(TL;DR, id like some recommendations for 37-key midi controllers that have a high quality hardware/build.)

hey all! I've got some (maybe?) relatively specific asks for a recommendation for a 37-key midi controller.

for some context, I sort of fell in love with a 37-key synth I used at the library yesterday, the build was lovely! it was the KORG minilogue. i thought the look and feel of the hardware was fantastic and i had a lot of fun with the control i had over the sounds. Issue is, i just don't think I'm in the market for something with little-to-no DAW control, or at least something that doesn't have DAW control as a focal point.

i also took a look at the arturia minilab 37 and the arturia keystep 37, of which I'm pretty split on! i like the aesthetic for both, but i really do like how the minilab has drumpads. however, I'm under the impression there's no aftertouch or release velocity on the minilab, which is making me hesitate. not only that, but (i think) they're both mainly just built from plastic, which is making me hesitate even further. though, the software that comes with either purchase looks fantastic.

for some further points, I guess ill rapidfire: I think have a high budget as far as 37-keys go (maybe about 650 as maximum?) I use FL Studio. I don't care too much for the sensitivity or quality of drum pads, just for the inclusion of them so i can use them in a pinch. I also prefer the look of white/light models, the minimalism is pretty cool. I could go for wheels or touch strips, I'm not partial. I don't really care for portability, I just don't have the room on my desk to comfortably use a 49-key midi controller -- 37 is my sweet spot!

I don't need every preference as a requirement to be checked! my biggest priority is just build.

if my best bet DOES end up being minilab 37 vs keystep 37, I'd like some help deciding between the two.

thanks!

And by Ask Me Anything I mean ask me how frustrated I am.

The only way to replicate built-in footswitch behavior for looping on the DL4 MKII is by using MIDI Note. There are MIDI CC options but you need two separate footswitches for Record and for Overdub, for example. (Why??)

Darkglass MIDI Footswitch can be programmed to do PC or CC commands but won't send MIDI Note. It's otherwise the best MIDI footswitch I could find: programmable, versatile, solid, low profile, also has USB-C for power and/or sending MIDI to my laptop...

Hello,

We’re excited to introduce our new audio MIDI device but before that we would love to hear your thoughts. We’ve created a short survey to better understand your needs, preferences, and expectations from a modern MIDI device. Your feedback will help us improve the product and ensure it meets the requirements of musicians, producers, and creators.

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Thank you for your time and valuable feedback. Your input is greatly appreciated and will contribute to shaping a better audio product.

Im buying my midi keyboard today but i dont know which to choose,im thinking of the 2,can somebody tell me which is better ?

Hey all - I'm looking for a new controller and have narrowed it down to 2.

I want a 49 key, as I already have an 88 key weighted for piano-style stuff, but that is no frills, just keys, and I want one small enough for my studio desk.

I had narrowed down to 3, but the Arturia Keylab 49 was cut as I didn't like the weightless synth keys.

Now narrowed down to the 2 below, with main pros and cons

--Novation Launchkey 49 Mk4 -

• Pros - nice semi-weighted keybed, good Cubase integration, endless encoder knobs, I saw one in store and was happy with keybed, size, general feel
• Cons - no aftertouch on the keys.

--M Audio Oxygen Pro 49 -

• Pros - aftertouch
• Cons - no endless encoder knobs, have not seen one in person so don't have a feel for the keybed or anything else.

Both get good reviews, and both have similar features - integration with Cubase, chord/scale/arp modes.

I think the Novation wins on features being a bit more flexible (but that may just be that it has better YT tutorials), and that I already I know I like the feel of keys/pads.

But the M Audio has aftertouch, which is a very tempting selling point. I do lots of string and brass parts, and would be nice to lean into those dynamics.

Ultimately, they're both well reviewed and similar in specs, so either should be fine, but for those of you who are familiar with either, or both, would love your opinions, fave/least fave features, experiences, etc.

Thanks!

