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The 6 Best Mini MIDI Keyboards

PK SMNIA

Having a reliable MIDI keyboard that’s portable is an important and useful piece of gear to have. That’s why I’ve put together this list of the best mini MIDI keyboards perfect for travelling with, producing on the go & for anyone with limited studio space.

Check out these compact MIDI keyboards and decide which one would be best for you.

Akai: MPK mini MKII

Who’s it for?

The MPK mini MKII by AKAI Professional is for those looking for the ultimate combination of portability and versatility in their midi controller. The 8 big Akai drum pads make it comfortable to use even two fingers on them, a thumbstick to control pitch bend & modulation, built in arpeggiator and convenient octave up and down buttons, this midi keyboard has everything you need at a very modest price.

Pros:

  • Large pads

  • light-weight

Cons:

  • Small keys

Quick Specs

  • 25 velocity sensitive Keys

  • 8 Large Velocity Sensitive Backlit Pads

  • 8 assignable knobs

  • Joystick mod/ Pitch bend

  • Octave Up/ Down Buttons

  • Full sized sustain pedal jack input

  • USB Bus-powered - Full sized USB Type-B

  • 1.65 lbs

Arturia: MiniLab MKII

Who’s it for?

The Arturia MiniLab MKII is for those who want a compact MIDI keyboard with slim quality keys, but can sacrifice the comfortability of playing the velocity pads for more rotary knobs.

This MIDI keyboard has a very solid build, its has a bit os weight to it at 3 lbs, but makes it feel more sturdy and quality than some of the other mini MIDI controllers.

Pros:

  • Lots of knobs! 16 quality mappable knobs

  • Mod wheel & pitch bend touch strips

  • Solid Build

Cons:

  • Small drum pads

Quick Specs

  • 25 velocity sensitive keys

  • 8 velocity sensitive backlit pads

  • 16 assignable knobs

  • 2 touch strips for mod/ pitch bend

  • Octave Up/ Down Buttons

  • Full sized sustain pedal jack input

  • USB Bus-powered - Full sized USB Type-B

  • 3.3 lbs

Novation: Launchkey mini MKII

Who’s it for?

This mini MIDI keyboard is for the Ableton Live user who needs a compact on-the-go controller. Built with Ableton Live in mind, the Novation Launchkey mini MKII gives you full control over your DAW with 16 velocity sensitive pads which can be used to launch clips or play beats. It also auto-maps controls to FL Studio, Pro Tools, Logic & Cubase so you can skip the hassle of a tedious setup

This controller is USB Bus-powered so this MIDI controller doesn’t need an external power adapter, just plug & play.

Pros:

  • Integrates well with DAWs enabling you to launch & control clips from the actual pads

Cons:

  • Micro USB

Quick Specs

  • 25 velocity sensitive keys

  • 8 assignable knobs

  • 16 velocity sensitive backlit pads

  • 2 Track buttons [<,>]

  • 2 Navigation/ Scene buttons

  • Octave Up/ Down Buttons

  • USB bus powered - Micro USB

  • 2.38 lbs

KOMPLETE: Kontrol A25

Who’s it for?

This MIDI controller is for those who don’t want to sacrifice the size of their keys, but still want to save space with a compact design & have full control from within the unit. The Komplete Kontrol A25 features 25 full sized & semi-weighted keys, giving it an comfortably authentic playing feel.

This MIDI keyboard is USB bus-powered and has input for a sustain pedal. It’s not as portable for travelling with than the other controllers on this list, but it takes up little desk space and isn’t too bulky.

Pros:

  • High quality, full sized keys

  • Solid build

Cons:

  • Not as mini & portable

Quick Specs

  • 25 Full sized and semi-weighted keys

  • 8 assignable knobs

  • Pitch bend & Mod wheel

  • Mini OLED display

  • Full sized sustain pedal jack input

  • USB Bus-powered - Full sized USB Type-B

  • 5.3 lbs

Roli: Seaboard Block

Who’s it for?

This is for anyone who may already have a mini keyboard or larger scale MIDI keyboard and wants to open up their creativity in production with an new type of instrument. The Seaboard Block is for the experimental producer who enjoys smooth transitions, atmospheric sounds, and trying new production methods.

Pros:

  • Lots of control over sound & pitch manipulation

Cons:

  • Feels noticeably different than playing a keyboard

Quick Specs

  • 25 velocity/ touch sensitive keywave playing surface

  • USB Bus-powered - Mini USB Type-C

  • Wireless bluetooth connectivity - 15 meter range

  • 1.43 lbs

M-Audio: KeyStation Mini 32

Who’s it for?

If you only need keys and have no use for extra knobs and pads, this 32 note keyboard is perfect. M-Audio’s Keystation Mini 32 is Super light, compact and this MIDI keyboard gives you more notes than the others on this list, giving it a comfortable playing feel.

Pros:

  • Light-weight

  • Great value

Cons:

  • Limited features & controls

Quick Specs

  • 32 velocity sensitive keys

  • Pitch Bend & Mod buttons

  • Volume control knob

  • Octave Up/ Down Buttons

  • USB bus powered - Micro USB

  • 1 lbs

Conclusion

So, we’ve covered the top mini MIDI keyboards on the market and can get a feel for our options.

These compact MIDI controllers are perfect for travelling and producing on the go. All of them weigh under 5 pounds and connect through USB without need for an external adapter.

At the end of the day, it mainly comes down to your production style and what you want or need - knobs, drum pads, mod/ pitch wheel, etc. As well as price.

This is why the AKAI MPK mini MKII takes the win as best mini MIDI keyboard.

What’s your experience with mini MIDI keyboards? Which one would you recommend?