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Factors To Determine The Right Compact MIDI Keyboard Controller

// November 19th, 2011 // music

If you have confined space in your desktop or in your live rig, you could need to contemplate on going in for a controller keyboard with 25 keys or 37 keys or 49 keys…whatever suits your needs. But you need to keep one thing in your mind; you want a keyboard controller that gives you lots of knobs and sliders so you can control numerous software/hardware parameters.

If you do plenty of recording on the go, then you want to take a look at portability. Be it at home, or while you are travelling, consider if your compact MIDI keyboard controller can be powered thru USB (bus power) this way you do not need another power adapter for your keyboard. The tiniest, most lightweight keyboard controllers have short mini-keys, and may have only a two-octave keyboard. Such a keyboard is adequate for information entry,eg recording bass lines and MIDI drum parts.

If you're a club DJ, who needs to hook his controller keyboard to effect processors, and has a cramped space, you would ideally prefer a Compact MIDI Keyboard Controller. Recently a MIDI keyboard controller comes with a lot lesser number of keys as well so that you can easily put it in a bag and take it around. A Compact MIDI Keyboard Controller has less than 61 keys.

“Weight” is added to the keys themselves and to the key travel mechanisms to make them answer rather more like a real piano’s heavier keys do. This is usually not desirable in a compact keyboard controller, where playing fast is usually desired. Many compact controllers are “semi-weighted”. These also have a light touch but offer a touch more resistance and consistency. They often have a better feel for the majority. All compact keyboard controllers offer more controls than merely the keys themselves. At minimum, you'll find a kind of pitch and modulation controls, that may be in the form of two separate wheels or a single joystick which combines the functions. There's customarily also an input on the back for connecting a sustain pedal.

This is more vital if you're controlling hardware midi synths, but less important for software instruments, where programs are far more easily selected by the mouse, and which may not react to these commands. Eventually, and perhaps as importantly, the compact MIDI keyboard controller will have knobs, sliders, and touch pads to send additional MIDI continuous controller commands (CC events). Generally you can allocate which CC events the knob or slider sends. That could be a good thing because software instrument makers may use different CC values for controlling the crucial parameters of the instruments.

If you have a cramped space, or if you record on the move, or if you're constantly making demos at your customer place, then you need a controller keyboard that's compact and provides synth and software control in a minimum space. A Compact MIDI Keyboard Controller from brands like M-Audio, Edirol, Korg, or Novation can solve your space concerns.

Check out helpful tips in purchasing Midi Keyboard. Check out Midi Keyboard tips prior to purchasing.