Gearank
gearank.com › home › best 88 key midi controller keyboards for every player
Best 88 Key MIDI Controller Keyboards for Every Player - Gearank - Music Gear Information for Live Performance or Studio
June 27, 2025 - If you’re a concert pianist who wants a MIDI keyboard with an action very similar to an acoustic grand piano, then this is definitely the best option for you. If budget, space, and mobility aren’t issues, or if you can’t lug around an actual grand piano and absolutely need that kind of action, abandon all hesitation and get it. This is as piano as a MIDI device can get. ... Keys: 88 wooden keys with Ivory Touch key surfaces and RM3 Grand II Graded hammer weighting + counterweights – Triple-sensor key detection – Let-off simulation.
Integraudio
integraudio.com › home › top 12 best 88-key midi keyboards (on any budget)
Top 12 Best 88-Key MIDI Keyboards (On Any Budget)
October 29, 2025 - An 88-key semi-weighted MIDI keyboard with aftertouch also has features like pads, faders, encoders, and additional features. There is a lot you can do with this keyboard, and for its affordable price, you can invest in it as an addition to your studio if you’re on a tight budget and need all the bells and whistles with an 88-key.
Videos
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The BEST Budget MIDI Keyboard 2023 | Arturia KeyLab Essential MK3 ...
10:00
M-Audio Hammer 88 Review | BEST Budget MIDI Keyboard under $500!?
06:53
🏆 TOP 3 BEST 88-KEY MIDI KEYBOARD CONTROLLERS 2023 ( COMPARISON ...
Arturia KeyLab Essential 88: The Best Budget 88 Key Midi ...
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My Top 5 Favorite Midi Keyboards - YouTube
14:22
The Best MIDI Controllers with Weighted Keys for Music Production ...
Sunday Sounds
sundaysounds.com › blogs › news › m-audio-hammer-88-review-best-budget-midi-keyboard-under-500
M-Audio Hammer 88 Review | BEST Budget MIDI Keyboard under $500!? – Sunday Sounds
This new video covers everything you need to know about this MIDI controller, including what I like, what I'm not a fan of, how it compares to my favorite MIDI keyboard (the SL88 Studio), and if you should consider picking one up should you ...
PopuMusic Store
partykeys.com › home › news › news
Top 88 Key MIDI Controller Picks for Music Creators and Home Studios
July 21, 2025 - Controllers like the Nektar Impact LX88+ or Alesis Q88 are known for being lightweight and budget-friendly. They sacrifice full hammer action for portability, making them great choices for mobile producers or gigging musicians.
MusicRadar
musicradar.com › tech › midi controllers
Best MIDI keyboards 2025: Find the perfect match for your studio workflow
November 18, 2025 - The LX88+ won’t suit everyone (and some 88-key users will be after a full weighted hammer action). But at £300 (and with a free copy of Bitwig 8-Track bundled) it’s a bargain and well worth testing."
Sunday Sounds
sundaysounds.com › blogs › news › best-midi-keyboard-under-1000-fully-weighted-studiologic-sl88-grand-review
BEST MIDI Keyboard under $1000 fully weighted!? Studiologic SL88 Grand – Sunday Sounds
This new video review covers everything you need to know about this MIDI controller, including what I like, what I'm not a fan of, and how it compares to the SL88 Studio.
MusicRadar
musicradar.com › tech › midi controllers
The top 88-key MIDI controllers: master keyboards for musicians, composers, performers and producers | MusicRadar
March 14, 2022 - It’s also a boon that the KeyLab 88 comes with two high-end virtual pianos—UVI Acoustic Grand, which is sampled, and Pianoteq 5 Stage, which is physically modelled. MIDI In and Out ports are on hand for external hardware other than your ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/composer › best 88-key midi controller with realistic piano feel?
r/composer on Reddit: Best 88-Key MIDI Controller with Realistic Piano Feel?
June 4, 2024 -
Hello everyone,
I'm looking for recommendations on an 88-key MIDI controller that has a realistic piano feel but focuses on the essentials in terms of features. What would you suggest?
Thanks!
Top answer 1 of 11
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Just get a digital piano with usb to host for midi. Check out the Kawai ES-120 or the Casio CPD-s-110... then add any additional midi controllers, if you need faders, pads and whatnot.
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StudioLogic SL88 Grand (NOT Studio). Has mono aftertouch too (a bit stiffy though). It's not in Kawai league, of course, but in terms of piano action it easily beats all the popular ones I tried, like Komplete 88 mk2 or KeyLab 88.
Higher Hz
higherhertz.com › home › the 4 best 88-key weighted midi keyboard controllers in 2025
The 4 best 88-key weighted MIDI keyboard controllers 2025
May 20, 2025 - Since then, nothing feels better to me than a Studiologic/Fatar keyboard, and the SL88 is no different. It’s short on physical controls but has an intuitive interface and scores high where it counts.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/piano › which 88 key midi controller should i buy as a beginner?
r/piano on Reddit: Which 88 Key MIDI controller should I buy as a beginner?
November 13, 2022 -
Hi, I want to start learning piano and was looking to buy my first 88-key MIDI controller.
