As you plan your music career, one of the must-have instruments is a MIDI keyboard. They are necessary due to their capabilities and impact on music production, especially for amateurs inexperienced in playing other instruments.
Getting the best one should be easy since various brands and options exist for you to consider. The only challenge is choosing the best one for your career and needs. You need some help with the selection. Otherwise, you will likely buy something that may not serve you longer or never meet future expectations.
Instead of trial and error or settling on the popular option, here are some tips to find the best MIDI tailored to your production needs and goals.
1. Consider Your Intent to Use MIDI
How do you plan to use the MIDI keyboard? Before answering the question, consider your current level and experience in the music industry, where you plan to go, or your ultimate goals.
Do you want to use the keyboard for solo and home products, live performances, student production a need, or all of these options? Your intended use and goals will help you determine the type you buy.
Different types of MIDI keyboard controller are optimized for particular uses, such as in-studio, practice, live performance, or solo production. Variations include size, features, performance capabilities, and controls. Afterward, you can select the best one within each category to fulfill your needs.
For instance, an upcoming artist needs a smaller MIDI to carry everything and create music while moving around.
2. Evaluate Your Present MIDI Operating Skills
Buying a versatile keyboard that will enable you to learn while performing key roles is good. You can use a simple keyboard that will not consume your time practicing instead of producing music. Do not buy something that will take ages to learn and frustrate your music production journey.
Before buying the keyboards, take your time and learnhow to play piano. Next, learn a few instruments. The basics will help you learn how to coordinate major MIDI keyboard features to create the desired soundtrack effects.
For beginners, you should buy a mid-size keyboard with more features and simple-to-use panels, and knobs. However, pros can handle more complicated and bigger MIDI systems to create the desired soundtracks.
Like pianos, learning to use MIDI keyboards should be progressive and require experience at every level before you move to the next stage. Spending too much time learning can take your time and lead to frustration.
3. Consider the Number Of Keys You Need
These keyboards are available in different sizes based on the number of keys. The larger the keyboard, the more the keys. The basic one has about 25 keys, while the complex ones have about 88. Besides the keys, also focus on space for other features like slides, panels, and knobs.
Instead of buying one with many keys, consider options that balance other features and keys. For instance, get one with 25 keys and extra features. Such options are good for newbie musicians who rely mainly on controllers and effects to have great soundtracks.
However, if you have the experience, consider 50+ keys and other features. Again, your experience should help you decide the number of keys you need. If you are a pianist, consider the full-size keyboard. You should have the same experience playing the piano.
However, you need other features to add some taste and effects to your music and integrate other instruments.
Secondly, if you are a guitarist, there is no need for many keys. Instead, focus on a few keys to generate the piano effect and then boost the effect using the controls.
4. Check For Connectivity And Collaboration with Other Instruments
Remember, you need other instruments to produce the best soundtrack. The role of MIDI to allow all these instruments to collaborate effectively to generate the best sounds and desired effects. Therefore, focus on the connectivity ports and how they enable you to link all the instruments to the MIDI and DAW.
Regardless of size, good MIDI keyboards should have multiple consecutive ports and features. Therefore, ensure you have all USB, HDMI, and audio jack ports. Next, consider wireless connectivity capabilities like Bluetooth.
Some also have hotspots and virtual network connections. Focus on basic connectivity features. The more ports, the better to help you connect all the instruments. Also, consider the MIDI/IO port for hardware synthesizers.
5. Analyze Your Budget
Before buying the keyboards, go through online stores and compare prices. By now, you should know the MIDI device you need based on size and other features. After that, compare top-brand prices before settling on one within your budget.
Settle on one with more features than others and within the price range. Do not compromise on performance for the costs. If that is the case, settle on a smaller option from a quality brand.
Most keyboards cost between $100 and $1100, but the price can increase depending on the brand, features, and quality.
6. Physically Inspect Before Purchase
If you buy the keyboard online, get it from a reliable brand like Yamaha. Alternatively, buy from top brands that are selling on other sites. However, the best decision is to walk into an instrument store to buy the keyboard.
Such a decision will enable you to inspect the instrument before you carry it home. You will also have the chance to try multiple options before settling on the best one. When buying the instruments, consider key features like the number of controllers. Test each to ensure everything works before carrying it home.
During your research, read about instruments to know the number of controllers provided. The research should be helpful when you order online.
7. Consider Warranty
Buy from a reliable brand that will offer you years of warranty in case of any issues. Sometimes, the controls may fail due to repetitive use. Warranty terms should cover such repairs and replacements if the damages are extensive.
Warranty is also ideal for an instrument with a faulty controller or features. Even if you buy online, the warranty should be a key issue to save you the burden of repairing the instrument. A simple damage can trigger subsequent internal damage, hence higher repair costs.
Bottomline
Before settling on the best MIDI to buy, consider your needs and how the integrated features will help you produce the best music.
Next, buy from a top and affordable brand that offers a warranty in case of damage. A good one should have all the features, like controls, keys, and parts, to sustain your production needs.
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