If you are a professional musician or music producer you are likely using pro-DAW software such as Logic Pro X. This guide to the best MIDI Controller for Logic Pro X will help you to choose a suitable instrument for your home studio, or live performances.
- AKAI Professional MPK Mini
- Arturia Keylab Mark 3
- M-Audio Hammer Pro
- N I Komplete Kontrol S88
- Novation Launchkey 61 MK3
- Kawai VPC1
Today we look into the best MIDI controller for Logic Pro X on the market – TOP 6!
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The Best MIDI Controller for Logic Pro X In 2024
Contents
1. AKAI Professional MPK Mini– 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard
Main Features
The AKAI Professional MPK Mini is a compact and highly portable MIDI controller designed for musicians, producers, and music enthusiasts on the go.
It’s particularly well-suited for electronic music producers, beatmakers, and musicians who need a portable solution for music creation and is one of the best MIDI controllers for Logic Pro X in 2023.
Despite its small size, it offers an impressive array of features, responsive controls, and a solid software bundle, all at an affordable price point.
Compact and Portable
The MPK Mini’s small form factor and lightweight design make it incredibly portable. It’s perfect for musicians who need a controller they can easily take to gigs, studios, or even use on the road.
Despite its small size, the 25 velocity-sensitive mini keys offer a surprisingly playable and expressive experience. They’re suitable for playing melodies, chords, and triggering samples.
Versatile Pads and Assignable Controls
The 8 backlit MPC-style drum pads are a highlight of the MPK Mini. They are both velocity-sensitive and responsive, making them great for finger drumming, triggering samples, or controlling drum software.
The controller features 8 assignable knobs and a 4-way thumbstick that provide hands-on control over various parameters in your DAW or virtual instruments.
These controls can be easily mapped to different functions for versatile performance and music production.
The built-in arpeggiator and note repeat functions are useful for creating dynamic melodies and rhythms. They add an extra layer of creativity to your music production.
The MPK Mini is bus-powered via USB, eliminating the need for an external power supply, and making it even more convenient for portable use.
Software Bundle
It comes with a generous software bundle, including MPC Beats, AIR Music Tech Hybrid 3, and Wobble, which provides a good starting point for music production.
Conclusion
With an impressive feature list, the Akai Professional MPK Mini is an attractive solution for producers and composers and one of the best MIDI controllers for Logic Pro X.
It offers excellent value for its price point, making it an attractive choice for beginners and experienced musicians alike.
With velocity-sensitive keys, MPC pads, an arpeggiator, and production software with 1500-plus sounds, musicians have everything they need to start making music out of the box.
2. Arturia Keylab Mark 3
Main Features
The Arturia Keylab Mark 3 has a smart and elegant design and is feature-rich. It is available in the standard 49, 61, and 88 key models, with synth, semi-weighted, and weighted actions respectively.
The Mark 3 leads the way with control compared to other MIDI keyboards with everything you need for music production right at your fingertips, making it one of the best MIDI controllers for Logic Pro X
Controls
With a large tactile rotating knob in the middle for navigation, 16 velocity-sensitive RGB-backlit drum pads, and 9 knobs and faders on the right side, you are prepared for composing in a DAW.
The keybeds in the 88 key models are made of a wood and plastic combination that adds to the realism of the piano feel. All options have velocity sensitivity and aftertouch included, to add maximum expressiveness to your synth playing.
Moreover, if synth and organ playing is primarily your focus, you should look into the semi-weighted actions on the 49 and 61 key models.
Software
The included Analog Lab software gives you instant access to more than 6,500 synth and keyboard sounds and a new dedicated stage/performance mode that makes patch selection effortless.
The software includes famous presets from instruments such as the Roland Jupiter and Yamaha CS80. Smart-filter browsing allows you to find sounds with ease and breathe new life into your mix with the much-loved sounds of faithfully emulated classics.
Piano V is a superb collection of physically modeled pianos that includes 12 excellent grand piano samples in total. A classic ’60s organ tone is also included – Arturia’s acclaimed Vox Continental V virtual instrument.
You also get Wurli V, Arturia’s stunningly accurate physical model of the legendary Wurlitzer 200A electric piano. To control every aspect of these amazing sounds, KeyLab 88 MkII features dedicated, intelligently mapped controls for every instrument.
Conclusion
With 16 great drum pads, the right amount of faders and buttons, a decent keybed, and a spectacular software bundle, the Arturia Keylab Mark 3 is an attractive package.
Even if you decide on an alternative Midi-controller, Arturia’s software is an excellent purchase as a VST sound library.
This is a well-built instrument, with an aluminum metal casing that was designed with longevity in mind. It is described by Arturia as ‘tour-ready’, and should therefore survive life on the road for touring bands.
The Keylab comes in black and white models which both look equally slick, with eye-catching wooden side panels to boot.
You can also pick up retro-style wooden support legs for the Mark 3, and these further add to the aesthetic. You can find a link below to the piano legs from Sweetwater.