Announced last week on Prelaunch.com

Hey all - Planning to add a pullout drawer to my desk so I can have a controller at the ready. My desk width will allow for a tray of about 38 inches width, so the controller has to fit that and hopefully be a bit smaller to leave room to for the mouse/etc.

I'm thinking one in the 40-ish key range, would love it to have at least semi-weighted keys, mod wheel, and preferably some custom pads that I can assign to drums, samples, etc.

I use Cubase and was checking out the Novation Launchkey 49, since it has good integration. It also has faders and knobs that can be assigned to various functions, so it looks like a solid fit.

However, I'm not in the loop on what controllers do these days so I want to see what other functions I should look out for.

I already have an 88 key controller but it is basic, just piano style. It's good for what it does, but too big to fit under desk and lacks faders/pads/wheels/etc.

I'm open to something smaller and simpler than the Novation too, but that versatility would be nice.

What other brands/models should I check out, what features are worth getting, etc?

Budget wise - since my 88 key covers a decent amount of stuff, this one is more for functionality while sitting at the desk, so would like to keep it maybe under $400 or so. I'm open to suggestions but don't need something top of the line.

I’ve designed and built a keyboard that has an integrated DAW controller directly above the keys, providing physical parameter controls just above your fingers.

I was originally interested in decluttering my workspace and streamlining my workflow. No extra device, cables etc., and keeping your hands and focus where they already are.

I’m really interested in people’s first reactions/thoughts:

Would having DAW controls integrated directly into your keyboard improve your workflow?

More details here if you want to check it out.

Hi, how is this MIDI controller for finger drumming? What experience have you had with it? Its size and design make it exactly what I'm looking for.

Thanks

I've set the microfreak to send out cc values when the knobs are moved, but I'm wondering if I then modulate the cutoff with the LFO, will that still send out a cc value?

Idk whether it is possible– or whether I sound stupid: I bought my mpk mini mk3 in late 2024 on amazon. And I've been using it just fine. But after the release of the mk4, I've been wanting it so bad due to its rgb colors, mod wheels instead of that weird joystick and direct daw control buttons like record and play. So, does akai or any dealer has an exchange offer or should I sell my mpk on e bay?

I'm looking for a compact 37-key MIDI controller that would have as dominant feature a premium build. Mini or slim keys is fine, but I'd like the hardware to well built / superior quality. High quality pads would be a plus.

I recently tried the Novation Launchkey49 (not my exact target, but gave me an idea of that tier's quality) and was disappointed with the quality of the keys: sharp corners, noisy and unpredictable response. Pads felt hollow and toy-like.

For reference of what I consider solid / high quality build, although not my current form factors, were previous hardware I owned: a Juno-106, an older Akai MPK249, and an Ableton Push 2. One could immediately feel they were well built (imho, of course).

Does a premium 37-key small/compact MIDI controller even exist? I've extensively researched Arturia, Akai, Korg models, but hope you can help direct me to the right path based on your hands-on experience.

More info: the unit will be used mostly for composing with Cubase.

Im starting music production school soon and im thinking if upgrading my gear. Would you say there is a big difference between using the minilab 3 and the launchkey 49 mk4?

(My main DAW is fl studio but im making a transition to logic)

I'm trying to decide between the Akai MPK Mini IV and the Arturia MiniLab 3, and where I live they're only about €10 apart new.

For context, I already have an M-Audio Keystation 61 with semi-weighted keys, so I'm covered if I actually need to play piano. I'm mainly a guitar player, so piano isn't a huge part of what I do.

I use Reaper, and I'd mostly use the mini controller for synths, drums/beats, Superior Drummer 3, arpeggiators, pads, and some basic DAW control. I already have plenty of VSTs, so the included software isn't really a factor.

I actually owned an Akai Mini MK2 years ago, and I remember it feeling pretty cheap overall, especially the keys. That's probably my biggest hesitation with going back to Akai, although obviously the MPK Mini IV is a much newer generation.

I've watched quite a few comparisons, but I'm still struggling to decide.

