MIDI, CV AND MORE

Looking at the ‘controller’ market in 2021, the sheer variety of tools available to help you get hands-on with your music making is impressive.

If classic MIDI keyboards are your thing, there is an absolutely huge selection out there vying for your attention. Of recent releases, M-Audio’s recently launched Oxygen Pro range stand out for their winning combination of deep DAW integration, flexible features and low price.

At the more esoteric end of things, Torso Electronics’ T-1 is a brilliantly left-of-centre MIDI sequencer that can create multiple polyphonic Euclidean cycles. For those looking for inspiration away from traditional step sequencers, it can be a great way to inspire fresh rhythmic ideas.

Having spent much of the past few years focused on standalone production stations, Akai brought its MPC range back into the controller sphere with the revival of its MPC Studio. We’re big fans of Akai’s recent self-contained MPCs, but it’s still nice to see an option for fans who might not have the need or budget for the One or Live II. Those recent MPCs have been impressive in the ways they refined and expanded upon the modern MPC workflow. It’s nice that Akai have now brought those benefits to a device for dedicated desktop musicians.

Also worthy of note is SSL’s impressive – if pricey – mixing controller UF8. The price tag of £900 is not for the fainthearted, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a higher quality replacement for that classic mixing desk workflow.