The majority of MIDI controllers are plug-and-play. And since it’s not audio, you can take raw MIDI data and endlessly change the sound by simply changing virtual instruments or patches. One of the biggest advantages of MIDI is how easy it is to edit once it’s been recorded. MIDI information itself does not contain any audio-just the info for how something should sound.

This includes info like pitch, velocity, vibrato, and more. The controller sends MIDI data to our DAW and records it. When we play a MIDI keyboard, for example, we’re using it to control a software instrument in our DAW.

That’s how inventive and useful it’s been for nearly four decades. It actually debuted in 1983 and hadn’t received a major update until January 2020. MIDI is a physical and digital standard of communication between different instruments and computers. Wondering which is the best MIDI controller for you? Take your pick from 12 of the top choices, whether you’re after a portable 25-note controller for production on-the-go, or a full-sized keyboard for ultimate playability.

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