yamaha keyboard lcd screen not working free sample
My only other suggestion is that you purchase the Service manual (as it is not available for free on the internet.) In other Yamaha keyboards I have noticed that for certain key combinations the circuit used is nearly the same except for the last connection e.g. on a psr e403 there are only 12 separate power feeds for all the keys. Certain keys combinations are "connected together" as far as the "feed"power is concerned only separated at the decoder stage to individual inputs.
My thinking is that since it is only happening on two key combinations, perhaps they are sharing the same power feed and that there may be a problem with it. By power feed I mean in my example the power feed is +3.3V DC thru a 10K Ohm resistor and then to the keyboard key multiple wiring. It may be that for your particular keys that the voltage is slightly lower for whatever reason so that it does not react properly.
The piano is the older brother of the Yamaha YPG-235 (76 keys), which is basically the same keyboard but has 1 octave fewer keys and hence a more compact case and a more affordable price.
Being a part of Yamaha’s “Portable Grand” line, the YPG-535 promises a portable design, a variety of piano-centric features and realistic “Grand piano” sound.
The keyboard is a great choice for someone who lives in a small apartment or in a dorm room where there is not much space. With that said, I wouldn’t call the YPG-535 super portable.
The keyboard comes with a sturdy matching stand, which is a well-built black unit that will securely hold the keyboard in place and keep it from wiggling around. So there’s no need to spend extra money and time on buying a stand.
The YPG-535 is a popular choice to gig with. So if you plan to move the keyboard around a lot, you’d probably want a more portable X-type stand, which can be quickly detached from the keyboard (no screwdrivers required) and easily transported.
If you feel the full-size keyboard (88 keys) is too bulky, you may want to consider the Yamaha YPG-235, which has very similar to the YPG-535 functionality but 1 octave fewer keys (76 keys).
At the same time, if you just want to play the piano, you can hit the “Portable Grand” button and play the Grand Piano tone across the entire keyboard (all the additional modes and settings will be turned off), which is very convenient.
Not only does it make it much easier to navigate the instrument but also allows you to take full advantage of educational features available on the keyboard, such as Music Notation Display and Yamaha Educational Suite.
I like the color, it looks unusual and makes a nice contrast with the black lining around the keybed. Moreover, the dust and finger marks aren’t as noticeable as on a black finish.
As for the mechanism, the model features Graded Soft Touch (GST) action keyboard. It’s Yamaha’s most affordable keyboard action, which doesn’t replicate the hammer action found on an acoustic piano.
The action definitely feels better than those cheap entry-level keyboards, where the keys aren’t weighted at all. But don’t expect the GST action to feel as authentic and heavy as an acoustic piano keyboard.
If you’re looking for an instrument that would mimic the feel of an acoustic piano I’d recommend considering keyboards with fully weighted hammer action.
Still, the YPG-535’s keys tend to be a little bit noisier than its competitors with fully weighted actions, such as Yamaha’s Graded Hammer Standard and Casio’s Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II.
Below you can listen to the keyboard’s Grand Piano sound. It’s actually the YPG-235 (the 76-key version of the YPG-535), but they sound sound the same.
Not just piano, the number of instrument sounds in the YPG-535 is pretty impressive. There are 500 internal sounds available for you to play (127 panel accessible sounds + 12 drum/SFX kits + 361 XGlite additional sounds).
Yamaha YPG-535 comes with a pitch bend wheel, which allows you adjust the pitch of the notes being sounded. Using the pitch bend, you can reproduce various effects, such as guitar vibrato, choking, etc.
The master equalizer settings (EQ) will allow you to tailor the sound depending on what reproduction system you’re using, the keyboard’s internal speakers, an external speaker system or headphones.
You may wonder how it is possible to have 32, 64, or even 128 notes playing at the same time, if there are only 88 keys and we never play them all together.
Furthermore, using the sustain pedal, sound effects (Reverb, Chorus), dual-mode (layering),and even the metronome ticking sound takes up additional notes of polyphony.
For example, when you depress the sustain pedal, the earliest played notes continue to sound while you’re adding new ones and the piano needs more memory to keep all the notes sounding.
Another example of polyphony consumption is when you’re playing along with a song playback (can also be your own recorded performance) or auto-accompaniment.
When you reach the polyphony cap, the piano starts to drop the earliest played notes to free up memory for new notes, which in turn affects the quality and fullness of the sound.
You’ll rarely need all 192 or 256 voices of polyphony at once, but there are cases when you can reach 64 or even 128 note limits, especially if you like to layer several sounds and create multi-track recordings.
It’s especially disappointing because the keyboard offers lots of features and sounds for music-making, and due to the 32-note polyphony there will be lots of limitations.
For example, when you’re playing complex classical pieces or layering two sounds (Dual Mode), you may quickly start to run out memory, and the earliest played notes will start dropping out.
And even though, 32-note polyphony would be enough for a beginner who is not going to play advanced classical pieces anyway, for more experienced players it’s preferable to have at least 64 notes of polyphony, and ideally 128 notes.
The keyboard is equipped with 2-Way Speaker System(12cm x 2 + 3cm x 2), which means the sound spectrum is divided into 2 parts and played via the corresponding speaker units to provide powerful bass and clear treble.
But not just internal songs, there are tons of songs in MIDI (SMF format 0) available on the Internet, which you can download to your computer and then transfer to the YPG-535’s internal memory to use them the same way as internal songs (lessons, performance assistant, etc.)
Lesson 1 is called “Waiting”. The song will wait until you play the right note shown on the display. By the way, you don’t even need to know how to read music, because the display will show you (on the virtual on-screen keyboard) the exact keys you need to play.
