MIDI Keyboards and Controllers

Generally, the category of "MIDI instruments" encompasses both keyboards and controllers, the latter differing from the former as they lack the traditional keys of musical keyboards, instead featuring knobs, sliders, or buttons. A MIDI keyboard is essentially a "blank" musical keyboard, devoid of sounds, which transmits commands directly to a PC using the MIDI protocol and connects via USB or firewire output. Essentially, the sound is processed and produced through software within the PC that receives the command from the controller or keyboard, as if the sound were housed within this particular type of musical keyboard.

Depending on a musician's specific needs, one might opt for a MIDI keyboard purely for playing the keyboard as if it were the simplest of musical keyboards, or one might wish to utilise additional functions. Based on these needs, it makes sense to choose a MIDI keyboard that has, in the first instance a high number of keys (5 octaves, minimum 61 keys), in the second instance perhaps a smaller number of keys but some additional controls implemented on it.

As for MIDI controllers, those without keys but with a variety of different commands (pads, knobs, faders, etc.), they offer a much broader range of functions and are ideal for playing a variety of instruments live thanks to the almost unlimited number of possible mappings, some of which come with dedicated software designed for the specific controller (if the manufacturer has designed the controller to be used with specific software).

MIDI keyboards and controllers on offer

Online, and particularly on the website of the largest online musical instrument store Musical Store 2005, the range of MIDI keyboards and controllers is quite extensive, and can cater to most technical-artistic and economic needs.

In our musical instrument store, within the section of MIDI keyboards and controllers, you will find many well-known brands including: Akai, Korg, and Roland MIDI musical keyboards and controllers.

MIDI and USB keyboards and controllers are essential for using sound generation modules or computers with dedicated music software. For instance, the software GarageBand, included with the Apple operating system, enables you to use and modify sounds and instruments within it and record your own tracks. Clearly, to do this in the best way, it's necessary to have an instrument like a USB keyboard, which doesn't have its own sounds, but allows you to control the sounds of the software as if it were a single instrument.

Simply connect it and immediately, depending on the software and the sounds you use, your USB keyboard will be capable of producing incredible sounds.

In this category, controllers such as the launchpad are often included, which are widely used by DJs who use PC programs like Ableton Live and create music by mixing sounds and sequences in real time.