Akai MAX49

[digigem]

MAX49 USB/MIDI/CV KEYBOARD CONTROLLER





MAX49 from Akai Professional places revolutionary MIDI and CV control at your fingertips. With an intuitive layout and included AkaiConnect automatic-mapping software, MAX49 offers an instant, fully immersive experience with your favorite music software and virtually all VST plugins. From its 49 semi-weighted keys and 12 real MPC pads, to its groundbreaking LED touch faders and vintage CV & Gate outputs, MAX49 combines cutting-edge Akai Pro technology with classic capability to give you an unprecedented music-making experience.

CUTTING-EDGE
MAX49 is one of the most unique controllers ever engineered. Right away you'll notice one of its most distinguishing features: four banks of eight backlit LED touch faders, allowing you to assign up to 32 control parameters. You can use MAX49's LED touch faders just like analog faders by simply dragging your finger along their touch strips, or you can perform instant leaps in any MIDI value from zero to maxed out and everything in between—an unprecedented, unmatched controller capability.

CLASSIC
MAX49 is also equipped with four banks of 12 backlit MPC pads, giving you a total of 48 assignable pads, allowing you to integrate legendary Akai Pro production capability into live performances and recording sessions alike. These backlit, velocity sensitive pads come with classic MPC Swing, Note Repeat, Full Level and navigation controls to give you all the tools you need to create music at your highest level.

MAX49 comes ready to command any controller hardware or software from any era: USB MIDI, traditional 5-pin DIN MIDI and even Control Voltage and Gate outputs are onboard, allowing you to control everything from today's most advanced music software, to analog modular synths from as far back as the 1960s. Mackie Control and HUI protocols are also built in to give you instant compatibility with many industry standard DAWs.

COMPLETE
When you're ready to get down to business, MAX49 delivers essential controller features with excellence. 49 semi-weighted keys with Aftertouch are laid out before you, providing professional feel, perfect response and full musical expression. Large, centrally positioned transport controls give you straightforward track navigation, and rubberized pitch and modulation wheels provide for instant creative flourishes. MAX49's expanded arpeggiator includes a Latch button as well as eight different time divisions to create sweeping and endlessly varied melodic cascades. A built-in step sequencer allows you to get the music in your head laid down with exacting detail.

CONTROL TO THE MAX
MAX49 comes with AkaiConnect automatic-mapping software, so you'll be up and running in your favorite DAW and VSTs in seconds. AkaiConnect has been designed to eliminate the guesswork and give you more time creating and less time setting up controls. Instantly assign MAX49's knobs, MPC pads, touch faders and buttons to your favorite music software plug-ins by simply clicking on the software element you want to control, then touching the knob, pad, fader or button on Max49.


Akai MAX49 features

49 semi-weighted keys with Aftertouch for complete musical expression
Built-in step sequencer for detailed track construction
Expanded arpeggiator with latch and time division controls
Included AkaiConnect software automatically maps to VST plugins
12 backlit, real MPC pads with MPC Note Repeat and MPC swing
Eight backlit LED touch faders for gradual or instant parameter value changes
Four pad banks & four fader banks provide a total of 80 assignable pads & faders
CV & Gate outputs for use with vintage analog synths (1V/Oct)
Large, centrally-positioned transport controls & rubberized pitch and modulation wheels
Mackie Control & HUI modes provide instant compatibility with many DAWs
INCLUDES:
MAX49
Quickstart Guide
Power Supply
USB Cable
Vyzex & AkaiConnect Software CD
Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition Software DVD
Safety Instructions & Warranty Information Booklet

[d1rtynyc]

Wow.
That is pretty cool that they have midi and CV.
Pretty bold and exciting.

[PeteJames]

I think they need clever software to compete with novation

[symplectiq]

Originally Posted by PeteJames

I think they need clever software to compete with novation

And someone to shoot that person who accepted this thing only in red color.

[audigy]

any news on a price?

[thedomus]

Novation should have done this already!! If AKAI get the software right then game on.... although in the blurb it specifies auto control of VST plugs NOT AU!
But it does mention Mackie/Hui support, which is nice.

[EvanBrass]

Sweet! I'm glad I held off on buying the axiom. I actually like the red, it's different. Wonder if they will release a 61 key version soon? and as long as the LED faders work properly I'm sold.

[Uncite]

I think it's cool in red, but it doesn't fit in my studio.

The feature set is just what I'm looking for though. Hoping for a black version too!

[elmolemon]

Originally Posted by Uncite

Hoping for a black version too!

Me too!

[digigem]

Maybe the red is to separate it from the MPC series. Akai will probably bring a limited edition in black.

[lunaticpark]

don't care too much about the color, but i really hope that it will support AU as well.
other than that it looks like quite an interesting piece of gear.

[bmanic]

Originally Posted by PeteJames

I think they need clever software to compete with novation

Except that Novation's "clever" software is completely rubbish. Buggy as hell and a lot of missed opportunities.

[Gear Geek]

No way they can go after the Novation remote sl market. Trying to shave cost and not having lcd with bidirectional feedback. Looks nice otherwise but the LCDs with names for the parameters is a huge missed opportunity.

[Plasticity]

I see no mention of it being bus powered. I hate power supplies :( Otherwise, this is exactly what I'm looking for. Just hoping for reasonable pricing and a release date in the near future.

