuteTransGirlxD]

omg that's a cool idea

[@codemiesterbeats]

Sounds cool, now somebody needs to make a software that does this for any daw.

[@GrantStinnett]

Hey Andrew!! Thank you for having me over to hang and check out keyboards with you! It was great fun. I’ve been carrying that Korg keyboard literally around the world since you gave it to me when shooting this and have gotten great use out of it! Turns out that Bluetooth is the most convenient thing ever.

[@TenisDimants]

Great choice!

[@marlin5213]

OY ITS HIM

[@MelonCawly]

Noticed you guys used the MK2 not MK3 for Launchkey Mini, was wondering if you got to check it out, one thing that’s interesting about the MK3 for me is that it supports MIDI In/Out and actually added a Mod/Pitch Strip

[@DangMclang5969]

Anybody tell me about the latency with Bluetooth and Ableton? Any lag at all? Just seems like a dream come true if it has little to no lag with wireless control

[@tams805]

Is there a bluetooth sustain pedal or do you just make do with the button?

[@b4nd1t61]

STATS: -------------Keys--------------- AKAI MPK - 6/10 Alesis V25 - 8/10 Aturia Minilab MK2 - 9/10 (Winner of Keys) Novation LaunchKey Mini MK2 - 7/10 Korg Nanokey Studio - 7/10 Axiom Air Mini 32 - 5/10 -----------Pads---------------- Axiom Air Mini 32 - 5/10 Novation LaunchKey Mini MK2 - 8/10 Korg Nanokey Studio - 9/10 (Winner of Pads) AKAI MPK - 7/10 Aturia Minilab MK2 - 7/10 Alesis V25 - 8/10 -----------Knobs-------------- AKAI MPK - 6/10 Alesis V25 - 9/10 (Tied for Winner of Knobs) Aturia Minilab MK2 - 9/10 (Tied for Winner of Knobs) Korg Nanokey Studio - 7/10 Axiom Air Mini 32 - 6/10 Novation LaunchKey Mini MK2 - 6/10 --------Pitch/Modulation--------- Akai - Joystick Alesis - Wheels Arturia - Touch Strips Korg - X/Y Pad M-Audio - Buttons Novation - None -----Sustain Pedal Inputs----- Akai - Yes Alesis - Yes Arturia - Yes Korg - No M-Audio - No Novation - No -----Bonus Features----- Akai - Arpeggiator, Looper Alesis - 4 Reassignable Buttons Arturia - None Korg - Bluetooth, arpeggiator, chords, scales M-Audio -Transport Controls, more keys Novation - Ableton integrated buttons -----Build Quality----- Akai - 7/10 Alesis - 9/10 (Tied for Winner of Build Quality) Arturia - 9/10 (Tied for Winner of Build Quality) Korg - 8/10 M-Audio - 6/10 Novation - 7/10

[@ruaidhrigillen3075]

What a guy

[@xgalactixtoo]

Nice

[@HealyHQ]

The hero we need.

[@elliotskunk]

king, thank u

[@RWaarden]

Not all heroes wear capes, some carry their compact midis

[@Ryandgeorgi]

"Do I get to enter the giveaway?" "Yeah" "Seriously?!" "No" 😂😂😂

[@don_juant]

banned

[@Cleho-Chaos]

No.

[@GrantStinnett]

I know... so cold. ;)

[@snaredrum954]

Was gold 🤣

[@DontBFlat]

"But also, like, you're not going to bring a sustain pedal to an airport or coffee shop." "Yeah. Actually I would." "Oh. OK" *Laughs*

[@GrantStinnett]

I really do! In the wise words of Christian Henson... I’m a sustain slut.

[@weirdskyreallyweird.5519]

The deadpan seriousness in which he said that was so funny.

[@isaacreyes1181]

The best place to get a midi keyboard is Goodwill, the employees don't know how much they're worth, so some really nice ones sell for around $30.