The melody will slow down when you play wrong notes and gradually return to the original tempo when you play the correct ones, which allows you to practice at your own speed.
Even if it’s the first time you’re playing the keyboard, and you’re making a lot of mistakes, the PA will fix the wrong notes making you sound like a pro.
Since we’re recording in MIDI (not audio data), we can change the tempo, instrument sound, add effects and even correct/add new notes after the recording is finished.
The accompaniment (rhythm + bass + chords) changes according to the notes you play with your left hand (chords or even single notes if you don’t full cords).
The tuning function will allow you to adjust the pitch in 1-cent steps (100 cents = 1 semitone), which you can use to precisely match the pitch of the YPG-535 to that of another instrument.
The Yamaha YPG-535 comes with 5 ports used to connect the piano to different kinds of external devices. All of them are located on the rear panel of the instrument.
To connect the keyboard to a computer you’ll need an A to B USB cable, which doesn’t come with the keyboard, but can be purchased at any electronics store for less than 5 bucks.
There is a wide range of music apps and teaching software (e.g. GarageBand, FlowKey, MuseScore, etc.) that will expand the YPG-535’s capabilities in terms of music composing, recording, learning, notation creation and so on.
Moreover, the stand adds additional 13 lbs to the weight of the keyboard, which is okay for home use (the heavier, the sturdier), but not very practical for on-the-go musicians.
The keyboard comes with the Yamaha FC5 sustain pedal. It’s a plastic box-like pedal that comes with most of the Yamaha keyboards and unfortunately, doesn’t offer much realism and control (on/off only).
If you’re going to use the keyboard for performing outside the home, you’d want to consider buying a gig bag to protect the instrument during transportations.
First, the instrument has semi-weighted spring-action keyboard. Even though it adds some weight to the keys, it doesn’t come even close to the feel of a real piano action.
So for those who mainly need a keyboard for recreational piano playing or learning, I’d recommend a keyboard with a fully weighted key action, which feels much closer to the real thing.
Secondly, the YPG-535 has 32-note polyphony, which is quite limiting, especially for more advanced players who are going to play complex classical pieces, create multi-track recordings consisting of several instrument parts and so on.
However, since the YPG-535 has some major drawbacks I mentioned above, you’d probably want to consider some other keyboards in this price range that don’t have such flaws.
And the other 3 keyboards are, the Yamaha P-45, the Casio PX-160 and the Yamaha DGX-660. Compared to the YPG Series Keyboards, these pianos offer much more realistic experience for piano playing.
Unlike its 88-key brother, the YPG-235 has a compartment for batteries, which makes it much more mobile and allows you to use the keyboard in places where there is no AC power available (outdoors).
I think the YPG-235 would be a perfect choice for those who haven’t yet decided whether they’re serious about music and just want to get a taste of how it’s like to play keyboard without spending too much money yet getting enough features to stay engaged and interested.
Of course, it’s hard to compare the P-45’s features to what the YPG-535 offers, but for piano playing, you’d definitely be better off with the P-45 and its hammer action keyboard and 64-note polyphony.
I’d definitely recommend the Casio PX-160 over the YGP-535 if primarily you need a keyboard that would feel and sound as close as possible to an acoustic piano.
Even though the DGX-660is a few hundred dollars more expensive than the YPG-535, I decided to include it in this list, because it’s somewhat a unique keyboard.
Just like the YGP-535, the DGX-660 is an 88-key keyboard that offers a whole world of capabilities for playing, learning, music production and just for fun.
The main difference is that in addition to all that the DGX-660 has the GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) action, the superior quality sound delivered by the Pure CFsound engine and 192-note polyphony.
And just these 3 things set the DGX-660 apart from the YPG-535, making it a very versatile instrument perfect not only for music-making, learning, and entertainment but also for realistic and enjoyable piano playing.
In this article, I will be covering how to connect your keyboard or digital piano to a computer or a smart device, and reasons why it opens many new exciting opportunities as a musician.
Note:MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol that allows computers and electronic musical instruments to communicate with each other.
When you press a key on your keyboard, a sustain pedal, or use any other controller that your instrument has, you generate MIDI messages that tell which key was pressed, how much pressure was used for it, how long a note was held, etc.
Most modern keyboards feature a USB Type B port, while some older keyboards and pro-grade instruments use a MIDI connection (dedicated MIDI In/Out ports).
You may notice a USB Type A port in your keyboard, but this cannot be used for transferring MIDI data, you can only insert a flash drive to save recordings onto using your keyboard’s internal sounds.
If that’s the case, you may not need any cables at all. Instead, you can connect to your smart device wirelessly via Bluetooth (provided your smart device also supports it).
Note: If you’re the happy owner of a newer Macbook (2016 or later), which doesn’t have regular size USB ports, you’ll need a USB C to B cable instead of the USB A to B cable.
The USB A end will go to your computer’s USB port, while the MIDI In end of the cable will go to the MIDI Out port of your keyboard and MIDI Out end will go to the MIDI In port.
Quick fact: Think of MIDI moving like a signal flow – you want the MIDI to flow OUT of your keyboard, INTO your computer, which then goes out of your computer directly into your speakers.
There are still many keyboards that only feature MIDI In/Out ports; typically with older models. A lot of modern ones will feature both MIDI and USB type B ports.
Note: If your keyboard has MIDI In/Out ports but your computer doesn’t have a regular size USB ports (e.g Macbook, Chromebook, etc.), then you’ll need to additionally purchase a USB C (male) to USB A (female) adapter to be able to use the MIDI to USB interface.
