Mastering Music Production: The Essential Guide to MIDI Keyboards
MIDI keyboards, or controller keyboards, are essential tools for music producers, offering a wide range of capabilities that can enhance the music production process. These devices are typically piano-style electronic musical keyboards and are often equipped with additional buttons, wheels, and sliders. They are used for sending Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) signals or commands over a USB or MIDI cable.
Key Features of MIDI Keyboards
MIDI keyboards come in various sizes, ranging from a miniature 25-keys to the full piano-sized 88-keys. The most common sizes are 25-key, 49-key, 61-key, and 88-key, but other less common sizes like 32-key, 37-key, 64-key, 73-key, and 76-key are also available. The size you choose should align with your needs and the complexity of the music you intend to produce. Important features to consider in a MIDI keyboard include good build quality, nice-feeling keys, pitch-bend and modwheel, and velocity/pressure sensitivity. Some models also feature aftertouch for extra expression in playing, along with other features such as buttons, endless rotary knobs, velocity-sensitive pads, and screens for intuitive interfacing with companion software.
How Music Producers Can Use MIDI Keyboards
MIDI keyboards provide music producers with increased control and flexibility in music composition. They can be used for a variety of functions in music production, such as composing, controlling lighting, mixing music, and editing video. These keyboards can control virtual instruments, DAW controls, and plugin parameters. They are also useful for programming drums, triggering samples, assigning functions to MIDI knobs, controlling channel levels with MIDI faders, and manipulating parameters like pitch and modulation amount with touch strips.
MIDI keyboards can be integrated with a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for seamless music production, allowing users to control the DAW and access menus without needing a mouse. Some MIDI keyboards come with integrated software, hands-on macro control, and DAW integration, making them ready to use right out of the box.
Choosing the Right MIDI Keyboard
Selecting the right MIDI keyboard depends on your individual needs and expectations. Whether you're a player, a producer, a beginner, or a professional, there are MIDI keyboards designed to meet your specific requirements. Some MIDI keyboards are more suited to specific DAW users, like the Novation SL MkIII, which is heavily geared towards Ableton Live users.
When choosing a MIDI keyboard, it's important to consider factors such as build quality, the feel of the keys, the presence of a pitch-bend and modwheel, and velocity/pressure sensitivity. Other considerations include the size of the keyboard, additional features like aftertouch, and the keyboard's compatibility with your DAW.
MIDI keyboards are versatile tools that significantly enhance the music production process. They offer a range of features and capabilities that help music producers create high-quality music, making them suitable for both beginners and professionals.