The 7 Best 88-Key Midi Keyboards (2024)

The piano has always been one of the most popular instruments. With the arrival of electronic music, a combination of keyboards and computers became essential in any musician’s studio and work. A combination of a full 88-key piano with MIDI controllers is the best way to combine both worlds.

Seeing loads of keyboards when deciding which one to buy certainly doesn’t do much help. So, I’ve decided to narrow it down for you with a list of the 7 best 88-key MIDI keyboards, to help with your decision.

My top recommended pick is the Arturia KeyLab 88 MKII. A high-quality and highly versatile keyboard that offers so much value for money.

My second recommended pick is the M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3 for those on a tighter budget who are still looking for an 88-key keyboard.

The 7 Best 88-Key Midi Keyboards (2024)

1. Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII
Top Pick - High-end, extremely versatile keyboard.
2. M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3
Budget Pick - Affordable and good-quality keyboard for beginners.
3. Roland A-88 MKII
Pro Pick - Pro-grade and durable 88-key keyboard from a renowned manufacturer.
4. Nektar Impact LX88+
Budget-friendly keyboard with a well-rounded base.
5. M-Audio Hammer 88-Key
High-quality keys for a great price.
6. Novation Launchkey 88 MK3
Well-rounded, modestly-priced keyboard with exceptional control and software pack.
7. Studiologic SL88 Studio
Studio and gig-ready keyboard with a simple design and premium controls.

Let’s compare these in more detail.

1. Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII

Top Pick
High-end, extremely versatile keyboard.
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The Arturia KeyLab 88 MKII is the leader when it comes to versatility. This keyboard comes with ten knobs, nine faders, and 16 drum pads, with its very own special collection of synth and vintage keys which is the Analog Lab software with over 6000 presets, I mean, what more could you want?

When it comes to its use, this keyboard provides a pretty seamless and comfortable use. With 9 encoders, 10 DAW command buttons, a modulation wheel, a pitch bend wheel, 3 Pad mode buttons, 9 multipurpose faders, you name it, it probably has it!

Aside from the technical aspect, the aesthetics of this product are simply unmatchable. The layout as well as the overall look can’t compare to any other out there. Plus, taking into consideration all the features, it’s hard to argue this keyboard’s worth.

If you have the budget, then this versatile beast will suit your needs without question. It’s no secret that it’s a fan favorite and for good reason!

2. M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3

Budget Pick
Affordable and good-quality keyboard for beginners.
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The M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3 is a beginner-friendly keyboard that made its way here by giving quality and options for a low price.

This keyboard comes with a basic 88 key, pitch, and mod wheels, adjustable data slider, and octave shift buttons. It’s packed tightly in a compact, yet very comfortable and sturdy body. It will also come with an Ableton Live Lite and can be connected to an iPad, which is very convenient if you use it for music-making.

Bus-powered, with an optional power cord, as well as a sustain pedal, will give you all of the essentials you need, especially if you are a beginner looking to learn and grow together with your keyboard.

With a great price and all of the essentials, with a lot of different options, this is a great buy for anyone, especially beginners, looking to buy a small, compact, and all-around well-built keyboard ready for it all.

3. Roland A-88 MKII

Pro Pick
Pro-grade and durable 88-key keyboard from a renowned manufacturer.
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The Roland A-88 MKII is a professional 88-key keyboard with a Roland PHA-4 fully-weighted keybed that allows for a smooth and responsive piano-like feel. This durable keyboard also has a slim enclosure made from quality wood and other top-notch materials so it’s made with longevity in mind.

In terms of controls and overall design, the A-88 MKII comes with 8 pads, 8 control knobs, Pitch/Mod wheel, and program controls. With zones, user presets, and a built-in arpeggiator available, it doesn’t get more versatile than this.

For added control and navigation, the keyboard comes included with a control app for recallable assignment mapping. Compatible with both Mac and PC, the A-88 MKII is the pro-grade choice if you’re after a serious MIDI controller.

Granted, the price tag is steeper than all other options on this list, however, the quality and value for money it brings are certainly up to par. If you have the budget and want quality, you will not go wrong with this MIDI 2.0 keyboard.

4. Nektar Impact LX88+

Affordable, good quality
Budget-friendly keyboard with a well-rounded base.
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The Nektar Impact comes with 88 keys, 8 pads, and a bunch of other knobs and mixers. It’s also bus-powered, this keyboard comes with DC input when USB isn’t available, and it is really slim and compact, especially when you compare its size to all of the functions that come with it.