Alternatively, you can try to find a single cable that’s able to connect directly to your keyboard and into your mobile device, but this will not always be possible since some of these cables simply don’t exist (or very rare).
The Lightning to USB Camera adapter is able to connect to your iOS device through a USB A to B cable (or MIDI to USB interface) in order to connect to your keyboard.
Note: If you use an older Apple model (iPhone 4s or lower/ iPad 3 or lower) that doesn’t have a lightning port, you will need the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit with a 30-pin connector to be able to connect to your keyboard.
However, this method is not as reliable as using two cables, plus those single cable solutions can be quite hard to find and they tend to break easily.
With android devices, connecting your digital piano will follow the same process as connecting your iOS device. However, the big difference is that you will require a different type of cable as the Lightning Adapter is not compatible with Android devices.
In either case you will still need a USB A to B cable (or MIDI to USB interface in case your keyboard has MIDI In/Out ports), which you’ll plug into the keyboard. The other end (USB-A) will connect to one of the adapters above.
The iRig MIDI 2 only has MIDI In/Out/Through and allows you to connect either to your computer (USB type A adapter included) or iOS device (Lightning adapter included). So it’s a great option if your keyboard uses MIDI In/Out ports rather than USB MIDI.
Driver installation typically depends on the type of digital piano you are using, so please refer to your keyboard’s manual on any drivers you may need.
You have now successfully connected your digital piano/keyboard to your computer/device! You have opened a world of possibilities on your journey to creating and performing music.
You will be able to use digital sheet music (no more heavy music books, or loose leaf pages!), notate your own scores, record compositions, edit ideas, record other instruments (guitar, drums, violin, etc) using your digital piano, and learn songs through Apple/Google apps!
MIDI differs to audio, as we have control over the notes and CC data. If you accidentally record a MIDI phrase with incorrect notes, you can adjust these via a piano roll screen on your computer or device.
You are able to cut, fade, raise/lower the volume, slow/speed tempo with recorded audio files, but with MIDI you have more control to change notes, the way they are expressed or articulated, dynamics, velocity, and modulation.
The app lets you connect your piano keyboard and tracks your progress as you play. Lessons begin with the basics of piano playing including posture andhand position.
You can use Flowkey as a free trial and decide for yourself whether or not you want to continue using it before you pay for a monthly or yearly subscription.
Now that you are getting familiar with software applications, and have connected your keyboard to your computer/device, you can now create your own little recording studio set-up in the comfort of your own home!
Not only can you teach, learn, and play the piano, but with DAW apps, you will be able to record, create, mix, and edit music. We have prepared two in-depth guides for you in case you want to go deeper with DAWs and their capabilities.
A great entry-level DAW to start working in is Garageband, which comes free with every Apple computer or device. The software allows you to create loops, and audio/MIDI recordings to edit, arrange, and mix your own song.
This is another advanced DAW where you may want to invest in to have access to advanced features including detailed expression maps, macros, and logical editor presets.
Loaded with several powerfulVST plugins, Fl Studio allows you to access different sounds from the built-in plugins ranging fromsynths, to keyboards and bass sounds.
You can take advantage of countless great VST plugins that provide you with top notch quality sounds of upright pianos, grand pianos, vintage pianos, and actually any instruments (guitars, violins, drums, etc.) you can imagine, as well as synths sounds.
VSTs, otherwise known as samples, or sample libraries, are pre-recorded notes, sounds and phrases that have been programmed into a plugin to be played by your keyboard.
Although you can record your digital piano into a DAW as an audio file, when it comes to MIDI, you will still need a piano VST, as your digital piano acts more of a MIDI controller to send notes and CC data to your computer/device.
A lot of VSTs can act as standalones, which require nothing else in order for you to make sampled sounds through your keyboard. However, you have the option to use a sampler which hosts many sampled libraries.
With all this technology arising and various ways to play and create music, there is no need to handwrite/read paper versions of sheet music (if you choose not to).
Some of its features include vertical screen scrolling with an adjustable speed (no page turns!), smart browsing that makes it easy to tab to the first and last pages without flipping through each page, easy management of scores by tagging composers/artists in a category filing system, and even face gesture page turning with the new iPhone X and iPad Pro.
Finale 26 is the most recent version of Finale and starts at $99 for student educational discount, or $600 outright. Be wary, Finale is a little more complicated to use for a beginner learning notation on a computer set-up but presents a more slick design.
Don’t fret – if you have Sibelius but wish to cross grade to Finale (or vice versa), you may purchase your new notation software for a discounted price.
Another beginner-friendly app I recommend if you’re struggling with learning sheet music would be MusicScore. It’s free and excellent for beginners learning sheet music, and students.
Today I am going to review therecently released Yamaha PSR-E473. I will be going through with you the 13 most important differences between the latest flagship PSR-E series keyboard versus the previous model PSR-E463. While most features have gotten an upgrade, a few of them had their functionality reduced. I am going to review the key-action, sound quality, various features, and functionalities of this home piano and demonstrate the onboard sounds in order to help you make a better buying decision.
The PSR-E473 continues to have a similar 61 touch-sensitive synth-action keysfound on the older E463 with 4 levels of configurable velocity curves. While the keys look and feel almost identical, it seems Yamaha has tweaked the action to be just slightly smoother on the newer keyboard. The difference is so minute that only an experienced keyboardist can perceive the improvement.
