1. Perform Midi Keyboard Garageband Ipad Free
  2. Garageband Ipad Midi Keyboard
  3. Best Midi Keyboard For Garageband
  4. Garageband Midi Input
  5. Ipad Garageband Midi Input
  1. Finally, simple clear advice on how to connect a MIDI keyboard to an iPad using cables. This article makes it easy to understand the simplest options that will have you playing piano with your iPad in no time. Which adapter you'll use will depend on whether your MIDI keyboard has its own power supply.
  2. 2020-4-5  Note: MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol that allows computers and electronic musical instruments to communicate with each other. When you press a key on your keyboard, a sustain pedal, or use any other controller that your instrument has, you generate MIDI messages that tell which key was pressed, how much pressure was used for it, how long a note was held, etc.

May 25, 2011 Here in North America the NHL playoffs are now in full swing and perhaps you’re inspired to play some rocking organ! With GarageBand for iPad we get some great keyboard sounds with nifty screen controls! Not only can we use these keys in our songs that we’re recording, but as I explained in a recent tutorial, live use is also a possibility!

MIDI connects your hands to your software, a vital tool needed for musicians to translate their compositions onto a computer. A MIDI controller should be your first hardware purchase for music production software like GarageBand and speeds up the writing of music via virtual MIDI instruments in your software.

They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from full-size keyboards with realistic feeling keys, to small units which pack additional pads, rotary faders and pitch and mod wheels.

They’re relatively inexpensive and are connected to any USB port, most need no installation and are auto-detected by software such as GarageBand.

Contents

  • Top 4 Best MIDI Keyboards for GarageBand:
  • Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best MIDI Keyboards for GarageBand
  • Conclusion: What’s the Best MIDI Controller for GarageBand?

Top 4 Best MIDI Keyboards for GarageBand:

ImageModelPrice
Korg microKEY 25
(Editor's Choice)
M-Audio Oxygen 49 MKIV
Akai Professional MPK49
Novation Impulse 49

Korg MicroKEY 25 Keyboard (Editor’s Choice)

Korg are famous for their slickly designed, innovative products. They also love making their stuff smaller and smaller, packing great tech into portable packages.

This keyboard is simple and high-quality, the keys themselves feel great and the item has a good weight to it, not heavy but not cheap. The 25 key version is easily carried, has one USB output and features Korg’s ‘NaturalTouch’ technology.

The keys feel good, not as good as some high-end MIDI instruments, but this is a $80 model.

The keyboard has a single joystick for both pitch and modulation, which replaces separate pitch and mod-wheels that feature on most MIDI keyboards. This is cool as you can operate both functions with your hand in the same position.

There’s an octave selector, and also an arpeggiator This takes a chord and turns it into an Arpeggio, a handy function that other MIDI controllers lack. It’s plug and play, no drivers required.

Overall it’s cheap, well-made and fits the bill for anyone looking for a basic MIDI controller which can be carried about.

M-Audio Oxygen 49 MKIV Keyboard

The M-Audio Oxygen series of MIDI controllers are well established and the series has continued to innovate with the MkIV range of products. They’re fairly bulky but pack extra features such as faders, pads, and other controls for your DAW.

They offer quite a flexible package for controlling GarageBand, but because M-Audio implemented a connection system called DirectLink, you will have to download a driver package from M-Audio to plug and play with full functionality.

For Ableton and Pro-tools, this is not necessary. M-Audio implemented this to ensure the controller would work perfectly with the DAW, as sometimes, more complex controllers that auto-map are mapped incorrectly.

Aside from the 49 keys, it has a lot of flashy bits and bobs, with 8 velocity-sensitive trigger pads, 8 assignable knobs and 9 assignable faders. It also has Play, Stop and Record buttons for controlling the transport functions on GarageBand.

This means you can control these basic functions without touching your PC or it’s keyboard.

The mod-wheels and pitch bend follow a classic design, and the keys are springy and responsive rather than realistic.

The Oxygen is a breath of fresh air in its feature set at the price point, but for Garageband, you do have to download drivers, which isn’t an issue but some would have liked to see this be made as a plug and play controller.

AKAI MPK49 Keyboard

Taking a big ramp up in price, the AKAI MPK49 is a pro level MIDI controller which excels in performance, build quality, functionality and features. It really is a beast of a controller, it’s difficult to know where to start!

Akai may hold the aces when it comes to MIDI and audio control, they developed the first MPC controllers that were at the heart of the hip-hop movement. Akai fits a good slice of the MPCs amazing beat-making power into the MPK with 12 real MPC drum pads.

