A MIDI controller - AKA a studio controller or DAW controller, is a single unit loaded with controls like faders, encoders, and buttons, and while they can't produce any sound themselves, they can control other MIDI gear or software.
DAW Controllers: Faders, Performance Pads, Rotary Knobs & Buttons
DAW controllers and studio controllers are the same thing. With a studio controller, you're gaining tactile, hands-on control over the various functions of your DAW recording software, which is often far more intuitive than working with a keyboard and mouse. The elements you can control and in what way depends on what your studio controller can do. Many controllers feature a transport section, which is your basic play, stop, rewind, and record buttons as well as a set of faders for setting the volume of your recorded tracks. Besides that, you might get a bank of assignable encoders for controlling certain functions of your software, and a set of assignable performance pads that can be set up to tap in beats or even melodies by hand. There are also MIDI keyboards for playing in chords and melodies, many of which will include encoders, pads, faders and transport controls.
Faders: Just Like a Mixer
MIDI controller faders can be either passive or active:
Passive Faders
Passive faders are simple slide controls. They're not motorised and will only move when manually shifted up or down to send a MIDI message to your DAW, which then adjusts a setting in your software. Since they're fairly cheap to produce, most controllers tend to be fitted with passive faders.
Active Motorised Faders
The advantage of having a set of motorised faders is that, when you finish working on one project and start working on something else and you come back and load up the first project, the faders will automatically shift back to where you left them.
Touch Strips
Another handy control element is the touch strip. By simply moving your fingertip up and down this touch sensitive strip you can adjust certain parameters.
Encoders: Limited & Unlimited Rotary Knobs
The rotary knobs - also known as encoders - can either be limited or unlimited. Limited encoders can only be rotated to a certain point, so maybe the 5 or 7 o'clock position, while unlimited encoders can be rotated all the way around the clock and forever. Limited encoders have yet to be motorised, so when you load up a project in your software, the encoders won't shift back into the position you last left them, like passive faders. The current solution is unlimited encoders, since no matter where the encoder is set, the value in your DAW software remains the same when you load it up. You can also get encoders surrounded by an LED ring which indicates the setting level, and when you load up a project, the LED ring setting is automatically updated by your DAW.
Compact Laptop-Friendly USB MIDI Controllers
A lot of producers like to be mobile so they can keep working on something wherever they are. Luckily, it's easy to set up a laptop, plug in a good set of headphones and set up a compact MIDI controller and maybe an audio interface. Plenty of the controllers we stock are slim enough to slot in a backpack and all MIDI controllers will be compatible with laptops since they're simply hooked up via USB. Most of these models are even USB powered.
Ableton MIDI Controllers
Ableton-specific controllers have a grid of pads for triggering clips in the ever-popular Ableton Live software. You can also use standard MIDI controllers with Abelton, but the beauty of using a dedicated Ableton controller is that the controls and layout are perfectly set up to work with the Ableton Live workflow. You also waste no time fiddling with mapping functions to match your MIDI controller up to Ableton. All you need to do is plug in your Ableton controller and everything immediately works exactly as it should.
DMX MIDI Controllers
Like studio controllers, DMX MIDI controllers send and receive MIDI messages. But rather than controlling music software, they control lighting gear like stage spotlights via lighting software. DMX MIDI controllers are more generally called lighting controllers.
Frequently Asked Questions About MIDI Controllers
What's the best MIDI controller?
If you're looking at one cheaper and one more expensive MIDI controller, both with the same set of controls, then the difference in price will have a lot to do with the quality of the components. The encoders and faders of more expensive controllers will have a much more stable feel and will last longer.
What's the best MIDI controller for my setup?
Before picking out you MIDI controller, it's wise to figure out what DAW functions you'll want it to control. If you just want to use it for the mixing phase, then you'll probably want a lot of faders and encoders. If you want a controller for writing beats, then the performance pads are likely to be more important. And if you want a writing tool for composing melodies and chord progressions, then a MIDI keyboard will definitely be the better option.
