BLIND TESTING THE CHEAPEST MIDI KEYBOARDS!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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?

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@y0uyo]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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. 👍🏻

[@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

[@Ryandgeorgi]

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

[@don_juant]

banned

[@ImpluseResponse]

No.

[@GrantStinnett]

I know... so cold. ;)

[@snaredrum954]

Was gold 🤣

[@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

[@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

[@lukek5291]

For those trying to decide between Akai and Arturia... Arturias Minilab MK2 (Owned 1 year) Pros: *Solid build quality *Metal backplate *Superb knobs *Ok keys (sturdy, but takes a while to get used to) Cons: *Pitch bend/mod strips are a joke, unusable in ANY situation, there is no way you can write smooth automation with those *Knobs are preset only to Arturias instruments, limited with other instruments by default *Stiff pads (Have to hit hard to achieve higher velocities) Akai MPK Mini MK2 (Owned 2 years) Pros: *Keys action and velocity *Nice pads (Great velocity) *All knobs function with most intruments out of the box *Arp Cons: *Very toy-like feel to it *Flimsy keys *Poor build quality-one year in pitch bend/mod toggle started glitching. Two years in USB port came loose and broke IC chip that was right behind it.

[@Jaburu]

conclusion: better pay $200 for a keyboard

[@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

[@BobIrving2]

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

[@loteknomad5032]

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

[@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!

[@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?

[@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.

[@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! :)

[@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

[@lordaizen2684]

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

[@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!

[@joman1339]

stop knob time

[@clevername15]

Jose Mejia not funny didnt laugh

[@galacticgui2305]

You really "hammered" that one home...

[@MarlonKingShow]

Deoends on purpose. I see your point with alesis however if you already have full keys then smaller keys is best as second keys on desk or for on the go. I just ordered the novation but mk3 which pretty much fixed the missing features. Cool review though. Thanks

[@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.

[@ar_snl]

I bought the Arturia today and i love it. Its in all black and the build quality is awesome. I cant wait to learn more music theory on this.

[@xlionyx]

I love the black version. But in doubt, was it hard to learn to play on black keys ? Isn't it confusing somehow ? 😅

[@djwickit]

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

[@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.

[@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! :)

[@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

[@WithTheIron]

I was looking some time ago for my first MIDI keyboard and decided to buy Arturia Minilab mk2. What also is good to mention, Arturia gives you Ableton Live Lite, Arturia Analog Lab and UVI Grand Piano for free. So the value of all stuff together is way more than ~100$ and reaaally good gear for start

[@samarpanraj5274]

Is it good than novation launchkey ?

[@WithTheIron]

@@samarpanraj5274 I would say that Ableton has better keys and it's a solid, high quality gear but Novation is also great for start. Never had Novation in my hands so it's hard to compare, so I recommend to watch few more vids about Novation and Arturia.

[@callmeNoro]

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

[@black_hammer2789]

This is my first time watching one of your videos, I smiled at the very first 10 seconds. Love the vibe, voice and vid structure. 👏🏾🔥

[@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

[@jlbenj01]

Nerding out is always great when it comes to music tech. I’m currently building my studio desk to fit the Alesis VI61 which is the big brother of the one you reviewed. It’s currently on my Amazon wish list so it was great hearing your thoughts since I want I for composing work, video games etc...

[@Ethan-yx3xd]

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

[@WritingMyOwnElegy]

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]

@@WritingMyOwnElegy 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

[@STAYSHVRP]

I got the alesis 49 key awhile back when my m-audio stopped working. I’ve been really happy with 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.

[@dromedda6810]

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

[@ShrimpExpert]

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

[@YANtheONI]

👀

[@siliaerdal]

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

[@darkforestzero]

if you're interested in the Arturia Minila mkII, note that it comes with Analog Lab lite which gets you a TON of great sounding vintage virtual synths

[@Zaubrer488]

also, the Arturia software package is great.

[@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.

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@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

[@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).

[@elz8604]

Grant should do audio books. Smooth voice, my dude

[@ArthurTheEagle]

I think I'm in love with that Alesis, I love the design, it seems to be the perfect beginer keyboard, I think I'm buying it!

