Best MIDI controllers for creating music in your DAW

Everyone has their own approach to making music. Whether you’re working with hardware or software, MIDI is one of the languages that lets your devices communicate.

• READ MORE: 13 best Ableton Live controllers to buy

The beauty of MIDI lies in its flexibility. There’s something to suit your needs whatever your setup. Are you a pianist looking to control your virtual instruments expressively? A live performer who wants to trigger samples on the fly? Or perhaps you’re searching for a more organic way to program automation. These are just a handful of simple use cases for MIDI controllers, but the technology is infinitely expandable. It lets you chain together complex networks of synths, create an intricate live looping rig, or even control DMX lighting in sync with your playing.

Integrating a MIDI controller can inspire new ways of creating, taking artists away from the cumbersome point-and-click of a keyboard and mouse. For many, it feels more natural – and there’s certainly something to be said about making music free from the distractions of a screen.

So, where should you begin? It really depends on your needs. From keyboards and drum pads to customisable modular solutions, you’re sure to find something that ticks the box. Here’s 11 of the best MIDI controllers for creating music both live and in the studio to get you started.

Our picks for 11 of the best MIDI controllers for creating music:

• Novation Launchkey 49 MK3
• Alesis V49 MKII
• Kontrol S-Series
• Arturia KeyStep Pro
• Ableton Push 3
• Launchpad Mini MK3
• Akai MPD226
• Yaeltex Custom MIDI Controllers
• Intech Studio Grid
• Erae Touch
• OSC/Pilot

Best keyboard controller – Novation Launchkey 49 MK3

Whether you’re making your first foray into the world of controllers or you’re simply looking for an all-rounder workhorse to pilot your DAW, the Novation Launchkey 49 fits the bill. There’s a bit of everything here – 49 velocity-sensitive keys, 16 high-quality drum pads, nine 45mm faders, and eight rotary knobs for hands-on music-making. There are also transport controls and inspiring creative tools like an arpeggiator plus Chord and Scale modes.

The Launchkey supports full integration with Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, and Reason, but can also be used standalone to control hardware synths and samplers. For the price, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.

• Price: £229
• Controls: 49 keys, 16 pads, 9 faders, 8 knobs, pitch-bend and mod wheels, sustain pedal input
• Features: DAW integration, arpeggiator, chord and scale modes

Buy the Launchkey 49 MK3 on Thomann.

Best budget controller – Alesis V49 MKII

If you’re just getting started in music production, opting for a relatively cheap MIDI controller probably makes the most sense. With 49 full-size keys, plus four knobs and four buttons that can be assigned to whatever you wish, the Alesis V49 MKII will let you implement a hardware controller within your setup without breaking the bank. There are also pitch-bend and mod wheels for more expressive playing.

Many budget controllers rarely look stylish, but the V49 scores points here thanks to its slick, sharp appearance. If you can forego the knobs and buttons, the Alesis Nektar SE49 is another option worth checking out for its slightly lower price tag.

• Price: £85
• Controls: 49 keys, 4 knobs, 4 buttons, pitch-bend and mod wheels, sustain pedal input
• Features: six-mode arpeggiator, octave and transpose

Buy the V49 MKII on Thomann.

Best keyboard and software bundle – Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series

Many musicians rely on Native Instruments’ ecosystem of instruments, plugins, and hardware. Throw an S-Series controller into the mix and deft command of your favourite sounds will be at your fingertips.

Available in 49, 61, and 88-key formats – with the latter boasting fully weighted hammer action – these controllers can easily become the centrepiece of your setup. The high-resolution colour screen lets you browse patches and tweak settings on the fly without losing focus on playing, and the intuitive Light Guide system can be used to highlight keys by scale, chord, and more. With polyphonic aftertouch, inputs for four expression pedals, eight encoders and myriad assignable buttons, S-Series controllers have all the bells and whistles you need as a producer.

