Choose a MIDI keyboard by how you play. For beats, basslines and a small desk, 25 keys are enough. To play chords with both hands, get 49 or 61. If you play piano, get 88 weighted keys. After that, check the key action, the pads and knobs, and how well it works with your DAW.
How many keys do you need?
| Keys | Best for | Models at Thomann | Median price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Beats, basslines, travel | 39 | $111 |
| 49 | Most producers, two-handed chords | 71 | $190 |
| 61 | Keyboard players, wider parts | 36 | $258 |
| 88 | Pianists, classical and jazz | 26 | $1,000 |
Prices are Thomann's for the 174 MIDI keyboards in stock on October 18, 2026.
Key action: how the keys feel
- Synth action: light, springy keys. Fast for beats and synth parts; most 25 and 49-key models.
- Semi-weighted: a little resistance, a good middle ground for producers who also play.
- Hammer action: heavy, piano-like keys. Needed if you practice piano technique on it.
Pads, knobs and DAW control
Pads are for drums and triggering clips; knobs and faders control synths and mixing. Many keyboards come mapped to one DAW (FL Studio, Ableton Live, Logic or Native Instruments software), which saves setup time.
Good MIDI keyboards for each size
25 keys: Korg nanoKEY 2, $59
A slim 25-key velocity-sensitive controller with octave shift and sustain buttons, powered over USB. #1 of 34 master keyboards (up to 25 keys).
49 keys: Arturia KeyLab MkII 49, $244
49 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, 16 pads, nine faders and nine knobs. #4 of 54 master keyboards (up to 49 keys).
61 keys: Novation FLkey 61, $255
61 keys and 16 pads, made to control FL Studio out of the box. #3 of 25 master keyboards (up to 61 keys).
61 keys, semi-weighted: Native Instruments Kontrol S61 MK3, $724
A Fatar semi-weighted keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch and deep integration with NI and NKS instruments. #1 of 25 master keyboards (up to 61 keys).
88 keys: M-Audio Hammer 88, $501
88 keys with a weighted hammer action and a MIDI output, for pianists who produce. #2 of 17 master keyboards (up to 88 keys).
Questions
Is 25 keys enough for a MIDI keyboard?
For beats, basslines and melodies, yes. For chords with both hands, get 49 or more.
Should a beginner get a weighted MIDI keyboard?
Only if they want to learn piano. For production, synth-action or semi-weighted keys are faster and cheaper.
How we measured. Counts and medians: every MIDI master keyboard Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, by Thomann's key-count categories, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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