Choose the number of keys according to how you record your parts: a larger keyboard gives you more room for two-handed passages, while a compact model saves desk space. For dynamic control, an easily reached modulation wheel and the right MIDI mapping matter more than the number of faders alone. Also check that the keyboard works with your DAW and string plugin. With a compact keyboard, you may need to switch octaves, but some libraries let you move keyswitches.
You record parts and want to shape the dynamics of a suitable sample library as you play or afterwards. Spitfire Audio describes CC1 as the dynamic control for the libraries mentioned; check which MIDI CC your own plugin uses.
You want to record chords and melodic lines with fewer octave changes, and have room for a larger keyboard. Models with 49 or 61 keys offer a different playing range from compact models with 37 mini keys; Novation, Arturia and Akai Professional list these key counts for their respective models.
You work in a home office with limited space and can enter parts or articulations separately if needed. For BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover, Spitfire Audio lists C-2 to D#-2 as the default keyswitch range and says you can move the keyswitches.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic control | Check whether the model has an easily reached modulation wheel or an assignable control. Find out which CC mapping your string library uses. | If I want to control dynamics as I play, the controls need to work with my plugin. Around 36% of consumers prioritise direct dynamic control. |
| Key range | Decide whether you record parts together or separately. Check the keyswitch range and whether your library lets you move it. | If you want to play chords and melodic lines with both hands, having enough keys to play them at the same time is useful. Around 29% of consumers prioritise key range. |
| DAW control | Check compatibility with your exact DAW and version. Find out how to set up the controls for your instrument plugin. | If I often switch between tracks and instruments while arranging, a workflow that suits my DAW matters. Around 21% of consumers prioritise DAW control. |
| Desk space | Measure the available width and depth, allowing room for cables. Compare the dimensions of the exact model variant. | At a small desk, I want to leave enough space and am prepared to enter parts separately if necessary. Around 14% of consumers prioritise a compact footprint. |
The dynamic and expression controls you need depend on the library you use. DAW integration does not automatically mean that every plugin parameter has already been assigned.
Check your library’s CCs and the settings available on the exact keyboard model. Setting up MIDI mappings may take extra time.
In BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover, keyswitches are set to C-2 to D#-2 by default, but Spitfire Audio also explains that you can move them if your keyboard cannot reach those notes.
Check how articulations are entered in your own library before choosing a larger keyboard just to reach a particular keyswitch range.
KeyLab 49 mk3 and KeyLab Essential 49 mk3 are different models. Similar names and the same number of keys do not mean they have the same features.
Compare the full model name and the specifications of the variant on offer.
The Launchkey MK4 is available in 49- or 61-key models for anyone looking to combine plenty of playing space with DAW control.
KeyLab models combine keys with control features, while the MiniLab 3 is a more compact option.
The MPK Mini Plus is a compact option for recording parts separately.
The Oxygen Pro 49 combines a keyboard with controls designed for a DAW workflow.
Impact LX mk3 is available with 49 or 61 keys and offers DAW control.
Not necessarily. In BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover, keyswitches are set to C-2 to D#-2 by default, but Spitfire Audio also explains how to move them if your keyboard cannot reach that range. Check the settings in your own library; this product’s default settings do not apply to every library.
Check the mapping in your plugin and the MIDI automation in your DAW. For its own libraries, Spitfire Audio describes dynamics as being controlled via CC1 and distinguishes this from Expression, which controls volume. Don’t assume the same behaviour applies to other plugins without checking.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, consumers buying at a distance generally have 14 days from delivery to change their mind, subject to legal exceptions. The seller must also resolve any issue if, under normal use, a product does not meet what you could reasonably expect of it, in line with statutory rules. Check the terms that apply to your purchase.
That depends on whether the keyboard falls under product regulations that require CE marking. The Dutch government explains that CE marking applies to certain product groups and must not simply be applied to every product. Check the product information for the specific device.