The previous upgrades on the PSR-E400 series keyboards were nothing to write home about. Yamaha usually just pops a couple more voices in the newer keyboard while giving it a higher model designation hoping to stimulate stagnating sales
However, the new PSR-E473 receives asignificant upgrade with not just more sounds but also a more powerful sound chip. The 62 additional new sounds contain 14 of the more expressive Super Articulation Lite voices. Polyphony has also been bumped up to 64 notesversus the paltry 48 note polyphony on the E463
The biggest upgrade among the 820 sounds is the default concert grand piano which is similar to the sample found in Yamaha’s flagship arranger keyboards.
You canlayer any of these 820 voices or split them across the keyboard for more advanced music arrangements and the legacy voices carried over from the E463 now sound better on the E473 with the new effects section powered by the faster sound chip.
The PSR-E series portable keyboards have arranger functionality making these keyboards very accessible to those who use these keyboards to entertain friends and family. The new E473comes with 290 rhythm styles which are 55 more styles than the E463 which only has 235 styles.
The style section is a beneficiary of the more advanced powerful DSPs and legacy accompaniments now sound even better with the new DSPs. In addition to the Multi-Finger Chord Detection, the E473 gets an additional Smart Chord Detection mode which I am not a fan of and I personally never ever use. The onboard Arppegiator on the E473also gets a tiny upgrade with 2 additional patterns bringing the total to 152.
If you want an evenmore powerful keyboardwith more sounds, more effects,and more rhythm styles, You cancheck it out hereas well as my otherrecommended list.
The Groove Creator function is unique to the PSR-E400 series keyboards. No other keyboards in Yamaha’s PSR range have this feature. The E473inherits the same 35 grooves from the E463.The fact that there is absolutely no change to the Groove Creator feature on the E473 may indicate that this feature might be deprecated on future models.
The quick sampler was a highly marketed feature on the previous E463. While this feature has been carried forward to the E473, some functionality has been reduced. The E463 could store 5 samples at a time but theE473only has 4 pads to store the samples. Samples could previously be pitched across the keyboard on the E463 but this feature is no longer available. You can only playback the samples on the E473 as a one-shot or as a loop.
On the E463, getting samples into the keyboard was quite a chore, and do not see many owners using the sampling feature. You could only use the auxiliary audio-in port or load samples stored on a USB stick with the E463. On the E473, there are now more ways to capture your own sound samples in addition to the existing 2 methods. Samples can be transferred directly via USB from your laptop or smart devices and you can also record samples straight from a microphone into theE473. These recorded sounds can be triggered as one-shot samples or be played in a loop.
TheArticulation button triggers an additional instrument articulation for SA Lite voices.On the other voices, this button applies modulation to the sound. The Motion EFX button triggers one of the 57 patterns that allow you to apply multiple simultaneous live effects such as pitch, modulation, and filters to create unique sounds. Something not possible with just a pair of hands.
On-board MIDI & audio song recording features on theE473are identical to the E463. However, the E473can use Yamaha’s excellent Rec’N’Share app to record music with videoswhich the E463 cannot.
With such powerful features, I was expecting an upgraded system for storing user registration settings on the E473. However, theE473has only 32 onboard registration memory slots. A welcome upgrade, usually found on higher-end keyboards, is the ability to freeze style settings when switching registrations.
The LCD on theE473still looks like a cheap 50 cents display from a 1990’s parts bin. The dimensions and quality are similar to the ones found on the E463.
On paper, the amplification system of both keyboards is identical with a pair of 12 cm speakers powered via two 6 watts amplifiers. To my ears, the default EQ has been tweaked for a punchier and fuller sound output. Now, new on the E473 is the Mega Boost button that increases the sound output via the speakers. Do note that Mega Boost affects only the onboard speakers and does nothing for the line and headphones output.
Even with the added functionality, you are still able to power the E473with 6 “AA” batteries just like the E463, but in my tests, the E473 has slightly higher power consumption and you should standby a couple more rechargeable batteries if you are not near an electrical outlet.
I hope that this review has helped you in making an informed purchase of theYamaha PSR-E473. Do check out the links provided in this article to get the latest prices and updates on thePSR-E473. To find out more about the world of keyboards and pianos, do read more articles on this blog to find the most suitable and perfect instrument for your needs.
So, how long do digital pianos last? Digital pianos last between 20 – 50 years. High-end digital pianos are built better structurally. They use better electrical parts, solid plastic, tougher metal, and piano keys that can withstand heavy wear and tear. Low-end digital pianos do not have the same lifespan, but with average care can last for many years.
While most digital pianos last for decades, they are not all created equal. There are definitely some brands that are better than others. In this article, I’ll share some facts about future repair costs, the benefits of purchasing a digital piano, and why they are better than acoustic instruments in some cases. I’ll also show you which brands offer the most reliable digital keyboards that are worth the investment.
Most people choose not to repair digital pianos though because it’s a hassle. Sometimes the repair costs can creep up to the cost of simply purchasing a new one instead (with the exception of a quality Yamaha or Kawai console or something similar in cost).
Most digital piano repairs cost between $25 – $300. Most of this is related to labor but can include parts. The more expensive repairs are almost always related to internal issues. This includes things like motherboard failures or need to replace the disk drive. This also includes failed inputs, cracked screens and anything internal.
One of the most important reasons to purchase a digital piano has to do with costs. Digital pianos are simply more affordable than their acoustic counterparts. The average piano costs between $2000 – $20,000. The more high end the acoustic instrument, the steeper the cost. Luxury pianos such as Yamaha or Steinway have prices that rival a mortgage!
