When you are using Ableton, time does not flow from right to left, but instead, snippets of audio are inserted into each column. This may be a deciding factor because some keyboards come jam-packed with software that can justify a higher price-tag despite being a lower-quality MIDI keyboard, and vice-versa. While there is a wide range of Digital Audio Workstations on the market to help you create music, there are MIDI controllers that are created for Ableton specifically. Great value for the money invested The software includes Ableton Live Lite (in case you don’t have it yet? With a free-flowing session, you can add and remove sounds as you will. This allows you instant control of panning, track volumes, sends and other volumes. With the hundreds of MIDI drum controllers on the market today, finding one that works best for Ableton can be a huge pain.. Integrates with Ableton Live and other software with ease It has expanded arpeggiator and a built-in step sequencer. Ableton Live has opened up a great avenue of music-making possibilities. Usually if we’re asked by some of our readers about a software and gear combination, we’ll typically say “most will be fine, considering nowadays all gear is compatible with pretty much every software out there in this day and age”. Live. These days Midi is transmitted via USB in most modern controllers. The dimensions of the product are 5 x 3.5 x 10.6 inches. Some musicians or composers may need more than a traditional midi controller. Polyphonic allows you to vary parameters on each note independently. Best Abelton Midi Controller 2020  – Novation Launchkey 25. Aftertouch is found only on high-end controllers. This high-tech keyboard comes with 61 velocity-sensitive keys. Ableton Push 2 Best Midi Pad Controller Built By Ableton Live. I was tired of reading misleading content on musical gear from clueless ‘professional writers’. 2020 Winner! When you are mixing on your midi controller, the unit allows you to apply clips ads one-time shots or loop them continually. One thing is for certain, having access to a keyboard will allow you to compose complex tracks. Along with the keys are also 16 RGB pads, eight control knobs, a dedicated navigation section, and multiple other control buttons. The pads will change illumination based on the modes and this lets you play notes easily even when the notes do not have keys on them. But there is a problem, Midi Controller brands are rising, making it a challenge for people to choose the best. With RGB pads, you will find it easy to manage your music making. You can really leverage the power of Ableton lives software, sounds, and workflow, when you invest in a purpose, made a midi controller, for this unique DAW. Integrates with Ableton Live seamlessly This is the MKII iteration of the first dedicated midi controller developed for Ableton Live. This means that the clips of Audio will play in time with each other, allowing you to get creative with sounds that were previously unmixable. It is preferred over a usual keyboard as it helps you to evolve new ideas for creating harmonic and melodious tunes. What steer some away are the size of the keys, but again it’s a pretty portable controller and can still get some decent playing on it. The onboard pitch and modulation wheel is provided for expressive and vibrant performances. The conventional controllers are offered with 8 or more performance pads that allow you to trigger loops and play drums. This is definitely the better buy here if you want a great combination of both a MIDI keyboard that’s full-sized with a beautiful build, and also some great control and ‘mapping’ of Ableton all into one device. Filed Under: Guides Tagged With: Ableton, guide, MIDI controller, About Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us, The Best Audio Interfaces for an Under $300 Budget, The Best MIDI Keyboards with Fully-Weighted Keys, The Best Audio Interface for Mac OS Computers. The Akai APC40 MK2 gives you great control of your Ableton Live so you do not have to keep using the mouse, which can waste time. However, this unit misses the step sequencer in Ableton Push. There are controllers that even sense aftertouch. CV and Gate outputs give you the ability to modulate classic synth gear. This lets you change modes quickly and switch the layout of the controller. The K8 is the biggest of the range and offers a lot for the money. A MIDI keyboard is just like an electronic musical keyboard, it is used to control and carry sound on other devices. Ableton Live has opened up a great avenue of music-making possibilities. But there are more Ableton controllers out there than ever before. Buy on Amazon You’ll most likely end up using Ableton to trigger clips, mix live, and sequence different