From bedroom producers rocking demo copies of Ableton to million-dollar artists topping EDM charts, the one piece of equipment that is common to them all is the keyboard.
The keyboard is also one of the first pieces of gear producers tend to buy. After all, keyboards occupy a central role in the production process. Not only do they make the music production process more intuitive, they let you express yourself creatively.
But buying keyboards is not easy task. The trouble starts with defining the term – “keyboard” – itself. Depending on who you ask, a “keyboard” might be a digital piano, a MIDI controller, or a synth.
Technically, the “keyboard” refers to the standard arrangement of black-white keys on a musical device. A piano has a keyboard, as does a keytar and a MIDI controller.
For most musicians, especially producers, however, a keyboard stands for a MIDI controller, or more rarely, a digital piano.
Which is exactly what we'll focus on in this section. We'll share our reviews and lists of the best MIDI controllers and digital pianos on the market right now. Besides reviews for individual products, we'll also share tips and insights on buying the right gear, as well as our review methodology.
Top Keyboards & Controllers: Essential Reading
While you can certainly dive into our list of the best keyboards based on their price, number of keys, uses, or DAW compatibility, we encourage you to start with these articles first. They'll help you understand different keyboard/controller categories and make better buying decisions.
MIDI Keyboards
Our selection of the best overall MIDI keyboards
Digital Pianos
A close look at the top digital pianos in the market
Top Keyboards & Controllers: By Number of Keys
These articles will help you choose the best keyboards (including MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, arrangers, and digital pianos) based on the number of keys:
25 Keys
Our selection of the best MIDI keyboards with 25 keys
49 Keys
A closer look at the top keyboards with 49 keys
61 Keys (Controllers)
The top keyboards with 61 keys right now
88 Keys
Read about the best 88 key keyboards you can buy right now
61 Keys (Keyboard)
Our selection of the best digital piano keyboads with 61 keys
Top Keyboards & Controllers: By DAW
Find the perfect controller for your DAW below:
Ableton
See our recommended controllers for Ableton here
Logic Pro X
Our selection of the best controllers for Logic Pro X
FL Studio
See the best controllers for FL Studio below
Pro Tools
Our choice of the best controllers for Pro Tools
Cubase
See our recommended controllers for Cubase
Garageband
See our recommended MIDI keyboards for Garageband
Ableton Keyboards
Our top MIDI keyboards for Ableton
Top Keyboards and Controllers: By Type
Read this section for our selection of keyboards and controllers for different uses
Portable Keyboards
Our list of the lightest keyboards you can buy
Budget Keyboards
Our recommended keyboards for budget users
Best Keybed
Check out the top-performing keybeds here
Mini MIDI Keyboard
If you need something portable, check out this list
For Learning
Our list of the best MIDI keyboards for learning
Low Cost Keyboards
The cheapest MIDI keyboards you can buy
For Live Performance
Choose from these keyboards for performing live
Arranger Keyboards
Replace your DAW with these keyboards
Top Digital Pianos
Read this section for our selection of keyboards and controllers for different uses
Beginner-Friendly Piano
The top beginner-friendly digital pianos
Pianos for Learning
Find the best digital pianos for learning here
Top Yamaha Pianos
Check out the top recommended Yamaha keyboards
For Advanced Pianists
See our list of the best pianos for advanced pianists
Individual Keyboard Reviews
Read this section for all our reviewed keyboards:
Akai MPK Mini MK2
4/5
Affordable yet feature-rich keyboard for everyone
Akai MPK249
4.5/5
Powerful keyboard for serious producers
Alesis V49
3.6/5
Affordable and beautiful, but suffers from performance nags
Arturia KeyStep
4/5
Well-built, automation-friendly keyboard
Yamaha P105 Review
4.3/5
Great mid-range digital piano
Yamaha P125 Review
4.3/5
Perfect upgrade to the P115/P105
Midi Keyboard Software
Everything keyboard apps, software, and digital keyboards.
Midi Keyboard Software
Our selection of the best overall MIDI keyboard software
We keep updating this page with new reviews and lists. Check back soon to see our latest listings.