I like this option because it has 61 full-sized keys, eight pads, and faders, and rotary knobs. The Nektar LX 61+ is a great controller that you can use with Garageband.

It comes with impressive free software, including Ableton Live Lite.

If you use our criteria above for judging, you will notice that it is a great price, easy to use, has excellent functionality, & is highly portable. I currently believe that this is one of the best MIDI keyboards for Garageband. Until recently, the Akai MPK Mini MK2 was the best option for mini controllers, but now with the Novation Mini MK3, it’s hard not to have it as my top pick. This means that if you have a nice hardware synth that you want to control, you now have an incredibly cheap way to do so with the Mini MK 3.

Another big win for Novation with this controller is that you can also control hardware synthesizers with it.

You are presented with 16 pads & 8 knobs. The integration is flawless with Garageband, and Novation typically makes super user-friendly controllers in general. The Novation Launchkey Mini MK 3 is an incredible mini MIDI keyboard controller that works well with all major DAWs. Novation Launchkey Mini MK3 – Best Budget MIDI Keyboard For Garage Band One of the best MIDI keyboards currently available.I believe that this is the most powerful option for Garageband & it is also affordable. The Keystep gets our pick for the best MIDI keyboard for Garageband. With this being said, it’s not made explicitly for Garageband and doesn’t have special functions for it. This controller works exceptionally well with all major DAWs, including Garageband. It is equipped with a 4-track polyphonic sequencer & a dedicated 16-track sequencer. With the Keystep Pro, it’s no longer a secret, and it is now being recommended to all producers and musicians. For a very long time, the original Keystep by Arturia was kind of a best-kept secret that not all producers even knew about. With this being said, this is easily one of the most advanced controllers that you can own currently. The Arturia Keystep Pro is a brand new controller from Arturia that is a little bit steep in price than the others that I will mention.

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