Choose a MIDI controller with more keys if you want to play melodies and chords, or a more compact model with pads and controls if rhythm and sound-shaping matter more to you. For quiet listening, the audio setup is what counts: a standard MIDI controller sends MIDI to a software instrument, then you send the sound to your headphones via your computer’s audio output or other suitable equipment.
You’re creating a soundtrack in music software and want to listen through headphones. Work out where the software instrument produces sound and which audio output you’ll use: a MIDI controller alone doesn’t make any sound. Ableton explains how instruments receive MIDI and output audio.
You’d rather play themes and chords than draw in every note. Compare the range of keys available at your fingertips with the space on your desk. Novation and Arturia list models with 37 and 25 keys respectively.
You create percussion and change instrument sounds as you work. Look for pads and controls, and check that your DAW supports the functions you want. Novation, Arturia and Nektar describe the controls on their respective models; Ableton also explains how to use MIDI mappings in Live.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet listening | Check whether the model has built-in sounds and a headphone output. If not, look at the software instrument, audio output and headphone connection you’ll be using. | If you want to listen through headphones at home, you need to know where the sound is produced and how it reaches you. Around 36% of consumers give the sound and listening setup top priority. |
| Keyboard range | Compare the number and size of the keys with the parts you want to play, and measure the space available. | If you want to play themes and chords without constantly changing range, consider how many keys are directly beneath your hands. Around 29% of consumers prioritise melodic range. |
| Pads and controls | Check that your DAW supports the functions you want and that the pads and controls can be set up for them. | If you want to play rhythms or adjust sounds directly, useful pads and controls matter more than keyboard range alone. Around 21% of consumers give rhythm and sound control top priority. |
| Space and portability | Measure the space available on your desk and compare it with the dimensions of the model. Also check which cables you’ll need. | If your controller needs to fit into a small workspace or travel with you, its size will affect your choice. Around 14% of consumers prioritise space and portability. |
MIDI and audible audio are different signals. A software instrument turns MIDI into audio; the headphone output Akai lists for the MPK Mini Play MK3 isn’t automatically available on other models.
Before you buy, plan your listening setup: controller, sound source, audio output and headphones.
A DAW may need a supported control surface or custom MIDI mappings before its controls can perform the functions you want.
Check compatibility with your software and decide whether you want to assign the controls yourself.
The key size, pads, controls and space in your workspace all affect whether a controller suits the way you want to play your parts.
Compare the model and its size with your music and workspace, not just the number of keys in the product name.
The Launchkey Mini 37 MK4 is worth considering if you want to combine melodies, pads and hands-on DAW control.
The MiniLab 3 is a good fit if you’re looking for a compact keyboard with pads and controls for software instruments.
The MPK Mini Play MK3 is worth considering if you want to play ideas through headphones without a computer.
The Impact LX Mini is a compact alternative with keys, transport buttons and DAW control.
This selection focuses on a keyboard with built-in sounds and a headphone output that can also be used with music software via USB-MIDI.
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The built-in sounds and headphone socket let you listen to ideas without a computer; USB-MIDI also lets you use the keyboard with a DAW.
This model has 61 keys, 500 sounds, 300 rhythms and a recording function. It also has built-in speakers and a headphone socket for private listening.
A standard MIDI controller sends control data and doesn’t make any sound on its own. You also need a sound source, such as a software instrument in a DAW, and an audio output connected to your headphones. Akai says the MPK Mini Play MK3 also has its own sounds and a headphone output, so you can play without a computer.
First, check that your DAW is using the controller as a MIDI input and that the track contains a software instrument set up for monitoring or recording. Then check the audio output to your headphones. Ableton explains these steps for Live; menus may differ in other DAWs.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, online consumer purchases generally come with a cooling-off period of up to 14 days after delivery, although exceptions apply. The Dutch Government says there is no fixed statutory guarantee period that applies to all products in the Netherlands. If a product is faulty, contact the seller to arrange an appropriate solution.
You need the creator’s permission to use other people’s copyrighted music. The Dutch Government advises getting permission; check the rights for every recording, composition or sample you use before distributing the soundtrack.