patterns, especially if you’re making electronic music. You will need a few bucks to upgrade to the full Ableton Live version. You might need a controller that uses other DAWs, but there are low chances of the Ableton Live failing. It acts somewhat as a drum machine and you can see countless videos of APC players online — it’s amazing for both live or even studio use if you want to record real time, or even just jam with friends. The Alesis V25 is another USB MIDI keyboard controller. This website is an Amazon Associates program participant. Up first as the best Ableton MIDI keyboard was the obvious choice due to the fact that Akai literally created this just for Ableton (we suppose it could work for other DAW, but not as perfectly here). The Novation Launchpad X is an upgrade over the original Launchpad, which was an Ableton Live-ready controller. When it comes to writing guides for specific software and certain music equipment, there are always a few details to keep in mind when decided why it’s best “for” a certain software. The accessory bundle includes 5 MIDI Cable, Fibertique cloth and a switch-type universal keyboard with a sustain pedal. This makes Ableton ideal for use when creating music from scratch in your studio. The controller also features eight channel faders and an equal number of device controls. You aren’t getting any type of controls here but to be honest, we and many of ourselves sometimes just aren’t in the mood to have a toy that’s fun to push buttons and really just want one thing — to play on some keys! Clip launching and beat production is done with 8 pressure and velocity-sensitive backlit pads. Pads are good as they let you control your Midi with ease. Aside from the important Ableton controls, this keyboard also has a few extra additives, such as 32 (yes mini once again) synth-action keys, 8 assignable drum pads (with two banks), 8 knobs, 3 transport controls, 5 navigation buttons, and some software (Ignite Music Software and VIP 3.0). Because Native Instruments has its own audio software, Guitar Rig, the company knows a thing or two about making high-quality controllers. There’s also support for a sustain pedal, but it is not included in the base package. All the controllers are fully programmable making it easy to operate. What’s really nice here, and unexpected at this price range, is the recognition of pressure and velocity. This is our recommendation for the best midi keyboard for Ableton. You might also have seen them leaning into a key deeper for an aftertouch event. Controls The RGB lighting is on point and everything is configured to match the color of the pads in your Live Session view. Versatile can be used with other DAWs The Axiom AIR Mini 32 nice pick as the best Ableton MIDI keyboard if you weren’t feeling the APC Key 25, wanted some more keys or more full-sized drum pads. There are controllers that are designed with auto-mapping technology that makes the knobs and faders correspond to your Ableton Live. Aside from key count and make, keep in mind the extra ‘controls’ you absolutely need. Novation Launchkey 25 | Complete Review It’s one of the most widely recognized music software in the business, and countless musicians we both know and larger ones we’ve read about use Ableton (Tame Impala, Flume, Skrillex, Calvin Harris to name a few). Add to that the fact that it’s also among the cheapest controllers and it should become obvious why it is also considered one of the best midi controllers for Ableton. This definitely will help you create realistic drums in your tracks and minimize the amount of editing and mixing that you have to do post recording. A home studio without a MIDI keyboard controller is empty to us, especially if you’re using one of the best DAW out there in Ableton Live. However, depending on what you’re looking for, with Ableton Live it’s a completely different beast (when it comes to actual controllers at least, not just keyboards). I/O Options You can see which clips are playing and which are on standby. This will have up to 88 keys. However, most basic controllers do not offer a continuous controller pedal. This way, you do not spend all of your time in the studio learning the ultra-technical side of electronic music production. The Keystation is one of our favorite picks for any DAW, any type of musician or really any keyboard player who wants a simple yet effect MIDI keyboard solution. Ultimate Buyers Guide 64 launch pads, allowing you great control This lets you manage your music making. Compared to other units on the market, the Launchpad Pro is relatively cheap. Aftertouch The Push 2 is ready to plug and play out of the box with Ableton Live 10. If you want to get a little more expensive, you can look into fully-weighted MIDI keyboards, which