The Shift key will also let you dictate what the RGB pads represent, which is particularly useful in Ableton Live’s Clip View. By holding Shift and adjusting controls on the Launchkey Mini, you’ll notice that you have control over these modes with arpeggio timings, swing and key. These modes let you trigger multiple notes simultaneously, either as a user-defined chord structure or as an arpeggio that can be held infinitely. The Arp and Fixed Chords mode are a blessing, too, letting you get a bit more experimental than you would expect to get with 25 keys.

Combine this with the transport controls and modulation and pitch Touch Strips, and you’ll realise that getting hands-on with your DAW and plug-ins is pretty swift with Launchkey Mini. It’s built with 16 RGB velocity-sensitive pads, eight assignable knobs and 25 velocity-sensitive mini keys. The third iteration of Novation’s Launchkey Mini series is primed for Ableton Live, but can easily be mapped to other DAWs.

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A49.

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32.

The 15 best MIDI keyboard controllers under $300 at a glance

READ MORE: Best freeware for music-making: Top free apps, DAWs, plug-ins, instruments and moreĬovering all your needs from portable keyboards for mobile production to a MIDI powerhouse for a compact studio, here are our favourite MIDI keyboards for under $300.Although all of the controllers on this list have a keyboard at their heart, many also offer assignable pads, knobs and sliders in abundance with an appealing price tag. Fortunately, you can get some affordable MIDI keyboard controllers that will give you more than just some extra notes. Sure, all you need to make music now is a laptop and a DAW, but there may come a time when keys ‘A’ through to ‘ ’ on your laptop keyboard feel like a barrier to your burgeoning creativity.

Cakewalk by bandlab midi controller