The Best Cheap MIDI Keyboards Under $100 - 2023 | Gearank

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Cons

Knobs feel cheap
Touch strips feel like a compromise
Pads are a bit small

Pros

Great value for money
Lots of encoders and pads
Synth action keys feel great

Arturia’s entry into the affordable 25-key MIDI controller arena got a facelift in 2016. This MkII has an updated layout and smaller footprint than its predecessor.

Build-wise, the MiniLab MkII feels solid. Even though it’s made of plastic, I didn’t feel any excess plastic residue and everything feels solid with no internal rattle when I shake it. The keys are finished nicely and the resistance is just right for synth action. There were some keys that were fractions of an inch higher or lower than the others but it’s not really a major issue. The knobs felt a bit flimsy to the touch but the potentiometer rotation is smooth and consistent across all knobs. The pads felt a bit small but I rarely use them. Still, if you like making beats on pads, the layout and size might not be the best especially for harder hitters.

Arturia MiniLab MkII Touch Strips
In place of a regular mod and pitch wheel are two touch strips.

In place of a regular mod and pitch wheel are two touch strips.

What I don’t like about the Minilab MkII is the fact that I had to settle with touch strips instead of pitch and mod wheels. I would have preferred even a smaller integration of the two wheels as long as it’s mechanical. The strips work fine but I do feel it lacking in precision especially when my left hand’s fingers are calloused from guitar playing.

The unit was plug and play and my DAW (Presonus Studio One) instantly recognized it as a new device. Arturia provides a software suite that automatically maps to the encoders and pads. Manual mapping for other software synths and samplers is also easy to do. I already have a software synth by Arturia called “Pigments” and the MIDI Controller works excellently with it. Other software like Native Instruments Kontakt also integrates well with it.

Overall, the Arturia MiniLab MkII is a great, compact MIDI controller and is nearly peerless at this price point. There are some places where Arturia chose to cut costs but everything else looks and feels solid. Even years after its release, the MiniLab MkII is still popular and can be seen gracing the desks of prolific and talented musicians all over the world.

Specifications

Keys: 25 note velocity-sensitive keys
Pads: 8 velocity & pressure sensitive pads with RGB backlighting (2 x Banks)
Controls: Pitch Bend and Modulation Touch Strips, Assignable 8 pads & 16 Knobs, Octave Buttons, Shift, System
Octaves: Not Specified
Bundled Software: Ableton Live Lite, UVI Grand Piano, Analog Lab Lite
Power: USB powered
Connectivity: USB, Sustain pedal jack
Control Hardware Directly: No
Compatibility:USB/MIDI class compliant
Dimensions: 14″ x 8.7″ x 2″
Weight: 3.3 lbs.