Perform Midi Keyboard Garageband Ipad Free

If you’ve used an MPC you know these are a cut above the rest – they’re responsive, sensitive, and comfortable to use.

These have 4 layers, meaning there are 48 options for the pads in total. They come fully tricked out with MPC Swing which applies grooves to your percussion and drums.

Alongside this is all the mod-cons, 49 weighted keys with after-touch, that are particularly nice to play, and will satisfy pianists and keyboardists. 8 full-sized sliders with 3 controller banks for each for 24 sliders total, providing more than enough faders and sliders for controlling Garageband or any other DAW.

8 assignable backlit switches with 3 controller banks each for 24 switches total, for controlling as many on/off functions as you could possibly want to. So, 8 full-sized, 360-degree rotation pots, each with 3 banks for 24 pots total, for all manner of instruments and mixing control.

Some will look through the features on this and think, well, I’m never going to use all that! And that’s completely fair enough, it is overkill for most music production and if you’re just starting out with a DAW like Garageband then the AKAI is going to be a big beast to tame right off the bat.

That said, it is comprehensive and will stand the test of time, it really will see you through any audio production or performance journey with no problems or hick-ups.

The MPK will work plug and play to some extent with Garageband, but advanced functions will need to be custom mapped using a MIDI editor.

Novation 49 Impulse Keyboard

On the same tier as the MPK lies the Novation 49 Impulse. This is a legendary controller that really is battle hardened. It’s tried and tested, with all the functions you could need and puts up a good fight with the AKAI.

In fact, splitting them is like splitting hairs for the most part!

The Novation comes from a long line of successful MIDI controllers from Novation and comes with special auto-map software which is designed to take the headache out of mapping these advanced MIDI controllers to your software.

Its switch, fader and knob selection equals the MPK. There are 9 faders, 8 drum pads, 9 knobs and 8 switches. It’s the full deck of cards, with an LCD screen, semi-weighted keys and the drum pads feature the same functions as the AKAI.

Overall, the drum pad section is lacking when compared to the Akai, and the auto-map function works poorly with GaragebBand. It’s maybe a controller for further down the line, when it’s software is more refined.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best MIDI Keyboards for GarageBand

Remember, MIDI controllers don’t generate any sound themselves, but trigger them within your computer. This is why they’re affordable too, they’re just controllers, nothing more!

There are quite possibly thousands out there too, and it can be a confusing situation when you come to buy one. On the face of it, they’re simple devices which enable you to do very complex things if you wanted to.

You can trigger hundreds and thousands of functions in combination on a fully featured MIDI controller, or on portable models, just play the keys. The keyboard you need will depend on how many options you need, or whether you just need a simple device for recording notes.

When viewing MIDI controllers and keyboards you’ll instantly notice that there aren’t just keys:

Rotary Faders/Knobs

These can control the effects parameters within your plug-ins as well as controls such as volume fades or panning. They enable you to trigger events during your performance.

Say you have a synth with a low-pass filter, you can use these rotary knobs to open and close the filter to create a wobble. You could pan your synth from left to right, or trigger a reverb or delay.

Many synths and plug-ins on GarageBand will auto-map relevant controls to these rotary faders. Give them a turn and see what happens!

Pads

These are like what you see on the Akai controllers from the ‘90s. Their primary use is in triggering whole loops, usually percussion, or triggering ‘one-shot’ samples, like a kick or a snare drum. These are great when you are operating multiple instruments within a session. You can play a lead melody on the keyboard whilst triggering percussive sounds with the pads.

Wheels

These are often positioned next to the keyboard. There is, more often than not, a pitch bend wheel which bends pitches of your instruments. Often, you’ll find a mod-wheel too, it’s function is often auto-mapped to a synth where you have an assignable mod-wheel function. You can auto-map FX with this whilst recording a MIDI performance.

Faders

These are sliders that can be used for all manner of functions, like controlling faders whilst mixing a track, or controlling settings whilst recording a performance. Some synths will auto-map controls to these, be sure to experiment!

Getting a MIDI controller for GarageBand will really help you produce your music and be creative, providing these tools to help you express yourself during MIDI performances, and control the software when you’re just producing your track.

Don’t be afraid to try all the controls, as some will undoubtedly surprise you with their pre-mapped functions. You can obviously also map controls to anything you want!

This is usually easy too, you simply select the control you want to map, usually by holding a combination of keys and pressing on it, then you press the control on the controller and Voila! It’s mapped to that control for easy operation!

