If you want to play melodies straight away and try out built-in sounds, choose a standalone keyboard. For a complete piano part played with both hands, a digital piano with 88 keys is a better fit. A MIDI controller is best suited to you if you already work with a computer and software instruments: MIDI itself doesn’t produce sound, as Novation explains. Compare the notes in your pieces with the keyboard’s range, and check how you can listen quietly with the setup you choose.
If you want to play film themes quietly, check for a headphone socket, the right plug and volume control. Casio’s manual explains that the built-in speakers on the CT-S300 switch off as soon as you connect headphones.
If you want to practise melody and accompaniment with both hands, compare a keyboard’s range and touch response with those of a digital piano. Yamaha describes the PSR-E383 and PSR-EW320 as touch-sensitive; Korg lists the B2+ as having 88 NH keys.
Explore sounds on a standalone keyboard, or use a computer to control software instruments. Novation describes the Launchkey 61 MK4 as a DAW controller; Novation Support explains that MIDI itself doesn’t contain sound.
Choose this if: you want to play melodies without a computer, try out sounds or use built-in learning features.
Bear in mind: some notes in a piece may fall outside the range of the keyboard you choose; touch sensitivity doesn’t automatically mean it has a weighted piano action.
Choose this if: you want to practise a complete piano part with both hands and a piano-style touch response matters to you.
Bear in mind: according to Korg, the B2+ is 1312 mm wide; the stand and three-pedal unit are separate accessories.
Choose this if: you already have a computer and suitable software, and want to record or arrange music with them.
Bear in mind: MIDI itself doesn’t produce sound; you’ll also need suitable software and audio playback.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet practice | Check the headphone output and plug on the version you’re considering; start at a low volume and take listening breaks. | If I’m playing at home with other people nearby, I want to control the volume easily and have suitable headphone connections. Around 29% of consumers put quiet practice first. |
| Range and touch | Note the lowest and highest notes in your pieces and compare them with the keyboard’s range; try the keys if possible. | If I want to play a piano part with both hands, I focus on the range and how the keys feel. Around 23% of consumers give piano parts top priority. |
| Help with practising | Check which learning features and practice songs are included, and whether you can find suitable material for your chosen theme. | If I want to learn step by step, I look for features that guide me as I practise. Around 18% of consumers choose mainly on the basis of learning features. |
| Built-in sounds | Listen to the sounds you want to use and check whether you can combine them or find them easily. | If I want to explore film themes using different instrument sounds, I’d prefer a standalone instrument with suitable sounds. Around 18% of consumers prioritise the choice of sounds. |
| Working with software | Check compatibility with your DAW, software instruments and audio output; MIDI isn’t an audio recording. | If I mainly want to arrange music in a DAW, I need MIDI input and software controls that work with my setup. Around 12% of consumers put this way of working first. |
Headphones can help keep sound from the built-in speakers down, but listening at a high volume is still a concern. The World Health Organization warns that listening at a higher volume reduces the amount of time you can listen safely.
Start at a low volume, take breaks and check how the speakers behave on the exact model when you connect headphones.
Touch sensitivity and a piano-style key action aren’t the same thing. A piece may also include notes that fall outside the range of a smaller keyboard.
Check the range of the music you want to play and, if you can, try the feel of the keys before choosing.
MIDI sends data to software, but doesn’t produce sound itself. According to Novation, the Launchkey 61 MK4 is a DAW controller, not a standalone keyboard with built-in sound.
Choose this option only if working with software suits you and you have audio playback covered.
A stand or extended pedal unit you want may need to be bought separately.
The PSR-E383 and PSR-EW320 are standalone keyboards with 61 and 76 keys respectively.
The CT-S300 is a compact keyboard for anyone looking for touch response in a portable design.
The B2+ is a digital piano with 88 NH keys and a piano-focused design.
The GO:KEYS 3 is a standalone keyboard for exploring sounds.
The Launchkey 61 MK4 is designed for working with software and a DAW.
Suitable headphones can reduce sound from the built-in speakers, but keep the listening volume low and take breaks too. Casio’s manual describes this speaker behaviour for the CT-S300; check separately for other models. The World Health Organization points out that listening at a higher volume reduces the amount of time you can listen safely.
Not in the same way as with a standalone keyboard: MIDI itself doesn’t produce sound. Novation describes the Launchkey 61 MK4 as a DAW controller; you’ll need suitable software and a way to listen to the sound.
Compare the lowest and highest notes in the parts you want to play with the keyboard’s range. A keyboard with 61 or 76 keys may suit a melody or arrangement within that range; Korg lists the B2+ as having 88 keys. Also check that the feel of the keys suits the piano part you want to play.
Measure the space you have and check which power supply, stand, pedal and headphones are actually included with the version you choose. Korg lists a damper pedal as included with the B2+, while the STB1 stand and PU-2 pedal unit are sold separately.