[@chrisb6296]

Got mine from a chazza rubbish bin

[@taylorh79]

"Doesn't even have a headphone port, wtf"

[@sheepkillindog]

Taylor Handleton ha!

[@violetraven9440]

that is a good idea i will see if i can buy something next time i stop by to drop some stuff off

[@ry7hym]

lmfao

[@mrsomebdy6978]

*He brings sustain pedal to coffee shops and airports*

[@jjh8367]

TSA; WHOT IS DIS. SUSTAIN PEDAL

[@flixxvvs]

@@jjh8367 the thingy that makes the piano tones go smooth and stay longer

[@rubberscuomo]

@@jjh8367 It holds the note, so it will continue to play after you lift the key.

[@rubberscuomo]

@@flixxvvs Incorrect. See my above reply.

[@flixxvvs]

@@rubberscuomo ye thats kinda what i meant

[@zerosiii]

To anyone still looking for advice - go with the Arturia. The main purpose of these types of midi controllers will be the keys in >90% the situations, and you really want to have nice keys. I hurried up and went with the Launchkey mini MK3, because of the fancy utilities and many pads, and it has dog shit keys, you can't even play what you want with it. The 8 pads on the Arturia are more than enough, and the keys are the best out of all of these controllers

[@PhreaSpirit]

Except for knobs that are utter garbage and there are 16 of them.

[@zerosiii]

@@PhreaSpirit Eventually, Arturia keystep could even be a better choice for beginners, it has 2 and a half octaves, compared to just 2 that others have, which mind sound insignificant, but it will give you just enough space to add extension to your chords comfortably

[@jyllr1373]

what do you think on akai mpk mini mk3?

[@Will-qx9vm]

Arturia Keystep has the worst keys Ive ever used, mushy and inconsistent

[@zerosiii]

@@Will-qx9vm sure maybe, name a better one in the $100 range then

[@ShrimpExpert]

Alternative title: “two guys talk about knobs for two minutes”

[@YANtheONI]

👀

[@siliaerdal]

i actually missed a bit more info about the knobs :(

[@WASpectrum]

This was super helpful. I love the plain and simple decision at the end. A lot of people we’ll say “well the best one depends on what you’ll do with it” and yeah, obviously. But it’s nice to get a straight up answer on which one is your personal favorite.

[@DanielD.mp3]

Grant: you can’t live without MIDI keyboards in a production world Skrillex: lol

[@musicbyvannexe]

Even Martin Garrix

[@zxp3ct3r41]

@@bub303 not necessary

[@happish5019]

bub you don’t really need midi keyboards to produce music. But they do make life easier tho

[@jacksmith4460]

ahh Skrillex, ....to dub step ,what Bugsy Malone is to the Mafia (oooooo edgy lol)

[@shinysky8119]

deadm4us : lol

[@tsg_frank5829]

Arturia Is definitely the one that gets more department covered, it's a seriously versatile keyboard.

[@JoelMartinez]

I'm a huge fan of the minilab ... for me it was the entry product, and 100% did the job I needed it for and more (the knobs really add to the expressiveness). I liked it so much that after a failed detour with a FB marketplace-acquired novation impulse, I eventually upgraded to arturia's Keylab mkii; which I am soooo happy with. Arturia can *build*

[@CastleBallad]

I have a kelab 49, and everytime I had an issue or question, the arturia guys were extremely helpfull and quick to answer. That goes a long way.

[@Yuzuki1337]

Yeah, I wonder why they didnt test the Minilab Mk3 instead of the Mk2, it is such a good midi keyboard imo

[@pesto12601]

@@Yuzuki1337 Huh? There is no Arturia Minilab Mk3... you got some insider info bro?

[@adi.mp3]

Definitely. And they have the best software too.

[@Gwbuk4]

“Honestly on some of my hardware synthesisers I’m like, that is a nice knob” As a British person, I’d ask you to reconsider your phrasing.

[@fiveoneecho]

I believe that was the joke

[@undeadknight01]

What would you prefer? Willy?

