Best MIDI controller keyboard?

[etherjab]

Hi,

I'm looking to upgrade my MIDI controller keyboard.

Currently I have the Oxygen 8 (25 keys) and Studiologic 990 (88 keys). I prefer the smaller keyboard to have on my desk. The studiologic is nice with wieghted keys but its too big... I only use it for piano, harp or vibes tracking.

So I thought the answer for me was Oxygen 8... it has 8 programable knobs and the mod wheel is top notch. However... keyboard tracking is awful... I always have to clean up note velocities in my DAW. Its driving me nuts! I also wouldn't mind another octive..

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a worthy 40-key MIDI controller?

Thanks...

You might want to look into the Novation Remote SL controllers. If you work with a lot of plug-ins that thing rules. Good action, nice to look at. Pricey, yes, but totally worth it.

I really can't think of anything else... execpt for maybe CME and the Korg MicroControl.

[Farshad]

EMU Xboards feel really good and have aftertouch.

[Factory101]

I have a CME UF6 which does the job well...only problem is key size (my Evolution MK-425C has larger more 'solid' keys)...I've adapted to the key size well...I don't have large hands.

I would recommend trying out any keyboard first.

[etherjab]

Originally Posted by thx1138

You might want to look into the Novation Remote SL controllers. If you work with a lot of plug-ins that thing rules. Good action, nice to look at. Pricey, yes, but totally worth it.

I really can't think of anything else... execpt for maybe CME and the Korg MicroControl.

The novation does look interesting, but the modwheel and pitchbend look rather odd... at least not what I am used to... that and it seems to have more than I need.

really what I am looking for above all is accurate tracking ability. I play piano fairly well and currently my Oxygen 8 can't decide whether I'm playing pianissimo or double forte! I get velocity values all over the place... like when I try a repeating figure with one note... and say the aim is around velocity 48... I get way too many of the same velocity and then if I try to play a little hard to vary it a bit, all of a sudden I get a 110...

I've messed around with the velocity curve, but its no use...

[devious]

I say go the full route and get one of the most awesome midi controllers evargh!@#

the oberheim/viscount mc 3000

I like it, and miss my MC 3000d [the desktop version] already. Most powerful midi implementation of any controller I've yet to use.

A tank it was, too.

-d

[etherjab]

Originally Posted by devious

I say go the full route and get one of the most awesome midi controllers evargh!@#

the oberheim/viscount mc 3000

I like it, and miss my MC 3000d [the desktop version] already. Most powerful midi implementation of any controller I've yet to use.

A tank it was, too.

-d

yeah I checked it out... it looks pretty awesome...but WAY more than I need!

Now I'm looking at M-Audio's Axiom-49 seems to have all the bells and whistles I need, but I'm worried its cheaply made... anyone have one?

[JHb31]

Originally Posted by etherjab

yeah I checked it out... it looks pretty awesome...but WAY more than I need!

Now I'm looking at M-Audio's Axiom-49 seems to have all the bells and whistles I need, but I'm worried its cheaply made... anyone have one?

I've had an Axiom 61 for over a year now and I'm completely happy with it. I've used it live and it's held up fine. I will say that the aftertouch seems a bit jerky. But perhaps that is either my playing, or it could be adjusted somehow. Really, no complaints.

[vixapphire]

buy a used nord lead 2. that way you get a flyspeck-action keyboard and more importantly, the terrific pitch/mod interface for the left hand. takes up very little desk space and you can put your qwerty kbd on the top rhs of it if you want to make it even more compact.

[alexp]

I use my Korg Prophecy as a master. I get the pitch and mod wheel, a ribbon controller, and the x/y axis "log", as well as 5 knobs. All spit out midi data, and are amazing to use with other machines, if u know the CC values.

Alex

[The_Crooked_Man]

Don't get an axiom. The knob resolution is terrible, very "zippery."

[teletraan]

check out the akai mpk49, i like it alot.

[Charger]

What offers better midi latency for a controller keyboard - midi or usb?

[soundseeker]

do any of these dummy keyboards work as a VOCODER? I need both so what can i get?

[GTBannah]

Originally Posted by etherjab

Hi,

.... and Studiologic 990 (88 keys). ....
Thanks...

Apart from the size issue, how do you find it. Does it feel "right" for playing "piano, harp and vibes"?

I worked with a DPM C8 by Peavey. FATAR made the keyboard, and it worked fine.

Your thoughts?

[DevonB]

The majroity of these smallish boards are absolute junk; lowest cost and lowest build quality. Buy something that USED to go for a lot of money, and get it used. There are plenty of great old synths with great keybeds in them. My favorite still is the SY-99 keyboard from YAmaha. It was also in the YAmaha W5 controller as well. That was 76 keys. Most keybeds feel cheap and inconsistent, like that Oxygen 8, to me. It was only the original Novation ReMOTE 25 that I was actually impressed with. Maybe one of the Novation 49 key jobbers might do you well. Honestly though, it's really up to you. I hated my 990 as well and got a Yamaha P60 instead. The key action felt much more like a real piano. The 990 was TOO weighted and heavy for my taste.

