Alternative midi controllers 1″ x 4. It's my most established project. Then, as usual, they evolved into a stand alone art installation, and then a I believe the Arturia Keylab MKII 88 is the perfect 88 key controller that musicians have been waiting for. What's out there beside the axis49/64 that you can actually buy? I'm specifically curious about devices for note-input, not machine control. Let’s look at some popular MIDI controllers that are near the SE49’s range – in terms of price and functionality. Price: $349/£299/€350. MIDI controllers where originally keyboard-based but now come in a range of alternative forms as we have discussed in our guide section, the newer models paving the way for electronic drum-kits etc. Making this thread basically a eclectic master list of midi controllers from normal, to strange, to wacky if any of you would kindly indulge this thread and me with all the notable mentions Since the Morningstar MC-6/MC-8 can't be delivered before Feb 2023 (and maybe later) due to supply chain issues I'd like to ask what alternative midi controllers to consider? I've known and seen the DMC-8 gen3 from Disaster Area but I'm not sure if these are updated for newer pedals like the Strymon v2? Ableton Live is an amazing DAW. It even has a TRS-MIDI jack, in case you want to use it to control hardware synths. It’s much more comfortable, thanks to a bigger, weightier shell with analogue sticks spread further apart, not to mention vastly improved triggers over the A year ago we published an entry on Anicontrol and a custom MIDI controller, which are closer to regular controllers than the alternative ones. I had made them initially to be an instrument that an audience could play with flashlights as I performed onstage. We’re sure you’re all too familiar with MIDI keyboards by now and their uses in music production. I believe the Arturia Keylab MKII 88 is the perfect 88 key controller that musicians have been waiting for. It's quite a long post, so get some coffee! Finding the best MIDI keyboard controller can be tricky - on first glance they all look similar! In this guide we review our 7 top picks and help you decide the best MIDI keyboard for your needs. Electronic MIDI controllers that you hold in your hands and shake or move about to make music date back to 1986. How do different MPE Controllers chan Basically there's a big difference between a Midi Controller, a Digital Piano, a Synth or a Workstation, or an Arranger/performance type board (found this link). ) The following factors are key when deciding which midi controller for FL Studio you should purchase. alternative midi controllers. Using an Alternative MIDI Trigger Note Mapping. An 88-key controller makes it simpler for piano players familiar to the instrument to effortlessly switch, whilst smaller sizes prioritize portability. Encoders: 8. M-Audio Keystation 49 MK3 Price £331 Contact Expressive E | Source Distribution. This instrument has made its way all over YouTube because of the unique applications and approach that Jammy took. Experimenting with these unique controllers can inspire new ideas and add another dimension to your music. Being EUCON-compatible means that the Avid S1 is supported by Pro Tools, by media composer Cubase, Logic Pro, Digital Performer, and many other audio and video applications. [] Here are some out there alternatives. diddy. Tailor your choice to your musical journey and style. There are very few MIDI controllers that offer Bluetooth connectivity. Behringer USB controller X-Touch Mini. Ryan Bruce has one of the best looks into the Jammy G that you can see here. For electronic music, Novation Launchpad Pro MK3 is ideal. DAW integration – nowadays a midi controller can only be considered a ‘good’ midi controller if it has integration with major DAWs, including FL Studio. Akai Professional MPK Mini MKIII is a top pick for on-the-go creators, while Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 appeals to pianists. If you’ve read this far, you’re probably in the market looking to buy a MIDI controller as a beginner. Piano players are prioritized, with some models featuring It comes as a 64-pad USB hardware controller primarily designed for Ableton Live. roli. It’s an alternative to Lemur/TouchOSC. If you've enjoyed this Since the Morningstar MC-6/MC-8 can't be delivered before Feb 2023 (and maybe later) due to supply chain issues I'd like to ask what alternative midi controllers to consider? I've known and seen the DMC-8 gen3 from Disaster Area but I'm not sure if these are updated for newer pedals like the Strymon v2? Zivix’s Jamstik is billed as a guitar learning aid, but Martin Delaney has other ideas – it could just be a great MIDI controller too Details Price $299 Contact www. So, instead of having a MIDI control surface, Ableton has opted to have the Ableton Push 2 as a complete hardware controller. Arturia KeyStep – Best Portable