[@thatguy3718]

He's a knob head

[@Gwbuk4]

Cole Smith the comment was also intended as a joke, dear chap

[@FromTheHeartMusic]

I read this at the exact time he said it.

[@mattferri1969]

Fun fact: 3 of these keyboards are from the same parent company Akai, Alesis, and M-Audio

[@jellirby5015]

Which company?

[@mattferri1969]

Jellirby the parent company is called inMusic

[@craftyfish0]

@@jellirby5015 Avid Technologies

[@JUSTICE971]

I use Alesis

[@everybodyhasoul5438]

I think it should really be mentioned that the Arturia comes with Analog Lab Lite, which is a FANTASTIC program with a ton of desirable keyboard sounds of all types. Also, *Pro Tip* : As an existing Arturia customer, you will get a ton of good deals on both software upgrades and new software. I upgraded to a full version of Analog Lab for $30.

[@Will-qx9vm]

No its not, it is laggy and eats up all the cpu

[@everybodyhasoul5438]

@@Will-qx9vm Never had that issue but I can imagine it would be CPU intensive.

[@raphlesiamusic]

My alesis' pads often trigger twice and apparently I'm not the only one having this issue

[@aasquared8191]

Same, cant get them boys to work properly :D

[@EthanMarkWoodruff]

Same for me. It seems you have to hit them very hard.

[@MalariaSucks10]

ditto, ya just gotta get used to smacking those pads. I recall having some weirdness with its velocity when I first got it too. Apparently also a known issue that can be solved with some settings that should really be the default from factory. Besides those two things I love it.

[@raphlesiamusic]

@@MalariaSucks10 the thing is that the alesis editor crashes for me so I can't edit anything lol

[@NikkElektrik]

What works for me is use 2 fingers to hit them. It seems like they press or release a bit unevenly. It makes it harder to do fast stuff with them if that's what you need, but for my use it fixes the problem. Small price to pay for an otherwise great keyboard, at this cost something has got to suffer anyway.

[@vaspers]

Shocked (in a good way) at how quickly you guys ran through these midi keyboards. Happy to see Arturia Minilab mk II do so well. Thanks!

[@Ethan-yx3xd]

I wish you would've posted this a day earlier, I just bought the arturia.

[@soslunnaak]

theres a comment right below yours saying that you can edit thr arteria's sensitivity with "controller soft" idk what that means but i hope this helps

[@Ethan-yx3xd]

@@soslunnaak oh okay. Thanks

[@mark7384]

Soslunnaak Morokei prolly controller software if I had to guess

[@LuckyFlesh]

Using their "MIDI CONTROL CENTER" software (available on their website) you can alter how the MK2 is set up. You can assign notes, midi channels and functions to the pads and keys, as well as velocity curves, etc. I used it to assign MMCs (Midi Machine Control ) to the pads so I can control my DAW's Transport (Record/Stop/Play/etc) as the MK2 doesn't have built-in Transport controls.

[@bergglobus2428]

The Asturia has awesome software

[@Chevifier]

Welp time to go impulse buy a midi controller that i may never produce anything with(im an indie game developer)

[@jlewwis1995]

You should try it, making a basic song isn't much harder than making a map or a texture :) especially if you want to make something on the more basic side like chiptunes, there are dozens of programs and communities oriented specifically around that

[@ry7hym]

use it as a game controller

[@y0uyo]

I have had the Arturia since like 2 months and it’s great. I highly recommend it.

[@yukikofujiwara2144]

MIDI keyboards are one of those things that you never really get to demo in the store, especially budget ones. This video saves me a lot of money. Not really, since I'll be buying 2 of these, but I didn't have to keep buying, hating, and replacing them.

[@guitarism975]

You should make a whole song by sampling only “you suffer” by napalm death.

[@GDT1124]

everyone like this

[@ry7hym]

oh thats the 2 or something second song right?

[@ruancoetzee9779]

I’ve been using an Alesia v49 for 2 years, it’s fantastic and everything still works great. Totally worth it for someone on a budget.

[@ei..]

