Start by considering the space available on your desk and how many keys you want to use at once. More keys give you greater scope for playing phrases and chords, while a shorter keyboard takes up less room. Then check whether you can assign the controller’s controls to the right functions in your string library; a USB MIDI controller does not produce string sounds on its own.
Wants to shape dynamics and expression while playing, and to check whether their string library can learn or assign MIDI controls. Spitfire describes CC1 for dynamics and CC11 for expression among the controls used by its libraries.
Needs to fit a controller alongside a computer and mouse, so compares both the width and depth of its casing.
Wants enough keys to play melodies and chords, and is weighing up a 37-key keyboard against a more compact 25-key model.
Start with the dimensions of your desk and the number of keys you need to use at once. Then check MIDI mapping and software compatibility.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamics and expression | Check whether your library has MIDI Learn features and whether you can assign the control you want to the right parameter. | If I want to adjust dynamics and expression as I play, I need to be able to control the right parameter directly. Around 33% of consumers give expression control top priority. |
| Desk space | Compare the stated width and depth with the space available, and allow room for cables and your hands too. | If my desk also needs to fit a computer and mouse, I want to know whether the whole casing will fit. Around 27% of consumers put available desk space first. |
| Number of keys | Compare 25 and 37 keys to find the range you need to play at once. Arturia, Novation and Akai list models with 37 keys; Arturia lists the MiniLab 3 as having 25 keys. | When I want to play in phrases and chords without constantly changing octaves, having the right range at my fingertips matters. Around 27% of consumers give this range top priority. |
| Software and connections | Check that the controller works with your computer and DAW, and that any pedal input supports the pedal type and function you need. | If my existing software and connections are the deciding factors, I want to know in advance which controls will work straight away and which I’ll need to set up. Around 13% of consumers prioritise their software workflow. |
A controller may fit across your desk but still be too deep for the space beside your computer or mouse.
Measure both the available width and depth, and leave extra room for cables and your hands.
In the libraries described by Spitfire, CC1 and CC11 have different functions. You need to assign a physical control to the appropriate MIDI parameter.
Check your own library’s settings and test the mapping before buying an extra controller or pedal.
Setting up MIDI mappings takes time. If you don’t already have the string sounds you want, check which software or library you’ll need.
An input may support different functions on a particular controller, and the connection and pedal plug also need to be compatible.
Check the function, input and plug type for the exact controller and pedal combination.
An incompatible pedal may mean you need to buy another one.
According to Arturia, the MiniLab 37 has 37 slim keys and four sliders, while the MiniLab 3 has 25 keys and four sliders.
The Launchkey Mini 37 MK4 combines a 37-key keyboard with touch strips, encoders, pads and DAW controls.
The microKEY2-37 is a USB-powered controller with 37 mini keys and a modulation wheel.
According to Akai, the MPK Mini Plus has 37 mini keys, physical pitch and modulation wheels, pads and rotary knobs.
The Komplete Kontrol M32 has 32 compact keys and controls for Komplete and NKS plug-ins.
Yes. To play string parts using software, you’ll need a suitable sound source or string library on your computer. Check what software you already have and how it maps MIDI dynamics and expression. Bundled software isn’t necessarily the string library you’re looking for.
Start by checking your library’s manual. For its libraries, Spitfire describes CC1 as the default for dynamics and CC11 for expression. It also explains how to use a MIDI Learn feature to assign a control in the BBC Symphony Orchestra plug-in. Don’t assume these settings apply to other libraries without checking.
No. It depends on the input and pedal type supported by the specific controller. Arturia lists one input on the MiniLab 37 for sustain, expression or a footswitch. Novation recommends a TS sustain pedal for the sustain input on its controllers, and says that TRS damper pedals won’t work with that input.
When you buy as a consumer in the Netherlands, a product must meet the expectations you’re entitled to have of it. According to the Dutch government, there is no fixed statutory warranty period; if a product is faulty, you should contact the seller. Any manufacturer’s warranty is in addition to this.
That depends on the product category and the applicable European rules; CE marking isn’t required for every product. The European Union’s Your Europe website says that CE rules apply to certain electrical and electronic equipment. The mark is the manufacturer’s declaration that the relevant product rules have been met. It doesn’t prove that a keyboard will work with your software or suit the way you want to use it. Check the information for the specific model.