Some digital pianos are also built specifically with size in mind. They are constructed in a way where there is not much extra added to the sides of the keys themselves. The backs of most digital pianos do not protrude out either allowing you to place it directly on a wall or corner. Height wise, digital pianos are also quite small, often not exceeding 4 or 6 inches in depth.
Because of the compact size and weight, digital pianos are easy to transport in vehicles or to various areas of the home. It’s important to note that consoles like the Yamaha Clavinova are much larger, so they weigh more and take up much room. The tradeoff, however, is in the quality of the instrument as consoles tend to mimic acoustic instruments the best.
Digital pianos do not need regular tunings. This can save you around $125 -$200 every six months, something acoustic piano owners have to deal with. Digital pianos are not made with the same wood parts that an acoustic piano is. Because of that, there’s no need to worry about humidity levels or the instrument losing its pitch.
If you do notice a pitch issue with your instrument, chances are it’s an issue with the software itself. In that case, take the piano into a technician or exercise the manufacturer’s warranty.
Hiring a piano teacher is always the preferred method for learning the instrument. Sometimes it’s not about the cost of lessons though, but rather about convenience. Especially if your an adult pianist who is shy and wants to kind of work at their own pace.
Even for the less elaborate pianos, there is almost always a lessons function. One of the most common styles you’ll find on a digital piano are keys that light up, indicating what note to play and when. Others have a built-in metronome and musical staffs that progress as you play the correct notes.
While this is not the only way to learn, its a good way to feel engaged with the instrument. Most of the song banks are updated frequently, so there is always new music to learn. While most of these programs are free, access to more songs and features are usually available through subscription packages.
I mentioned earlier that not all digital pianos are created equal. Furthermore, there are some piano brands that truly excel when it comes to electronic piano instruments.
Yamaha has produced amazing digital pianos for decades. What makes them stand out as the top producer of digital pianos is in sound quality. Honestly, whenever you play a Yamaha keyboard, it’s tough to tell the difference between it an acoustic piano. This is because Yamaha takes high-quality samples of their concert grands and implements that into their digital instruments.
Yamaha has also done extensive work on the hammer action of the keyboard itself too. This allows pianists to play and feel an authentic touch and release of sound without too much velocity. These keyboards are great overall. Of all of their keyboard models, I suggest the following:
Yamaha Arius Series – The Arius series is a complete console offering an authentic piano playing experience. It includes the 3 pedal unit and has a sampling from their CFX concert grand. There is also a built-in smart app to customize how the piano functions. I recommend this model for the serious pianist.
Casio keyboards are pretty good but you’ll need to stick with their high-end models to be truly satisfied. I personally suggest checking out the Casio Privia series.
Casio Privia PX-870 – This is a complete console-style piano. It’s not flashy, but it works great and has excellent weighted key action to make the playing feel authentic. It only has 18 samples, but they are all high quality, especially the piano sample. There are also recording and practice functions built-in, so it’s great for an adult pianist. Most pianos sound great with headphones on, but this one has a four-speaker system that sounds great.
Roland is known for their synthesizers and music workstations, but they also make great digital practice pianos. Their F140 model is nothing flashy, but it gets the job done. Unlike some other consoles, this one actually has hundreds of sounds built-in which makes playing more interesting. Another cool feature is the app which allows for Bluetooth page-turning.
An often overlooked piano brand is Alesis. They make really good digital pianos, especially their recital series instruments. It’s a keyboard model that’s geared towards beginners, but it does offer some cool professional features such as full-size keys.
All this means that as a musician, you’re spoiled for choice as far as picking the best MIDI controller for Logic Pro X goes. From pad controllers to keyboard controllers, there are options to fit every budget and need.
I’ll share my list of the best MIDI controllers for Logic Pro below. We’ll start with a quick overview of my review methodology before sharing my list of the top ten picks. I’ll end the roundup with a short guide to buying the best MIDI keyboard for Logic Pro.
We use rigorous research, reviews, and real-world performance when recommending products. Our reviewers include producers, performers, and active musicians. You can read more about our review process here. Be advised that MIDINation might earn referral commissions on purchases made through this website. This does not affect your final purchase price.
Those of you who’ve been following this blog for a while know that I usually test products either in mine or friends" studios. Much of the insight comes from experience using different keyboards and pads and controllers over time.
In case I’m not able to test a product personally, I rely on a meta analysis of reviews online or insight from friends in the industry. It’s not ideal but it at least gives me a fair idea of what to expect.
I shortlisted 18 of the best MIDI controllers for Logic Pro X based on these requirements. Of these 6 were pad controllers and the rest were keyboard controllers. I had first-hand experience of 13 of these controllers.
Barring a few Ableton specific controllers, you’ll find that my list of the top Logic Pro MIDI controllers is the same as the rest of my list of the best MIDI keyboards.
This shouldn’t be surprising, of course. A keyboard that works with Ableton or Pro Tools is also going to work with Logic Pro X. The MIDI interface is, after all, about interoperability.
Keyboard controllers have your standard set of piano keys. MIDI keyboard controllers are usually sold in 25-key, 49-key, 61-key, and 88-key variants. The 25-key variant is often classified as “mini”, while the 88-key variant is “full-sized” and has the same octave range as a conventional piano. MIDI keyboard controllers frequently have a small number of pads built in as well.
Note: You don"t haveto buy a Logic Pro-specific MIDI controller. Any keyboard with a MIDI out will work with Logic. If you have a Yamaha digital piano lying about that supports MIDI, you can hook it up and start jamming.
The best MIDI controllers for Logic Pro X make a greater number of control options available to you, but they’re not necessary. If you’re on a budget and already have access to a device with a MIDI port, consider using that instead of buying a new controller for Logic pro.