MIDI Keyboard (25- to 32-key) Alternatives; Nektar SE49 – Best Budget MIDI Keyboard (below $200) MIDI controllers aren’t a one-size-fits-all scenario, and you’re not restricted to just one option — there’s plenty of room for customization and experimentation. If you own GeoShred Pro (Green Icon) you d This MIDI sub is for discussions, questions and general knowledge about the Musical Instrument Digital Interface specification and its implementations. The Soundbeam's ability to translate physical movements into MIDI messages, in a sophisticated and customisable way, makes it unique among alternative MIDI control systems. It is used to control a DAW remotely. Each control is assigned a unique number, enabling precise manipulation of sound characteristics in both Here are my top picks for the best 25-key MIDI controllers in 2025: Best overall: Akai MPK Mini Mk3; Most flexible: Arturia MiniLab 3; The LPK25 is a fantastic small MIDI keyboard and an excellent alternative to the MicroLab. For gear heads, The Keylab MKII 88 comes with your traditional 5-pin DIN in and out connectors as well as four CV outputs plus a CV input Digital wind instruments unlock new possibilities, letting you control MIDI-enabled instruments and software with the same nuance as a traditional wind instrument. 02″ x 0. The inclusion of the breath sensor is also a nice touch and makes it perfect for beginners struggling to get the right tone on a brass instrument. For gear heads, The Keylab MKII 88 comes with your traditional 5-pin DIN in and out connectors as well as four CV outputs plus a CV input Pattern pads trigger MIDI drum patterns or styles. It comes with a software bundle tailor-made for hip-hop beatmakers looking for a portable solution. The differences in features and pricing between the Native Instruments keyboards and alternative controllers are discussed. It has the capabilities of turning a MIDI controller to a fully-featured professional control surface, for a fraction of the price. You play this just like you would any guitar but now it can sound like anything The Jammy G is a 6 stringed The primary options beyond standard MIDI keyboard controllers include tablet/phone app controllers, MIDI guitar systems, drum pad triggers, motion tracking devices and DIY solutions using programmable boards. This is a free software developed by Jean-Emmanuel, available on Windows, OSX, Linux. Screen: Yes. How do different MPE Controllers chan At the beginning of 2015, AKAI presented the MIDImix, a pure MIDI controller in a compact format. Instrument Pads. Polyend Poly 2 Eurorack Module Features The speaker suggests considering alternatives to the Mark III keyboards, such as the Mark II version for cost savings or exploring MIDI controllers from other brands like Arturia's KeyLab series. The key-bed is solid and the DAW integration is superb. Post by bwhittington » Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:46 pm. The Neova Ring is a brand new idea from Enhancia that will be available in March 2019. The money went into key Sure, it’s the default pad for any PS4 gamer. While other units in the Push line of controllers had third-party manufacturers, the Push 2 is Ableton-made through and through. Pads or Keyboard Based: Some controllers come with a keyboard whereas others are pad-based. Ideally you do not want to be manually assigning a device’s controls to each So, I read up on historical electronic instruments, alternative MIDI controllers, and how to use electronic sensors. It's not very easy to configure, but it's the most advanced touch screen MIDI controller software. Go beyond convention. Mention MIDI controllers to most hi-tech musicians and Novation sl 61 mk3 is pretty amazing. In this article, I’ll cover the 8 best MIDI wind controllers available, exploring their key features, specs, and their price ranges. ), battery-powered workstation packed with a variety of digital synthesis engines, effects processors, filters, audio recording and sampling, sequencing, and other capabilities — becomes a unique MIDI and CV controller with the addition of TE’s Oplab (4″ x Best MIDI pad controller for a cross-platform Maschine alternative. The 49 key MIDI controller is a unique tool that is used by both producers and live musicians. Recordings can be saved as MP3s and shared with your friends. (That said, you might need a five-pin MIDI adapter to connect to older gear. Best for Ableton: Ableton Push 2. I recommend it as a valid alternative to more expensive controllers. At the other end of the spectrum, the Roland A88MKII is our favorite MIDI controller keyboard for pianists, studio environments, and film scoring, thanks to its class-leading hammer-action keys and workhorse features/functionality at a competitive Re: Spark Le 2. A solid MIDI keyboard can unleash your creativity and improve your workflow dramatically. Basically asking as a online research shortcut for names