are extremely nice and mimic pianos keys. The product has inbuilt software for MAC and PC. If you’re familiar with the software then you already know what you need from a MIDI controller. With all these options, you have enough hands-on control to speed up your production time and express your creativity. However, at a minimum, having an ASIO driver on your system is recommended if you want to avoid delays. The full melodic range is achieved with octave up and down buttons. The Keylab Essential is a fine pick as the best MIDI keyboard for Ableton if you’re fine without that many controls. It is a feature that you might not notice missing from your controller until you use a controller that has it. The dimensions of the product are 9.6 x 32 x 3.7 inches. A MIDI controller will make all the difference in the world with any DAW software. Aftertouch is found only on high-end controllers. This is a USB keyboard controller that’s compatible with Ableton Live, among other software sequencers. This is an upgrade of the original APC40. For one, we have options in regards to key counts (49, 61 and 88), rotary knobs and faders, a DAW command center (transport controls yet again and yes they will work well with Ableton), 8 multi-purpose pads (assignable), an LCD display and more. There are controllers that are designed with auto-mapping technology that makes the knobs and faders correspond to your Ableton Live. The Daw is efficiently controlled with the help of transport buttons. | Please note that there may be affiliate links on this page. No keys Some musicians and music producers prefer built-in keyboards while others don’t. 7 Best Portable CD Player: Way To A Music Lover’s Heart. So I created Music Oomph together with my bandmates to help fellow music enthusiasts make the right choice when it comes to buying musical gear. It’s not, this a great choice for those who are looking for a unit to integrate with Ableton Live, use in the studio or on the go and still save a few bucks during its purchase. Ableton Live controllers are pieces of equipment that are integrated with the Ableton Live software. Some of our other favorite highlights of this one include a clip-launch matrix with tri-color displays, assignable knobs to map into Ableton (control of volume, sends, and more), octave up, down and sustain buttons, and of course, some decent synth-action keys (25 to be exact, they are however ‘mini’ and not full-sized but are still very playable in my opinion). We know a lot of people use Ableton for live use so if that’s what you fancy, be our guest. However, most basic controllers do not offer a continuous controller pedal. It’s essentially a Live Session View for the controller. If you need a hardware mixer that is integrated with Ableton Live, the MIDImix from … The product includes Ableton music software for the right music. The dimensions of the product are 1 x 13 x 3.2 inches. If you plan to use your controller on the go, much as you need a full sized keyboard, a compact controller will come handy. What’s also nice is that all the buttons are configurable. Whichever way you look at it, a midi controller is essential if you plan on using any DAW software as a hobby or for a living. Besides using it with Ableton Live, this unit can be used with other DAWs, making it flexible and versatile. The pads are not velocity-sensitive, but the unit still operates optimally when you are mixing sounds. However, a horde of pads will take up more space on your controller. To play the audio, just launch the clip and let Ableton do the hard work of time stretching to suit the bpm. CV and Gate outputs give you the ability to modulate classic synth gear. Performance Pads Pads are good as they let you control your Midi with ease. The built-in display gives an accurate display of what’s happening by showing various readouts like reverb, delay, FX, synths, modes, etc. Is Abelton The Best DAW For Beginners? The dimensions of the product are 5 x 14.2 x 5.1 inches. Pros A home studio without a MIDI keyboard controller is empty to us, especially if you’re using one of the best DAW out there in Ableton Live. The missing piece of the puzzle is the right MIDI controller to get the most out of Live’s functions for stage right down to the home studio. A guitar player, songwriter, composer, and also the lead editor of MusicOomph, Gavin is one of the four musician friends behind this site. Clip launching and beat production is done with 8 velocity-sensitive trigger pads. Expressive and creative control is delivered by pitch and modulation wheels. It comes with a built-in arpeggiator having adjustable range, resolution and modes. An expression pedal lets you modulate different parameters in real time and you do not have to take your hands off