On top, the bundled Komplete 14 Select software has all you need to create music. It includes synths like Monark and Massive, plus meticulously detailed virtual instruments like the Gentleman upright piano and Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass. Throw in a range of effects such as Guitar Rig 7 LE and iZotope Elements Suite, and you’ve got tools for everything from composing and arranging to mixing and mastering.

• Price: £649 (S49) / £749 (S61) / £1,129 (S88)
• Controls: 49/61/88 RGB-lit keys, high-res colour screen, 4-direction push encoder, 8 touch-sensitive rotary knobs, transport buttons, 4 TRS pedal inputs
• Features: polyphonic aftertouch, scale/chord/arp mode, Kontakt integration, bundled Komplete 14 Select

Find out more about the Kontrol S-Series on Thomann.

Best keyboard/sequencer hybrid – Arturia KeyStep Pro

Billed by Arturia as a “polyphonic sequencing controller keyboard”, the KeyStep Pro is a force to be reckoned with. The 37 slim velocity-sensitive keys are highly playable, but the real star of the show is the sequencer.

There are four independent sequencer tracks in total, which can be used to control software instruments and external hardware alike thanks to four CV, Gate, and Mod outputs plus eight dedicated drum gates.

Ultimately, this versatile MIDI controller makes an excellent central hub for both laptop and DAW-less setups. As we’ve come to expect from Arturia, the KeyStep Pro looks beautiful too, owing to its high-quality build materials and splashes of colour.

• Price: £399
• Controls: 37 slim keys, 5 encoders, OLED display, sustain pedal input, 2 touch strips
• Features: 4-track step sequencer, 7-mode arpeggiator, 4 CV/gate/mod outputs, 8 drum gate outputs

Buy the KeyStep Pro on Thomann.

Best Ableton Live controller – Ableton Push 3

For Ableton aficionados, Push is undoubtedly the granddaddy of all MIDI controllers. We’re now onto the third iteration of the instrument since it debuted in 2013. The new model retains its extensive integration with Ableton Live, while adding much-anticipated MPE support via the expressive, multi-directional pads.

Speaking of pads, there are 64 in total. You can use them to launch clips and scenes, Session View style, tap out or sequence a beat, or discover new melodic ideas with the intuitive Note Mode. The various configuration options make Push 3 an inspiring tool for improvisation and idea generation while simultaneously handling the bread and butter of music production. And if you want to go truly computer-free, there’s also the Ableton Push 3 Standalone.

• Price: £879 / £1,669 (standalone)
• Controls: 64 pads with MPE, 8 encoders, transport controls, jog wheel, touch strip, LCD display
• Features: unparalleled Ableton Live integration, built-in audio interface, can be used standalone

Buy the Push 3 on Reverb.

Best all-round pad controller: Novation Launchpad Pro MK3

If you’re dabbling with the idea of a grid-based MIDI controller, the Launchpad Pro could be an excellent choice. You’ll get 64 RGB-lit pads, each of which is velocity-sensitive for expressive playing.

The Launchpad Pro features strong integration with both Live and Logic, with handy transport and editing controls to keep you in the flow. You can use it to control Session View or Live Loops, or swap to a traditional drum grid or keys mode to play samples and virtual instruments. It has a four-track 32-step sequencer built in, along with a Custom Modes feature so you can flexibly map it to any MIDI-compatible hardware or software.

If the 8×8 grid layout appeals but you want faders alongside, the Akai APC Mini is worth a look — and is also a little more budget-friendly.

• Price: £299
• Controls: 64 RGB pads
• Features: session/keys/drums modes, 3 custom modes, Logic and Ableton integration

Buy the Launchpad Mini MK3 on Thomann.

Best sampler-style workflow – Akai MPD226

It’s hard to understate the legacy of Akai’s legendary MPC samplers. For those seeking some of that old-school workflow, the MPD range reimagines the 16-pad grid in MIDI controller form. There are models to suit all needs, but the MPD226 offers a solid balance between functionality and price.

