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Stop Wasting Money On MIDI Controllers (Complete Guide)

Caleb I. Tilley

175,961 views

In this video, I go over all major aspects of buying a MIDI keyboard, including how many keys, what type of keyboard action, as well as other cool features.
Dynamic, Soulful Drum Loops For Your Next Track: https://linkly.link/2X6J5

Keyboards in this video:
Launchkey Mini: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/it...
Arturia Keylab: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/it...
StudioLogic SL: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/it...
Native Instruments S49: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/it...
Yamaha CP: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/it...

Other Gear That I Use:
Audio Interface: Apollo X4: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/it...
Studio Monitors: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/it...
Mic: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/it...
Console 1: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/it...
Cameras: Sony Alpha ZV-E10 https://amzn.to/3yF4c2B
OBSBOT Tail 2: https://bit.ly/4jG0YNT

zZounds Gear List: https://www.zzounds.com/share--caleb_...

Let's Connect!
https://linktr.ee/calebitilley

BUSINESS INQUIRIES: caleb@calebitilley.com

(Disclaimer: Some of the product links in the description of this video are affiliate links. If you purchase an item through any of these links, I do get a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

0:00 - Start
0:22 - Keyboard Action?
1:22 - How Many Keys?
3:21 - Aftertouch?
4:10 - Connectivity
5:08 - Bluetooth MIDI
6:16 - Features Many People Don't Need
7:46 - Software and Ecosystem (Plugins?)

20 Comments

@calebitilley Creator 10 months ago Pinned

Thanks for watching!
Keyboards in this video:
Launchkey Mini: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/item--NOVLNCHKEYMINI25
Arturia Keylab: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/item--AUAKEYLAB61MK3
StudioLogic SL: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/item--STLSL88MK2
Native Instruments S49: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/item--NATKONTROLS49MK3
Yamaha CP: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3992928/item--YAMCP73

@TalkingLeafMedia 10 months ago

The title combined with the fact that you seem to own all the MIDI controllers ever manufactured is awesome. You clearly speak from experience. Thanks!

@Ahmad-Mounir44 8 months ago

It's not the tools, it's the skills. I've been using Alesis Q25 for 6 yrs now and I have music on Discovery, Netflix, HBO and soon in Nat Geo ! And my studio is ridiculously simple. The fact that I'm not overwhelming myself with too much gears with too much learning curves made me focus on the music with the decent workflow that I feel comfortable with. Minimalism made me more in control !

@kylecutler5317 4 months ago

50 seconds into this video and I already know how helpful this is gonna be

@FWBeck 7 months ago (edited)

61 full size semiweight keys for performance, 49 full size semiweight keys for production, and 25 mini synth action keys to carry in the backpack together with the laptop.

@HungHoang-vy9tu 4 months ago (edited)

For the faders and knobs, I find them very useful to ride volume/parameters when mixing/sound designing, yes you can draw it with tools but i find it way more intuitive to have the irl touch for this, and after that I can finest it with drawing. And for aftertouch and MPE etc... it's more impactful on the workflow if you know how to play keys/piano for real, and for live performance, as a keyboardist I find it useful, but I understand lots of people don't need it, the bottom line is just knowing what you need and your budget.

@penponds 8 months ago

I virtually never need (so don't miss) the top 1.5 octaves on an 88, but being restricted in the left hand is the big issue when playing anuything less than 76 keys. If someone launched a 73/76 keyboard but with those extra keys additional to 61 being in the left hand that would be great.

@marmanlive 4 months ago

What a great video covering all the basic aspects that should be considered when buying a MIDI keys. Thank you!

@GoFish51 8 months ago (edited)

This video was immensely helpful to me. Thank you so much for putting this together. By the way, the microphone set up you’re using in these videos provides incredible audio clarity.

@thomas6502 2 weeks ago

Thank you.

@JMAC_828 10 months ago (edited)

I still use Roland R88 midi keyboard our church bought in 2019 to this day for church service. fully weighted keys as well. Its still my favourite stage piano to use live for church service

@jessicagreene8083 8 months ago

I have an 25 launchpad mini, 61 key novation mk2, and 88 key m-audio hammer pro.

The hammer pro is heavy, so I prefer my mk2.

@static-san 10 months ago

I definitely prefer 37 keys but can be happy with 25.

One option that some people might exercise is that many synths can be MIDI controllers, too. Helpful if you already have a few synths but not really the room for a controller.

@pauldigitaal 3 months ago

I use sample libraries like Ample Sound and Virharmonic. Both of them use the extra keyboard keys that are out of range of the physical instrument (like guitar or cello) to trigger articulations. The software of those companies is great but they assume that everyone has an 88 keys midi keyboard. Or maybe 73. Now I regret ever buying a 49 keys keyboard instead of going directly for 88 keys.

@blazacmusic 1 month ago

Simplicity is great

@StillLivinginthewoods 1 month ago

I just wish that manufacturers would add more connectivity for hardware.
EVERY midi keyboard should have midi din in and out, and more of them should have CV outputs too.
Making music on a computer is just plain not that fun... and let's face it, the vast majority of the market is made up of hobbyists doing it for fun, not pros.

@SuterudoIRL 3 months ago

I'm a 49 key guy... With real MIDI ports for many hardware. 😁

@LowEndVibez 7 months ago (edited)

37 keys. As a bass player, my main objective is to play with chord voicings and modal mixing. i'm going to get the freshly released Arturia Keystep 37 mk2 as its very powerful in terms of expressiveness via the additional knobs.