Conclusion: What’s the Best MIDI Controller for GarageBand?

GarageBand is great for sketching out ideas, recording, writing and editing music, but controlling its functions with MIDI keyboards like the Impulse and the MPK49 is arguably a little overkill.

Garageband Ipad Midi Keyboard

That doesn’t mean they’re redundant purchases, they are some of the best-selling MIDI controllers ever, but it does mean they may be worth progressing onto rather than starting of on.

Best Midi Keyboard For Garageband

The KORG MicroKEY’s plug and play reliability makes it ideal for GarageBand, its functions work well and allow you to be more creative with the software and there won’t be any redundant controls like there would with more expensive MIDI controllers.

The Oxygen 49 fits suitably in the middle, it’s cheap and has a lot of controls. Its functionality with GarageBand is good and with DirectLink it should be easier to make use of its many controls.

Your choice will depend on whether you use GarageBand primarily for fun or for basic use, or whether you use it alongside other DAWs, or plan to move onto other DAWs. The Korg has the best profile for GarageBand users in this line-up.

Related Posts

Garageband Midi Input

What is Audiobus? — Audiobus isan award-winning music app for iPhone and iPad which lets you useyour other music apps together. Chain effects on your favouritesynth, run the output of apps or Audio Units into an app likeGarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface outputfor each app. Route MIDI between apps — drive asynth from a MIDI sequencer, or add an arpeggiator to your MIDIkeyboard — or sync with your external MIDI gear.And control your entire setup from a MIDI controller.

Ipad Garageband Midi Input

Download on the App Store

Audiobus is the app that makes the rest of your setup better.

edited March 2019 in General App Discussion

I cannot play, not at all.

But still, I would like to get a MIDI keyboard for my Lightning iPads and the CCK (the bigger one with both USB and Lightning port that allows charging).

It should be 'good' but not 'expensive' and it needs to have good keys with velocity and anything else that a real Piano would offer.
61 keys seems to be best compromise, as I have not much space available.

As I have no experience, I would be happy to get some recommendations.
I just don't know what may be important and could be a reason for a later regret.

Many, many thanks!

Comments

  • Googling helplessly around brought up 'Touch sensitivity' and 'Weighted keys' as important.

  • To save you a few bucks I suggest you consider these two options:

    • This will sound cheap (given Casio's history) but watch some YouTube
    • reviews and you'll see it's a killer package for $175.

    Casio CTX700 61-key Portable Arranger costs $175 and has:
    61 keys - light organ-keys
    USB Midi support via the CCK Adapter
    Accepts Audio in so plays the keys and hear the IOS Apps on the Casio Speakers
    *via the CCK connection
    Runs ion batteries or Power Adapter
    It has 600 built-in instruments

    For a solid MIDi-only controller in the 61-key range without breaking the bank:

    Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 Keyboard Controller at $249:
    hands-on controls include 10 encoders, 9 sliders, a 6-button transport section, and 4 command switches
    Perform with 8 pads, Chord Play mode, and a sustain pedal input for added expression
    Includes about $400 in sound software from Arturia and UVI
    USB MIDI

    Good luck looking at the range of options and increases in pricing.

    M-Audio makes some decent budget MIDI controllers too.

  • The Casio has limited connectivity, check the manual. Otherwise, I agree with @McD. Good sound and good value. Bought one for a friend. But I think the Arturia is a better choice for you as the Casio has no sliders, knobs to assign midi controls to. It will integrate a lot better with your setup ( I think).

  • @tja said:
    Googling helplessly around brought up 'Touch sensitivity' and 'Weighted keys' as important.

    If you want that simulation of a real piano then these are must haves. If that's the case..
    you want to improve your piano keyboarding skills then consider entry level digital pianos from Casio, Yamaha and Korg. Watch YouTube Videos on them and something will jump out at you. Check the spec's for USB MIDI.

    Every software that you are able to download on our site is freely downloadableand 100% legal. Ultramixer dj software free download 2012. Download and install UltraMixer safely and without concerns. UltraMixer version 2.3.8 for Windows was listed on Download.hr on and it is marked as Freeware.All software products that you can find on Download.hr, including UltraMixer, are either free, freeware, shareware, full version, trial, demo or open-source.You can't download any crack or serial number for UltraMixer on Download.hr. UltraMixer security and download noticeDownload.hr periodically updates software information of UltraMixer from the software publisher (UltraMixer), but some information may beslightly out-of-date or incorrect.

