Top 10 Best MIDI Keyboards in the UK 2021 (Akai, Arturia, Novation and More)

MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, Keyboards are used to send digitised musical notes to a secondary machine. That can be a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) on a computer or laptop, a physical instrument like a stage piano or a drum machine, or a sound module on the MIDI keyboard itself.

Using a MIDI keyboard, you can use keyboard notes to create literally all manner of sounds that you want. Whether you intent to use it for music production, beat making, live performances or something else, the limit is truly your imagination! 

MIDI keyboards will often have an overwhelming list of features – not all of which new musicians or producers will need. In this buying guide we help you narrow down the specifications you need to know about, to help you find the best MIDI keyboard for your needs. 

MIDI Keyboards come in many different variations, so it will definitely be helpful to consider what kind of music you intend to make. We've grouped the main features into three broad categories. Although, music is not an easily defined thing, so your planned uses might well overlap. 

If you're looking to use your MIDI keyboard as a centre for your home studio production, you better be sure it can handle the task. Serious production might mean working with all kinds of Digital Audio Workstation software (DAWs) or even analogue hardware. So, you'll need the right connections to make sure it all hooks up for that sweet sound you want. 

A USB might be fine for most home producers, but a true studio centrepiece needs MIDI connections (in and out), and possibly even gates as well. On top of that you might want also aux jacks, for connecting to amps and other output devices. Plug and Play settings for DAWs may be useful, although the most experienced producers won't necessarily need them.

For creating the most exacting and precise melodies on a MIDI keyboard, size matters! You're not going to get the same depth and variation of notes and tones from a portable 25-key board as you would from an 88-key velocity-sensitive model. 

If you’re making hip-hop or any kind of rap or lo-fi beats, sample triggers and drum touch pads can turn a MIDI keyboard into a one-stop beat making hub. You can use the keys to create any melody you want, and then pattern in your own drums to go with it. Easy!

Transfer Keys are also a good feature for beat makers to have. They allow you to manipulate your DAW through the MIDI keyboard itself - for example, moving tracks up and down, or copy-pasting segments. They're not essential, but it means you won't have to reach for your mouse during peak flow.

Another feature to look for is whether there is any sound library software included. When putting multiple layers of sound for a beat, MIDI keyboards that come with sample pack software or even full midi instruments are certainly useful. 

If you're looking for something to take your live musical performances to the next level, a MIDI keyboard might be exactly what you need. The best models for live performances are usually smaller for better portability. 

If you want to keep the music playing while you focus on singing, rapping, playing another instrument, or whatever else your performance involves, choose a MIDI keyboard with an arpeggiator, loop control or foot pedals. These will allow you to multi-task during your show - just set it up and leave it running for the length of the piece. 

If you're going to be moving your MIDI keyboard about a lot, an 88-key, three foot long beast is probably not the right choice. Conversely, if you've got a permanent studio setup with loads of space, then 25 keys and and one USB input just won't cut it either. 

In general, you'll want 25 or more keys for a decent range of notes and chords.  However, even if you opt for 25 keys, there's still quite a lot of variation in the size. This is especially true when you start to think about other features like faders, sample triggers, pads and other bits some keyboards include. 

If you're going to be making music while travelling, on a train or plane or in a hotel, then you'll likely need a mini keyboard that can fit easily into a bag. Which is why it's important to check the dimensions before buying. Although extra features may be tempting, try not to go overboard or you might find it's impractical to carry.

If you'r a new or bedroom producer, a simple USB link to your laptop or PC should be all the connections you need. These USB powered devices are usually called USB bus-powered. Just be aware that bigger or slightly different MIDI keyboards might require batteries or need an external plug socket to power them.

You'll need to be sure that your new keyboard is compatible with your software, and maybe even analogue hardware if you're an old-school musician. Most newer MIDI keyboards will have plug and play settings for almost any DAW, but some older DAWs may only work with HUI, or Human User Interface hookups.

Newer software will use Mackie Universal Control (MCU) - such as Ableton Live, Studio One, Cubase, and Reason. Similarly, some modern equipment, including amps, pedals, loop stations and instruments also have Bluetooth connectivity. This is great for making collaborative projects or on-the-go production when you might not have all your cables - although the sound quality will suffer a bit over the wireless connection. 

If you've never made music before, or are just starting out with digital music creation, you'll want a keyboard that comes bundled with a DAW. The most common ones are Ableton or Pro Tools, though other popular software bundles include Reason, Logic, FL Studio and more. 

Be aware that some keyboards only include the Lite editions, which are often just trial versions of the full software with many of the pro features disabled. Therefore you'll have to pay the makers of the DAW a bit extra to unlock the full experience.

MIDI Keyboards nearly always come with a sound pack. This may simply be a pack of drum samples, or an entire collection of full-octave and note-scale virtual instruments. While it's nice to have some inbuilt sounds, if you're plugging it into a DAW, you'll have a whole world of sounds to choose from anyway, so it's not a necessity when picking a keyboard. 

Now you know what to look for when making your choice, here's the ranking of the top 10 best in the UK. We hope this helps you find a MIDI keyboard you'll love making music with!

It's never been easier to make music at home, whether you're creating lo-fi beats, digital compositions or bedroom pop. To help you complete your home studio set-up, we've ranked some more of the best gear in the UK for would-be DJs, producers and beat-makers of all levels. Ahh, that's certainly music to our ears!

Whether it's a complete studio control titan with dozens of features, or a tiny portable keyboard to make beats on-the-go, we hope this article has helped you to find the right MIDI keyboard for your music needs. Thanks for reading, we look forward to hearing your creations on the radio one day!

Author: David Weir