While MIDI controllers made their first appearance back in the 1980s, it is during the last few years that these have become quite popular.
If you are into music and you want to become a part of the entertainment industry, investing in a proper MIDI keyboard is a great idea.
Lucky for you, as these have spread all across online selling services, you can now find quality MIDI controllers for an affordable price. This is of critical importance if you are a beginner and you are starting on a tight budget.
Still, not every offered MIDI keyboard is worth your attention or money — on the contrary, there are some that stand at a higher price and don’t have the value to back it up.
With this in mind, we decided to make things easy for you and we came up with a list of the best 25-key MIDI controller offers. Let’s go ahead and take a look at what we found.
Comparison Chart
Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII – 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Drum Pads, 8 Assignable Q-Link Knobs and Pro Software Suite Included
Alesis V25 – 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Backlit Pads, 4 Assignable Knobs and Buttons, Professional Software Suite Included
Best 25-Key MIDI Controller Reviews
Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII
If you are joining the music industry and you want to invest in a proper MIDI keyboard that is going to be suitable for studio recording and live performances, the Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII may be just the right choice. Portable and affordable, it is a great choice for any beginner or a more experienced musician.
Review
The Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII is an attractive and compact MIDI keyboard that will cover most of your mixing needs. It comes with 25 velocity-sensitive keys as well as 8 Q-Link knobs and a 4-way thumb stick. All these allow for great control over the full melodic range, and due to the built-in arpeggio, you will be able to change between different modes and adjust according to the needed song.
Not to forget, a very important feature is the TS input that is compatible with a 1/4 inch sustain pedal and can be actively used along with any DAW program. Talking about software, this keyboard comes with a few options. First off, there is the Hybrid 3 which is actually a virtual synthesizer that will allow you to manipulate the sound in high resolution. Along with that, the SONiVOX wobble will give you the opportunity to remove any irregularities and setup LFO controls.
The MPC Essentials comes with a 1GB music library, while the VIP 3.1 offers a great set of virtual instruments that you can use during the editing process. It is a USB keyboard which means that you will not need to invest in an additional audio interface in order to connect it with your Windows (up to 8) or a Mac (up to 10.9) PC. While it is compatible with most of OS, installing the Akai Pro software can get quite tricky and that is why it is essential to carefully follow the instructions.
Along with that, the keyboard is not as sturdy as it could be, and while it may be adequate for those of you that are on the go, you still have to be careful about putting it through any heavy use. Still, this product is a great buy for a first MIDI controller, as it can provide you with good overall performance.
PROS
- checkAffordable
- 8 Q-Link Knobs
- checkTS Input
- checkSONiVox Wobble
- checkHybrid 3
CONS
- Not as sturdy
- Software installation complicated
- Low customer service
Korg nanoKONTROL 2
If you are a fan of buying from trusted brands, you should look no further as this Korg may be the best 25-key MIDI controller for you. The nanoKONTROL2 is a slim and powerful plug-and-play MIDI keyboard that can be great for both touring and recording.
Review
There are a number of cool things about the nanoKONTROL 2, with its low-profile design being a great thing if you are a laptop or a netbook user. While you shouldn’t expect that it will last as long as some of the heavier-duty and sturdier MIDI keyboards would, you can still get great use off it as long as you don’t put it under heavy conditions.
The critical feature of this keyboard is the eight channels that it includes, each of which comes with three buttons, one knob, and one fader, allowing you to achieve control over the full melodic range. What makes using this MIDI controller even easier is the marker points that will allow you to track your recording and continue where you were before a break. It is lightweight and easy to transport which makes it the perfect choice if you are always on the go.
As we mentioned above, it is a USB keyboard which means that it works through the plug-and-play method. The Korg Editor Pro software is quite good for beginners as long as you have a basic knowledge of how to use a MIDI controller. Still, you should know that the keys are quite wobbly and you may need to apply more pressure in order to activate the pads.
Along with that, the keyboard itself doesn’t support Pro Tools 12 and above. Taking everything into consideration, it is a good buy if you are on a tight budget and you don’t want to experiment with unknown brands.