I first wanted the Arturia 88 Key Essential, but I called the piano store and they told me the SL88 was a lot better than the Arturia. t made me question my choices and now I'm not sure about which one to buy. The Arturia seems to have great quality and are alot of functionality with great plugins and comes 70€ cheaper than the SL88.
So please tell me, should I spend more to get the SL88 like the piano store told me, or is the Arturia 88 Key Essential a good choice? Feel free to suggest other Keyboards!
Top answer 1 of 4
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Read the FAQ first
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Dont burn money on that. You can find a used Yamaha or Roland digital piano with USB midi for fairly cheap. Then just add a used controlled. If you are starting out new there is no reason to spend a lot of money on this stuff brand new. It depreciates hugely in value, and you almost certainly will end up getting rid of it.
Piano Dreamers
pianodreamers.com › best-midi-keyboards
Best MIDI Keyboards: An In-Depth Look at the Market (2025)
May 17, 2025 - Regardless, for people who want a lot of knobs and buttons, the Arturia Keylab is the way to go. We’ve already introduced Arturia, so you know their pedigree as one of the top names in computer music.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/synthesizers › preferred 88 key midi controller
r/synthesizers on Reddit: Preferred 88 key midi controller
March 12, 2023 -
Hi all. I’m interested in hearing everyone’s views on preferred 88 key midi controller and why. It could be a dedicated controller, a workstation, piano keyboard, anything that’s 88 piano weighted keys.
Thanks 👍😊
Top answer 1 of 5
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A digital piano is probably the best deal for good weighted keys, plus it can be played on its own. The M-Audio Hammer 88 looks like a good deal and includes pitch bend/mod wheels, though I've tried it in the store and the keys don't quite feel as nice as other digital pianos. Other fully-weighted controllers include wheels and other MIDI controls but cost quite a bit more than an entry level DP, but again the ones I've tried don't quite feel as nice as my Roland FP-10.
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M-audio hammer 88 pro, better action than the regular hammer 88 and i prefer it over the fatar hammer action on studio logic boards. Also has pitch and mod wheel, drum pads, faders and daw control/transport. I use it as the center and a smaller keystep for the sequencer.
MusicRadar
musicradar.com › tech › midi controllers
Best cheap MIDI keyboards 2025: Inexpensive MIDI controllers starting at just £39/$49
February 5, 2025 - That said, those looking to play the controller as if it was a regular piano will want to opt for an 88-note option to ensure they have the entire spectrum of the piano at their fingertips. It's commonplace in this day and age for all MIDI controllers to work via USB - for sending note information as well as power.
eMastered
emastered.com › blog › best-cheap-midi-keyboards
Best Cheap MIDI Keyboards: Budget-friendly Picks
The final offering in this category is a simple USB MIDI keyboard that offers basic controller functions, with a full range of keys, for just over $200. The Q88 lets you expand on the 88 key range with octave buttons (although I'm not sure when ...
Gearank
gearank.com › home › best budget midi keyboard for music on the move
Best Budget MIDI Keyboard Controllers - Under $100
August 7, 2025 - While the mini keys and built-in thumbstick may not appeal to all users, the Akai MPK Mini MK III remains a versatile and budget-friendly MIDI controller with impressive features.
Digital Piano Kraze
digitalpianokraze.com › best-88-key-midi-keyboard-controllers
Best 88 Key MIDI Controllers 2026: I Tested All Options
2 weeks ago - If you’re looking for something to travel with from studio to studio or from show to show, this is a great pick. ... The Keylab Essential Mk3 and the Novation Launchkey dominated the budget range 88 key controller market.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/musicproduction › what’s the best budget midi keyboard for making music?
r/musicproduction on Reddit: What’s the best budget midi keyboard for making music?
November 24, 2023 -
It’s just so annoying, coming up with amazing ideas while playing piano, but not being able to properly record them So I’d love to have some type of midi keyboard so I can directly play into BandLab or whatever. I would really appreciate if someone could give me a good BUDGET option. Thanks!
Sunday Sounds
sundaysounds.com › blogs › news › i-bought-the-cheapest-weighted-midi-keyboard-on-amazon-with-built-in-sounds
I Bought the Cheapest Weighted Midi Keyboard on Amazon with built-in s – Sunday Sounds
Something interesting caught my eye while shopping for popular keyboards to try... it was an odd looking find deep in the Amazon search listings... advertising a 'fully-weighted 88 key Midi controller' for only $250.... from a brand I'd never heard of. Was this the greatest hidden gem find of all time...
Sunday Sounds
sundaysounds.com › blogs › news › gear-tutorial-best-affordable-midi-keyboard
Best Budget Midi Keyboard! M-Audio Keystation 88 – Sunday Sounds
"What keyboard should I buy?" is one of the questions I'm asked most often around here! Today, we have a new tutorial to show you one of the best midi keyboards you can buy on a budget.
Gearspace
gearspace.com › home › the forums › music computers › what's the cheapest 88-key midi controller that actually feels like a piano?
What's the cheapest 88-key MIDI controller that actually feels like a Piano? - Gearspace
January 9, 2009 - I bought a Kawai MP 9000 from a guy on ebay for £600, it's a stunning keyboard, the best buy I've made in a long time, they do have a very good reputation, I have seen the MP 8 mkII go for £900 on ebay which is a steal.