It’s a rare best-of list that doesn’t have the ever-popular Akai MPK249 (compare price Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Amazon) right at the very top. This powerful, splendidly built keyboard has been my favorite ever since the launch of the revamped MK2 version.
It ticks all the right boxes: classic retro design, 49 keys, 16 responsive pads, plus a whole range of faders, knobs, and buttons. Throw in a sharp LCD screen and semi-weighted keys and you can see why it tops the popularity charts.
But the hardware isn"t the only place where the Akai MPK249 shines. It also boasts some great software features. The standout among these is Akai"s MPC Essentials software. This brings MPC-like workflows to your device – MPC swing, note repeat, etc. These features turn the MPK249"s 16 pads into much more than clip launching buttons. Rather, you can create complex grooves with them.
Another favorite software feature is Akai VIP 3.0. This tool lets you club together up to 8 virtual instruments + effects into a digital “performance” rig. Switching between VSTs, especially in live settings, is never easier.
One of my favorite features – and a rarity among MIDI controllers – is the semi-weighted keybed. Most Logic Pro MIDI keyboards tend to have synth action keys. While these are light and springy, they don"t offer the resistance and feedback serious players need. You can enter notes and play basic chords on synth-action keys, but if you want to play complex passages, you"ll be disappointed.
The MPK249"s semi-weighted keys offer the same “weight” and resistance of mid-tier digital pianos. The keys don"t come back up instantly (like in synth-action keys) after you press them. Instead, the weight of the keys – depending on the octave you"re in – affects how quickly they spring back up. This leads to a much more authentic and enjoyable keyboard experience. This easily makes the Akai MPK249 one of the best MIDI keyboards for Logic Pro X, beaten only by Roland"s offerings.
Another plus is the MPC-like pads. In fact, I"m tempted to dub this the best MPC for Logic Pro X as well unless you truly need a dedicated MPC. You get great pads and great keys in the same unit – you can"t ask for more.
49 full-sized keys, 9 faders, 8 backlit pads, 8 knobs, 9 buttons, DAW controls, a LCD information screen, and a price tag that"s surprisingly affordable.
The Nektar Impact LX49+ (compare price Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Amazon) isn"t the best MIDI keyboard controller on the market. Heck, it isn"t even the best on this list. But it does everything that you ask of it, and it won"t burn a hole in your pocket.
The keyboard is synth-action and velocity sensitive. It doesn"t have the feedback of semi-weighted keys, but for intermediate level players, the keys are sensitive and springy enough.
It"s not all perfect, of course. The build quality is nothing to write home about. The key action will disappoint serious piano players. And durability remains questionable.
Let"s start with the keyboard. The keys are “mini” in keeping with the portability theme. Yet, they are quite comfortable. You don"t get aftertouch but you do get three touch sensitivity settings. You won"t enjoy playing Chopin on it, but for studio production, the keyboard works perfectly well.
Keeping this in mind, I don’t recommend buying only a pad controller for Logic Pro X. You’ll see better mileage from a mixed controller that combines both a keyboard and a decent number of pads.
If you did have to buy a pad controller, however, I would recommend nothing but the best of the best – Akai APC40 MK2 (compare price Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Amazon).
Akai’s pad controllers have legendary standing among musicians. The company’s MPC controllers revolutionized music production in the late 80s and 90s. It’s not an exaggeration to say that there would be no hip-hop if the MPC didn’t make production-grade drumming and sampling available to the masses.
There are few brands I trust more to make high-quality keyboards than Roland. Their controllers are never quite as jazzy as the latest Nektars, nor quite as hyped as Akais, but they always deliver where it matters the most: key quality and playability.
49 fully-sized velocity sensitive keys with aftertouch feel better than most keyboards on the market. Instead of the clickety plastic found on so many cheap MIDI controllers, the A-500PRO uses ivory-like plastic found on concert pianos. This not only feels better, but also has a non-slippery surface – great when you"re sweating after a long jamming session.
That"s not all. The keyboard has custom velocity settings. You can adjust the velocity curve to match your playing style. Turn it high if you really like a fast, responsive keyboard. Turn it low if you like to dig your fingers in and belt tracks out.
The keyboard isn"t the only thing on offer, of course. The Roland A-500PRO also boasts 8 faders, 8+1 knobs, 8 dynamic pads, and an array of buttons. Plus, you get dedicated DAW controls and a tiny LCD screen to give you track and MIDI information.
Not everything is perfect. The dynamic pads are tiny, and the knobs move a little too freely. The faders also don"t have the mechanical heft of the keys. But if you"re willing to overlook them for the fantastic keys, you"ll love this Roland.
The Nanokey2 is one of the smallest MIDI controllers on the market. It"s just about a foot long and is so light that its official weight is in ounces, not pounds (FYI, it"s about 0.9 lbs).
Which variant you buy and how you use it will vary a lot. A lot of producers I know use the 8 fader variant as a makeshift mixer. Others use the key variant as a highly portable keyboard. Given the price, you can even buy all three and change them around based on what you need at the moment.
There some obvious flaws on the Nanokey. The silicone buttons tend to get stuck. The “keys” are glorified buttons and can"t be used for anything other than entering notes in a piano roll. And the faders are plasticky.
The Nanokey won"t replace a full-fledged MIDI controller for Logic Pro. But it will complement one nicely. But it if you want something highly portable, or if you already have a full-sized keyboard and want something to complement it.
Keyboard controllers are great for composition. You get full-sized piano keys that makes it easy to play chords and melodies. If you have piano playing experience and don’t care much about launching clips, this should be your first choice.