your keys. It has Akai Connect software which automatically tunes in to VSR instruments and plugins. Akai MIDImix. With each pad being assigned a unique clip slot from your Live Session view, the Launchpad X has a very light learning curve to it. Besides using it with Ableton Live, this unit can be used with other DAWs, making it flexible and versatile. This lets you change modes quickly and switch the layout of the controller. Teacher of gear, guides and reviews on music equipment. The dimensions of the product are 8 x 7.1 x 12.5 inches. With the Push 2, you can take full control of multiple tracks and do simultaneous editing, looping, and monitoring without having to remap the pad grid. Not only that, but it can also help speed up composition, mixing, and mastering times. Whether that’s the case for you or you simply don’t like the feel of a traditional controller, you may be in luck with the Novation Launchkey. A MIDI keyboard is highly popular in the present era since it can perform multiple functions with an amazing audio interface. This includes controlling the Ableton Live DAW directly from your controller. Offered with 50 controls, letting you manage every process of the music making The pads will change illumination based on the modes and this lets you play notes easily even when the notes do not have keys on them. The Nekkst K8 sound could be described as natural. With the LaunchKey, playing clips in Ableton Live session is easy. Polyphonic allows you to vary parameters on each note independently. It will give you all the desired benefits required for a successful music session. Even more so when it comes to Ableton Live. This is our go-to when we start to explain to people what faders, knobs and buttons are and start to see them seem confused. The conventional controllers are offered with 8 or more performance pads that allow you to trigger loops and play drums. With any MIDI keyboard guide, we like to ask what your budget is. We’ll tell what’s in each of these models so you can decide for yourself. This keyboard comes with a compact design and hence is highly portable. If you have enough space and you want to play with both hands or you want to do keyboard splits, consider a full-size keyboard. They do borrow about half of those ‘Ableton buttons’ and stick them at the top of this one, and you can use those for pretty much any type of control with Ableton. This makes the buttons more distinctive and easier to spot. The keyboard has 4 amazing touch faders giving hands-on expressiveness. This lets you manage your music making. We earn from qualifying sales made through our website on Amazon.com. Last but not least we have to recommend something a bit minimal for those who literally just want a MIDI keyboard to play some sounds with. The newest contender, Behringer, has become a serious player in the budget studio monitor category since launching the Nekkst series. With that being said, let’s focus on our topic today — keys. If you’re in the market for a MIDI keyboard either to upgrade to a new one or buy your first keyboard altogether, you’ve come to the right place. 1 The best MIDI keyboard for Ableton them are listed below. You might also have seen them leaning into a key deeper for an aftertouch event. It comes with 64 assignable pads along with buttons and faders. The dimensions of the product are 8 x 8.5 x 6 inches. Using the unit with Ableton Live for the first time is challenging It comes with 49 full-sized keys which are velocity-sensitive and have synth action. This midi controller looks a lot like a mixer with an 8x8 grid and an additional 8-pad row. Alas, for most Ableton users, the synth-action keys seem to take precedent. You can use that to switch to the Ableton Live template where you can then launch clips, play notes, modify effects, and control the output level among many more features. It does have those transport controls for at least a little more of a workflow in Ableton but you’re not getting as crazy as the APC Key or Axiom AIR. Virtual instruments can be easily manipulated with 9 assignable faders and 8 assignable knobs. The price will start to really get higher if you go for a higher key count, as well as the actual material the keys are “made” of. To play the audio, just launch the clip and let Ableton do the hard work of time stretching to suit the bpm. I also noticed the multi-colored pads on the MKII. 6 Best Ableton Controllers & MIDI Keyboards, One-to-one correspondence in Live Session. Next we start getting into MIDI keyboards that aren’t necessarily “created for Ableton”, but still have features that are particular to Ableton-only hence the inclusion of them into this guide. The unit comes with 64 RGB backlit velocity sensitive pads. This way, you do not spend