It is supplied with a great keyboard, as the keys are just right (not too hard, not too soft), but the real deal comes with Nektar DAW integration. The company has made integration files for 9 of the biggest DAWs, which brings you complete integration of the computer program and keyboard itself, without any complications.

That enables you to jump right on to making music, simply by installing the integration file and connecting the keyboard to the computer. Also, the great number of features that come with this keyboard include more than 30 programmable buttons, LED colored pads, and standard pitch, mode, and shift buttons.

For a great price, you will get a more-than-great keyboard and controller, suitable even for hardened professionals, playing in the studio or taking it on the road with you.

5. M-Audio Hammer 88-Key

Mid-range, Good quality keyboard
High-quality keys for a great price.
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The Hammer 88 has an exceptional quality of the build. This keyboard is of thick metal, making it sturdy and also a bit heavy but still light enough so that it can be easily moved if you need it for gigs and not just studio work.

The best feature of this keyboard is its keys – M-Audio made them the selling point of this controller. They are fully weighted, giving you the full grand piano feel when playing, unlike the other keyboards on this list. Besides that, Hammer 88 offers you pitch and mod wheels, two buttons, and one slider, which can be edited through accompanying the software, as well as the standard array of plug-ins in the back.

This keyboard is a great buy for a great price offering anyone great quality (standard for pricier keyboards) and a nice amount of options and features within this great keyboard and for not a lot of money at all.

Professional or amateur, this keyboard will satisfy your every need, whether you play it as a backup or a centerpiece of your setup.

6. Novation Launchkey 88 MK3

Versatile
Well-rounded, modestly-priced keyboard with exceptional control and software pack.
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The Novation Launchkey 88 MK3 is a versatile and fairly low-priced MIDI keyboard considering the features and value it brings to the table. It features a massive software bundle that includes Ableton Live Lite, XLN Audio Addictive Keys, AAS Session bundle, Spitfire Audio Expressive Strings, and Klevgrand FX.

Regarding controls and design, the entire interface is packed with anything you can think of. You have 8 encoders, 9 faders, a pitch bend and mod wheel, 16 velocity-sensitive pads with polyphonic aftertouch, you name it, it has it (probably).

In addition to this, the keyboard features 4 custom modes, 3 chord modes, scale modes, and more. It can instantly map to any major DAW and even features 1-touch access to Ableton’s Capture MIDI feature.

All in all, this is a versatile, all-in-one choice if you’re on a limited budget but still want something that can do the job for both studio and live settings.

7. Studiologic SL88 Studio

Well-rounded
Studio and gig-ready keyboard with a simple design and premium controls.
View Price at SweetwaterView Price at Amazon

The Studiologic SL88 Studio is a well-rounded choice if you want a MIDI keyboard controller for your studio or for gigging purposes. It’s set in the mid-range price range and features a simplistic design but is feature-packed within.

It comes with 88 Weighted Fatar TP/100LR hammer action and velocity-sensitive keys with Aftertouch so playability is on a high level. It even has 3 programmable X/Y stick controllers and a rotary encoder with navigation controls for the color graphic LCD-TFT display.

This gig-ready, lightweight keyboard has the makings of a pro-grade product for performances at a mid-range price, making it a top choice for multiple reasons. It comes included with the SL Editor software that is compatible with both Mac and PC.

Overall, the Studiologic SL88 Studio is a great choice if you want a keyboard for live performances yet versatile enough that you can use it for your studio as well.

How many keys is best for a MIDI keyboard?

Depending on what you want to play and for what setting, the keyboard size will vary. For one-handed synths and leads, for live performances and beat-making in the studio, a smaller, 25-key MIDI keyboard will suffice. For two-handed playing, and the most popular option for both gigs and studio purposes, a 49-key keyboard is the sweet spot. Lastly, if you want to play piano arrangements or simply want versatility in the studio (or live), a 61, 72, or 88-key keyboard will be your best bet.

Conclusion

Keyboards are a necessity in this day and age, whether you’re a professional musician playing studio tracks or starting up your own cover band. Luckily for all of us, there’s no shortage of keyboards these days to choose from, with prices high and low to satisfy the quality needs of musicians at just about any level.

My top pick is the Arturia KeyLab 88 MKII. This is a high-quality and extremely versatile keyboard with superb value for money.

My budget pick is the M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3. If you don’t want to break your pockets, the M-Audio Keystation will get the job done. It has decent quality and sound, all the while being an 88-key keyboard.

Brian Clark

Brian Clark

I’ve been a writer with Musician Wave for six years, turning my 17-year journey as a multi-instrumentalist and music producer into insightful news, tutorials, reviews, and features.

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