PROS
- checkAffordable
- checkSustain button
- check8 Channels
- checkKorg Editor Pro
- checkLow-profile
CONS
- Not as sturdy as could be
- Wobbly keys, stiff pads
- Doesn’t support Pro Tools 12
Alesis V25 MIDI Controller
While the Alesis brand is quite famous for its 49-key and 61-key MIDIs, their V25 doesn’t lack quality either. We are talking about a sensitive and compact keyboard that comes with a number of innovative and easy to use features.
Review
If you are an experienced music creator, the Alesis V25 has all that you need. Starting off with 25 mid-sized square keys that are sensitive and have great velocity, you will be able to maximize beat production using the 8-backlit pads.
Along with that, this keyboard comes with 4 assignable knobs and buttons, without which you wouldn’t be able to control the full melodic specter (Octave Up and Down). Not to forget, the pitch wheels allow you to add your unique touch to every recording. Compatible with all major DAW programs and coming with Xpand!2 and an Ableton Live Lite 9, you are getting a great mini editor keyboard.
What is great about it is that it supports FL Studio 11 and higher, which is not the case with many of its competitors standing at a similar price range. While the design is quite innovative and compact, the pads and keys are not ideal, and you will need to press a bit harder in order to get the desired effect. Apart from that, the software installation process doesn’t seem that simple. Still, we are looking at a product that stands at great value and shouldn’t be missed.
PROS
- checkAffordable
- check8-backlit pads
- checkTS Input
- checkOctave up and down
- checkXpand!2
CONS
- Stiff pads
- Software installation complicated
- Low customer service
Novation Launchkey USB Keyboard
If you are a fan of the Ableton Live software and you want an efficient way to produce and mix electronic music, investing in the Novation Launchkey 25-Key MIDI is a great option. While it is a bit pricier than the above mentioned MIDI controllers, it is compliant and compact with any highly innovative software and features.
Review
Starting off with the 25-velocity keys, this controller comes with an addition of 16 RGB pads, as well as 8 knobs that will allow you to control and maximize the use of a software like Ableton Live. Apart from this, the Novation Launchkey USB keyboard is compatible with Novation Bass Station and V Station as well which both you can use in order to get the high-resolution sounds.
The keyboard itself is quite compact and simple to use as you don’t need anything apart from a connecting USB cable. It does have a smaller learning curve and InControl mapping which comes in handy if you are a beginner.
Still, while it is somewhat higher priced, this product is not a high-end one which means that you shouldn’t expect it to sustain through a lot of heavy-duty use. The pads are a bit stiff, and the keyboard itself is a bit flimsy. This can be justified as it comes with a 2-year warranty which will cover any built-in defects. Overall, a great buy for any Ableton Live user.
PROS
- checkLightweight and compact
- check16 RGB Pads
- checkHigh velocity
- checkNovation Bass Station
- check2-Year warranty
CONS
- Not as sturdy as hoped
- Pads are a bit stif
IK Multimedia iRig Mini 25-Key MIDI Controller
We can’t do an Amazon review without listing at least one product that seems like an underdog but offers good value. This IK Multimedia 25-key controller is considered one of the best products for a kit to start recording.
Review
The biggest thing about this product is its extremely affordable price and the fact that, while it looks quite simple, it includes 25 velocity-sensitive keys, as well as adjustable knobs that will allow you to use the whole melodic specter. The library that it runs on is SampleTank 3 ST, while a number of free iOS and Android apps are included in the offer.
Much like the previous keyboards, this one doesn’t need anything other than your device in order to run, as it comes with USB and MicroUSB cables. Simple and sleek, it is a great keyboard for a starting band or producer. Coming with a sensitive pad, you can lower or increase the sound for up to two octaves. Still, there are a few things to be aware of. It is quite noisy and doesn’t include aftertouch. Along with that, the product is quite flimsy which is expected given the price point it is standing at, but for a beginner, it is just the right choice.
PROS
- checkAffordable
- check25-Velocity keys
- checkSampleTank 3 ST
- checkFree apps
- checkOctave up and down
CONS
- Not as sturdy
- Noisy
- No aftertouch
Final Verdict
We went through a number of different MIDI controllers and came up with this top 5 list. Out of all, the best 25-Key MIDI controller in our opinion is the nanoKONTROL 2 given its price point, the number of innovative features it comes with, and the fact that it is compatible with most major DAW programs.