Devon

[CalvaryBand]

Don't buy a MicroKontrol; we've gone through 3 of them because they keep ****ing up, falling apart, dying, etc. Was in too much of a bind for shows to get another model and try to learn it, now when this one dies I'm going Novation.

It's too bad there isn't older portable midi keyboards to fall back on, like with synths. Everything now is made in China, ****ing falling apart and in general feeling like crap.

[Shim]

Originally Posted by etherjab

Now I'm looking at M-Audio's Axiom-49 seems to have all the bells and whistles I need, but I'm worried its cheaply made... anyone have one?

I've got an Axiom-49 here.
Decent key action, pads work well for controllers....not so much for tapping in beats (same as the trigger finger pads, a little stiff for my tastes).
I agree that the knob resolution kind of blows, but i tend to use the keyboard itself more than the other bells and whistles.
Aftertouch is definitely steep-curved, helps to assign it to parameters with a small range of modulation. If you assign it to resonance you can get some crazy guitar solo feedback!
All in all, happy customer. Nonetheless i'd check out the Akai offering, lots of people saying good things about it.

[Eric J]

Originally Posted by Shim

All in all, happy customer. Nonetheless i'd check out the Akai offering, lots of people saying good things about it.

I checked out the AKAI at a local GC when I was looking for a synth action MIDI controller, and I wasn't really all that impressed with the keys and the action on that thing. This was just my opinion, but I thought the Novation Remote has much better feeling keys. The AKAI key design was more "square" with the edges being sharper than on the Novation. I also got the impression that the keys were slight shorter than full length, although I cannot confirm this. I was only interested in the keys, so I didn't really check out the pads.

Personally I liked the Novation feel much better than the AKAI. The other controllers were pretty bad, especially the Yamaha KX series, which I expected to feel as good or better than the Novation. The only thing I didn't like about the Novation was the Joystick controller for a mod wheel/pitch controller, but you get used to it. The Compact series has standard wheels instead of the joystick, so I'm probably going to end up replacing my Remote 61 with a 49SLC before too long (long story, new desk wont fit a 61).

[Lofifreq]

I like my CME UF6
super easy to program and you can do a ton.
not the realest feeling controller but still solid.

[BDL]

You need a Vintage Vox Continental! You can't go wrong.

BDL, yes has speaketh herein tonight

[BDL]

[Swami Digital]

The Novations are good. I have two. thumbsup If I wasn't going to get one of those, the only other two I'd consider would be the Edirol (best of the cheapies) or the Akai (if I wanted pads). Getting a synth as a controller is not a bad idea, as some of them are put together much better than the midi controllers out there.

-D

[Digital Network]

I use a ReMOTE 37 SL and I'm very happy with it

[Odd Harmonics]

Anybody got one of these Edirol controllers?

Roland U.S. - PCR-500: USB MIDI Keyboard Controller

They look great on the website but im worried about the build quality and also how well it would sync up with my sequencer

[StrykeBack]

Originally Posted by Odd Harmonics

Anybody got one of these Edirol controllers?

Roland U.S. - PCR-500: USB MIDI Keyboard Controller

They look great on the website but im worried about the build quality and also how well it would sync up with my sequencer

I'm curious about those as well. They were blowing the 800 series edirol out for 229.00 I almost bought it but I want another octave since i have a m-audio keystation 61 and its just an octave short but the edirol felt better and i'm looking for something with all the knobs and whistles for controlling soft synths live now.

The akai's keys felt like crap if we are talking about their new unit with the drum pads. but note I'm looking for a synth feel controller. not sure what model from novation i tried but the keys felt very small much like one of korgs units.

[pazmusik]

I have two PCR units and they've both gone bad. Two notes on each keyboard just don't work anymore, two others transmit waaaay too high velocity, as though the velo curve on those keys only is set differently. I've enjoyed the USB-powering, but I can't abide by the cheap build quality anymore. Am now looking for a better piece of gear with a longer warranty.

ciao,
paz

[FeatheredSerpent]

Novation have their actual key boards made for them by Fatar (Studiologic, same thing), which is why they are so nice.

Won't go wrong there.

[plaid_emu]

I'm selling my Novation ReMOTE 61 SL if anyone's interested. About 1.5 years old. In perfect working order. Never left the house. Non-smoking home studio. Always kept a dust cover on it when not in use. Do you REALLY need to see a picture? If so, I'll do it if you're seriously interested. Ships snug and cozy in the original factory packaging.

$400 shipped! PayPal only, please. Shipping ONLY in the Continental US. Here's my ebay feedback: eBay My World - plaid_emu

I also recently sold my Mopho to riecespieces here so PM him if you want an additional reference.

[Simon Kaind]

+ 1 on a Novation. I use a Supernova 2 as my main controller...