all of your time in the studio learning the ultra-technical side of electronic music production. Lastly, software packages are definitely a staple point of music equipment nowadays. Read more. This unit is easy to pair with a MIDI keyboard to give you better control. When integrated with Ableton Live, the unit becomes more than a USB controller keyboard. Multi-track step-sequencing is one of the things the MASCHINE JAM excels at. The dimensions of the product are 8 x 17.5 x 9.5 inches. Let’s first chat Launchkey and Ableton control — it automatically can assign the faders, knobs, pads and buttons to help with live sessions, such as clip launching, device tweaking and other mixing controls in both Arrangement as well as Session views. The current controller setting could be transported with the help of a snapshot function. While there are some controllers designed for use specifically with Ableton Live, some are designed to also use other DAWs. It sports 64 pressure and velocity-sensitive multi-color pads. You will hardly come across a Midi controller that does not offer a pedal jack. Ableton Push 2. This was created with the original Ableton DAW. Instead of rows, the session uses columns. It is relatively expensive to have aftertouch in Midi control, and as such, it is advisable to take full advantage of this feature. Ableton Live – Truly Made for Live Performances If You Have the Means to Control It. 5. The keyboard delivers its maximum periodic range with octave up and down buttons and 25 velocity-sensitive keys. With the 5x8 clip-launch grid, it’s easy to track up to eight tracks in Ableton Live. The product includes 4 fader banks and 4 pad banks. Buy on Amazon Aftertouch is offered in two forms; monophonic and polyphonic. This is one of our favorite MIDI keyboard controllers in general, so when we get asked for recommendations regardless of DAW, this is going to be in the list. You can still pair some controllers with a regular-sized keyboard or pair the keyboard with your Ableton software while also having the controller next to it. Look out for sounds, FX or even other DAW (mostly trials). Instead of rows, the session uses columns. Arturia makes high-quality builds so this isn’t a cheap MIDI keyboard for Ableton at all. This unit is comparatively small in size, making it easy to carry around. The Advanced Waveguide Technologyprovides a generously wide sweet-spot. This is a great feature for beginners to have. The highs are articulated, middle frequencies offer good clarity for vocals and instruments, and the bass is definitely there, but lacking a bit of the punch of a typical 8” speaker. This is technology that can map out a lot of the common controls straight into some of the most popular music software, and in Ableton, we get controls such as volume, pan, virtual instrument/effect parameters, dedicated transport controls (hands-on to playback and recording controls as well as track navigation). The best MIDI keyboard for Ableton is all you need for an above the world experience. However, if portability is key for you, choose a compact 25-key controller. This makes Ableton ideal for use when creating music from scratch in your studio. The Smart Strips functionality will allow you to use both hands more efficiently on complex tracks. However, a horde of pads will take up more space on your controller. This is a handcrafted unit that allows you to make music in your studio and on the go. 1. An expression pedal lets you modulate different parameters in real time and you do not have to take your hands off your keys. Novation Launchpad Pro | Complete Review With all these options, you have enough hands-on control to speed up your production time and express your creativity. Just the keys are fine. The keyboard has an ultra-compact design which is robust and powered by USB. It does a great job of editing samples and it has great responsiveness even in complex workflows. This will have up to 88 keys. The pad’s feedback is highly responsive when it comes to color coding and showing the correct clip status. So let’s review what we think the best midi controllers are for your Ableton Live based productions to increase workflow, make a quick track on the fly and using Ableton as an instrument and not just a piece of software. Here are my two cents on the best Ableton controllers and why these models can outclass most of their competition. You can really leverage the power of Ableton lives software, sounds, and workflow, when you invest in a purpose, made a midi controller, for this unique DAW. It comes with 49 full-sized velocity keys having square front, ideal for playing virtual instruments. If you’re familiar with the software then you already know what you need from a MIDI controller. Some would argue