Selection of MIDI Controllers with 88 Hammer Action Keys
To practice with the piano at least at the beginning it is clear that it is valid with 61 keys. But if you really want to invest thinking about not having to change anything in the future and always being able to play 2 hands calmly, it’s not a bad idea to buy a MIDI controller that already has 88 keys and an acceptable Hammer Action.
The 88-key MIDI controllers may or may not have internal speakers. On the one hand we are going to show you a MIDI controller designed to work from home and that has many built-in controls for music editing. And then we’re going to show you a Hammer Action piano keyboard that has MIDI output and is also a digital piano, so it has speakers and lots of professional sounds built in.
M-Audio Oxygen 88 Keys
Brand with enough prestige as far as MIDI controllers are concerned. It’s a pretty light keyboard for the size it is.
Very suitable to work fast with programs of musical creation and composition. The potentiometers are made of plastic and at first it gives the impression of delicacy but then it is verified that the material is stable and durable.
The idea of this keyboard is that you have a full 88-key keyboard but more focused on having controls that help you in music editing. It has many buttons and remotes that speed up your productivity when mixing and recording with programs like Cubase or Ableton. The following video explains some of the features that come with this MIDI controller.
Hammer Action’s feel allows you to match real piano feel with the productivity of a MIDI controller specific to music editing. Includes Ableton Live Lite and Ignite Music Creation.
It’s a perfect choice if you want it for music editing and you’re not going to move it from home. If you also want to use it as a portable digital piano we advise you to take a look at the second keyboard in the list. If you want to buy this MIDI controller here a link to the best price:
Yamaha P 115B and Yahama P125 (Black) – Digital Piano with USB MIDI
High quality piano keyboard with MIDI interface. If you play the piano and want a keyboard that can be used to study and as a MIDI controller, this is the option that exists in the market with the best value for money.
Yamaha P125 is the new brand.
Yamaha is a very reliable brand and Yamaha’s special Hammer Action is tremendously faithful to its acoustic pianos.
The Yamaha P115 has another intentionality than the previously shown Oxygen model. It is a portable digital piano that can serve as a MIDI controller as it has USB MIDI to Host output.
It comes with a sustain pedal (keep the note sustained over time) and although there are better ones it will help you get started. You can always buy a better pedal in the future. Here’s of to connect the Yamaha to a computer.
As you might have noticed, both can be MIDI controllers, but depending on what you want, they can have more features for music editing or not.
Yamaha PB-115B vs M-Audio Oxygen 88
Oxygen’s MAdudio controller has many controls that will make you fly when it comes to music production even though its Hammer Action is a bit worse than the Yamaha P115.
The Yamaha P115 doesn’t have all the controls and shortcuts that the Oxygen has but it works as a stage piano and as it has 7W speakers you can take it with you to play and rehearse elsewhere. The Oxygen is more to have in your home studio.
If you can only buy one of the two you have to assess whether you want to just study piano and play at home or in the future want to take your digital piano to play with other people. In the second case go for the Yamaha P115 and if you will always work from home and like to produce music choose the M-Audio Oxygen.
If your budget is not too big you can find other options in our selection of musical keyboards with the best value for money. In that article you have very interesting options of 61 keys with MIDI at very affordable prices.We hope you found this article useful. If so, don’t hesitate to share it on your social networks. Thanks for reading!
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