Meanwhile I'm here using my 88 key digital piano as a midi controller

[@fallwontbegin]

8:04- I have had the Novation Launchkey for a while now, and due to certain circumstances, i did run over it with a car (accidentally). Suprisingly, it does still function like I got it new.

[@ry7hym]

wtf 😂

[@reytunezbz]

Best free midi device. My laptop keys😅

[@reytunezbz]

I mean the korg is a sweet design tho!😮

[@hecko-yes]

if you're on a macbook you can even use the trackpad as an xy pad (or as sliders) with the right app

[@ragminka]

Tea

[@reytunezbz]

@@ragminka i do not know of "tea" care to explain

[@stabgan]

@@reytunezbz Tea pain , the singer

[@Roanoak]

When your still rocking an Axiom 25 from 10 years ago along side your newer equipment... (it was my first Midi keyboard controller and it holds a special place in my heart, also still works perfectly).

[@jacksmith4460]

I bought a V25 a couple of years ago, because it was the cheapest and also I had heard good things about the Alessis drum kits, seems to have done pretty well in the shoot out, and being that I am a keyboard noob...still I think it was a good choice. Good to hear some more competent Keys musicians affirm my choice, thanks guys

[@alkfs137a]

Just bought alesis v25, its a solid product I would say. So far so good to play with. Its not portable, but with all the features (full, semi-weighted key, mod wheels and large knobs) its worth the price. With tax and stuff its around 1,500,000 rupiah ($99) in my country. Its still budget-friendly, probably that explains why all the stores near my house always have this out of stock lol

[@crazycrafter5253]

One important thing that they missed is that the akai has 2 banks per its 4 different modes so it’s like u have 32 drum pads and knobs but u need to switch banks.

[@TheLoneRayven]

I'm not sure if you've done a video like this Andrew but, a great video would be taking a controller with a number of pads and knobs and show how you personally go about mapping those controls in Ableton to best suit your producing.

[@PommacX]

4:17 Somewhere before that, you ate the cookie... I see you Andrew!

[@PixelatedShadow]

Ya lol

[@sielsounds]

Such a great video. LOVED the blind test! You sold me on the Arturia. I've been agonizing between that one and the Akai!

[@spudthompson1434]

I have an Alesis and the Arturia, and midi mapping in Ableton is instantly usable with the Alesis, but with the arturia knobs they are a little more of a pain! :)

[@neckcheese1356]

I think the clickiness of those Korg keys would drive me nuts. The Arturia looks really nice though, and I think I'm going to make that my first MIDI controller.

[@AnymMusic]

me today: finally, my midi keyboard arrived Andrew: good for you, these are probably better value I mean ok I ordered a 61 key keyboard, but still

[@lordaizen2684]

Thank you man, I finally made my decision between minilab mkii and launchkey mk3 just from hearing this 9:53

[@BobIrving2]

Don't forget the software that's included with the Arturia, including Analog Lab Lite. That was the deciding factor for me.

[@zaneparkinson]

As someone who owns two Novations Launchpads, I don’t have to worry about the pads on my Arturia MiniLab MKII. I’m extremely happy with my choice of MIDI keyboard over a year later and it was cool to see Andrew liked it the best. Also, the Analog Lab software included is pretty awesome.

[@aysiah564]

I’m guessing the give away is already over 😂

[@promemegod1173]

Bro that first edit of the guy other guy popping into frame is so smooth that’s amazing.

[@FerscMoses]

I'm using that Akai one - your' review is pretty spot on :P Not the best but pretty decent / got fairly quickly used to the feeling of the keys & pads / the short knobs I don't mind :)

[@k.1784]

In conclusion: The ones that start with A are the best.

[@PACKERMAN2077]

That thumbnail makes him look like a CGI PS3 character with perfect plastic skin, I mean Andy is a beautiful man. 😘

[@ezzong]

He looks like Kenshi from Mortal Kombat

[@DrummerGrrrl]

New insult: "You're a shallow knob! The shallowest knob I've ever met!" LOL.

