M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3 – 88 Key Semi Weighted MIDI Keyboard Controller for Complete Command of Virtual Synthesisers and DAW parameters

Product Information

Many keyboards offer a streamlined DAW to get you set up. These programs, like ProTools First and Ableton Live Lite, provide enough features and controls to get new players on their feet. While professional producers might need a more robust feature set, these basic programs are more than adequate for most users.

It has to be mentioned the fact that this keyboard has weighted hammer-action keys, making it especially preferable for piano players who are into working on synth controllers, and the keys have aftertouch as well. You get 3 built-in touch sensitivity settings (heavy, normal, light), and 120-note polyphone. You also get 3 effects (rever, brilliance, chorus). The only missing feature is a built-in arranger. MIDI keyboards come in various shapes and sizes, with different numbers of keys, additional controls, and features tailored to specific needs and preferences. From compact 25-key models designed for portability to full-sized 88-key controllers with weighted keys for a more realistic piano feel, there’s a MIDI keyboard to suit every musician and producer. With a MIDI controller, you can get the feel of a genuine grand piano and the sound of any virtual instrument. To use one of these weighted MIDI keyboards, you’ll need access to a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for virtual instruments and voicings. On the left of the touch fader, you will find the channel buttons, which make working in the DAW’s mixer more seamless than having to use the mouse. It consists of the Master button (which lets you jump straight to the master channel), Channel left/right, Bank left/right, Mute, Solo, and Rec-enable buttons. Mixing your levels and having control of individual channels is now at your fingertips.The strong and sturdy casing makes it a rugged keyboard, and it is relatively light, weighing in at about 8.5kg, considering the frame into which it is built. The pads have an excellent velocity response, and endless encoders and faders work well for you to get your automation done nicely. For its quality and selection of features, the price you will pay is a good deal.

An optional triple pedal unit supports una corda (soft), true sostenuto, and half-damper sustain behavior, and is hefty enough that your foot won’t be chasing it around the floor. In our opinion, the Fatar-sourced hammer action skews a bit on the heavy side—pianists might consider this a plus—but can be lightened up via the 11 velocity curves. Aftertouch, which is also adjustable, had a wide sweet spot and was responsive to subtle changes in finger pressure. The key tops are textured, the keys sit tightly with no lateral wobble, and we just can’t over-emphasize that this action feels far more expensive than it is. The drum pads feel good enough that MPC purists just might not wrinkle their noses here. These velocity-sensitive and pressure-sensitive (aftertouch) pads give you options to perform drum and percussive elements and trigger-loaded samples within your DAW, giving you more creative freedom. And you are also able to maneuver in the map mode of the keyboard between Analog Lab 2 and DAW functions or the templates made in User mode. In addition, the Pads are color-lit as well, signifying different functions. Additional features include a 3-band EQ and a bank of effects and voices (including chorus, phaser, and tremolo). Make no mistake though – this is an out-and-out performance piano, not a general purpose keyboard. You'll want this if you need the digital piano experience. Behind the keyboard, you will find Pitch/Gate/Mod1/Mod2 outputs (to send control voltages and triggers to a modular synthesis system). In addition, MIDI In/Out (the MIDI input also serves as a MIDI/USB converter for your DAW). Aux 1/2/3 pedal inputs are also found (you can use the Aux inputs with a continuously variable pedal/footswitch to control any assignable MIDI CC number). Expression and Sustain pedal inputs, 9-12V DC power input, USB connection, and CV In.

MIDI Keyboard Controller

This applies to key count as well. If you’ve never played the piano before, 88 keys will confuse you. A smaller 49-key keyboard will be much easier to control. These controls all get smarter when the A-88 is connected to a Roland SuperNatural-based instrument such as the Integra-7 module or Jupiter-50/80 synthesizer, automatically mapping to key parameters on a per-sound basis as well as enabling sound selection directly from the unit. Since many unweighted Roland synths now offer a SuperNatural internal piano sound, the A-88 could be a great addition if you intend to use that sound much.

I’ve often seen beginners buy expensive keyboards only to later realize that they can’t fully utilize them. The MIDI-assignable potentiometer on the left of the keyboard has absolute values from the first point to the last (i.e., it is not endless rotation) and is by default assigned for volume control. In addition, it can be assigned MIDI CC messages, and you have the setup button right beside it. Finally, the push encoder, located more toward the center of the keyboard, is used for note repeat tempo control and Nektarine features.This means that unlike the other entries on this list, the KROME can function as a full-fledged audio production device. A MIDI keyboard is an essential tool for musicians and producers, connecting the digital world of music production to the physical act of playing an instrument. At its core, a MIDI keyboard is an electronic device that allows you to control software synthesizers, samplers, and other virtual instruments within your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or standalone software.

When you press a key, the sound engine springs into action, selecting the right sound based on the velocity and force of your touch.The pitch bend and modulation wheels’ look, feel, and quality are pretty impressive, making articulating the pitch in performances give light to your expressive changes. Of course, you can change the modulation intensity of effects like vibrato or tremolo, but it is also possible to assign these wheels to an array of MIDI messages. +/-buttons, you can assign different functions like a program, CC, and MMC messages. By default, they control octave/transpose up and down functions. Since we first reviewed the S88, NI introduced the NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) protocol, enabling third-party developers to take advantage of the same browsing and parameter-mapping integration. Companies that have signed on include Arturia, u-he, Heavyocity, Spitfire, and XILS, among others.