3. M Audio – Hammer Pro
Main Features
The M-audio Hammer Pro is a top-tier midi keyboard offering a good mix of functionality, price, and quality. It features a weighted action that is graded like an acoustic piano (heavier in the low end and lighter in the high end) and is aftertouch enabled.
The Hammer 88 Pro also comes with 16 RGB lit and velocity-sensitive pads, 8 assignable buttons, 9 assignable faders, a smart chord mode, an arpeggiator, and pitch and mod wheels.
It’s housed in a robust and solid case of MDF and metal, making it suitable for live use and touring musicians. There’s also a chord mode included, which allows you to play chords with single keystrokes, which is ideal for beginners and songwriters.
There’s also an arpeggiator included for synth players, and pitch and mod wheels situated to the left of the keybed, where they should be! The Hammer Pro also comes with a mini LCD screen and an included music rest as standard.
Connections and Software
In terms of connections, the M-audio hammer 88 pro has you covered, with 3 footswitch pedal input and an expression pedal input. It has a standard USB midi connector and the old-school 5-pin midi ins and outs as well.
The bundled software includes Ableton Live Lite, MPC beats, Hybrid 3.0 Analog Synthesis Software, Air Velvet Electric Pianos, and Air Grand Piano (7 high-quality piano samples). This is a varied and unrivaled software bundle at this price range.
Conclusion
While other controllers may seem more premium, and certainly the Kawai VPC1 has a better keybed for piano players, the M-audio offers the right mix of functionality, price, and quality.
If you don’t need the controls offered by the Hammer 88 Pro, you could link into the bass model Hammer 88 from M-audio, which you can pick up for nearly £200 less than the pro model.
M Audio Hammer 88
The M-audio Hammer 88 standard model is also available, at a slightly lower price point, though it does not have the drum pads, and the keybed is not graded like an acoustic piano, so the keys are the same weight across the whole keybed.
Despite these absences, the standard model of the M-audio Hammer 88 is one of the best MIDI controllers for Logic Pro X in 2023.
4. Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2
Main Features
The Native instruments midi-keys are designed to work with the Kontakt instruments and software seamlessly.
Similar to the Arturia line of instruments which integrate with their Analog Lab software, you are buying into an entire ecosphere of high-quality and well-reviewed sounds with the Native instruments S88.
The S88 is the best MIDI controller from Native Instruments. With intuitive features such as a sound tagging system, navigating around the Native Kontrol sample library is simple.
You can even preview different sounds before you load them in which saves time for you and your PC. The tagging feature allows you to save sounds as favorites for quick and easy recall later.
The S88 secures a place as the best MIDI controller for Logic Pro X for many composers and producers thanks to its advanced features.
Controls
Two high-quality LCD screens on the S88 allow you to edit your sounds with the pre-loaded FX and sound design options.
There are also 8 assignable knobs, a 4-way knob for navigation, 2 decent rubberized pitch and mod wheels to the left of the keybed, plus your standard DAW controls such as play, stop, and record.
Another nice addition is the touch strip just below the mod wheels, which is assignable to a sound design or FX parameter of your choice. This is unique on our list of controllers and is an additional way to modify your sound in real-time.
This is a Fatar action similar to what you find on the Nord line of digital pianos. Nord seems to alter the Fatar actions in some way to improve them, but as the SL88 costs around a third as much as the Nord Stage, it isn’t a fair comparison.
The Fatar action on the S88 is a decent weighted action that works for piano, synth, and organ playing as it has a light feel once you ‘break in’ the keys. If you like the Nord digital pianos you will likely enjoy the S88.
Software
Native Instruments offers an impressive software package with the S88, that rivals the Arturia Keylab mark 2.
You get the Kontakt 6 and Reaktor 6 players which are interfaces for your virtual instruments, and a long list of additional VST instruments and plugins including:
- Massive virtual analog synth
- Monark mono synth
- Drumlab percussion
- Gentlemen upright piano
- Realtor polyphonic synth
- Scarbee Mark 1 Rhodes and Scarbee 4003 bass guitar
- Retro machines synths
- Vintage organs
- West African world percussion
- Mod pack of phasis (phasers)
- True school for beat-making
- Velvet lounge production techniques
- Deep Matter (based on Berlin’s underground sound)
- Replika with 3 high-fidelity delay algorithms
- Solid Bus comp (bus compressor and more).
Conclusion
With such tight integration and so many high-quality software instruments at your disposal, the S series from Native Instruments has a lot to offer.
It would have been nice to have some high-quality drum pads included but you could always use the keybed for drum parts or get an additional high-quality drum pad machine such as the Akai Professional MPD218.
5. Novation Launchkey 61 MK3
The Novation Launchkey 61 MK3 is a versatile and feature-packed MIDI controller keyboard designed for electronic music producers and performers. Here’s a brief review of its key features and performance.
Main Features
Build Quality and Design: The Launchkey 61 MK3 features a sleek and modern design with high-quality construction. It’s lightweight and portable, making it easy to transport to gigs or studios.