    Watch IOS Music Producer videos and you'll rarely see weighted keys but often smaller form factor keyboards and buttons to send Preset changes. I'm coveting a 49-key Bluetooth Keyboard to loose the USB Adapter or save the Lightning port for my guitar input. Then you might start to consider the benefits of MPE and you start looking at the Roli Seaboards.
    Those Roli MPE devices are as far from a real piano and a keyboard can get but they allow glides, vibrato and after 'note on' volume changes: Like a singer or violinist but with chords and polyphonic control.

  • Used Komplete Kontrol Mk2, great keyboard feel, light guide, chord mode and arpeggiator with PC. I have mk1 but I recommend mk2 because it's USB powered vs mk1 which isn't.

  • @nondes said:
    Used Komplete Kontrol Mk2, great keyboard feel, light guide, chord mode and arpeggiator with PC. I have mk1 but I recommend mk2 because it's USB powered vs mk1 which isn't.

    For those following along:
    $729 Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 MK2 61-Key NKS Compatible MIDI Controller
    61-key Controller with Fatar Keybed and Custom Controls Designed for Total Integration with NKS-ready Software and the included Komplete 11 Select Plug-in Bundle

    You can add more Komplete 12 software to the bundle up to the Ultimate $1,728 level.

    I really love being addicted to IOS Apps.. I can live with the guilt.

  • Get this when it comes out. Isomorphic.

    Or a Linnstrument

  • The Yamaha P-series pianos have a nice weighted action. I waited until my local guitar center got a used one for $250.

    For the money it is easier and cheaper to just get a separate Korg Nanocontrol for the buttons and faders rather than find a controller that is weighted and also has midi knobs and such.

  • You might want to go to a brick and mortar music store to look at and try out various keyboards to see what you like in terms of size and touch.

    Many people who use their keyboard more for MIDI control than playing may even use keyboards with as few as 25 keys and use octave shift buttons. The trade off is having more functions such as sliders, knobs, faders, and xy pads versus having more keys and fewer functions at a similar price point. Many keyboards come with software which could be significant if you have a computer as part of your music making. In addition, some keyboards can be designed to work with specific software and DAWs to control their functions from your keyboard.

    Without more specific information about what you hope to accomplish with a MIDI keyboard, it’s hard to know what would be appropriate for you. It would also be a good idea to watch a wide variety of MIDI keyboard videos to see how various people use them to see if their workflows match up with yours. Once you have a clearer idea of your needs, you can then look for MIDI keyboards that will fulfill them.

    If you should ever want to learn how to play, there are certainly apps and keyboards that can help you to do that.

  • edited March 2019

    If you don’t play, I don’t think a weighted keyboard is necessarily the way forward.

    There’s nothing wrong with learning on a keyboard with a synth action; it’s faster and easier to play.

    A weighted keyboard is for those that are used to a real piano and need to have a similar feel.

    Unless you are planning on buying a real piano there are no advantages to a non-player having a weighted keyboard, just disadvantages. They’re bigger and more expensive and the feel only approximates that of a piano until you get to expensive hammer action keys anyway.

    Make a shortlist of keyboards by going to one of the big music shops websites and using their filters to narrow down what you want.

    AsMcD said you can get some decent controllers for not too much, like the M-audio and artutia key lab 61 se.

    Any more than that would be wasted unless you need specific features.

  • @klownshed said:
    If you don’t play, I don’t think a weighted keyboard is necessarily the way forward.

    There’s nothing wrong with learning on a keyboard with a synth action; it’s faster and easier to play.

    A weighted keyboard is for those that are used to a real piano and need to have a similar feel.

    Unless you are planning on buying a real piano there are no advantages to a non-player having a weighted keyboard, just disadvantages. They’re bigger and more expensive and the feel only approximates that of a piano until you get to expensive hammer action keys anyway.

    Make a shortlist of keyboards by going to one of the big music shops websites and using their filters to narrow down what you want.

    AsMcD said you can get some decent controllers for not too much, like the M-audio and artutia key lab 61 se.

    Any more than that would be wasted unless you need specific features.

    Its not just the feel that is different. With weighted keys you can controll the dynamic range of a (sample based) piano way more acurate than you‘d be able with a simple (semi weighted) midi keyboard.

    @McD said:

    @tja said:
    Googling helplessly around brought up 'Touch sensitivity' and 'Weighted keys' as important.

    If you want that simulation of a real piano then these are must haves.

    @Hmtx said:
    The Yamaha P-series pianos have a nice weighted action.

