Quest for the Best: Choosing the Right MIDI Controller for Your Studio

No matter the size of your studio — from a bedroom recording rig to a dedicated sound space — a MIDI controller is an integral tool for most sonic setups, allowing for diverse methods of interfacing with your sound when recording, writing, ideating, or experimenting. Yet as loosely as the term “MIDI controller” is used when talking about building or expanding your studio space, it’s not always obvious which controller is best for your artistic needs. Sweetwater’s baron of beat crafting, Creative D’Will, is joined by our synthesis scholar, Daniel Fisher, to explore the MIDI market to show you how to choose the best MIDI controller for your studio. Check it out!

00:00 — Intro Daniel Fisher & D’Will00:53 — Daniel’s Preferences for Controllers02:08 — D’Will’s Preferences for Controllers02:41 — Octave Buttons and Number of Keys03:24 — Pad Controllers03:47 — Mapping Controls to MIDI CC04:38 — Battery Powered or USB Powered05:51 — Polyphonic Aftertouch07:51 — USB MIDI vs. 5-pin DIN08:49 — Controlling Your DAW10:12 — Knobs vs. Faders vs. Sliders10:38 — Moog Theremini as Controller11:12 — Locking Controller to a Scale11:48 — Transport Controls12:30 — Keys vs. Pads for Drums12:48 — Wind Controllers13:11 — Arpeggiators & Sequencers13:46 — Note Repeat14:17 — Dedicated DAW Controllers15:03 — MIDI vs. Control Voltage16:01 — CV Pitch, Gate, and Mod16:53 — MIDI Controllers Wrap-up17:56 — Thanks for Watching!
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