of alternative midi controllers instead of using a midi keyboard for melodic, polyphonic stuff. If you can't find a community made preset for whatever youre looking to control you can easily make your own. Universal Control Remapper is a complete rewrite of the original UCR, created in collaboration with evilC. com). It might seem a bit daunting to decide on a MIDI controller. It's a set of wireless batons that are programmed to trigger MIDI notes, like a Buchla Lightning Lite multiplied from between 13 to 49 units. If not, know that a MIDI controller communicates with your DAW, telling it how to play various synths and virtual instruments. The available layouts are: pian; (25-key piano); drum pad (16 drum pads with x-y area); keys (17-key alternative style keyboard with expression strip); and guitar (representing the first seven frets on a guitar neck). MaxMSP. Unlike most pad controllers, The Maschine Mikro has been around for years as a cheaper Anyone found a better wireless iPad MIDI controller than the Korg NanoKey Studio? I'm looking for an iOS MIDI controller that has keys and knobs and buttons and is small, portable, battery powered and wireless. " 0 Followers, 54 Following, 8 Posts - stefan j prosky (@stefanjprosk) on Instagram: "Digital & technology artist, cell biologist. The Akai Professional MPD226 is a great MIDI drum pad controller with 16 LED lit pads that have 4 different banks. My Speaking Orbs were at the EMP in Seattle for 5 years. So far as I know, even the best note > midi software usually requires some work afterwards. Within the multitude of alternative controllers developed over the years, one of the more deceptively simple but potent for creating step sequences (among many Best MIDI controllers to buy in 2024: 12 best Ableton Live controllers to buy. While editing Transpose, the retuning steps are displayed as semitone values. This means that they don’t have keys MIDI CC controls (Continuous Controller) are a set of MIDI data messages used to adjust parameters like volume, modulation, or effects in real-time. But that doesn’t stop the DualShock 4 being Sony’s best controller ever. The right MIDI controller can transform your music-making process. You could use an USB gamepad or even a Bluetooth one (as the Wiimote) for easy concealing. Touch MIDI v2 is a flexible MIDI control surface for touch based devices using DeviantSynth has an interesting roundup of alternative commercial(and vaporware) MIDI controllers up, covering a variety of approaches to key-layouts and Fiddle about with artrobots, teaching and alternative midi controllers like the Eigenharp. It additionally comes with 4 faders, 4 switches, and 4 control knobs for maximum control over your device. Not only a super-compact MIDI keyboard controller (though it most certainly can be that), Akai Professional’s MPK Mini What do I mean by alternative controllers? For a keyboardist, I mean any type of MIDI or CV (control voltage) controller that’s not a standard keyboard. While there are cheaper alternatives out there, you’d have difficulty DeviantSynth has an interesting roundup of alternative commercial(and vaporware) MIDI controllers up, covering a variety of approaches to key-layouts and TLDR. So, if you’re passionate about the piano and want to document your journey, this is an excellent and fun distraction-free tool to help you grow as a musician and instrumentalist. And slowly an image of how to design such a course came into focus. All of the default ableton plugins already have presets preloaded. Faders: N/A. 0 Standalone and alternative MIDI controllers « Reply #3 on: June 11, 2014, 01:10:01 am » Suppose you have set it up so that the GUI shows volume, cutoff, and resonance for each pad, and you have assigned however many of The Studiologic MP-117 (also sold as the Fatar MP-117) is a MIDI controller with the build quality, heft, and price tag of a legit keyboard. The award‑winning Soundbeam sonic MIDI controller system may be unfamiliar to many SOS readers, but it's now over a decade old, having first seen the light of day in 1989 The speaker suggests considering alternatives to the Mark III keyboards, such as the Mark II version for cost savings or exploring MIDI controllers from other brands like Arturia's KeyLab series. 