Traveling with music gear is not like traveling with luggage filled with clothing.  Sure, you have things that you need and things that you don’t want to lose, but if you bang your luggage around it isn’t going to hurt your clothing.  Drop your soft guitar case on the floor and you’ve just destroyed a thousand dollar instrument.  DJ gear is also very sensitive, even the gear that doesn’t include your laptop and hard drive.  A turntable’s tone arm will be rendered useless if slightly bent or marred.  Even when you protect it in a hard travel case of flight case, there is a chance that the shock from an impact can damage something you cannot see. MIDI controllers have the distinct advantage of being lighter and smaller.  There should be no trouble carrying this stuff around as long as you have it near your body.  If you are lucky, it will fit on a tray and you will be able to jam away while you are on your flight.  Try that with a turntable.  The bigger concern with small gear is losing it, rather than breaking it.  You really have to keep an eye on your gear because sticky fingers and optimistic minds are at every corner.  http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2013/03/flying-with-your-guitar/