MIDI Weighted Keyboard Controller Roundup

The most important interface between a composer/musician and his computer is a music keyboard. It’s important to have one with the right feel and the right features.

A MIDI controller keyboard is a music keyboard with a USB port for connection to the computer, often an assortment of knobs and sliders, and contains no internal sounds. Musical sounds, whether sampled or synthesized, go out of date much quicker than music hardware. Separating the keyboard from the sounds ensures that you will be able to get full value out of the life of the keyboard. The original Yamaha KX88 MIDI controller made in 1985 was found in studios a decade later. Is anyone still using one?

Purchasing a keyboard is a highly personal thing. When it comes to the look, feel and required features, opinions vary. I recommend you don’t purchase a keyboard without trying it first.

Some MIDI controller keyboards are 88-key monsters with weighted keys designed to emulate the feel of a real piano. Though they are heavy and take up a lot of space, they feel very natural when playing piano and electric piano pieces. Others are smaller (61 keys or less) and have unweighted or semi-weighted plastic keys. These are much lighter and more portable, and are great for playing lead melodies, bass lines and pad or organ parts.

In this article we will look at a range of 88-key weighted keyboards. In future articles we will also look at unweighted controller keyboards, digital pianos, and a range of other MIDI devices.

1. Yamaha KX8

The Yamaha KX8 is Yamaha’s top-of-the-line MIDI keyboard controller, weighs 33 lbs, and costs around USD$700. Besides its 88 “Graded Hammer Action” keys, the keyboard features pitch bend and modulation controls, and “four assignable rotary encoders” which look like knobs to me. It also includes Cubase Ai4 and editor software. The keyboard can run from USB power without the need for an additional power adaptor.

I’m not sure if this is just a gimmick, but besides having an arpeggio feature, the Yamaha web site reports: “They also feature a range of drum, guitar, bass, keyboard and other musical phrases built in, minimizing the need for complex manual MIDI data programming. Complete compositions can easily be created with just one finger.” I’d be interested in hearing reports of how effective this is.

The keyboard was designed with DAWs in mind, and has transport buttons for recording and playback, assignable buttons (with templates for 30 different types of software tone module). They keyboard doesn’t just come with Cubase software, it also has a high level of Cubase integration, including a button for opening edit windows, the ability to add instrument tracks from the keyboard, and quantize and delete buttons.

2. M-Audio Keystation Pro 88

The M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 is M-Audio’s only MIDI controller with weighted keys, weighs 47 lbs, and costs around $USD400, making it the least expensive of the group. The keyboard can run from USB power without the need for an additional power adaptor. It is the keyboard I currently own, and – out of this crop of keyboards – the only one I have spent significant time playing.

It features an impressive collection of assignable buttons (22), knobs (24) and sliders (9) (this was one of the things that attracted me to the keyboard), and on the left of the keys has controls for pitch bend, modulation and transport buttons for play, record, etc. There are certainly a lot of options here for controlling your DAW from the keyboard. It also includes Ableton Live Lite music production software.

I have enjoyed playing my Keystation Pro 88 for around five years. Besides being attracted to its many knobs and faders (which I haven’t used as much as I expected), I was also attracted to its price. Over the last year, some of they keys below middle C have developed a spongey feel, though I’m not sure whether that is the fault of the keyboard itself – it may have something to do with my six kids and the two house moves we’ve had since buying it. The M-Audio website refers to the current keyboard being the “new” Keystation Pro 88, though I’m not sure whether that implies a new improved model or not.

3. CME VX80

The CME VX80 is the top of their line of controller keyboards, and their only weighted-key model. The keyboard weighs 43.88 lbs, and costs around USD$1000, making it the most expensive of the group. This keyboard stands out in many ways, not least because of its bright red color. The keyboard can run from USB power without the need for an additional power adaptor.

The VX80 comes with 88 weighted keys, 9 motorized faders, and two microphone/line 1/4″ inputs, meaning that it can look after both your MIDI and audio needs. Besides giving you a MIDI interface to your computer, it may save you from buying an audio interface as well. It is also the only keyboard in this lineup to not only be velocity sensitive, but have aftertouch as well.

In total, the VX80 provides 64 controllers of different types, including motorized faders, encoders for data entry, knobs, trigger pads, ribbon controller, buttons, pitch bend, modulation wheel, transport buttons, jacks for pedals, and a breath controller input. All of these controls are programmable.

To program the VX80, CME avoid the idea of templates, and use what they call “U-CTRL”, which the website describes like this: “U-CTRL is a brand new concept by CME, it provides the easiest way to communicate between controller and music software. You do not need to load templates or presets, just press U-CTRL button and all the controllers you may use for software will be ready.” It sounds like the keyboard is able to detect the software on your computer and configure itself automatically.

4. Fatar Studiologic SL-990 Pro

The SL-990 Pro is Studiologic’s top-of-the-range keyboard controller, weighing 44 lbs, and costing around USD$500. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the other keyboards, and I found less details and less interest in the keyboard during my research, though comments from those who bought one were favorable. It seems to be a good, solid work-horse.

The keyboard has 88 weighted keys, and pitch bend and modulation controls. If you are after a MIDI controller just to play music on, this may be it!

Do you prefer a weighted keyboard? Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments.