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The best 10 keyboard controllers in comparison

Keyboard controllers (1 - 5)

	Novation Impulse 491	Akai Professional MPK 492	Novation SL MkII 253	Novation Impulse 614	Akai Professional MPK 255	M-Audio Axiom Air 616	Akai Professional Max 497	M-Audio Axiom Air 498	Novation SL MkII 619	Novation SL MkII 4910

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	Novation Impulse 49	Akai Professional MPK 49	Novation SL MkII 25	Novation Impulse 61	Akai Professional MPK 25	M-Audio Axiom Air 61	Akai Professional Max 49	M-Audio Axiom Air 49	Novation SL MkII 61	Novation SL MkII 49
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Best price
Best price
Design
Backlit LED buttonsButtons will light up when pressed, resulting in better visibility to users.
Backlit LED buttonsButtons will light up when pressed, resulting in better visibility to users.	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✖	✔	✖	✔	✔
Integrated displayThe device has an electronic display to present information to the user.
Integrated displayThe device has an electronic display to present information to the user.	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Total score for "Design"
Total score for "Design"
Controls & Buttons
Octave buttonsThe octave buttons are used to shift the keyboard up or down in one octave increments. This extends the range of the keyboard in either direction, which lets you play notes that lie outside the number of keys available.
Octave buttonsThe octave buttons are used to shift the keyboard up or down in one octave increments. This extends the range of the keyboard in either direction, which lets you play notes that lie outside the number of keys available.	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Tap tempo controlA feature on some MIDI devices that allows to adjust tempo in real time based on an external input or by “tapping” a button on the device itself. It is used to allow musicians the flexibility of playing at any desired tempo based on their musical input.
Tap tempo controlA feature on some MIDI devices that allows to adjust tempo in real time based on an external input or by “tapping” a button on the device itself. It is used to allow musicians the flexibility of playing at any desired tempo based on their musical input.	✔	✔	✖	✔	✔	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖
Transpose button(s)Transpose buttons are used for moving a collection of notes (pitches or pitch classes) up or down in pitch by a constant interval, usually in semitone increments.
Transpose button(s)Transpose buttons are used for moving a collection of notes (pitches or pitch classes) up or down in pitch by a constant interval, usually in semitone increments.	✔	✖	✖	✔	✖	✔	✖	✔	✖	✖
Arpeggiator functionThe arpeggiator is the main tool used by computer musicians to generate looped material. An arpeggiator is simply a generator of signals that controls the tempo, pitch, velocity, gate, and other parameters of the sound.
Arpeggiator functionThe arpeggiator is the main tool used by computer musicians to generate looped material. An arpeggiator is simply a generator of signals that controls the tempo, pitch, velocity, gate, and other parameters of the sound.	✔	✔	✖	✔	✔	✖	✔	✖	✖	✖
Sound bank selector buttonThe button is used to select independent banks of continuous controllers. Effectively, this allows you to control more independent parameters with the knobs, faders and buttons. The bank selector button is used to switch among the available banks.
Sound bank selector buttonThe button is used to select independent banks of continuous controllers. Effectively, this allows you to control more independent parameters with the knobs, faders and buttons. The bank selector button is used to switch among the available banks.	✖	✔	✔	✖	✔	✔	✔	✔	✖	✖
Total score for "Controls & Buttons"
Total score for "Controls & Buttons"
Keys & Pads
Velocity sensitive keysVelocity sensitive keys are just spring loaded keys that sound out louder the harder you hit them. If you "lightly" press a key, the sound will be quiet; the harder you press, the louder it gets.
Velocity sensitive keysVelocity sensitive keys are just spring loaded keys that sound out louder the harder you hit them. If you "lightly" press a key, the sound will be quiet; the harder you press, the louder it gets.	✔	✖	✔	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✔	✔
Semi-weighted keysSimilar to a weighted action keys, but with less resistance and a slightly springier release, semi-weighted keys are popular with many players. If you don’t need realistic piano response, but also don’t care for spring-loaded synth actions, a semi-weighted keyboard might be ideal for you.
Semi-weighted keysSimilar to a weighted action keys, but with less resistance and a slightly springier release, semi-weighted keys are popular with many players. If you don’t need realistic piano response, but also don’t care for spring-loaded synth actions, a semi-weighted keyboard might be ideal for you.	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✖	✔	✔
Total keysThe amount of keys the controller has on the keyboard.
Total keysThe amount of keys the controller has on the keyboard.	49	49	25	61	25	61	49	49	61	49