    This.

    @tiantong said:
    Get this when it comes out. Isomorphic.

    Or a Linnstrument

    What is that thing. It doesnt even have a real keyboard.

  • All of this depends on your goals. Telling people you have goals helps them help you
    achieve that goal.

    If you goal is the learn to use a real keyboard then invest in something that player's feel is
    somewhat like a piano (weighted keys at a minimum). The Casio action is decent for a low cost ($300-500). Yamaha and Korg above that and then the Kawaii action is amazing and heads into the $3000 range so.

    For just making music a 25-49 Bluetooth keyboard is what a ton of pros use because most instruments tend to stay within 2 octaves on a track and multi-tracking allows you to never really need 2 handed input anyway. You can built orchestral sounding tracks in layers of sparce sounding instruments that sound very dense.

    Based on what you said so far.. nobody should sound like they know the right answer for you. If they do, they're probably just opinionated. I always think it's better to start with cheap
    solutions and upgrade if you feel limited by your first product.

    Do you have a budget for example. 'What's the best answer for $500 with 61 weighted keys?', for example, would help us help you. We will still disagree but you have fewer opinions to sort out with some boundaries around the solution space.

  • @tja said:
    it needs to have good keys with velocity and anything else that a real Piano would offer.

    Doesnt really leave room for speculation or opinion

  • edited March 2019

    I have a few keyboards for different use cases. There is no keyboard what is perfect for all situations.

    Cuckoo made a nice new video what keyboard he would recommend and why. He takes a closer look of the key action..

    Have a look, it’s interesting!

  • I’m considering getting a Roland Go:Keys at the moment - I already play keys but this provides a lightweight keyboard with good built-in sounds and a playable full size keyboard. It has bluetooth midi so can easily connect to ios music apps (no knobs or slides though). $300 or less. Worth considering I think (plus if anyone has any views on this before I buy..)

  • Let me at first thank all of you for the amount of valuable information, hints and thought and your experiences!

    I will check all of your concrete recommendation!

    Also, your postings contain lots of things that i never tought about.
    And yes, 'as much Piano like as possible' may be not the right thing for me.
    I also will seek out a brick and mortar to get some hands-on impression.

    I am not sure how much i would like to pay, 200 or 300 is no problem, 500 or more I would only like to pay if there is enough real-life difference to the experience that justifies the price. I think i will not buy something for 1000 or more, regardless how good it may be. I talk Euro here.

    Going to reply individually as i go.
    First, i watch this video :-)

    One last question for now, what about the Novation keyboards?
    I seem to remember both good and bad opinions about them.

  • Keystep from Arturia could be a good choice.

    It has 32 mini keys, but since you say you're not a keyboard player smaller keys could be easier to play for you. Unlike many other keyboards with mini keys the Keystep reportedly has a good quality keybed, and it even has aftertouch.

    It has no knobs for CC control (just a pair of touch strips instead of pitch/mod wheels), but it can interface with hardware using standard MIDI connectors and CV/Gate outputs.

    It's also very affordable.

  • edited March 2019

    61 keys seems like overkill if you don't know how to play and aren't planning to actively learn. 49 keys should be more than sufficient for your first one in order to save some money and up the quality. Unless you need to travel,make sure you get one with full-size keys with good 'action' (don't have to be perfectly weighted etc.) and definitely with aftertouch.

    Personally, I'd put the Nectar T4 at the top of your list, but probably too expensive. The Novation SL MK3 would be above that.

  • @tja said:
    Let me at first thank all of you for the amount of valuable information, hints and thought and your experiences!

    I will check all of your concrete recommendation!

    Also, your postings contain lots of things that i never tought about.
    And yes, 'as much Piano like as possible' may be not the right thing for me.
    I also will seek out a brick and mortar to get some hands-on impression.

    I am not sure how much i would like to pay, 200 or 300 is no problem, 500 or more I would only like to pay if there is enough real-life difference to the experience that justifies the price. I think i will not buy something for 1000 or more, regardless how good it may be. I talk Euro here.

    Going to reply individually as i go.
    First, i watch this video :-)

    One last question for now, what about the Novation keyboards?
    I seem to remember both good and bad opinions about them.

    With regard Novation keyboards.
    Launchkey is a fairly decent keyboard, I use the 25 key version and am having a good experience with it. Draw back on the Launchkey is that it is USB only, so if you want to connect it to a synth of any kind you will need a USB host..as you are wanting to connect it to your CCK this should not be an issue.
    Impulse has a better quality keybed, very similar functions to the Launchkey, but has USB AND has 'real' MIDI ports to enable easy connection to other hardware.
    SL MKIII - A beast, includes an 8 track sequencer, has USB, MIDI and CV connections

  • edited March 2019

    Many thanks, @AndyPlankton
    Going to check those!