Hybrid controllers offer the best compromise between controls and composition. A good hybrid controller would give you between 8-16 pads as well as full-sized keyboards. This way, you can launch clips, hammer out drum patterns, and compose entire tracks – all from the same controller.
Another option – which a lot of pro producers follow – is to get a regular keyboard controller and pair it up with a dedicated pad controller. Think of a setup like this:
Semi-weighted: A popular option in high-end MIDI keyboards and mid-range digital pianos, semi-weighted keys have a combination of synth-action (see below) and fully-weighted keys. This creates significant resistance – the keys don’t spring “up” as quickly as they would on synth-action keys. A great option if you like to play the piano but don’t want the weighty resistance of fully-weighted keys.
Your best option is to spring for semi-weighted keys. These tend to be on the expensive side but offer better playability and comfort. If you have even a few months of piano playing experience, you’ll enjoy semi-weighted keyboards far more.
Synth-action keys aren’t nearly as fun to play but have a lot more functionality. If your goal is to just enter MIDI notes and play out a few chords or melodies, synth-action keyboards will work perfectly fine.
MIDI keyboards come in a range of key sizes, going all the way from 25 keys to full-sized 88-key keyboards. Even within the same model, you’ll have size variants, such as the Akai MPK249 (with 49 keys) and MPK261 (with 61 keys).
It’s simple: the smaller the keyboard, the more portable it is. Anything beyond 32 keys makes it difficult to keep the keyboard size and weight low enough for lugging around.
But portability comes with its own compromise – smaller keys. Most portable keyboards reduce the width and length of keys to fit them into a small form factor. This greatly impacts their playability, especially if you have fat fingers as I do.
Typically, 49-key keyboards top out at 3” or 3 feet wide. 61-key keyboards come in around 3.5’ to 4’ in width. And 88-key keyboards are typically over 4’ wide.
So before you spring for a larger keyboard, measure out your desk. You should at least have 3 feet of extra space before you even think of getting anything beyond 49 keys.
Let’s be honest, most bedroom producers don’t have the piano skills to make full use of an 88-key keyboard. Nor will the EDM or hip-hop pieces they produce ever involve complex melodies that require simultaneous bass and tenor keys.
Plus, larger keyboards are plain intimidating. It’s easy to lose track of note positions and scales when you’re confronted with 7-octaves of black-white keys.
On the flip side, anything below 49-keys also impacts playability. It’s difficult to compose complex melodies on a 25-key keyboard – you’ll end up hitting the octave up/down keys constantly.
For most people, 49-keys represents the ideal size. It gives you access to four octaves of range. If you need more, there are handy octave up/down keys on virtually every keyboard on the market.
In my case, I rely minimally on keyboard controls. I use my desktop keyboard shortcuts for most things. The keyboard is used mostly for entering notes, practicing melodies, and playing chords. A MIDI controller with more than a handful of control options is just overkill for my taste.
However, if your production style is more hands-on, you’ll have substantial control options. With 8-16 pads, 8+8 fader/knob combos, assignable buttons, and DAW controls, you can essentially free yourself from the desktop keyboard + mouse combo. Great for people who like a more intuitive approach to their music production.
Under $100: In this range, you’ll mostly find mini keyboards with a handful of controls. Nearly all keyboards in this budget are synth-action. Portability is a big focus and most offerings clock in at 5-8lbs.
$100-$200: Keyboards in this range tend to be mostly synth-action. Some offerings at the top of this range ($200) will have semi-weighted keys. Most will have a mix of keyboard and controls. Most beginners and intermediate players should have a budget between $150-$200 to get a decent MIDI controller.
$200-$300: MIDI controllers in this range generally boast extensive controls (8-16 pads, 9 faders, 9 knobs, 8+ buttons are common). At the far end of this range, you’ll also find semi-weighted keyboards. The build quality of gear at this budget is generally very good.
$300+: The top end of the MIDI controller budget range boasts premium offerings from the likes of Akai and Roland. Their keyboards are usually semi-weighted and you get a full range of built-in controls. The build-quality of gear in this range tends to be exceptional. It’s not unusual to find a 15 year old $400 Akai working perfectly even today.
Here at MIDINation, I get a ton of emails from readers new to the entire music production world who want to know more about MIDI keyboards and controllers.
I can understand the confusion – MIDI isn"t a specification you"re likely to encounter if you"re new to music. It doesn"t help that musicians use terms like “keyboards”, “controllers” and “synths” often interchangeably.
The founder of Roland, Ikutaro Kakehashi, knew that for electronic music to advance, there was a need for devices to talk to each other. So working with other manfuacturers, including Yamaha, Korg, etc., Kakehashi came up with a universal specification for connecting electronic instruments together.
This specification was originally called “Universal Musical Interface”, but was later renamed to MIDI – Musical Instrument Digital Interface. MIDI was first introduced in Keyboard magazine (which still lives on today as KeyboardMag.com) in 1982. At the NAMM show in 1983, the MIDI interface was officially demonstrated on stage. And by the end of 1983, there were multiple devices using the MIDI protocol, including the legendary Roland TR-909 drum kit.
MIDI makes it possible for the two devices to talk to each other. A key pressed on your MIDI capable keyboard will tell your MIDI capable synth what sound to create corresponding to the key.
MIDI controllers can be in any shape or form. They can be in the form of a guitar, a wind instrument, a drumpad, or most popularly, in the form of a keyboard. While each form might be designed to replicate a particular instrument, they all do the same job: pass MIDI instructions from one device to another.
