sick of small controllers

[DivineMusic]

25key, 37key and 49key
i just want a solid 61 or 76key controller... or an 88 that actually feels good cuz most of them feel like garbage when it comes to playing them.

as a controller i like the Axiom b/c it actually feels good while playing it but i want more out of it. maybe a 76 key with more pads on it and more features... an axiom pro maybe lol

i was really thinking about buying the mpk49 but i really want it as a 61key atleast and get my new desk designed around it

my production partner just sent back a Yamaha KX61. the build quality is trash, didnt have to many features and the keys felt like crap. felt like a casio.. hell the hole controller felt like a casio.
one day there might actually be a solid controller around....

[lpuma]

yeah, that's why several controllers is the only way to go, the "all in one" type of stuff allways have a weak point.

[DivineMusic]

i just want a solid controller and maybe a mpd32..but if i could have it "all in one" i'd love it

[computa]

my production partner just sent back a Yamaha KX61. the build quality is trash, didnt have to many features and the keys felt like crap. felt like a casio.. hell the hole controller felt like a casio.

damn, just ordered one for the road.

[F Major]

The only controller that feels close to a workstation quality build is the CME UF series, but realistically I could only recommend the UF-7/70 or the UF-8/80. Other than that all the other midi controllers are small and feel pretty cheap.

[lazi]

cme makes a real solid controller. i've played around on the uf80 and it's a tank compare to so of the others. and the mpd24 and 32 are solid as well. uf80 and mpd32 would make a good combo and you can expect both to last you for years i would think.

[Jahrome]

Roland A-90 88-key keyboard controller!

Roland doesn't make them anymore and that is too bad. I picked one up over 3 years ago for $400. It has weighted keys that do the trick but are not close to a real piano though (reports my daughter). It also has 4 MIDI outputs so you can easily control numerous sound modules.

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by F Major

The only controller that feels close to a workstation quality build is the CME UF series, but realistically I could only recommend the UF-7/70 or the UF-8/80. Other than that all the other midi controllers are small and feel pretty cheap.

i've been looking at a cme controller with an argosy type desk and maybe a mpd32. i just wish i had an all in 1 option that was actually worth it. o well just gotta get me a usb hub lol

[goldenlotus]

I got an MPK49 a little while ago and was really concerned that I wouldn't have all 61 keys that I was used too. It really hasn't been a problem though and the build quality is great, miles better than the m-audio stuff.

The pads are pretty good too. I have a trigger finger that I used because my last board didn't have any pads. These feel about the same although they are a little smaller. I've retired the trigger finger for now. The knobs are super nice the best I've encountered on a midi controller!

I really reccomend the MPK though. For me it is the perfect all in one solution although an MPK61 would be awesome. BTW it synchs to reason perfectly.

[DivineMusic]

yea i'd be willing to pay for a MPK61 anyday... with 16bads too... basically put a 61key controller and a mpd32 together and that be great... but for now i'll probably pick up the mpd32 and use it with my axiom 61 until i get the cme.. i have to feel one. b/c we got the m-audio 88 thinking it was gonna feel good or similar to the axiom and that was the worse feeling controller in the world.. that went back to the stores quick..

in an 88.. i want the feel of the motif Xs... keys that feel good to play. not to much hammer or real stiff feeling..be able to play something soft and the note actually play.. lol that 88key m-audio was hell

[Zion]

Novation SL's need to have a 76/88 key option.

[d1rtynyc]

+1 CME stuff.

[rokuez]

if you want a midi controller that feels like a grand piano , get a yamaha kx88 or a roland a80 or a90 (they have the same oil dappening system) .



then take the keyboard to a tech, get the felt replaced, get the internal battery replaced and you are good.

I did this with a kx88 and i'm super happy. I did not care for the light weight action of the modern fully weighted controllers fatar cme etc

[Mr.Cheese]

I'm good with the M-audio keystation 88 ES. My buddy gave that to me, and I was using my Fantom X7 as a controller before that.. big difference to say the least. I don't necessarily want the heavy weighted keys in all my applications because they restrict you from playing certain things. For me, the most important thing is the range of octaves. I don't know how people using 2 octave keyboards do it.. I need to be able to experiment through sounds across as much range as possible.

[Zacchino]

Check out the M-Audio Axiom 61. It's "semi-weighted" (e.g. plastic with a little resistance and robustness) , but great feeling, and has mpc-like pads (no mpc feel at all, but it's pretty fair to me). Cool thing about it is its transport button. You can map them to any daw. Go to this forum, join it, and go to the "File" menu. You'll find configuration preset files for most of the DAWs on the market to map its transport button. Also, the pads are very easy to map with the "learn" function of Native Instrument Battery for example.

Else (hammer-action, the real thing), go Studiologic Fatar. But no pads.

Never tried the Yamaha / Roland controllers thought.