[@djwickit]

Liked this vid! Btw I'd recommend Arturia Keystep, its my favorite. Its the only small one with aftertouch.

[@x1thesoul172]

I have the Korg. Love it. And Bluetooth midi has surprisingly low latency... though, it seems to get the best results on Apple devices. I just thought I’d point out with the XY pad that when it is in Pitch/mod mode that it is ‘relative’, so you actually can’t really do the quick jumps in position you mentioned. But it does make it pretty stable for doing pitch or mod with better precision than if you hadn’t had ‘relative’. The Arturia is the only one that gives me gear lust. Your reaction to the quality of the keys. I have all I need right now, but finding room for improvement in quality is where I look now. The Alesis might be better suited in the higher key count department for me. 2 octaves is fun to do but it’s very agitating in even some basic scenarios.

[@x1thesoul172]

Oh, and the endless encoders are a love-hate thing for me for now. Absolute control is a nice way to not get lost, and a good way to have an idea to what degree you’re adjusting a parameter. Relative can change drastically even based on how quickly you accelerate your turning. It often feels weird.

[@joman1339]

stop knob time

[@clevername15]

Jose Mejia not funny didnt laugh

[@galacticgui2305]

You really "hammered" that one home...

[@tjkim1999]

"But I mean you're not going to bring a sustain pedal to an airport or coffee shop..." "I mean, I would" "... oh okay" amazing HA

[@DirtyAncom]

A thing you forgot to mention was the included software. I got the arturia keyboard just a few weeks ago, and I'm seriously impressed with analog lab lite. This keyboard and software single handedly made me become an arturia fan boy

[@farid6491]

best review on KZbin. everybody talks about plugins that come with the midi keys but the keys and pads feeling and build quality is most important. thanks guys

[@jeremyneither]

Haven't finished watching yet but if Andrew doesn't literally blindly TASTE a keyboard at some point I'ma be disappointed

[@gogo_crunchy8926]

Wtf 😂

[@dromedda6810]

i've had the minilab mk2 for few months now, really loving it!

[@maxinator317]

I won't take this slander to my akai mpk mini mk2

[@fonzietv321]

I think it's great for the price just wish the keys had a lil more weight to them.

[@bxktty]

I was about to comment this

[@maxinator317]

@UwU I had a pepe profile pic with the name "white supremacist hate symbol" throughout 2016 and 2017 and became embarrassed by it in 2018. My name has been "finally changed my profile pic" for about 1 and a half years now.

[@anthonybusch]

yeah don't do my boy like that

[@cdc849]

Keys are massive doo doo

[@ThunderousMuffin]

Sure glad I bought the Arturia MiniLab Mk2 Deep Black Edition a few weeks ago for my first MIDI board after seeing this.

[@westonkenyonmusic]

I'm still living without a MIDI board.

[@ie3410]

"as far as how they feel like they're solid, but they're not like *oh my gosh this knob* " 🤣🤣😭

[@GuitarMastr3000LP]

I have the M-Audio and it freakin‘ SUCKS! When I hit certain keys too hard, it crashes, I have to unplug it and connect it again. And those pitch buttons also make it crash, but it doesn‘t go back to normal when re-connecting it. Conclusion: Don‘t buy an Axiom Air Mini 32!!!

[@NotTheLarryDavid]

Sounds like a software problem, mate.

[@tgg_music2]

Novation LaunchKey 25 is $149 USD, and has larger and better keys, better pads, full size knobs, and includes the mod/ pitch wheels and a sustain pedal input. Not too much more money for more features. You can easily find them used too. Some friends bought one used for $80, and I bought it from them for even less. Only thing I don’t like is the velocity sensitivity on the keys.

[@Tube-yo9tj]

We’re these prices actually accurate last year? The prices on all of these have gone way up since then...

[@themandownstairs4765]

From my point of view, I'd want to but the Arturia, and then _if I could afford it_ , the Korg. The Korg has a lot of good little features but it seems like the Arturia would be good for a beginning producer. That X/Y pad is so cool.

