MIDI controllers themselves don’t make sounds - they trigger sounds to play in your Mac or PC, a plugin, or another piece of gear. No matter the form factor, all MIDI controllers work by sending “MIDI messages” to your computer. The right MIDI controller can streamline your production workflow and introduce you to new ways of arranging music that are harder to achieve by pointing and clicking on a screen.
It can play software instruments, program drums, control your digital audio workstation (DAW) transport, automate plugin parameters while mixing, and more. They are most commonly keyboards, but can also be guitars, a drum machine with pads, or a wearable ring! Even fruit can be wired to a computer processor to become a MIDI controller.Ī MIDI controller is the Swiss Army knife of your studio. Quite simply: if a device’s primary or secondary function is to send MIDI data to another piece of hardware or software, that device can be considered a MIDI controller. MIDI controllers come in all different styles and sizes.
Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned producer, figuring out how to buy a MIDI controller that’s right for you can be an overwhelming task.īefore we get into our guide, let’s touch on what a MIDI controller is. MIDI controllers are one of the first purchases in any home studio.