Best Master Keyboard for Producers

Hi there and hi Rob,

I just discovered that you were speaking on the promotional video for the new Novation Keyboard Line (MK4) and I was wondering if you could say a few words about the playability of the keyboards?

I'm using a National Instruments Komplete 61 Keyboard (MK2) and I'm not really satisfied with it. The functionality is ok, but I don't like how it reacts to my input. When I compare it with my old Roland XP-50 synthesizer keyboard, it's worse in regards to the playability. So I want to buy a new one in the next couple of months and I was thinking about the Novation or the Arturia.

Can anybody here recommend some good quality keyboards which have a good playability?

Kind Regards

Paddy

Hi Paddy

I believe this is both very subjective and very budget dependent. I'm currently on a StudioLogic SL88 (hammer action) midi controller + an Arturia Minilab3. Very happy with both. However I have considered adding a 49/61 keyboard with semiweighted keys as well (more synth action, which I miss a bit since my old Roland MKB died a while back), so been looking around a bit.

I have not yet been able to try out the Novation.
I didn't really like either of the NI Kontrol A series nor the Arturia Essential series (the budget options).
I did like NI S-series, Arturia Keylab mk3 and Akai mpk series. All solid and very playable imo, but obviously more expensive. The Akai is also ripe for an update, and speaking of that, none of these (nor Novation I believe) have MPE support, and I would think it's only a matter of time before that comes to more midi controllers. Admittedly a bit too advanced for my level right now, but thinking of future proofing

Ableton Push has it, as well as the new Arturia Polybrute and the Expressive E Osmose. I've seen some vid's on MPE, and it looks really cool.

So now I consider just waiting till a good MPE midi controller drops, or buying a used Akai MPK249 (which can be had pretty cheap) to fill the gap in the meantime