[@filipilif]

I own the Minilab and I'm absolutely in love with it, but Novation have really stepped up their game with Launchkey Mini Mk3, it has touch strips like Arturia's Minilab and also some impressive DAW controls

[@iraklismoschonas5214]

- Can I enter to the giveaway? - Yeah! - Really?? - No. Priceless 😂

[@michaelbarry-c7c]

Can you make like addition to this video with Novation Launchkey MK3? It has: -Touchstrip mod and pitchwheel -Sustain pedal input -Arpeggiator with "deviate" and "mutate" -Fixed chord -Midi output with jack And amazing Ableton support

[@zb7561]

Michał do you have a launchkey? I have the 49key mk2 and think it’s pretty awesome but the pads are hella stiff

[@michaelbarry-c7c]

@@zb7561 Sadly, no. I was thinking about buying mk3 but I change hobby.

[@vlusky_husky]

@@michaelbarry-c7c to?

[@michaelbarry-c7c]

@@vlusky_husky making maps in CS:GO

[@8thLife]

I think I really lucked out with the first [well 2nd but I don't even count the first one haha] midi keyboard [the M-Audio Oxygen 49] I bought as it has really responsive keys and all the features I would want even today [pitch bend etc.]

[@kitty-yt2ct]

Rewatched the 300,000 note song still love it Can you make a 2,000,000 note song? ^-^

[@lillybleu9723]

I have the akai mpk mini mkII, and I feel it's the best option for me since I'm traveling a lot and have a love for all things keys and pads🤠

[@wontonsoup7500]

This is literally the most convenient timing for posting this. I am literally looking right now for a budget keyboard.

[@mglohmeyer]

Ugh, the Novation Lanchkey Mini Mk3 just came out. It adds the pitch and modulation touch pads, as well as a good arpegiator, cord and scale modes (though changing the scale requires external software), sustain pedal input, and MIDI Out. I just got mine yesterday and it fits my needs well. Yes, the keys feel flimsy, but they have very good control and response to velocity which surprised me.

[@chriah1972]

Why does Grant looks like he is having a breakdown? Lol

[@PaulOrtiz]

The best small form budget keyboard I’ve used is the M-Audio Keystation Mini 32. It’s great for drumming because you don’t need to press too hard and decent for everything else because it has 32 keys. The only downside is the mini keys (clue is in the name!). They go for about £35 so great for travelling. My full-size now is an Akai MPK 249 and I’m in love with it. Rocky start as it had to get a couple of minor repairs but they’re about 240 b-stock/pre owned and packed full of features.

[@althurdjerah]

I loved this video, is super honest. I purchased my first midi controler a month ago and I opted for Arturia (the exact one you have in this video). What I actually like about it, beside being superb in design and features, actually it is sold along with other 3 things included in the price, the Analog Lab4 (which is amazing) Ableton live 10 lite and UVI Piano. Oh, and the wood inserts are so modern. 👍🏻

[@carterdrysdale8766]

I got the Nectar 49 key. It’s really nice, full size semi weighted keys, really sturdy... live it.

[@LuckyFlesh]

I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality of the Arturia Minilab MK2 It's one of the few times in my life that I feel I actually got more than I paid for.

[@ShaynaLynn]

I have a K2000(61), K2600(88) MC505, a Yamaha AN1x(61) and a KeyLab MKII 49 by Arturia and I love it. It's may favorite controller. It came with their analog lab 4 & 5 software synths and a bank of sweet sampled pianos. So jamin right out the box with thousands of sounds. More or less, I mean DLs/installs but yeah, it was 489 from sweetwater when I got it last yr but you can grab just the board off amazon for like 200. Totally worth IMO very well made IMO. I just wish I got more keys. 49 is great for PC stuffs but more is better in this case lol

[@6919494]

You can edit Arturia pads sensitivity with controller soft

[@pieterreyer]

slideshow how?? i really need that

[@elijaminwlc6079]

Pieter de Vries you hook it up to a pc and modify the settings with their midi center

[@pierrepfister7653]

Download the MIDI Control Center from here: www.arturia.com/support/updates&manuals Or from the Arturia Software Center. Then in the MIDI Control Center, edit the Pad Velocity Curve Setting in DEVICE SETTINGS: screenshot: postimg.cc/nC5b9JfV

[@clayfacethelegend1604]

I love how straight forward this is, another great vid, Andrew!

