What USB Interface Should You Use?

A lot of students frequently ask me about what kind of USB interfaces they should use in their music composition/beat production. Some of them are comfortable with piano style keyboards and many others, who don't have any formal training on keyboards, struggle with the piano layout.

While there are numerous options to choose from, these choices are further complicated by the students' preferred DAW and the functionality and ability of each interface to communicate with their preferred DAW. With so many choices to decide between, I suggest aspiring composers/producers/songwriters ask themselves the following questions:

1. What DAW will I be using primarily?
2. How comfortable am I with a traditional keyboard vs. pad/grid layout?
3. Will this interface be used primarily in a studio setting or for live/performance? Does the interface need to be portable?
4. If choosing a keyboard, do I need a full range of keys or will a small 2-2 1/2 octave keyboard be adequate?
5. How important is the interface as a control surface with assignable knobs, buttons, sliders and wheels?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help in the decision-making process. For instance, a student who primarily uses Ableton Live and has little formal keyboard training will be greatly served by the Ableton Push, whereas a student who uses Native Instruments plugins will be better served by their machine platform. Likewise, a student interested in using an interface for DJing or for mixing and automation control might consider the AkaiAPC40.

At the end of the day, there is a controller that offers any variety of options built to meet some or all of your specific needs. I'm sure budget is also a huge consideration, so compare carefully and decide what features and functionality are most important before purchasing. To help in your decision-making, always compare reviews on multiple sites, and if possible explore Youtube, where you can often find numerous demos and tutorials for just about any piece of gear!

Here are a few reviews/shootouts of USB interfaces for further research: (all links circa 2018)
Music Industry How To- The Top 7 MIDI Keyboard Controllers in 2018, The Ultimate Guide
Digital Piano Judge- The Best Midi Keyboard Controller Reviews + The 2018 Guide
Cymatics- 10 Best MIDI Keyboard Controllers Of 2018!
The Wire Realm- The Top 10 Best MIDI Keyboard Controllers in the Market
MusicProductionNerds.com- Best MIDI Controller 2018 – Keyboard & Pads [Review & Guide]

Of course, you don't have to buy new. Always feel free to check pawnshops, Reverb.com, eBay, and craigslist. You never know where your next interface deal might be hiding!