[@totallycow9103]

I'm gunna get it too :) If you already have it tell me what u think!

[@westonkenyonmusic]

I'm still living without a MIDI board.

[@michaelwieland9236]

I bought the Arturia MiniLab MKII a while back mostly for those 16 encoders! Pretty ideal for controlling volume and panning for 8 channels of while mixing in a DAW (or for live performance). Though not ideal for finger drumming the horizontal layout of those 8 pads make them perfect to act as mutes per channel.

[@PommacX]

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

[@PixelatedShadow]

Ya lol

[@thomashumphreycreative]

I have the Alesis V49 and it's great! I don't play the piano, but this MIDI keyboard makes music production much easier and fun!

[@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

[@alvingray7207]

Cool! After long thinking i finally opted for Music computing Kami station, I am very pleased with the price\quality ratio and amount of options I have there

[@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

[@SkywayTraffic]

FYI if you have an AKAI pad like that, you can mod it to get way better responsiveness and it literally takes half an hour and like a single sheet of paper. Just spreading the good word because that mod saved my life after I thought I made a bad purchase. Turns out it was totally fine hahaha.

[@muffbit8735]

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

[@Mitchkit]

What a great review. I'm glad someone as well known as you made this video, as it's really quite informative as to what you get for what you pay. I personally use M-Audio's axiom air mini 32, the one shown on video and it's helped me so much in my time as a musician. It's not an amazing experiences but it's affordable for someone doing music entirely as a hobby.

[@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

[@SirMildredPierce]

The thing I didn't like about the Arturia keyboard was their peculiar design decision to have the Octave button BLINK when it is activated. It wouldn't be so bad, but it's really bright. It's the same on my MicroFreak, but it's not as bright, and well, I love the MicroFreak enough that it's easier to overlook. Buttons should only blink when they are awaiting another input. The bright button blinking bothered me enough that I returned the keyboard and got an Akai instead. I got the red and black-key limited edition, so it looks really cool anyways.

[@CreativeWeirdName]

I was actually fairly surprised at your thoughts on the Alesis. It was my first midi keyboard (outside of full size keyboards) and when i went into guitar center, I bought it because if was the cheapest of the keyboard that fit my regulations (which was literally just full size keys). but i was always curious if i would have preferred one of the slightly more expensive keyboards. but hearing your thoughts made me a little more confident in what i chose

[@calebnash5467]

I don’t know where to find it, I looked it up and it was $300 aud ($214 usd). Is there a link for it or anything?

[@arand4]

Cool video. I own the Arturia for a year now and totally love it, it's the size of a old laptop, so it fits perfectly in the laptop pocket of my backpack, since I use the ipad to make music I don't need that pocket for anything else anyway. I'm glad to see that my month of research on 2 octave keyboards brought me to the same conclusion as andrew.

[@sartorish]

arand4 What do you use for an iPad DAW?

[@ei..]

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

[@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.

[@k.1784]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@homevids]

This is a nearly 3 year old review of these keyboards. Since then the Novation Launchkey Mini Mk3 has added pitch and modulation touchstrips, a sustain peddle connector and the knobs are taller. The black keys are also no longer a funny shape but are much nicer. Quite an improvement over mk2. I'm sure the other keyboards have all had improvements. Many people like the Novation Launchkey due to its excellent Ableton Live integration. But it does depend what you want to get out of the keyboard.

[@annnabee]

Thanks for your input- do you have personal experience with the Mk3 (particularly its key feel)? The ableton integration is super appealing to me, but as a piano player I just can’t handle dodgy keys so am leaning towards the arturia for my first midi controller.

[@homevids]

@@annnabee The MK3 is for composition and not really for playing seriously. For that you should look for a keyboard with full-size keys. I agree that the MK3 keys are not ideal. I have big hands and playing with speed is awkward. Novation have made a compromise - keeping the KB cheap, fitting a lot of Abelton shortcuts, and making it portable. The key size and feel is one thing that has suffered as a consequence. Check out the Yamaha PSR-E373 and PSR-E473. For playing I hope to use one of those.

