Top 8 MIDI Keyboards to Travel With – Get Portability Without Sacrificing Features

AKAI is the gold standard for many musicians, with the Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII being arguably the best travel MIDI keyboard on the market. It comes in a tiny package and small form factor that add to its portability. With dimensions of 15” x 10”, this MIDI keyboard is actually smaller than a standard 15.6” laptop. That means it can easily sneak into any standard backpack. Also, as one of the cheapest machines out there, it’s an absolute joy for amateurs as you get a great bang for the buck.

The build quality is amazing, with robust keys that are well put together, functional pads, and knobs that feel good to touch. The edges are smooth so as not to tear your backpack and you can choose from black, white, and red shades to match your style.

When it comes to performance, the MPK is above average. The synth-action keyboard has just three touch sensitivity settings, but we like its large and comfortable keys. This will do for studio use, enabling you to enter simple melodies and chords into your DAW, but not compose multiplex piano pieces. There are 8 programmable pads, which are velocity-sensitive, though some may find them quite small. This MIDI keyboard also comes with 8 programmable knobs, which are Q-link enabled so you can easily control filters, envelopes, and oscillators in your DAW.

The power supply is via USB and this makes it incredibly easy to use. Simply plug it in and launch your DAW. Its compatibility with most DAWs also makes it possible to plug and play. There’s even an MKII editor for using presets and making custom configurations.

A range of software is also available for this product, including Hybrid 3, SONiVOX wobble, MPC Essentials, and VIP 3.1. Overall, you’ll like the design and decent performance, perfect for studio use and making music on the go.

What makes it special?

• Highly portable that it easily fits in a laptop bag
• Comes with bundled software; MPC Essentials, VIP 3.1, etc.
• 8 velocity-sensitive pads
• 8 programmable knobs for tweaking or mixing synth effects
• More affordable than other MIDI controllers
• USB plug and play, thus easy to use

What cons did we find?

• Small keys that fingers may feel cramped

Mini keyboards are no doubt designed to fit in a backpack alongside a laptop, but the Akai Professional APC Key 25 is different because it’s the only live-specific unit around. This offering results from a collaboration of Akai and Ableton, thus the name APC (Ableton Performance Controller). The APC 25 is very compact and portable, with an all-plastic construction that’s robust enough to throw it around.

A USB port on the side allows you to connect your PC or Mac, and no drivers are required because it’s class-compliant. Moreover, this connection provides the power and MIDI, meaning you don’t need a power supply. It offers 25 synth-action mini keys, which are really good for melodies, simple chords, and basslines, but you won’t be playing sonatas on these ones. Although they’re small, they are properly designed and will let you enter clips precisely, ideal for beat-style or synth playing. Anything complex would be too much to ask of this MIDI keyboard.

The front panel includes the keyboard plus live controls. There are 25 keys, as the name suggests, in addition to many other potentiometers and buttons, all of which are customized to suit various needs. Most prominent are the 40 LED-backlit pads with fully customized colors. These can be activated to play certain samples or tracks with a single press.

There are 8 knobs, which are fully programmable in Ableton. These are useful in fading tracks in and out, shifting the pitch of any clip up or down, and controlling the intensity of a particular effect on any given track. You also get a sustain button that lets you obtain realistic piano effects. Last but not least, it comes with the revolutionary VIP 3.0 software that lets you manage your virtual instruments in a seamless way.

If you’re looking for a MIDI keyboard that offers multiple possibilities for creativity in both studio and live performance, the APC Key 25 is a great choice.

Why is it special?

• Superb portable design to use on the go
• Remarkable Live integration and requires no set up with Live
• Includes innovative software solutions
• Intuitive buttons and other controls
• Incredible budget price at less than $100

What are the flaws?

• Plastic casing may damage easily if abused
• Launch buttons are quite small to use regularly

The Arturia MiniLab MkII is an essential device for musicians on the go and studios where space is at a premium. It looks stunning at first glance with its slim keys being a major selling point. The keys are actually designed that way for improved action – you don’t get that with many mini keyboards. One thing that pianists will appreciate is the availability of a sustain pedal, which is situated on the back of the back panel. Next to it is a USB port that lets you connect to a Mac or PC for power.

There are 8 drum pads with two banks, and that literally means you have 16 pads to play with. In addition, you get 16 knobs that are useful in mapping and programming your DAW. Moving on to the top left of the front panel you’ll find two-octave buttons plus two modulation strips (a pitch bend and modulation strip). Also available is a handy shift button that lets you choose MIDI presets and channels.