that having a controller that’s already been premapped for Ableton Live makes using the program too convenient to pass up. There are controllers that even sense aftertouch. Cons The premapped pads and buttons make it a lot easier to follow your work in Live Session mode. There are various MIDI keyboards for Ableton available. The keyboard has 16 RGB pads that are velocity-sensitive. We personally appreciate putting some samples, sounds or even stabs so you can get to playing those triggers. Velocity sensing pads are becoming common. The high-tech 4-way thumbstick provides modulation and dynamic pitch control. You can use this unit to trigger loops and play drums. It is a handy feature for musicians who need to add expressiveness to their music. Since it was designed, Ableton has stood out from the competition.It is the session view that makes it unique. Arturia’s original KeyLab is a beast but this particular model takes away some of the extra features and gives us more of a raw MIDI keyboard with only the ‘essential’ features (hence the name). The Nekkst K8 features 8” woofer and 1” silk-dome tweeter, enabling the speaker to provide a frequency response between 40Hz-20kHz. We recently wrote up our KeyLab Essential review and have begun to really love recommending this to readers for a few reasons. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy using certain links on our website! ), Hybrid 3 by AIR, SONiVOX Twist, and ‘Toolroom’ artist packs. The best MIDI keyboard for Ableton is what a true music geek desires. Abelton Controllers The above mentioned best midi keyboard for Ableton comes with the best customer reviews and an extended guarantee. Most majority (and affordable) MIDI keyboards have something called “synth-action keys” which are a higher-grade plastic that are a bit “springy” that are similar to synthesizers. Midi controllers are quickly rising to become one of the most important parts of making music. Velocity sensing pads are becoming common. 2020 Winner! You will hardly come across a Midi controller that does not offer a pedal jack. If you have enough space and you want to play with both hands or you want to do keyboard splits, consider a full-size keyboard. Knobs, sliders and modulation wheels allow you an authentic classic feel. The functionality is impressive, even though it’s not a pure Ableton Live controller. This means that the clips of Audio will play in time with each other, allowing you to get creative with sounds that were previously unmixable. When integrated with Ableton Live, the unit becomes more than a USB controller keyboard. It becomes a powerful unit that allows you to have more hands-on control of your keyboard and your Ableton DAW. The Launchpad X now features velocity-sensitive pads, meaning that they respond to the amount of applied pressure, which was previously missing. With a free-flowing session, you can add and remove sounds as you will. Unfortunately, there’s no right or wrong answer here. This is their ‘key’ version of the APC Controllers they’ve created in partner with Ableton (you can check out their other APC controllers; however, none of the rest have keys but have many more Ableton-only buttons and features along with it). At first glance, the Launchpad Pro looks basic. It brings 5000 of the synth sounds with Ableton Live Lite, Analog Lab Software and UVI Plan Model D. It has MCU and HI protocols to control your DAW software on any platform. However, there are advanced units that offer more connection options such as jacks that make your music-making easy. You might have no problem using the black and white pads on your keyboard, but some people do not like them. Pros This is a handcrafted unit that allows you to make music in your studio and on the go. Ableton allows producers to do what they love most, create amazing music and experimental sounds. When performing live however, that’s a different story. It comes with 4 assignable button interface and 4 assignable knobs for music software. Budget Alternative Midi Pad Controller The keyboard can be split or layered for creating awesome sounds. Its 8x8 grid is nothing you haven’t seen before. Keyboards can span across from 200$ all the way up to the thousands. It has 8 backlit MPC style pads which are velocity-sensitive. It’s just a bit more expensive than the previous two Mini picks, however the options at different key sizes is great to tailor based on your needs (both style with a keyboard and of course, financially). It sports 16 dual-color backlit launch pads, all which are velocity sensitive, allowing you easy control. It is a feature that you might not notice missing from your controller until you use a controller that has it. With the LaunchKey, playing clips in Ableton Live session is easy.