So you want to start making some music.

Maybe you're an aspiring beatmaker. You've already downloaded the programs you need, you've watched a few tutorials, and you're ready to start producing some super hot fire. Or maybe you're in a band, and you want to take advantage of some VST instruments to add more layers of music to your songs.

Whichever you are, you've probably quickly realized that trying to make music by clicking in melodies with your mouse is difficult, and simply speaking… Not a lot of fun. You want to be able to actually play your music with your fingers and be able to experiment with different notes to figure out the right melodies for your music.

Alas, what you need is a MIDI controller. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: if you want to make beats, this is probably one of the most important pieces of equipment that you'll invest in.

The problem? There's a lot of them out today… Too many, as a matter of fact. So the question is: with all the models out there today, how do you know which MIDI keyboard is the right one for you?

To answer that, first we have to know which factors are important when it comes to judging MIDI keyboards. While no perfect controller for everybody exists, you can weigh each model on six main factors in order to figure out which one would fit you the best:

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Nektar, 25-Key Midi Controller (Impact LX25+)

4.5

The best feature of Nektar Impact LX25+ is that it offers seamless integration with most major DAW software today.

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I was in for a rough surprise when I first decided to start making beats. At first, I thought it was going to be easy — just torrent some cracked software, get yourself some sounds, click some melodies in and voila — you'll be making hot banging beats in no time!

Turns out it wasn't going to be that easy. As someone with zero musical training, I had absolutely no idea how to compose melodies that sound good. It's not just a matter of hitting random keys and something good comes out of your speakers — it takes a lot of trial and error to find out the right keys that sound good when played together.

And as someone who has never played an instrument and zero knowledge about music theory, trust me when I say that it's borderline impossible to do that while clicking on random notes on the piano roll with your mouse.

That's why I almost always recommend aspiring producers to invest in a MIDI keyboard controller. The ability to easily play different notes using your fingers will make it much, much quicker (and easier) to figure out the right notes that make a good melody.

I started out with a cheap, $60 compact MIDI keyboard since I wasn't sure if I had what it takes to make beats when I started (I've upgraded my equpiment since then). As soon as I started using it, the quality of my beats instantly got better. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't producing hits overnight; but thanks to being able to easily experiment with different melodies my beats actually started sounding like something someone would actually want to rap on.

If you're wanting to buy a MIDI keyboard yourself, it's pretty easy to get confused on which model you should buy. There are a lot of MIDI controllers out there, and chances are you don't know what makes each one special — and of course, you want to make sure that you're buying the right keyboard for you.

And in my personal opinion, the Nektar Impact LX25+ is one of the best choices you have when choosing a MIDI keyboard. I would recommend this for most producers out there, and this review will tell you why.

Let's get on with the review!

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M-Audio Oxygen 25 IV | USB Keyboard and Pad MIDI Controller Featuring Pad/Velocity - Sensitive Keys

4.5

The Oxygen 25 MKIV is the first in the Oxygen line of keyboards to feature drum pads. This unit also features transport controls and comes with 8 rotary knobs. 

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Getting a MIDI controller is probably one of the most crucial pieces of equipment you need to add to your home studio if you're planning to make your own beats if you're a complete beginner.

When I was starting out as a starry-eyed newbie, I spent months dicking around random programs and wondering why I was making nothing but hot garbage. I almost gave up on the idea of producing beats… That is, until I decided to buy a cheap mini MIDI keyboard for $50 (the cheapest model they had available at the store).

As soon as I was able to jam and play out melodies with my hands instead of trying to click them in with my mouse, learning how to make beats just became a whole of a lot easier, and the music I created instantly became a hell of a lot better.

But if you're reading this right now, then you don't need any convincing that you need a MIDI controller — you're simply trying to find out which one is the right model for you.

And if you take a look at all the available options, it's easy to get confused on which keyboard you should buy. One of the most popular ones for many aspiring producers is the M-Audio Oxygen 25 MKIV. It's a small, 25 key MIDI controller with several nifty features and connects to your computer through USB.

Is this the right model for you to buy for your music-making journey, or should you take a look at other keyboards instead? We'll dive deep into this keyboard in this review, so you can make the right decision.

Let's do this!

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Alesis V25 - 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Backlit Pads, 4 Assignable Knobs and Buttons, Professional Software Suite Included

4.5

The Alesis V25 comes with 4 rotary knobs and its keys are semi-weighted. It also does come with software that allows you to assign MIDI signals to whatever you choose

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For aspiring and beginner producers, one of the most important pieces of equipment for your home studio is no doubt a MIDI keyboard controller that you can use to play out your melodies and compose beats with. The problem? It's easy to get lost in confusion when deciding which model to buy.

When I was looking around for the latest 25-key MIDI controllers that have been released recently, I came across the Alesis V25. Despite the fact that it doesn't get as much attention as other brands like M-Audio, Akai, or Novation does, all of its available features actually looked pretty solid on paper.

The price point was very attractive too, and it's probably one of the cheapest 25-key MIDI keyboards I've seen on the market right now. So of course, I HAD to take a closer look at this keyboard and determine if it would be the right MIDI controller you're looking for.

Let's get into it!

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M-Audio Axiom 25 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Assignable Control Surface, 2nd Gen

4.0

What I love the most is the Instrument mode, a new feature with the second generation Axiom series. 

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Quick Summary

A couple of months ago, I flew to Vancouver, Canada to handle some personal business.

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