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’Will
- 00:53 — Daniel’s Preferences for Controllers
- 02:08 — D’Will’s Preferences for Controllers
- 02:41 — Octave Buttons and Number of Keys
- 03:24 — Pad Controllers
- 03:47 — Mapping Controls to MIDI CC
- 04:38 — Battery Powered or USB Powered
- 05:51 — Polyphonic Aftertouch
- 07:51 — USB MIDI vs. 5-pin DIN
- 08:49 — Controlling Your DAW
- 10:12 — Knobs vs. Faders vs. Sliders
- 10:38 — Moog Theremini as Controller
- 11:12 — Locking Controller to a Scale
- 11:48 — Transport Controls
- 12:30 — Keys vs. Pads for Drums
- 12:48 — Wind Controllers
- 13:11 — Arpeggiators & Sequencers
- 13:46 — Note Repeat
- 14:17 — Dedicated DAW Controllers
- 15:03 — MIDI vs. Control Voltage
- 16:01 — CV Pitch, Gate, and Mod
- 16:53 — MIDI Controllers Wrap-up
- 17:56 — Thanks for Watching!