Keybed: It comes equipped with a velocity-sensitive synth-action keybed with 61 keys, which is great for playing melodies, and chords, and triggering various musical elements.
Integration with DAWs: One of its standout features is its tight integration with popular digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton Live.
Controls
The 16 RGB-backlit drum pads are excellent for triggering loops, samples, and drum beats. They provide visual feedback and are velocity-sensitive, adding expressiveness to your performances.
With its wide array of knobs, faders, and buttons, you can easily manipulate virtual instruments, effects, and mixer settings within your DAW. The inclusion of transport controls is a plus for workflow efficiency.
The dedicated buttons and knobs allow for easy control of your software, including launching clips, adjusting parameters, and navigating your projects.
Novation’s “Custom Modes” allow you to tailor the controller to your specific needs and preferences, which is a nice touch for more advanced users.
Arpeggiator
This controller offers an arpeggiator and a scale mode that can be useful for creating unique melodies and patterns, even if you’re not an experienced keyboardist.
Software
It comes with a comprehensive software bundle that includes Ableton Live Lite, virtual instruments, and more, which adds substantial value to the package.
Conclusion
Considering its features and integration capabilities, the Launchkey 61 MK3 offers good value for its price point.
Its seamless integration with DAWs, solid build quality, and extensive control options make it a strong choice for musicians and producers in the electronic music world.
However, if you’re primarily a pianist looking for a weighted keybed for more traditional piano playing, you might want to consider other options with weighted keys, such as the Kawai VPC1 below, or consider the M Audio Hammer 88, and Studio Logic SL88.
The M-Audio Hammer 88 vs. Studiologic SL88: Which Is Better?
6. Kawai VPC1
Main Features
The VPC1 is described by Kawai as a virtual controller from a real piano company and is an iconic midi-controller used by professional musicians. This is because Kawai is renowned around the world for their excellent acoustic and digital pianos.
The VPC1 is a premium midi piano with a high-quality keybed. If you want the most premium MIDI controller with a minimalistic design and the most realistic piano experience, then this is the one for you.
Aimed at professional pianists and composers, the VPC1 is the most piano-like midi-controller on the market.
This RM3 Grand 2 on the VPC1 is an excellent weighted action that is ideal for classical pianists and studio musicians who want a realistic piano feel. It’s a graded keybed with wooden keys, ivory-simulated touch, triple sensor detection, and escapement.
Design
The VPC1 also has a sleek matte black finish that gives it a premium look, and the top panel can be used as a tabletop for a laptop running your VSTs and plugins, or for secondary hardware instruments.
It also comes with an F-30 triple pedal system including a damper, soft pedal, and sostenuto, which is something that you would normally only get with premium digital or acoustic pianos.
At 29.5 KG this is also by far the heaviest midi-controller in our lineup. It’s designed for home studio use but it could be used for live performances as well if you can manage the weight.
The VPC1 has Midi-in and Midi-out ports, a music rest and USB cable included, and VPC editor software to manage your presets. There are no controls to speak of here so you don’t get buttons, knobs, sliders, faders, mod wheels, or drum pads with this midi piano.
If you need any of those controls you could get a secondary midi controller that would sit comfortably aboard the VPC1, and have a two-tier keyboard setup.
Conclusion
The VPC1 offers superior playability and a premium feel.
If you are a professional pianist and want the best MIDI controller for Logic Pro X (and can manage the weight) then the VPC1 build quality and premium feel will not disappoint, and will last you for many years to come.
Kawai VPC1 vs MP11SE
The Kawai VPC1 and MP11SE are both excellent pianos, but they cater to slightly different needs. Whilst both can be considered the best MIDI controller for Logic Pro X, their slight differences will divide audiences.
The VPC1 is primarily a MIDI controller with an exceptional wooden key keyboard, perfect for pianists who want a realistic acoustic piano feel and plan to use virtual instrument software.
On the other hand, the MP11SE offers a broader range of built-in sounds and features, making it suitable for those who require a standalone digital piano with a variety of voices and effects.
Both instruments excel in their respective areas, so the choice ultimately depends on whether you prioritize authentic piano touch or a versatile all-in-one digital piano experience, that can also function as a MIDI controller.
Kawai VPC1 vs MP10
When comparing the Kawai VPC1 to the MP10, it’s evident that both are high-quality digital pianos, but they serve different purposes.
The MP10 is a versatile digital piano with a wide range of built-in sounds and features, catering to those who seek a standalone instrument with diverse voices and effects.
Your decision should hinge on whether you prioritize an authentic piano touch for MIDI control (VPC1) or a comprehensive digital piano experience (MP10). You can find out more about the VPC1 on the Kawai website.
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Conclusion
We’ve explored a range of MIDI controllers in this article, each offering its own unique set of features and capabilities.
Selecting the best MIDI controller for Logic Pro X is a pivotal decision for any music producer or enthusiast. The right choice can significantly enhance your workflow, creativity, and overall music production experience.
I hope this article helped you select the ideal MIDI keyboard for you setup!