Weighted keysFully weighted keys are designed to replicate the response and feel of acoustic piano keys. If you compose a lot of piano-oriented music, the realism of a weighted, hammer-action keyboard might be ideal for you.
Weighted keysFully weighted keys are designed to replicate the response and feel of acoustic piano keys. If you compose a lot of piano-oriented music, the realism of a weighted, hammer-action keyboard might be ideal for you.	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖
Pressure sensitive padsWhen pads respond to the amount of force applied after initial impact they are pressure-sensitive. The pads can be used to drum rhythmic elements of a song or to trigger samples, but can also be used to play notes.
Pressure sensitive padsWhen pads respond to the amount of force applied after initial impact they are pressure-sensitive. The pads can be used to drum rhythmic elements of a song or to trigger samples, but can also be used to play notes.	✔	✔	✖	✖	✔	✔	✖	✔	✖	✖
Total score for "Keys & Pads"
Total score for "Keys & Pads"
Ports
MIDI-Out portThe MIDI-Out port is used for transmitting data.
MIDI-Out portThe MIDI-Out port is used for transmitting data.	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sustain pedal input/connectorWhen pressed, the sustain pedal allows all notes to sound and “vibrate” freely. All notes played will continue to sound until the pedal is released. This is perfect when you need a sturdy and responsive control over sustain.
Sustain pedal input/connectorWhen pressed, the sustain pedal allows all notes to sound and “vibrate” freely. All notes played will continue to sound until the pedal is released. This is perfect when you need a sturdy and responsive control over sustain.	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✖	✔	✖	✔	✔
Input/connector for the expression pedalDedicated expression pedals let you have a hands-free control over your keyboard's volume, vibrato, and more.
Input/connector for the expression pedalDedicated expression pedals let you have a hands-free control over your keyboard's volume, vibrato, and more.	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
MIDI Thru portThe "thru" port, emits a copy of everything received at the input port, allowing data to be forwarded to another instrument in a “daisy chain” arrangement. This allows the user to have more than two MIDI devices connected as a studio.
MIDI Thru portThe "thru" port, emits a copy of everything received at the input port, allowing data to be forwarded to another instrument in a “daisy chain” arrangement. This allows the user to have more than two MIDI devices connected as a studio.	✖	✖	✔	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✔	✔
MIDI input/output portControllers generally talk to your Mac or PC using MIDI over a USB connection, but sometimes it is possible to connect other devices to your controller. This allows you to control and sync various parameters using a traditional five pin DIN cable connection.
MIDI input/output portControllers generally talk to your Mac or PC using MIDI over a USB connection, but sometimes it is possible to connect other devices to your controller. This allows you to control and sync various parameters using a traditional five pin DIN cable connection.	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖
Total score for "Ports"
Total score for "Ports"
Features
MIDI mappingUsers can map, set and regulate the entire midi controller giving different functionalities to all different buttons, knobs and faders. The device could be also set up with different softwares.
MIDI mappingUsers can map, set and regulate the entire midi controller giving different functionalities to all different buttons, knobs and faders. The device could be also set up with different softwares.	✔	✔	✔	✖	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
USB MIDI connectionDevices can communicate in both directions with each other without any additional MIDI interface. The biggest advantage is that the USB connection can be used for everything; power supply, MIDI-in and MIDI-out. This means you need less cables.
USB MIDI connectionDevices can communicate in both directions with each other without any additional MIDI interface. The biggest advantage is that the USB connection can be used for everything; power supply, MIDI-in and MIDI-out. This means you need less cables.	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Automatic-mapping technologyWith automapping technology it is easier to set up your MIDI device and assign all different controls to your software (DAW).
Automatic-mapping technologyWith automapping technology it is easier to set up your MIDI device and assign all different controls to your software (DAW).	✔	✖	✔	✔	✖	✖	✔	✖	✔	✔
Memory locationsMore memory locations allow users to save their preset/setup and have them ready to use again and again.
Memory locationsMore memory locations allow users to save their preset/setup and have them ready to use again and again.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	128	N.A.	128	N.A.	N.A.
Plug and playThe device is set up and ready to be used with the included software.
Plug and playThe device is set up and ready to be used with the included software.	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖
Total score for "Features"
Total score for "Features"

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