But not all keyboards are created equal, especially when you consider connectivity to an iPad. There are basically two camps: those that connect to your iPad via USB and those that connect to your iPad via Bluetooth. The former will often require some sort of adapter, thanks to the iPad’s single port. The latter, while much friendlier from a connectivity perspective, might create some latency issues thanks to Bluetooth. To break everything down, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites. It connects via Bluetooth, offering plug-and-play compatibility with any iPad software right out of the box. And thanks to a few programmable buttons on the side, you’ll have outboard control of your production software. It does operate via battery, but the included micro-USB charges everything quickly. It’s not without its limitations, though. This keyboard is completely in the “portability” camp, so you won’t find features and controls such as pitch wheels or several different control knobs. But, while it does present a lot of the features you’d expect from a keyboard-based MIDI controller, the KeyStep also functions as an eight-voice polyphonic step-sequencer. This means you can control synths and plugins using arpeggiated sequences or custom patterns. It’s extremely versatile, eliminating the need to program step sequencing on your DAW or enlist the help of a separate device. There are plenty of assignable knobs, plus a few inputs and outputs, including a micro-USB port and even true MIDI in/out ports. And, for $129, considering you are getting a keyboard and a synthesizer, the price is just about right. Korg calls its miniaturized keys “Natural Touch,” meaning they’re designed with a decent amount of velocity sensitivity. It’s important to note that the keys are significantly smaller than the average piano, which will take some adjustment when you actually sit down to start playing. And, even though there is some volume sensitivity that occurs, it’s not not nearly as full-featured as a true MIDI controller. There are some interesting on-board controls, including a few toggle switches and an analog joystick. This joystick allows you to add a bit of pitch-based expression to your performance, which isn’t often seen in controllers this small. The unit does connect via USB and comes with a USB-A cable, so you’ll have to purchase an adapter to expand compatibility to your iPad. This whole offering comes in at well under $100, which from a price-to-feature perspective is pretty impressive. These Blocks are modular, allowing you to snap them together with a keyboard-style block and a control block to create a mini studio on the go. We chose the Lightpad here because it is the smallest option that still gives you some keyboard-esque functionality. This square block seamlessly connects to your device using either Bluetooth or simple USB, with a suite of software that comes bundled with the device. Where the controller really stands out is in its build and design. The fabric-topped, soft-touch keyboard allows you to strike notes with the touch of a finger, but then bend or warp those notes by pressing down harder or sliding your finger around. The unit also has embedded grids of LEDs to allow for interactive play-along functionality and some clever sync features. The Block isn’t for the experimentally reluctant as it does take some getting used to, and at over $100 you’ll pay a premium for its different form. But overall, this is one of the most unique (and most portable) controllers around. Even though the footprint is reasonably small, Nektar has managed to fit in quite a few features, including customizable velocity-sensitive keys that are full-sized. That customizability means you can choose between different types of volume curves that respond differently to your specific playing style. There are also modulation and pitch bend wheels, eight assignable buttons, and seamless integration with most Digital Audio Workstations on the market. There’s even a fourth-inch sustain pedal jack to give you the full functionality of an actual digital piano. For right around $100, you can get a better deal, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a similarly featured keyboard at the price point. Rounding out the features and playability are a volume slider, some octave control buttons, and the requisite pitch and mod wheels. This makes the keyboard excellent for a starter studio, but because of the nature of an 88-key controller, it isn’t ideal for taking on the road. The device connects via USB and works well with most DAWs on the market, so if you do want to use an iPad, you’ll need an adapter. After getting it hooked up, it will work seamlessly with plug-and-play, driver-free operation. The weighted keys and full octave set do mean that you’ll pay upwards of $300 for the keyboard, so don’t look here if your budget is tight. For about $1,300, you get a fully-functioning synth and sampler that will unlock a ton of musical inspiration while on the go. At its core, the OP-1 has the ability to generate its own sound with 13 synth engines and seven studio-style effects. If you don’t want to use the synth generators, you can actually use on-board microphones to record snippets of sounds and sample those using the keys. This allows for a powerful sequencer and sampler that fits in your backpack. With USB connectivity, you can connect the device as a MIDI controller to run your DAW on your computer, or you can connect it to other MIDI controllers to affect the on-board engines. This makes it a truly versatile device when it comes to your on-the-go recording setup. Plus, with nearly 16 hours of battery life, it truly is an iPad musician’s tool that will go the distance. While its build quality is pretty premium, it isn’t the most rugged, and the keys themselves are undeniably small and button-like. But for the OP-1’s feature set and functionality, these are small trade-offs. The 25 shrunken-down keys aren’t full-sized, but do provide a good amount of touch sensitivity. There’s even an on-board Arpegiator and sustain pedal input—options that aren’t often found in small format keyboards like this one. The device works right out of the box with most of the recording software you’d find on an iPad, mobile phone, or desktop. And with a few assignable buttons, it’s a perfectly viable control surface—though we would have liked to see more dedicated controls.
David Beren is a tech writer with more than 10 years of experience in the industry. He has written and managed content for tech companies like T-Mobile, Sprint, and TracFone Wireless.
What to Look for in Piano/Keyboards/MIDI iPad Accessories
Number of keys - Most of your options will have either 25 or 32 keys. More keys provide you with more flexibility without having to press an octave button, but you should beware of portable keyboards that include a lot of extra keys that are too small to use comfortably. Battery life - You don’t need to worry about this too much if you plan on using the keyboard at your desk. However, one of the main reasons to buy an iOS-compatible MIDI keyboard is portability, which makes decent battery life very important. Some keyboards use AA batteries, and others have built-in rechargeables. Connectivity - If you don’t mind wires, you can find portable MIDI keyboards that will connect to your iPad via lightning cable or the camera connection kit. If you prefer to go totally wireless, look for a keyboard that supports Bluetooth.