[colony nofi]

Some clever design ideas.

However, one problem really screams out to me in terms of usability.

I can't think of a time where I'd use the mpc pads at the same time as the keyboard...

However, I can think of many times I'd use the CV controllers while using the keyboard. (Sample instruments these days often use MANY controllers to get performances sounding great, quickly!)

So, why not have the CV's on the left, and the pads on the right? The CV's on the right make them unusable while playing keyboard with right hand (which MOST people will do)

Alas. It is not to be. I'll pass.

B.

[Melodnb]

Be awesome if they just made a 24/32 fader controller out of those touch faders.

[mattrixx]

Originally Posted by bmanic

Except that Novation's "clever" software is completely rubbish. Buggy as hell and a lot of missed opportunities.

Yup... Unbelievable how Novation the could make it more complicated than the mouse it is supposed to be more 'convenient' than.

[emilision]

Originally Posted by mattrixx

Yup... Unbelievable how Novation the could make it more complicated than the mouse it is supposed to be more 'convenient' than.

+1

...I had to retire my Nocturn and clean Automap out from the computer...felt like my DAW had fleas or something.

[Tom H]

Originally Posted by lunaticpark

don't care too much about the color, but i really hope that it will support AU as well.

Yeah, but pretty sure it will. Should definitely work with logic.

Like the red!

[ionian]

61 Key would be killer. Great that it has an arpeggiator and has swing. Love the touch fader and the pads. I haven't been this interested in a controller in a while. Love the red color.

I also assume that when controllers are being made with both midi AND CV outs, the vintage analog resurgence is in full swing.

They didn't state though if it has a midi in so that it can act as a midi/cv converter. That would be great too - to be able to feed midi into this and have it come out the CV output.

Otherwise there's lots of great features here.

EDIT: Just checked the website for photos and the back of it shows a midi in but that still doesn't mean it converts to CV. But interested nonetheless.

Regards,
Frank

[mclaren]

Frank, I'm watching this with a similar interest.
I keep thinking though, with velocity sensitive pads and touch sensitive faders, two more CV outs would have made this thing killer.

[Arkham00]

I've shot an e-mail to them to know if any 61 version were planned, here's the answer ...

Dear Danilo,

At this time we have no plans for a 61 key version, but appreciate your feedback, you never know!

At present the MAX49 is due for release in March.
Kind Regards
Sarah Yule
International Sales Manager
Numark | Alesis | Akai Pro | MixMeister | ?LTO Pro

:(
I think I'll go for the impulse...

[Graal]

They've copied the Novation Impulse drumpads.

Novation Automap is working fine here (v.3.7) with Reaper x64 and Windows 7 x64.

Cheers!

[The MPCist]

Originally Posted by Arkham00

I've shot an e-mail to them to know if any 61 version were planned, here's the answer ...

Dear Danilo,

At this time we have no plans for a 61 key version, but appreciate your feedback, you never know!

At present the MAX49 is due for release in March.
Kind Regards
Sarah Yule
International Sales Manager
Numark | Alesis | Akai Pro | MixMeister | ?LTO Pro


:(
I think I'll go for the impulse...

Darn..... Would really like a 61 version too....

[kosmasepsilon]

I'm sure they will release a 61-key version sometime later. Of course they won't tell it now, they want the 49s to fly off the shelves :p
They did the same with MPK49, they'll do it again.

[Tom H]

I wonder how the DAW control portions of this unit will work out. (I am pretty sure it will be a fine master keyboard for both soft as hardware synths) If those touch faders deliver it should be really cool to have some mixer control plus your regular transport function along with this controller.

[Systolic]

Any word on a release date for this yet?

The thing I like about it is the 4 pads across the top for use in Live. The MPK49 is only 3 wide, so unless you have a separate 4 wide pad controller, you have to move stuff off of the forth column in Live. If it had 16 pads that would be ideal, but I guess there was no room.

Ideally, an APC that is wider with 16 back-lit APC pads (not the shitty ones on the MPK) and the MAX sliders would be amazing. APC 56? Maybe add four more channels and call it the 60...

[Idsz]

No AU support reeks of no good Logic support... again. And still no loop toggle button, there's plenty of room for that isn't there?

Bought the MPK49 and returned it because of the lack of good Logic support. Also the keys were too stiff, they should really fix that.

Then bought the Novation Impulse 61 instead which I really liked until some of the lights went dim (top right drumpads are barely visible). Automap 4.0 was a good idea but when it made separate plugins it became less attractive IMO.

@colony nofi +1 it's actually pretty ********, most people are right handed so it would only be natural to place the pads on the right. having faders in the middle-left is also better because it would be in line with the faders on my screen.

At least Novation did that right with the Impulse. The step sequencer looks nice though

Same here: Pass

[colony nofi]

@Idsz - where did you buy this from? Everywhere I've looked says it arrives in april...

I'm sitll going to check it out - see what it is like using IRL rather than my speculation. My openness to its flaws is only spawned by seeing no other alternatives (in one unit) - one could use the cubase touch controllers with another keyboard controller, but I'm already carrying around too many pieces of equipment as it is....

B.

[zulusound]

Anyone try one of these yet? I have heard the keyboard action is improved from the MPK series (which I own and find difficult to play with anything quieter than medium loud).

I'd really like to know how the keyboard action on the MAX49 is.

Anyone?