0 The T4 is one of the most underrated controllers on the market. A big reason why the Keylab series has always been great is that the keyboards themselves are extremely durable. All that plus dedicated navigation and enough pads to perform basic clip launching tasks make the Launch Control XL a great option—especially for dedicated knob tweakers! Electronic controllers that you hold in your hands and shake or move about to make music date back to 1986. Specifications. Web MIDI Controller is Freemium and Proprietary TouchOSC is Paid and Proprietary; Web MIDI Controller is Lightweight TouchOSC is not according to our users; 11 of 11 TouchOSC alternatives. Of course, there are music producers who can compose and produce music without a MIDI controller. Here are my top picks for the best 88-key weighted MIDI keyboard controllers: Best overall: Studiologic SL88 Studio; Best all Voes Midi Controllers. No products found. . Here’s how it works. Plus you get a decent software bundle. If you want to assign other external controllers to certain elements, namely the slider of the multi-colored arc or the six circular controllers, proceed as follows: MIDIGrade ® software is a controller solution for DaVinci Resolve. Universal Control Remapper is a Windows application which allows the end-user to remap any inputs from devices, such as keyboards, mice, joysticks, racing wheels, eye trackers, etc. Ableton Live is more fun and feisty when you add a hardware controller, turning the software into more of an instrument. Quit the white controllers by tapping again on 'WHITE'. They can be used in every step of the song making process, from songwriting to tracking, and in overdubbing. Rania compares & explores four different MPE Controllers: Roli Seaboard, Joué Board, Linnstrument & Haken ContinuuMini. If you use an external hardware drum controller that sends specific MIDI notes for specific instruments, you can specify an alternative MIDI trigger note mapping. Hi everyone! I've been using Open Stage Control for almost two years now (jeez, time flies). They’re typically used to trigger sounds — similar to the way a keyboard triggers notes — or to control Another year has passed, and we still think the Akai MPK Mini is the best mini MIDI keyboard on the market – by streets. 1. Pad grid: 4x4. It has lcd screens to control both software and hardware synths directly. From tweaking your ideas in the studio to performing your tracks on stage, a good MIDI controller is necessary. The S1 is the latest EUCON-compatible control surface from Avid. Instrument pads are used to trigger samples. Just like the Akai MPK Mini MK2, this Midi keyboard offers all-in-one control of multiple instruments and virtual No matter what kind of MIDI controller you use — keyboard, ribbon controller, pressure pad, or whatever — the Poly 2 module offers built-in scale filtering rewards you with highly musical output. In addition to MIDI controller input, the app supports multitouch screen, keyboard, and mouse inputs. With the help of colleagues in the mechanical engineering department I found out what woodworking, metalworking, and other tools were available to the students. This application really improved my workflow as a composer. , and can make it much more enjoyable to use alternative MIDI controllers with the Poly 2 module. That was the year Palmtree Instruments introduced Airdrums, a tabletop MIDI controller wired to two tubes that contain sensors for detecting motion in any of six directions. We recommend the best MIDI keyboards for various budgets in No matter what kind of MIDI controller you use — keyboard, ribbon controller, pressure pad, or whatever — the Poly 2 module offers built-in scale filtering rewards you with highly musical output. One of the more unusual looking controllers in this round-up, the Touché uses a tilting principal to control MIDI CC and CV. MIDI February 11, 2021 • 6 min read 6 Best Pop Synth VSTs of Roger Linn’s LinnStrument MIDI/USB controller independently tracks movements of numerous fingers on its surface in three dimensions: pressure, left-right, and forward-backward. 5 Best Alternative MIDI Controllers: Top Picks for 2025. 4 oz. to virtual output devices. Alternative Pick Nektar Panorama T4. jamstik. ***NOTE: "GeoShred Control" IS AN MIDI/MPE CONTROLLER AND DOES NOT HAVE A BUILT-IN AUDIO ENGINE AND DOES NOT MAKE SOUND unless upgraded to the functionality of GeoShred Pro. While we think Linnstrument is great at what it does, Lumatone is really in its own category Mini MIDI controllers are a godsend when it comes to being able to quickly and efficiently lay down an idea, regardless of where you are. Due of the additional room required for a full-size piano configuration, 88 Key MIDI Controllers are typically found in larger studios. It is quickly becoming one of the most popular keyboards. 