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Electronic dance music is the craze right now
Every club and DJ is playing this banging music that has everyone nodding their heads to this song.
And as a music producer, you will always want to test new genres of music and see what you can come up with
Which is what I tried to do recently in my home studio.
I had all the setup and gear needed to create EDM in my studio, the only piece of equipment I had missing was a midi controller
As such I went online and searched everywhere looking for the best midi controller for electronic dance music
You can imagine my frustration and disappointment, when all I saw were outdated articles or just plain dumb recommendations for quality midi controllers for edm
Which is why i decided to write this article… which I will be showing you the top 5 recommended midi controllers for edm, where you can get them at cheap prices and what to do to ensure that you get the best bang for your buck.
Related: Here is an article I wrote showing you the 5 best midi controllers for dub
Our Winner After Careful Research
- 48-Note keyboard controller with MIDI polyphonic expression and multidimensional touch sensitivity
- Class compliant - macOS/Windows
- Usb powered
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best Midi Controller for EDM – Comparison Table
| Image | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuNexus Smart Sensor Keyboard Controller | Buy Now | ||
| M-Audio Oxygen 25 IV | Buy Now | ||
| Novation Launchkey 25 MK2 USB Keyboard Controller for Ableton Live | Buy Now | ||
| ROLI Seaboard Block Studio Keyboard | Buy Now | ||
| Akai Professional Advance 49 | Buy Now |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
5 Best Midi Controllers for EDM
1. Keith Mcmillen Instruments Quenexus Midi Controller
- 48-Note keyboard controller with MIDI polyphonic expression and multidimensional touch sensitivity
- Class compliant - macOS/Windows
- Usb powered
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
This is without a doubt the easiest way to make electronic dance music using a tablet or computer
It is a plug and play USB midi controller that is totally affordable, portable and highly expressive.
This midi controller can unleash your creativity while giving you lots of options while on the go.
It is very compatible with all the major DAWs out of the box and instantly connects to all your devices.
One good thing about this midi controller is that it also affords you room to grow – so as your electronic musical prowess grows you can explore the touch sensitivity keys which allows you add expressions and effects to your music.
It is designed to be accessible to musicians of all ages and professionalism.
It has smart fabric under every key which allows you to experiment with the touch sensitive keys to shape sound based on pressure or finger tilt.
It is made from extremely durable and tough material which makes it very durable and able to withstand falls and spills.
This is one midi controller that is ideal for electronic dance music and gives you the options to make awesome music.
2. M Audio Oxygen 25 IV Midi Controller
- Compact, ultra portable performance keyboard controller with 25 full size, synth action velocity sensitive keys and on board pitch bend and modulation wheels for expressive performances
- Class compliant, plug and play functionality and USB powered specification for simple user friendly setup
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Next on the list is the M Audio Oxygen 25 IV Midi Controller.
It features a synth action keybed with action that is adaptable, clean and precise.
Its natural profile keys are both velocity and pressure sensitive which gives you maximum expressive capability with the ability to replicate every subtlety and nuance of your performance.
One unique thing about this controller is that it comes with a conveniently located Octave up and Octave down which gives you the ability to access the entire note range without any issues.
So whether you are playing intricate melodies lines, chords or baselines, this controller is the ideal choice for you
It also comes with conveniently located pitch bend and modulation wheels which gives you complete control of all your virtual instruments
And as an EDM producer, virtual instruments are your major weapon for producing that fat, thumpy sound
It has assignable backlit velocity sensitive drum pads, which is perfect for capturing every lifelike detail of your performance
It connects easily to all your major DAWs such as Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Cubase and many more.
While this might look like a normal midi controller, it packs so many features and knobs and allows you to create awesome music at your home studio.
3. Novation LaunchKey 25 MK2 Midi Controller
- MK2 version of Novations 25-note USB keyboard controller for Ableton Live
- 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads, 8 knobs, and dedicated navigation and control buttons
- Software for Mac and PC
- Fully USB bus-powered and class compliant; works without drivers or power cable
- Software for Mac and PC, Including: Ableton Live Lite, XLN Audio Addictive Keys, Novation Bass Station and V Station virtual instruments. Novation now offers a 3-Year Warranty on this and all other Novation products.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
This is an easy to use Midi Keyboard controller that gives you everything you need to create truly amazing electronic music.
If you use Ableton Live, then this is the easiest and fastest way to create dance music without any complex setup
It is fully USB bus powered and class compliant which allows it to work out of the box without power supplies or drivers on your Mac or PC.
With this midi controller you can easily take control of Ableton Live and make truly great music.
This midi controller is designed to allow you shape your sound the way you want it
This happens because its eight rotary knobs are rock solid and designed to give you confidence when tweaking your instruments and effects
It comes included with the addictive keys virtual instrument which is available to you when you register the controller
It has 16 RGB velocity-sensitive pads for both colour-matched feedback when launching clips and creating expressive drum beats.
This is one midi controller that allows you learn and create music with melodics making it the ideal choice for anyone who wants to create electronic music easily
4. ROLI Seaboard Block Studio Midi Controller
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Seaboard Block is an award-winning MIDI controller that opens up new possibilities in your music, letting you play a universe of sounds and shape them through touch.
Its unique bend pitch, change timbre and modulate knobs allow you to tweak sounds through pressure, slides, glides and other movements on a soft surface.
With its unique 5D touch sensor you can shape sound and give it that fat and thumpy electronic sound that shakes the clubs
It’s studio software suite comes included and this includes lots of cutting edge sounds from synths to strings and also includes impressive array of production tools
It is very compact and versatile which allows you to produce with it in your studio or carry it and perform on stage.
It is very compatible with your workflow while integrating with your favourite DAW.
This is a super advanced midi controller that allows you to create awesome electronic music easily without any complex setup issues.
5. Akai Professional Advance 49 Midi Controller
- Integrated 4.3-inch high-resolution full-color screen with dedicated interface buttons
- Screen provides 1:1, real-time feedback of plugin parameters
- Includes Virtual Instrument Player software for unprecedented virtual instrument preset management, control mapping and multi patch creation
- 49 premium, semi-weighted velocity-sensitive keybed with after touch
- 8 large, endless and continuously variable control knobs
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Advance 49 gives you unprecedented playability and unrestricted manipulation of any virtual instrument with our exclusive interactive, full-color display, complemented by performance-friendly hardware controls
One unique thing about this midi controller is that it deftly fuse the power of software instruments with the live playability of a keyboard workstation
It has an integrated 4 inch high resolution full color screen with dedicated interface buttons which provides you with real time and first hand information of your tweaks and parameters
It Includes Virtual Instrument Player software for unprecedented virtual instrument preset management, control mapping and multi patch creation
This EDM Midi controller is a 49 premium, semi-weighted velocity-sensitive keybed with aftertouch.
It also has 8 large, endless and continuously variable control knobs
Without a doubt this is an ideal midi controller keyboard for electronic dance music and one you should get for your home studio.
Related: Here is an article I wrote showing you the top 5 best midi controllers for battery 4