Alongside 16 new and improved ‘Thick Fat’ backlit pads, users can tweak and adjust with the assignable faders, knobs, and buttons. Classic MPC features like Note Repeat, MPC Swing, and 16 Level are baked in too. The MPD226 integrates flawlessly with both the free MPC Beats software and Akai’s fully-fledged MPC2 DAW.

• Price: £149
• Controls: 16 backlit pads, 4 sliders, 4 knobs
• Features: up to 4 banks of pads, quantisation, tap tempo

Buy the MPD226 on Thomann.

Best customisation – Yaeltex

Despite the plethora of MIDI controllers on the market, sometimes the only solution is one tailored to you. Customisation is well within the wheelhouse of Yaeltex, a bespoke hardware manufacturer based in Argentina.

Producers can pick a preset layout off the shelf, ‘remix’ it to suit their own needs, or design their own controller from scratch using the Yaeltex Factory website. Available components include RGB or arcade-style buttons, X/Y joysticks, faders, and rotary encoders or potentiometers.

It must be said that Yaeltex’s controllers look incredible too. Each one is housed in a wooden case handmade in Patagonia, and the faceplate can be customised with text, images, and indicators.

• Price: from $443 (preset Dört model)
• Controls: any combination of buttons, joysticks, faders, and rotary knobs
• Features: custom layout and faceplate, handmade wooden enclosure, configure your device with the Kilowhat software

Find out more on Yaeltex.

Best modular – Grid by Intech Studio

Hungarian company Intech Studio is another name behind customisable MIDI controllers. The name owes to the fact you’ll be magnetically snapping together a choice of square modules. That’s a major advantage of the platform – you can start with just a single module and expand your system as you see fit. There are six available currently, offering different combinations of knobs, faders, jog wheels, and buttons.

Once you’re happy with your layout, you can customise the functionality of your Grid using the Editor software, from assigning simple MIDI CC changes all the way to scripting advanced workflows with Lua. Add one of Intech’s accompanying Knot USB MIDI host devices and you can control your favourite hardware easily.

• Price: $109–$199 per module
• Controls: buttons, knobs, faders, jog wheels
• Features: combine modules via magnets, configure your controller via Editor, no ‘hub’ module required

Buy the Grid on Intech Studio.

Best multi-function MPE – Embodme Erae Touch

The Embodme Erae Touch is a truly unique MIDI controller – it can be pretty much whatever you want it to be. It starts out quite literally as a blank slate, but beneath its silicone surface lie 1,000 sensors that output X/Y/Z values.

Using the free Lab software, users can combine preset elements like faders, buttons, sequencers, keyboards, and drum pads in any manner they wish, with RGB LEDs illuminating the layout on the device’s surface.

The Erae Touch supports MPE and recognises all ten fingers independently – you can even play it with drumsticks, SPD style – making it one of the most dynamic and expressive MIDI controllers on the market.

• Price: €700
• Controls: 1,000 MPE-enabled X/Y/Z touch sensors, range of interface elements
• Features: fully custom layout, highly expressive, 1ms latency, MIDI 2.0

Find out more on Embodme.

Best iPadOS controller – OSC/Pilot

As wonderful as a custom MIDI controller might sound, the cost of a hardware unit can be prohibitive. Enter OSC/Pilot, a UI-building tool that runs on Windows, macOS, and iPadOS. Just like the Erae Touch, you can design your own layout using drag-and-drop components and individually assign each control.

If you’ve already got a suitable device lying around, OSC/Pilot gives you fully customisable control of your setup at a fraction of the price of hardware. And if you’re still not convinced, the software has been developed in collaboration with Deadmau5, forming an integral part of his live shows. Want an even cheaper alternative? Take a look at TouchOSC.

• Price: £41
• Controls: range of interface elements
• Features: fully custom layout and configuration, drag-and-drop editor, supports mouse or touchscreen control

Find out more on OSC/Pilot.

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