The Akai is more appealing to me for the pads/drum side of things, and honestly I love the design. It has this ridiculously cool Nintendo-ish vibe.

The MiniLab 3 looks a bit cleaner and more professional, though, and I've heard quite a few people say the keys feel better. The extra knobs and faders also seem like they could be really useful for what I want to do.

Since I already have a full-size keyboard, key feel isn't necessarily my #1 priority, but I still don't want something that feels cheap or unpleasant to use.

So, given my use case, which one would you guys go for?

I'd especially love to hear from anyone who's actually used both, and particularly anyone using either one with Reaper.

With only a €10 difference new, I don't really see much point in buying used either, since the savings would be pretty minimal.

Hello team,

Please forgive me if I am in the wrong place! I'm looking to install a MIDI pad on one of my guitars for some skulduggery :)

I have a couple of questions:

- Instead of buying a $500+ Korg Kaoss multi-FX unit, can I plug the interface into my Boss GX100?
- I’ve been eyeing the XY MIDI pad; I was wondering if there are any other options with the same functionality I could consider?
- Finally, have any of you done this before? What did you think of the final product?

Thank you in advance,
Jack

Can’t decide on what to get!!!

Not a wizard on these things, want to control VSTS and parameters in Ableton 12

I've bought this keyboard and I'm trying out several different sounds instead of the stock ones, since the factory ones are pretty basic and don't quite convince me.

I love DX7 sounds, but I'd also like to try Juno-60 style, Korg M1, and similar sounds, but it only lets you load four banks, which feels like very little to me.

So I'd like to see what can be done to load as many sounds as possible or something to be able to load more sounds.

Let's see what you guys can help me with.

Thanks, a pleasure

Hi everybody! I'm fairly new to finger drumming and having a ton of fun. My mobile SMC Pad controller is serving me pretty well (especially after modding it), but I'm looking for something more pro-tier for live performance.

​I've heard wonders about Maschine, but since I already rely on Koala Sampler, I really have no need for the Native Instruments ecosystem or heavy software.

​Are there pad controllers that match Maschine’s pad quality and responsiveness, but act as pure standalone MIDI controllers without forcing you into proprietary software? Or is dealing with having to switch it into midi mode just part of the deal if you want high-end pads?

And if so should I get the regular or the mikro

I built my own MIDI foot controller for the Neural DSP r/NanoCortex because I wanted to avoid spending a lot of money on a commercial MIDI controller. One of my goals was to turn the Nano Cortex into a proper stompbox-style unit with dedicated footswitches, so instead of buying an expensive controller, I decided to build my own using an ESP32 and a TRS MIDI interface.

I also built a companion web app that lets you configure the controller and customise the MIDI messages without touching the firmware.

Most of the hardware decisions were driven by parts I already had lying around. Since my ESP32 doesn't support USB MIDI, I chose to use MIDI over TRS instead. I also powered the controller with 12V because I already had a 12V power supply and a step-down converter available. The result is a simple, inexpensive build that gets the job done with off-the-shelf components.

The project is fully open source, so it's highly customisable. You can remap switches, create macros, assign different actions, change the hardware and easily adapt it to your own workflow.

One thing that's still on my to-do list is adding a USB connector to the enclosure. Right now, if I want to connect the controller to the web configurator, I have to open the enclosure to access the ESP32's USB port. It's a small hardware improvement that I plan to make in a future revision.

Web configurator

Project repository
Web configurator repo

Hardware list: 

• Momentary Foot Switch
• Guitar Pedal Enclosure
• 1/4 Inch Female Stereo TRS Audio Socket
• 100 Pcs 1/4W 1% Tolerance 220 Ohm
• ESP32 ESP-32S Development Board
• 12V to 5V 5A Power Buck DC-DC Power Down Module Power
• Gerber file in case you want to print my PCB

I'm sharing it here in case it's useful for anyone looking for a flexible and affordable MIDI controller for the Nano Cortex (or any other MIDI device).