There is never a bad moment to consider purchasing a new keyboard. And as your experience grows, you begin to stretch the boundaries of your creative potential. This can be made easier by using a new or different keyboard because you will become accustomed to its features, settings, and characteristics. So, in this list, we’ll look at a select group of keyboards that can help you advance your productivity.
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Arturia KeyStep 37 USB Midi Controller
- CREATIVE IDEA GENERATOR: A powerful tool that seamlessly controls your hardware and software instruments simultaneously! Record, perform, and...
- CREATIVITY SIMPLIFIED: Bring movement to your melodies with 8 arp modes, including 3 vibrant new random modes, switchable in an instant. Use the hold...
- INTUITIVE SEQUENCER: Experiment with intuitive step-sequencing or live recording, complete with ties and rests, and hear them back instantly. Append...
The Keystep 37 is a powerful medium-sized controller that enables you manage both hardware and software. Its velocity-sensitive narrow keys make it more compact, and its sequencer, arpeggiator, scale, and chord features make it a great instrument for creative expression. It is appropriate for the producer looking to advance from a simpler controller in order to produce more creatively.
By holding Shift and pushing the Hold button on the Keystep 37, you can enter chord mode. There are also a few additional ways to do so. But it’s important to remember that you can use the Type knob to add notes to a chord of a root note, the Notes knob to define the chord span (up to 16 notes in the chord), the Velocity to Notes knob ratio, and the fourth Strum knob to choose the strum type.
To help you get the most of this keyboard, Arturia has provided it with a variety of inputs and outputs. a 12V DC IN and a USB port for connecting to your computer (with an optional adapter). Sustain pedal input, clock sync input/output (allows you to connect with pre-MIDI technology capable of synchronization), pitch/gate/mod outputs, and MIDI in/out ports are some of the other features.
In addition to shifting octaves up and down on the keyboard, you can also add notes by pressing Oct+ or Oct- while the arpeggiator is playing. In addition, Kbd Play mode and transpose mode are activated with Shift serving as a secondary function (which allows you to play keys independently in addition to the part the sequencer is playing). This area features a toggle switch that enables you switch between the sequencer and arpeggiator modes. In Seq Mode, you can choose which of the eight current sequences to utilize, and in Arp Mode, you can choose which pattern to playback the notes you’re holding on the keyboard. For altering the modes, time division, and rate, you have encoders. Your notes can be taped in order. This is the Best 37-Key MIDI Controller in 2023.
Novation Launchkey 37 [MK3] MIDI Keyboard
![Novation Launchkey 37 [MK3] MIDI Keyboard Controller - Seamless Ableton Live Integration. Chord...](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41QVGtdq+5L._SL160_.jpg)
- "Designed for Live — Get hands on with Ableton Live – An unrivalled integration to Ableton Live with your Launchkey gives you a seamless music...
- Create and play with feeling – Velocity-sensitive keyboard and 16 velocity-sensitive pads enable expressive and dynamic performance at your...
- Play chords with one finger – Lay down chords for your track quick with three chord modes — fixed, scale, and user. Play a chord with one finger...
Launchkeys from Novation come in a variety of sizes, including 25, 37, 49, and 61-key variants, and they are all expertly designed. The Launchkey 37 Mk3 is a feature-rich keyboard that is a terrific addition to and investment for your studio setup. It’s like a beatmaker’s fantasy. Because this keyboard is an all-in-one setup with 16 pads and knobs, you scarcely need anything more besides a computer to create your next big hit. As compared to its larger 49 and 61-key siblings, it just lacks the faders. Its chord, scale, and arp modes can also help you express your creativity more. Let’s examine the reasons this keyboard is so fantastic.
Any chord that is performed can be saved and played as a fixed chord whenever any note is played on the keyboard, giving you more creative freedom when producing. Additionally, the Arp mode offers a variety of arpeggiator types that you may choose between by holding Shift and tapping the appropriate key. Additionally, you can play notes in any scale across the full keyboard by using the Scale mode.
These pads can be used in a variety of ways, including Drum Mode, which enables Launchkey’s pads to function as velocity-sensitive drum pads (hold the Shift button while pressing the pad with the word “Drum” underneath). In Mixer Mode, they can assign volume, pan, and sends. In Device Mode, they may make adjustments, etc. The pads can also be used in Ableton Live’s Session Mode to trigger clips.
Although the majority of HUI DAWs, including Studio One, Cubase, Pro Tools, etc., may be used with this keyboard, it was built specifically for Ableton Live and has quick access to all the controls. You can put the mouse away when producing because you can easily deal with scenes, clips, capture notes, quantize, etc., all at your fingers. It fully integrates with Logic and Reason as well.
