If you're into making music using your computer then you know how important it is to have a good MIDI keyboard at your disposal. There are a number of products to choose from and depending on your wallet you can get them new or used with varying quality and results.
What's In A Number? Perhaps one of the most important decisions you need to make before getting your own MIDI keyboard is how big do you need it to be? That is to say just how many keys should you want to have? There's a wide range of keys available which also determines the size - 88, 76, 61, 49, 37, or 25. Most users would recommend the 49 - it's an intermediate size which can give you the range you need with the ease of use. It's also small enough so that space and storage need not be a problem.
Of course there are those who would say that you should get the 88 if you can afford it and can find a space for it. Then there are those who prefer the smaller number ones as something worth getting. It can get confusing but you don't really need to make a mountain out of a mole hill. In order to decide the size that suits your needs you need to figure out a few things.
What are you going to be using it for? If you're simply doing it for fun or doing small range compositions then maybe a smaller size unit is the one for you. This is also true if you use it on the road a lot. If you're going to do full-blown composition then perhaps a full 88 is for you.
Being big doesn't necessarily mean it is the best choice for you. Even if you do full composition and development you may still wind up using a MIDI keyboard with a smaller number of keys simply because you wind up creating short sections or instrument specific music instead of a full music concerto - for that you don't really need to use a full 88 keyboard.
Also, as long as you have a number of knobs and sliders to give you a wider range of "effects" and make full use of your software the number of keyboards may not necessarily matter at all. Of course it's all moot and academic if you can't get pass the next factor.
Space is also a consideration. Consider the size of your "studio" and whether you will have space to fit a full 88 between your computer and your keyboard. Just to be sure measure the exact space you have available and make your decision using that.
You may want a full 88 but let's face it - if it can't fit then it's all but useless. This is especially true if you have other "instruments" competing for the same space. Price is also a consideration but the good thing is MIDI keyboards are a whole lot cheaper than say a digital piano or electronic piano. Whatever you decide on as long as you're able to maximize its use and your enjoyment then it is the best one for you.
Read real users Midi Keyboard Reviews and be able to make the right decision in buying your own Midi Keyboard.
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