Which MIDI Controller Is Right For Me? | Reverb 

This the first time I hear someone say the word dexterity twice in one video. Also, gotta love Justin, guys at reverb always seem so passionate about their instruments and happy to share their knowledge!

There are two free softwares that combined they can make the DAW read any USB joystick as a MIDI controller: MIDIloop and Fergo Joystick. Using that I built my own controller (foostwitch) using Amazon Arcade Buttons and a wood box. Overall project cost less then 30 dollars.

Great review of all the gadgets. Thank you very much for sharing this!

Awesome video and great overview! Much respect to Reverb!

Very informative and cool presentation, thanks. To choose we have to be clear about what we want to do with music, perform, compose, loops or notes and chords, etc ... Then the choice comes clear.

I got my Push 2 for well under $500 on Reverb. Best piece of hardware I've ever bought.

Such a cool and classy review. Representing Reverb very well here. Thanks

The best keyboard midi controller out right now is the Novation SL mark iii. Unfortunately not mentioned in this video. Also not mentioned were the two studio basics, the Arturia Keystep and Beatstep Pro.

love your reviews

Hi! great video, really detailed! I have started my journey last year with Music computing Kami producing station! I am so satisfied!

My first midi keyboard was a Roland A-800 Pro, I got it for a hundred bucks like new so I couldn't pass that up. I was going to order an arturia minilab mk2 the next day until I got the Roland. It works great.

this is a nice informative video bro, good job man

Justin, After watching your videos and others, I settled on the M-Audio for about $120.00. The following link is the result of my first project with this MIDI Controller. Thanks for your input. @

Great stuff, guys. Really enjoyed it. One thing I think very much worth people considering and being mentioned is the Seaboard midi that ROLI makes. Very interesting...and you get their equator synth engine. Keep up the goodness! Justin, you’re a square cat. Like, I carved block square, not fiftyish.

Nice presentation and lots of good information. Re Maschine MK3, if you wanted MPC work flow you could use MPC Touch/MPC Live ;-) As you said these are great that almost everything can be achieved via the pads/screen on the device, with the laptop/PC tucked out of the way.

After watching the video... I still don't know, so much to choose from!

i miss this guy he really helped me a lot on the "synth part" of this channel

@reverb hi, great video, I love that some midi controllers have a ton of capabilities, I wish they made them with bigger pads for drummers, most midi controllers/ samplers/ and percussion pads have limited onboard/realtime functions (effects, slice, echo, pitch bend etc) compared to midi controllers that come with pads for finger drumming, keys, knobs, buttons etc. Would it be possible to create a chain between a computer with ie an akai mpk in the middle to manipulate the sounds and control the functions of say a Roland spd sx?

Great stuff :3

He seems very nerdy about music... I like it.

Q49 is a good value, but if you play keys at all, you won't be happy with the spungy keys for long. Far better choice by miles is the Roland A49 which has some of the best synth action keys available.

Nektar Panorama. That's it. The best controller for the buck for in depth control of - everything. Korg Nanokey for portability.

Nice run down.

You know the feeling when you can no longer swing by your local music store? :(

I always liked the mpk

Hi Justin, great video. I am planning to buy a midi controller & I would need both keys & drum pads. I am thinking of either going with Arturia keylab 61 mk2 or Akai mpk2 61, as both have drum pads. But how about a midi keyboard like M-Audio Oxygen 61 paired up with an akai mpd 218 or above. Please help me with this, which would be a better option & also which one would be better keyboard in both categories. also would love if you could do a comparison on various akai mpd models if possible. I am just starting out though but have been using daw mostly FL studio & recently cubase.

what type of midi controller would be a good match for my moog etherwave pluss THEREMIN ?

dope video

Beatstep Pro!

Hey there. Very cool video. What would you recommend for controlling a Dreadbox Murmux V.2?

How about the Arturia Microfreak as an MPE controller, for apps like Animoog? And you get a synth thrown in for no extra charge... 🤪

Hey, thanks a lot for the info. I have a question that I can’t seem to find the answer to in any of these videos. I’m looking for a MIDI pad controller, that sends an output to a synth (Roland JP-08) to play it. The trick is I want to program the pads to play multiple notes. Like one pad triggers C and G. Is this possible without hooking it up to a computer? The Roland JP-08 has an MIDI I/O ports. Thanks man!

For me it’s midi fighter 64 its soooooo fun to play

Touché Touché Touché. 👌🏿So glad Expressive E is getting some love! Hopefully my next purchase, however with using Ableton live’s free trial their controller/pad looks very interesting as well. Perhaps I’ll get both. 🤔😬

Lots of choices, is there any MIDI controller that has ribbon controller? Please help

is the mpk49 better than the advance 49?

Do any of the keyboard controllers able to produce more of an acustica sound instead of a sympathisiser!?

Thanks for the video, is that a hicky on your neck?

Do you really need an audio interface? I just want to know if midi controllers sound even only using ipad and midi keyboard. Thanks!

Hello , what about Best midi contrôllers for strings plug ins...

Please can you tell me witch pads are most sensitive in order. Push2 vs machine mrk3 vs sensel morph.

Do any of them come with a package of sounds? Im pretty clueless and a noob about the whole MIDI controller and recording thing. Where do you get the best sounds? I have logic are they on there?

if youre tryna make your own music at least get a few knobs, you can put anything from your daw that is a slider onto a knob and fuck that is way more useful that you could imagine if youre trying to get different automation, imo knobs can be more important than keys at first the way i make my automation

Did he just say his name was Justin Delay?

"Rubber pad controllers" 11:23 nice musical phrase jeje, thanks for the content, great as usual!

Where are the Arturia KeyStep and BeatStep Pro? Those are so famous... :(

So none of these controllers have multi track sequencing?

Foot controllers would have been a nice brief mention to get your Geddy on

Dumb question: what is the best controller to send voice change commands to 4 midi keyboards and one rack mount voice module? I deally I would like to have patches for each song or part of a song, as well as a couple dozen quick one-button clicks to switch to preferred voices for each unit.

I think there is only one answer: Arturia Keystep if you have a synthesizer and you dont want to spend too much money

no love for Artiphon's instrument 1?

Damn. I hate to see Ashton down on his luck like this. I guess Demi really cleaned him out, lol.

the akai mpk49 is $400

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

1:36 software???

NIce hickey

I just want full sized keys, two octaves, and great action

Justin Delay from reverb 😅

You laughed after the ‘trap remark’, didn’t you? 🤔

arturia keystep with poly aftertouch......

Hate it when people just start their spiel at an intermediate level. I have no idea what anything of this is about. I think I'll just buy a set of bongos.

I just uploaded a video of my favorite Ableton Controller!

MPK 49 pads suck. Get a Korg Pad Kontrol. NIGHT and DAY. Nuakai is not old akai which had amazing pads. electrical tape mod doesn't do it. Don't believe the hype. I've tried, but never been able to use the pads. Ever. Also, my encoders are constantly sending random data when I'm not touching them. The longevity of the Akai MPK49 is maybe 3 years before it starts to transmit garbage data.

We know this guy's favorite effect 😂

First

None, just buy a cheap fucking synth lmao