What’s more? It comes loaded with top-of-the-range software including ANALOG LAB LITE, Ableton Live Lite, and Grand Piano Model D. The former offers 500 of the best synth sounds, something that beginners will appreciate. The second allows you to record and produce your music. The third one is quite interesting, producing sounds similar to a real Steinway piano that you would find in grand concert halls. Add the velocity-sensitive keys into the mix and you’d be really playing music, rather than dabbling.

At 3.2 pounds, the MiniLab MKII ranks among the most lightweight MIDI keyboards available. Durability is also of important note here as the controller will be able to withstand regular travels. All in all, this Arturia is a great starting point for studio work or even on the road. Its range of sounds is a huge bonus.

Why are we impressed?

• Portable and compact MIDI controller
• Extremely sensitive keyboard
• Includes 500 sounds of the V-collection
• Comes with fully mapped synthesizers
• Has 16 programmable encoders to control your DAW

What negatives must you be aware of?

• Drum pads feel too stiff

This M-Audio Oxygen 25 IV is a popular choice for aspiring producers doing music from their home studios. As the title suggests, it’s a small, 25 key device with some nifty features and connects to your PC via USB.

One thing to note is that this MIDI controller is by no means a compact machine as it measures 20 x 10 inches (L x W). Contributing to this factor are the full-sized keys with the standard MOD and PITCH wheels on the left side. That makes it suitable for a studio setup where there’s space on the main desk or if there’s a side table for it to rest on.

However, in exchange for the size, the full-sized keys make the best feature of this unit. These ones feel so much better than mini-keys and the extra space between them give your fingers plenty of room to move around. They’re also very responsive and soft to touch, meaning you won’t have to exert too much pressure on them when playing.

Elsewhere, there are 8 drum pads that are rubbery, soft, and very comfortable to tap rhythms on. While you can change the octaves of these pads, it’s hard to program them to fit your DAW. In the event that the default pad sensitivity doesn’t work, however, you can easily change it within the MINI keyboard without using any special hardware.

In addition, you get 8 rotary knobs to do sound tweaking whether in the studio or during live performances. They feel standard and well-made, but don’t have adequate resistance when you turn them. As such, they compromise on feedback and may not be very accurate.

Lastly, the unit doesn’t come with bundled software, but it does offer straightforward integration with popular DAWs such as Ableton Live, Logic, and Pro Tools. Also important to mention are the transport buttons that allow you to control your DAW without a mouse.

What makes it special?

• 25 full-sized velocity-sensitive keys
• 8 assignable knobs for manipulating virtual instruments
• With transport buttons to control your DAW without using a mouse
• Integrates with popular DAWS; Ableton Live, Logic, Pro Tools, etc.
• Powered by USB with plug and play support and USB-MIDI connectivity
• Features sustain pedal input for additional creative control

What cons did we find?

• Difficult to shift notes
• Less resistant knobs, so accuracy may be an issue

Novation claims the Lauchkey Mini MK3 is their most compact and portable 25-key MIDI keyboard controller. There’s no question though, given its 13 x 6.8 x 1.6 dimensions; it’s smaller than a standard 15.6-inch laptop, so it will fit into any bag. It comes with nifty features including Ableton control, creative arpeggiator with 4 octaves of range, Fixed chord mode to trigger chords from notes, MIDI out, and multiple sounds, allowing you to make tracks anywhere.

In terms of software, the unit comes with Ableton Live Lite and since it’s designed to partner it, you’ll get deeper integration than previous versions. From clip and scene launch to track select and transport control, device macros, and great mixing support such as volume, mute and pan, there is a lot to navigate around a Live session. You also get Logic Pro support as well as support for the HUI protocol integrating with Pro Tools, Cubase, among other DAWS.

Getting started is simply a matter of connecting the controller to your PC or Mac via USB. The front panel is well designed with 25 mini keys but they’re perfectly playable. There are 8 rotary encoders plus pitch and modulation strips, as well as 16 RGB backlit pads that changes depending on the context and velocity sensitivity. While there’s no screen, everything is well labelled for easy use and you can always rely on Shift + function.

Overall, this a great little controller that can communicate with your MIDI hardware and computer, with excellent integration with Ableton Live. A sweet deal at just under $100.

What makes it special?

• Extremely compact and portable.
• 16 backlit pads with RGB lighting
• Comes with Ableton Live Lite
• Has sustain input to enhance usability
• Great arpeggiator and Chord features
• Top notch Live control
• Decent software bundle

What cons did we find?

• Mini keys on keyboard not for everyone
• No aftertouch

Alesis offers a variety of MIDI keyboards and the V25 is one of their mid-level controllers. Weighing 3.8 pounds, this unit is relatively lightweight for most people to take on travel, though it’s on the heavier side compared to the majority of models in this post. To use the keyboard, all you to do is plug in to your PC and your DAW will detect it instantly. You may still have to find it among your MIDI network in the settings option.