Launchkey’s navigation section, which has the button that activates the keyboard’s navigation mode so you can browse samples and presets, greatly facilitates accessibility. In Live, there are buttons that move you up, down, left, and right through columns of pads, clips, drum racks, and tracks. Play, Record, Stop, and Loop are all included in the travel section. The Capture Midi, Quantize, Click, and Undo buttons are all located above.
Because of its modest weight, moving it around will be simpler if necessary. Additionally, the keys are full-sized, which is advantageous if you have more experience playing the keyboard or piano. It is great for beginners who want to invest in it because of its chord, arp, scale modes, pads, and knobs. and for musicians with more expertise. Finally, despite all of its features, it is fairly inexpensive.
IK Multimedia iRig Keys 2 Pro Full-sized 37-key MIDI Keyboard Controller
- 37 VELOCITY-SENSITIVE FULL-SIZE KEYS: This keyboard audio interface features 37 velocity-sensitive full-size keys perfect for composing music and...
- COMPATIBLE WITH: This versatile keyboard with headphone connection works with iPhone, iPad, Mac and PC so that you can practice, create and listen to...
- HEADPHONE OUTPUT: The built-in headphone output lets you connect to the latest speakers and headphones, making it an essential tool for any musician...
IK Multimedia sells a variety of products with an emphasis on usability, including keyboards, software, and interfaces. The iRig Keys 2 Pro is unique, has a clean and fashionable appearance, and is easy to set up on Mac or Windows, iOS, and Android devices, making this keyboard highly useful for your portable production. Your production will run more smoothly if it has a volume knob, octave up and down buttons, and a setup button.
The compatibility of the iRig products with iOS devices, specifically the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android devices, is one of their best-known capabilities. Although the Keys 2 Pro has three octaves of full-sized keys, this feature gives you greater mobility, so you don’t have to worry about carrying a laptop around unless you want to.
The fact that iRig Keys 2 Pro may function as a standalone controller even when a host is not attached is wonderful. An external MIDI device can be connected to the MIDI IN port and controlled by an external MIDI module with a MIDI OUT port. The USB power outlet on the keyboard must be used to connect it to a USB power adapter.
When compared to pitch/mod strips, smooth pitch bend and modulation wheels will produce a performance that is more timely, accurate, and allows for more careful movement. Four assignable control knobs can also change the different parameters you program them to adjust, and the ‘5-8’ button can twice that number up to eight. The volume control, the octave up and down buttons (which, when hit together, also activate Edit Mode), and the program buttons are all located above the keys (which you use for switching sounds in sound modules like virtual instruments or plug-ins). A data push encoder that serves as a browsing control is also available.
The presence of MIDI IN/OUT inputs, a USB input, a sustain pedal input, and a 1/8″ TRS output for headphones or speakers is fantastic for a keyboard of this type. Additionally, they offer a kit that includes a MIDI cable adapter, a USB cable, and a lightning cable (allowing you to plug a MIDI cable into the adapter to connect external devices).
Korg microKEY 37 MkII
- Compact and playable natural touch Mini keyboard
- Connect with a single USB cable; supports Mac, WIN, iPad, and iPhone
- Connect a pedal, and enjoy full control functionality
Korg is a Japanese electronics business that specializes in hardware synthesizers and electronic musical instruments as well as being more suited to beginning producers. The microKEY’s second version is easy to use, plug-and-play compatible with your preferred DAWs, and small and light. With Korg’s Natural Touch on the smaller keys, it is simple to play and has the appropriate feel for a keyboard of its size. For a more dramatic performance, you may alternatively attach a sustain pedal to the input on the side. Suitable for an upgrade to begin composing with a real keyboard rather than placing notes with a mouse.
Three octaves of small keys make up the MicroKey MkII. Additionally, despite the smaller size of the keys, they were created to allow for flexible playing (after you get used to the size). You may change the velocity curve to fine-tune your performance, and they still have the nice feel and Korg-quality you would expect. With this particular keyboard, you may adjust the octave by -4 down and +4 up. The higher (or lower) in the octave range, accordingly, the color changes from green to orange to red. From -12 to +12, the transposition option enables you to move up or down in one-half-tone steps.
You can receive a tactile feeling when modifying the pitch bend and modulation in your compositions by using the more widely used wheels. Instead of the strips that are on some other keyboards, some individuals prefer this. Additionally, a 14″ input jack for a PS-1 footswitch or PS-1H damper pedal can be found on the back side. You will have access to download a variety of software after purchasing the microKey MkII, including Korg Gadget and Korg Module, the M1 Le, Arp Odyssey, MS-20, Polysix, Mony/Poly, M1, Wavestation, and the MDE-X effect plug-in. The Korg Kontrol Editor, which enables you to alter keyboard options, is also included.