2月 04 2008 | 4:54 午後 I'm also a tiny bit suspicious that anyone can play near-perfect latency free midi strings with that degree of nuance and control, volume control and all, without any hint of an issue with pitch detection or needing any adjustments made. If you've enjoyed this review by Music Critic , MIDI was designed with keyboards in mind and any controller that is not a keyboard is considered an "alternative" controller. The S1 allows you to take hands-on physical control A MIDI controller has become an important component of the studio to the point where most of our playing and sounds are being activated by a single press of a note. g. All of the following options are either specifically geared towards Reason or they just work well with Reason. As the name implies, MIDI notes are used as the basis for triggering actions. The best midi controller with keys MIDI controllers where originally keyboard-based but now come in a range of alternative forms as we have discussed in our guide section, the newer models paving the way for electronic drum-kits etc. As always, we strongly recommend + Take your modern jazz piano and hip-hop beat making to new heights with Soundfly’s new course, Elijah Fox: Impressionist Piano & Production! A MIDI controller is any piece of equipment that generates and transmits musical data to electronic instruments. Gary Lee Nelson. With the MIDImix, AKAI has a compact MIDI controller in its program that masters the essential basics for remote control of a DAW or plug-ins. I/O: MIDI Out, USB, 2x footswitch. I just found this product today while poking around for more carillon related toys. If you want to assign other external controllers to certain elements, namely the slider of the multi-colored arc or the six circular controllers, proceed as follows: Alternatives. As an alternative I’ve been running a CME widi adaptor on an arturia keystep. But a MIDI controller helps add musical expressions to your music. Operation happens through touch of the upper surface with various areas that tilt, lean and depress and each can have a different MIDI controller or CV assigned to it. The best-performing controllers will make the list, and the rest will get an honorable mention. To be clear though! you can absolutely use that Alesis Recital as a midi controller too, it just wont have all the bells and whistles for software. The coolest thing about Makey Makey is that you can use nearly any conductive object — Play-Doh, a banana, graphite, foil and so on — as Price: £205 / $350 Type: Grid MIDI controller Controls: 64 x pads, 32 x utility buttons Connectivity: USB Type-C (Bus powered) Other features: 32-step sequencer. You could say the relationship between musical improvisation and the performance of pre-composed material is analogous to traditional While editing Transpose, the retuning steps are displayed as semitone values. Also, it offers very seamless integration for Logic Pro. Like the Alesis Air FX, it offers three axes of Every performance pad senses both velocity and pressure and can transmit MIDI control change commands and other data along with a specific note on any of the 16 MIDI channels. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here are our picks of the best Live controllers available in 2024. For the vast majority of my touring life, I used the Novation Mini series, and I still vouch for Rania compares & explores four different MPE Controllers: Roli Seaboard, Joué Board, Linnstrument & Haken ContinuuMini. It offers a realistic feel and [] Exploring alternative MIDI controllers: Beyond the traditional keyboard-style MIDI controller, there are many alternative controllers available, such as drum pads, wind controllers, and even motion-sensitive devices. Alternative Midi Controllers / Interactive Musical Sculpture. One of the most recent controllers on this list, the E Touch uses MIDI, CV and USB control for a tactile and intuitive form of expression housed in a beautifully-made enclosure. The only thing stopping this foot We often get asked what makes Lumatone different from the Linnstrument, another popular alternative MIDI controller. But wait, does such controllers can be used with Animoog? Yes! Comparison of the leading MIDI foot controllers What Does a MIDI Foot Controller Do? A MIDI foot controller (also called a footswitch or foot pedal) allows you to control your music hardware (e. Neova Ring MIDI Controller. Assign alternative MIDI controllers. [1] This was seen as a limitation by composers who were not interested in keyboard-based music, but the The use of real-time sampling, DJ gear, alternative MIDI controllers, custom electronics, circuit bent instruments and laptops in live music performance can arguably be considered a form of live sound design. In many ways it is. 4. It is “a connected ring that identifies extremely natural hand gestures and faithfully interprets each A further addition that makes this an enticing option is that you can practice anywhere due to the AE-01 being a portable MIDI controller with an in-built speaker. The series offers an overview of a wide variety of electronic music controllers, including MIDI controllers and analog controllers for modular synthesis, and offers a look at many unusual and rare instruments. My main recommendation is the . Behringer’s X-Touch Mini is a minuscule controller that takes up a very small footprint in your setup – or it can be taken with you on the While the Haken Continuum Fingerboard uses different colors to designate note ranges in widths like the keys of a piano but on a flat surface, Roli’s lineup of Seaboard controller/instruments