As I mentioned above, MIDI is just a specification. Just as you have everything from computer mice and keyboards to speakers and fans powered by USB, you also have a range of instruments that use the MIDI protocol to pass instructions from one device to another.
This information only tells the device (in our case, a computer running a DAW like Ableton) what notes it has to play, and how long it has to play them. There is no audio information yet – that has to be supplied by the other device.
This essentially means that your C chord can take on any sound the other device is capable of. It can sound like a guitar, a piano chord, an electronic synth, a ukulele, etc. – all without changing the underlying note information.
It gives a great deal of flexibility and power to musicians. In a DAW, for instance, you might have two tracks. One has a bass MIDI device, the other a piano MIDI device. You can then copy-paste the note information created by your MIDI keyboard on both tracks. This will instantly give you a bass track and piano track.
In fact, most of the time, I"m making music on the go (my day job involves a lot of traveling). I don"t have any hardware with my except for a pair of headphones. I enter notes manually in Ableton.
There is one aspect of it where entering notes and playing musical passages becomes easier. Instead of using the mouse and adding/removing notes, you can play them via your keyboard and instantly hear what you want to play.
The other aspect is easier access to different parameters. Say, you want to change your piano sound"s pitch. Without a MIDI keyboard, you have to open the DAW, drag the mouse over to the pitch/octave parameter, then drag it up/down.
That"s just the tip of the iceberg – depending on the keyboard, you can change everything from the track EQ to the depth, bend, volume, etc. of any instrument – all without opening the DAW.
This has been a long article and I’ve covered a number of MIDI keyboards and pad controllers. You’ve also learned about the key issues to watch out for when buying the best MIDI controller for Logic Pro X.
The new Fantom-X Series comes in a choice of three keyboards, but they all have one thing in common: Roland"s new sound generator chip. This chip is Roland"s most powerful to date, and it not only makes it possible to play expressive 4-tone Patches with 128-voice polyphony, but it also raises the Fantom-X Series" waveform capacity to approximately 1GB when fully expanded - far more memory than any other musical instrument on the market. What"s more, the internal wave ROM has been doubled with quality-focused sounds that will please even the most jaded player.
Thanks to the power afforded by the new sound generator chip, you get both. That"s because the Fantom-X is the first workstation keyboard capable of handling audio on the level of a digital recorder. This means you can record either short samples for playback on the keyboard, or long, linear takes similar to a digital recorder. Eight stereo audio tracks are now standard on all Fantom-X6, -X7, and -X8 models. And with room for up to 544MB of sample RAM, there"s plenty of recording time available. Samples can be slaved to tempo with realtime timestretching and edited using powerful tools like Wave Edit and Chop. Users are free to load samples in .WAV and AIFF formats and back up data to convenient PC cards with up to 1GB capacity.
When Roland engineers developed the Fantom-X Series, they wanted to fully exploit the potential of the new chip. That"s why each keyboard comes with a brand new 128MB wave ROM loaded with quality-focused sounds like vivid new string sections, expressive and fat-sounding drums, rich nylon string guitars and an amazing 88-key split acoustic piano, which uses individual stereo multi-samples for each key and every velocity stage. Would you believe there are over 700 samples used in this single Patch? Many of the instruments were recorded in world-class studios using multiple microphones and were mixed like music into samples by renowned studio engineer Dan Blessinger (Martinsound) - resulting in a level of quality unheard of before.
First introduced on the Fantom-S, Roland"s Skip Back Sampling has become popular with musicians for its ability to instantly retrieve a performance and turn it into a sample. With Skip Back Sampling, your ideas never get lost because the sampler is constantly recording every note you play - be it on the keyboard or Dynamic Pad Bank - while keeping the musical bars in tact. Speaking of which, these 16 velocity- and aftertouch-sensitive pads now sport twice the polyphony and an improved feel for even more natural drum programming and sample triggering.
Whether sequencing MIDI tracks, triggering samples from the Dynamic Pad Bank, or even recording audio tracks directly to RAM, the Fantom-X Series makes putting it all together a seamless process. Lay down a drum track by combining the internal drum sounds with loops, which can automatically sync to tempo via realtime timestretch. Then record some keyboard parts as MIDI and finish your song by tracking guitars, vocals, or other live audio tracks. The high-resolution sequencer boasts up to 400,000-note capacity and supports Standard MIDI File (SMF) import and export, making the Fantom-X by far the best workstation in its class.
The Fantom-X Series is the first line of workstation keyboards with a color LCD screen. And once you"ve seen this display"s smart, color-coded screens, you"ll never want to go back! With all the menus and screens in color, navigating the Fantom-X becomes that much more a pleasure. Even the bitmap images appear more lifelike, adding to the overall experience.
The Fantom-X Series is not only a great choice for studio musicians, but also for live performers. Using Roland"s V-LINK technology, musicians can trigger and manipulate video clips when connected to an Edirol video editor like the DV-7PR. Imagine being able to instantly trigger clips from the Dynamic Pad Bank, or create transitions and effects using the pitch bender and knobs. It"s a live performer"s dream!
Choose the Fantom-X8 model, and you"ll get an 88-note Progressive Hammer-Action Keyboard designed to capture the feel of a fine concert grand. It"s the perfect way to play the amazing new 88-key split piano Patch, which can be instantly called up by pressing the Fantom-X Series" dedicated Piano button. Of course, this button can be reprogrammed to call up a different Patch or Performance in any order, so it"s almost like having an extra Favorite Sounds button. Regardless of which model you choose, you"ll find nothing else compares to the new Fantom-X.