    From the video, I did fall in love to the Komplete A49 and yes, 49 keys should suffice for me.

    But I found lots of complains about the support, problems with updating software or some 'hardware lock'?!? and it only being compatible to Ableton. And no power button???
    Turns me down a bit.

    Checking the others :-)

    Full size keys would have the benefit of learning real Piano keys.
    But it seems difficult to get those on keyboards with less than 88 or 61 keys.

    Additional note: I still don't see me using my PC for music. I'm iPad based

  • edited March 2019

    What I hate about MIDI keyboards is that none of them look cool, sleek, or stylish. I would think that some company would've filled that void by now. That white Nektar one is the only one I've seen that isn't an ugly husk. If I'm buying a husk, I want it to look good.

    OP I don't own any currently, but based on the details you've provided, I think you would be just fine with 49 keys. I fretted about that for a while and thought I needed 61, but I returned the M-Audio I got (it was excessively large). I know this post has all sounded very shallow, but the way you're describing things sounds like where I was a couple years back. So I'd recommend the 49-key Arturia as a starting point to try out. It's what I had settled on before I doomed myself to a Korg Minilogue instead. Sadly, it currently serves as my MIDI keys while the synth insides slowly rust away.

  • @tiantong said:
    Get this when it comes out. Isomorphic.

    Or a Linnstrument

    What is that crock of crap. When the second frame of a four-frame 'about' overview is 'look unique ooh' then there doesn't seem to be much substance there. The company may feel free to prove me wrong,

  • edited March 2019

    Arturia KeyLab Essential 49 BE + Analog Lab 3 6000 Sounds, Ableton Live Lite
    About 200 Euro.
    I could bite and return it if I run into missing stuff.
    But sadly no weighted or semi-weighted keyboard or aftertouch.. but OK, that woild cost more. Thinkingggg

    But will google for problems with this.
    And also check the above Impulse and SL MKIII

  • I saw some m-audio midi key boards, 25 keys on eBay for about £10.
    Peanuts really, quite small , but as said above, you get dials, and buttons to go through the octave's, not expensive , try that for a few weeks then choose the right size keyboard with the right features for you
    Good luck

  • Nektar keyboards are inexpensive and well made, full size keys but not super weighted.

  • edited March 2019

    @Nicebutfun said:
    I saw some m-audio midi key boards, 25 keys on eBay for about £10.
    Peanuts really, quite small , but as said above, you get dials, and buttons to go through the octave's, not expensive , try that for a few weeks then choose the right size keyboard with the right features for you
    Good luck

    I already have a Korg nanokey and I hate it.
    I realy would like to get something solid.

  • edited March 2019

    @musikeer said:
    Nektar keyboards are inexpensive and well made, full size keys but not super weighted.

    So far, I looked at the newer 49 key products from Arturia, Novation, Native Instruments and Akai.
    I landed there, because they seem to have better keyboards than the older / essential versions.

    But they are 'too much' for me of a controller.

    Most things they offer, in terms of sequencers, pads, controls and arpegiators and such stuff I would do with the iPad instead.
    So maybe I need something that is primary a good keyboard and less of multi-controller all-in-one solution.

    The Nektar products look like something.

    Going to dig deeper, thanks!

    BTW, Bluetooth in addition to USB would be great, of course. Just in case.

  • edited March 2019

    This seems intriguing.
    Going to search reviews.

    Edit: Uhh, it's incredible cheap. 84 Euro.. from the description I expected 200 to 300 Euro

    Edit: Found some reviews about this or similar products from Alesis, and most said that the keyboard is not good. Too hard to play or too few dynamics and also physically cheaply build.

  • I then reread Novation Launchkey 49 MK2 again, but also here, people complained that you need to hit the keys realy hard to get the full volume.

    It's time to find a real shop to try things personally.

  • @Hmtx said:
    The Yamaha P-series pianos have a nice weighted action. I waited until my local guitar center got a used one for $250.

    For the money it is easier and cheaper to just get a separate Korg Nanocontrol for the buttons and faders rather than find a controller that is weighted and also has midi knobs and such.

    I am back at you now
    And begin to understand your statement.

    Any concrete Yamaha P series model with 49 keys you would recommend?