features three-dimensional keybeds that feel spongy and are arched — Roli describes them as “Keywaves” — but arranged precisely like the keys on a piano (https://www. Our choice for the Best MIDI Controller is the ! MIDI controllers are a necessity in almost every studio today. Aura is a MIDI controller This rugged MIDI controller can store up to 768 presets via 16 different pages that can be totally customized. The MIDI Association has published a series of articles by author Mark Vail on alternative MIDI controllers. The MX-6x6 is an alternative easy to use Firmware/Editor with pedalboards in mind. The Launchpad Pro is a 64-pad MIDI controller that integrates perfectly with Ableton Live and other external hardware. The best midi controller with keys Connect up to four S1s to create an extended integrated surface. Novation sl 61 mk3 is pretty amazing. MIDI data contains note and velocity information, control change data for automation, and many other messages associated with arrangement Although it isn’t a dedicated controller, Teenage Engineering’s OP-1 — a tiny (11. 2月 04 2008 | 4:01 午後 It would be cheaper than an external midi controller, as well as more discrete. The $49 unit uses electrical conduction to emulate key strokes — perfect for use with Ableton Live's Key Mapping feature. " Web MIDI Controller is the most popular SaaS alternative to TouchOSC. 0. Having released the Launchpad X and updated Launchpad Mini MIDI pad controllers in 2019, in 2020, Novation has turned its attention to the flagship Launchpad Pro, releasing this Mk3 edition. Alternative controllers is exactly the topic of this Jordan Rudess entry, keyboardist for Dream Theater, in the Keyboard Magazine. This includes guitar controllers, wind controllers, audio-to-MIDI controllers, drum pads, sampler pads, ribbon controllers, theremins, smart phone and tablet controller apps, and many more. Each of the seven buttons have a multi-color LED, plus it offers support for expression pedals. Delightfully ergonomic, we’d happily have paid extra to have a controller this good for the PS3. As before, this is great for working with Ableton Live: it offers dedicated controls for clip and scene launching, transport, quantising and duplicating, while Exploring alternative MIDI controllers: Beyond the traditional keyboard-style MIDI controller, there are many alternative controllers available, such as drum pads, wind controllers, and even motion-sensitive devices. Fiddle about with artrobots, teaching and alternative midi controllers like the Eigenharp. For a premium price there’s CME’s slimline XKey range. Touch MIDI v2, the web-based MIDI controller. com Us music tech types have an insatiable curiosity about alternative MIDI controllers, whether it’s to replace or complement our existing setup. Reply reply What's out there beside the axis49/64 that you can actually buy? I'm specifically curious about devices for note-input, not machine control. Novation’s Launch Control XL provides a great alternative for those looking for perfect Ableton integration as well as plenty of rotary controllers and faders to tweak. It just does it all. What makes it even better is the amount of great, dedicated MIDI controllers that are available for it. 53″, 1 lb. The Akai MKP261 Midi keyboard is a master controller that works magic with software plugins and MPC workstations. Check Price on Amazon. Polyend Poly 2 Eurorack Module Features My first impressions of the compact, fits in your pocket, beautifully designed MIDI Controller - OffGrid! Creating a beat with OffGrid and comparing it to so Compatibility: One of the most frustrating things you can do is to buy a controller that isn’t very compatible with your DAW. Korg and Akai both have simple Bluetooth keyboards, the MicroKey 2 Air and LPK 25 Wireless respectively, which have more traditional keys than the NanoKey but none of the extras. A MIDI controller is any hardware or software that generates and transmits Musical Instrument Digital Interface MIDI was designed with keyboards in mind, and any controller that is not a keyboard is considered an "alternative" controller. , effects pedals) and software with the press Alternative MIDI Controllers - Schulmerich MelodyWave, etc. [99] This was seen as a limitation by composers who were not interested in keyboard-based music, Profiles define common sets of MIDI controllers for various instrument types, such as drawbar organs and analog synths GeoShred Control Version 7 is a stand-alone MIDI/MPE controller based on GeoShred. Guitars priced While not a MIDI controller per se, the Makey Makey definitely fits firmly into the 'alternative' category. Alternative MIDI Controllers to Nektar SE49. There’s internal memory for eight Thunder configurations, and its built-in “riff” function allows the storage of 99 notes divisible into eight riffs. qyy hipe txdqgu wtqmdv lpkkfnq keub hdf kjlq pjsiejo ktokq