[@andrewdavidson3548]

You should sample sounds from a MRI machine and make a track of it

[@VictorSteiner]

There are so many good ones with small keys but no real good solution with large keys but only 2 octaves and a very small footprint to take with you at the weekend and practice some piano. The Alesis comes close I guess. Just the key section of the V25 would be a dream come true ... or a 3rd octave instead of all non key stuff.

[@putridabomination]

Andrew might have just helped me decide what keyboard I'll get one day.

[@光の外国人ヒカガイ]

Thank you for this video! I actually started making music related videos because of you and my first time in front of camera was me talking about the Arturia MiniLab. Thank you for being an inspiration!

[@loteknomad5032]

Really appreciate comparative reviews like this from an experienced perspective. Thanks!

[@havenautart]

Yea boy my nano will be here tomorrow lol he had his eye on it since “Bluetooth” was mentioned. It was that or the Xkey Air (or whatever) which people seem to like, the nano just had more features. ARP scales etc. (I’m not classically trainee) lol good pick

[@quintinadkins7575]

This is an awesome giveaway, wish I had been here a year ago! Also this is a great video, perfect for people just starting to produce

[@vegaf2011]

The korg really caught my eye 🤩 Bluetooth connection say less

[@henrikpetersson3463]

I'm quite happy with my Arturia MiniLab MkII. The keybed is really good for such a small one and the knobs, pitch and mod works great. The only thing I'm not all that happy about is the pads. They miss a lot of triggers. But overall it's a really good keyboard! I still prefer the keybed and build quality of my old Roland PCR-1. But the Arturia has so many more useful features. Plus it looks great!

[@IJoAnZI]

Since the launch key mini mk 3 is out now its definatly the best of all of them

[@EyedCrown]

The Arturia is the best one I've ever tried. I love playing it.

[@ordinaryk]

If you're on a ramen budget, you can pick up a used Rock Band 3 keyboard controller for about $20. It works as a MIDI keyboard just fine, but the lack of pads might be a no-sell for some.

[@muffbit8735]

After watching this, im really happy that i bought an Arturia yesterday.

[@Zigstar]

I use the Novation and M-Audio whenever I’m making beats! Definitely my favourite MIDI keyboards of all time! 🎹 🎧 🎶 🎼 🎵

[@auracle6184]

First of October's 2020 album better be titled "Knob Time"

[@WillCrewMusic]

It's really satisfying using my Alesis while they're reviewing it (:

[@zachary1190]

Thanks so much for making this. I've been wanting to get into music production for years, I just never had enough money to start. Now that I'm able to get everything I need, this was super helpful! It was overwhelming trying to figure out which controller to start with on my own, so thanks again! :)

[@modernmusicstudio303]

What an fun way to test these out! Definitely made it more entertaining to watch. I think also when you remove how you see it versus the sound and feel of it that it can bring a different persective than what you would have had before. Great video!

[@LB-gc2rv]

Noone: Andrew: oooooo, that is a nice *knob*

[@wavesequencer]

Most of the mini-key keyboards keys are attached to a plastic strip (in octave groups) and flex from that pivot point.. I have used the MPK mini Mk2 for just over a year before keys started snapping off (I bought another one anyway because they are so cheap and portable - I needed to have it in my backpack).. the Arturia Mini-lab which I also own has individually attached keys which should make a huge difference in durability, however the continuous knobs are annoying when trying to do quick filter sweeps (for example) as you need to rotate them multiple times to cover the midi range 0-127. The Arturia Keylab looks like a good option - wish it had a few knobs and pads though.