[@vinylscratch1471]

Knob time - 5:35 Pitch and modulation - 6:55 Sustain pedal input - 7:18 Bonus features - 7:50 Build quality - 8:32

[@Denominator90]

Bought an Arturia Minilab MK II last week. Your channel is seriously reviving my curiosity and interest in the music world again. In middle school I used to play saxaphone, and actually was allowed to play first chair for the high school band (while still in middle school.) Once I hit 8th grade we were allowed to choose band, choir, or tech. I made the massive mistake of choosing tech (which I was already excelling at.) Anyway, long story short...your content, personality, and great way of describing things REALLY wants me to get back into this lost interest. Being 31 years old now...would your course be good for someone that has forgotten everything about music? My tinkering around with the minilab was a ton of fun, but I can see how I need to learn my DAW and actual music theory/piano. I guess TLDR, you're an inspiration.

[@eaglebaize]

Can't speak on his course, but keep learning! I get the feeling that the foundations are still there in the back of your brain. Practice will bring that knowledge back out. Gotta keep at it and give it time.

[@aysiah564]

I’m guessing the give away is already over 😂

[@DJURI]

love your videos, best part you get in quick don't waste time and your stuff makes sense, cheers!

[@wontonsoup7500]

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

[@promemegod1173]

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

[@andrewdavidson3548]

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

[@TTSetters]

I have an alesis qs7, it has wheels, modulators, half weighted keys. Seriously, if you want a midi controller, look at old synths that have good action that you can either use a midi adapter (qs7 is midi plug to usb adapter, works perfectly, no lag at all ever). Qs7 itself has some maybe interesting stock sounds, but I use it for a midi controller as it's perfect for that. The built in sounds, maybe not so much - you can apply this to other synths from back in the day that maybe today sound like trash, but have a good feel to the keys (half weight, full weight, etc).

[@LB-gc2rv]

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

[@modularcuriosity]

Sounds like my Necktar Impact LX49+ would have kicked butt. 49 keys with adjustable velocity, 8 knobs, 8 pads, and a full 8 channel mixer faders with mute/solo buttons for $160. And it integrated with my DAW instantly. It would be interesting to see how keyboards compare if you added $50 more than the ones reviewed here.

[@procision]

why did u review the Launchpad Mini MKii when there’s an MKiii

[@sprb4725]

Procision there wasn’t at the time

[@Steven_Fisher1]

Thanks for the video! Thinking about picking up the Arturia Minilab soon for my music.

[@ZukunftBilden]

Is Novation launchkey mini mk3 or the akai mpk mini mk2 better - if you work with ableton live10? (why?)

[@yungbroc]

on ableton you can assign all the knobs and pads of a midi keyboard to almost every adjustable parameter available in your project (assuming ableton recognizes them). so i think it should mainly come down to which midi keyboard has the better workflow for yourself.

[@JESchomb]

launchkey mini mk3 has integrated ableton functions that you would have to set up yourself on the akai mini mk2. true, both can pretty much do the same thing if you really want them to, but the big benefit to the lk mk3 is that you don't have to spend the time assigning everything when you get it. you can just plug it in and have the full support. it also allows you to have complete control over session view in ableton. you don't have to have your hands on your laptop at all and can create an entire song in a matter of minutes using only the launchkey mini because of this. also important for you to know that Andrew didn't review the mk3 in this video, he was reviewing an older model and the mk3 has a ton of great improvements. Launchkey Mini mk3 is 100% better for ableton live 10, but both are good mini keyboards that are pretty similar. I'd suggest looking up some videos of people using both and see which you think you'd like more. source: my roommate for the last year and a half uses an mpk mini mk2 that I've had plenty of experience using, and I recently bought a launchkey mini mk3.

[@elliotmcgee8918]

I was intrigued by the premise and not only did I enjoy the vid, but you reaffirmed that my first and second choices would have done exactly what I wanted them to do. I have the Minilab MKII and I almost went for the Alesis V25 instead. Couldn't be happier.