The keys here are full-sized and velocity-sensitive, which is obviously what most producers want; most travel keyboards in this price range have tiny mini-keys. They also have a semi-weighted feel and a good response. Moving on to the drum pads, there are 8 of them that are backlit and velocity-sensitive. You can change the drum pads velocity curves by installing the V-Series Editor, allowing you to jump from 8 to 32 assignable pads.

You also get 4 knobs to enable you to control mixer settings or assign them to some parameters in your effects and plugins. They can even be assigned to any function utilizing the MIDI Learn function. These aren’t encoders with the ability to rotate 360 degrees but they have a decent 270-degree range. Worth mentioning is that they are impressively backlit, adding more aesthetic when playing in the dark.

Other controls include pitch and MOD wheels, which are a favorite with most people compared to buttons. Octave up and down buttons are a nice addition to the 25 keys, so you can achieve a higher range of notes if necessary. Lastly, the V25 comes with a good starter kit in the form of Ableton Live Lite 9 and Xpand!2 software, which integrate well with Ableton.

What makes it stand out?

• Compact design that doesn’t take too much space on your desk
• Full-sized, velocity-sensitive keys
• 8 backlit velocity-sensitive drum pads
• 4 rotary knobs to control mixer settings and effects
• An affordable 25-key MIDI keyboard

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Unable to manipulate velocity settings
• No transport controls

This Nektar Midi Controller IMPACT LX25+ is one of the popular MIDI keyboards for starters. A good selling point is its compatibility with iOS, which allows you to connect it to your iPad as well as use in Garage Band. These are neat functions especially for anyone using an iPad Pro as their computer for music production.

When it comes to functionality, expect this controller to be different from the “average” MIDI keyboards. Apart from 8 drum pads and 2 wheels, it has many more advanced features that novices will love. The knobs on this unit are designed to be used with mostly synth and bass. Four of them are set to adjust the oscillation tune, level and two modes, while the other four are to manipulate resonance, envelope amount, low-frequency oscillation and cutoff frequencies.

You’ll have to be patient to learn how to produce cool sounds with these knobs. While you may use its 5 user presets, understanding how sound generators work would be game-changing. A real cool feature to help you learn things is the “Pad Learn”, which allows you to select a pad, play the note you want on the keyboard and assignment is done.

The control panel is not only easy to use because everything is well-labeled, but also due to LED illumination around the pads. You’ll also find 6 dedicated transport buttons within reach and mapped to control Play, Record, Cycle, Rewind, Forward, and Stop. The MIDI controller software integration supports most of the popular DAWs including Cubase, FL Studio, Logic, Studio One, Nuendo, and more.

At 4 pounds, this MIDI controller is the heaviest model in our picks, but that’s still manageable to carry. All in all, the Impact LX25+ is really a breeze to use, thus a good one for beginners.

What are our favorite features?

• Integrates seamlessly with all popular DAWs
• Full-sized and velocity-sensitive keys which are perfect for learners
• Includes transport controls so you can record melodies with a press of a button
• Lots of pads, knobs and buttons to better control of your mix

What could be better?

• Quite heavy and bulky

One of the best-selling keyboard controllers in the world, the M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3 lets you create and perform music with your PC or Mac.

It features 32 mini-sized velocity-sensitive keys plus comprehensive controls that widen the range of playable notes and improve your expressive possibilities. The controller has been designed to help you maximize your creativity while minimizing complication. You can utilize the volume knob, dedicated pitch-bend, and modulation buttons, and the fully-assignable octave up and down buttons to play and perform with your music software.

Speaking of software, the controller comes with Pro Tool | First M-Audio Edition, which will inspire you to create, record, and share your ideas across the world. The software features unlimited busses, offline bounce, elastic pitch and elastic time, and 1GB free cloud storage space for accessing your files from any PC anywhere that has an internet connection. Another ready-to-use software is the AIR Music Xpand!2, offering four active sound slots per patch. You get thousands of ready-to-play patches from this software.

One thing you’ll notice is that this unit is ultra-light at a mere 1 pound. It makes the perfect companion for traveling musicians who want to take control of music software during live sessions or for producers who are mindful of the footprint in their studios. The MIDI controller is USB-powered and supports USB-MIDI connectivity, allowing you to compose with audio apps on iOS devices.

Whether you’re looking to get started with the right MINI keyboard or you’re a seasoned professional seeking just the right controller, this one is for you.

What are its best features?

• USB power and data provides single-cable convenience
• Comes with Pro Tools and AIR Music software
• Includes octave up and down buttons for extended range
• With pitch bend and MOD buttons for added expression
• Has 32 low-profile velocity-sensitive mini-keys

What could be improved?

• Doesn’t work reliably on Windows 10
• No pads