[PettyCash]

Originally Posted by DivineMusic

yea i'd be willing to pay for a MPK61 anyday... with 16bads too... basically put a 61key controller and a mpd32 together and that be great... but for now i'll probably pick up the mpd32 and use it with my axiom 61 until i get the cme.. i have to feel one. b/c we got the m-audio 88 thinking it was gonna feel good or similar to the axiom and that was the worse feeling controller in the world.. that went back to the stores quick..

in an 88.. i want the feel of the motif Xs... keys that feel good to play. not to much hammer or real stiff feeling..be able to play something soft and the note actually play.. lol that 88key m-audio was hell

Depending on what DAW software you use, you might want to hold out on the mpd32 until Akai does a firmware update for it; depending on whether or not you care about the note repeat function, the mpd32 does not sync externally (external sync mode does not function properly yet), which means your drums rolls wont be in sync with the timing in your software, rendering the function to be semi useless (if the rolls are off, you gotta shift them in time manually).

On another note, I have been using the Axiom over here for almost 2 years now, and its still holding up well and feels just like it did when I first got it. It would be well worth anyone's money.

[stilts27]

STUDIOLOGIC VMK-161 Plus

I agree with Zacchinoi...These are great controllers...only drawback is the mod stick being at the top...instead off to the left and they aren't really meant for synth key action

Axioms are actually pretty good and I probably will be getting one of those soon...not for the pads though...not a fan...

CME is aight and I give it to them for stepping up on the UF/VX series...but their older line is garbage...we had so many (actually majority) of them come back to us and even the new series a lot of them came back too (more than half)...

[kojo]

hey guys!

rather than make a new thread figured id piggy back onto this one since im in a similar situation. which one do you think would be better:

the Edirol PCR-800
Edirol PCR-800 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller and more Keyboard Controllers at GuitarCenter.com.

or the CME UF-60
CME UF-60 61-Key Master Keyboard MIDI Controller and more Keyboard Controllers at GuitarCenter.com.

I'll probably head out to GC to see if i can mess with them in person later in the week, but just wanted opinions just in case.

[ozzborn]

i am about to order a cme vx x7 with the motorized faders. I hear mixed reviews about it but i am going to give it a shot.

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by PettyCash

Depending on what DAW software you use, you might want to hold out on the mpd32 until Akai does a firmware update for it; depending on whether or not you care about the note repeat function, the mpd32 does not sync externally (external sync mode does not function properly yet), which means your drums rolls wont be in sync with the timing in your software, rendering the function to be semi useless (if the rolls are off, you gotta shift them in time manually).

On another note, I have been using the Axiom over here for almost 2 years now, and its still holding up well and feels just like it did when I first got it. It would be well worth anyone's money.

PettyCash, we have damn near every daw for compatibility issues at times. im really an engineer that happens to produce some things but i have 2 producers with me. 95% of our tracks if they arent getting done with hardare they're getting done within Nuendo. we also have sonar 7 and PT7.4... might be adding logic 8 very soon also.

im not sure if you and zacchino read the part in my msg regarding the mpd32 but i do already use the axiom 61...ive actually had it about 2 years too. i was using my triton studio 61 for a while but it actually sucks as a controller keyboard.
thats kinda why i was joking in my first post regarding an axiom PRO.. 76key with 12-16 pads.. i'd be happy..lol

mmm, might just get a motif xs 88 or fantom g 88 b/c i want the boards and also use it as a contoller...??? who knows
for now i've still been sticking with the axiom 61 and and battery 3

[PettyCash]

Originally Posted by DivineMusic

PettyCash, we have damn near every daw for compatibility issues at times. im really an engineer that happens to produce some things but i have 2 producers with me. 95% of our tracks if they arent getting done with hardare they're getting done within Nuendo. we also have sonar 7 and PT7.4... might be adding logic 8 very soon also.

AFAIK, the MPD32 has problems syncing with Cubase, Nuendo, and Logic. I could have tried it with Sonar and PT as well, but unfortunately I never got the chance and I dont have the unit i was auditioning anymore.

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by PettyCash

AFAIK, the MPD32 has problems syncing with Cubase, Nuendo, and Logic. I could have tried it with Sonar and PT as well, but unfortunately I never got the chance and I dont have the unit i was auditioning anymore.

havent had any issues....
Nuendo,sonar 7 and PT7.4

[Zion]

That's good to hear, I may pick one of those up. On another note I had to go back about 20 years to find the midi controller I wanted. I got a Roland A-50 w/76keys with great action for synths -mod wheel,pitch wheel,+ extra bender+mod,true polyphonic aftertouch - not sure if there making any like that now'a'days.I got mine almost mint so thats a plus as in 1 year she'll be vintage. I'll probably pick up an 88key as well for pianos, maybe a Studiologic with a decent build..I use a SL remote zero on desk with A-50 for keys, multi-controllers are truly the answer. Currently it seems the best quality is from yesteryear though,but I'm still hoping that Novation will make a 76 or 88 key SL w/automap that would fill a quality and keyrange gap that exists now in the modern controller spec.Novation does need to add some weight to their frames though..

Don't buy the cheap stuff go back a few years

Btw.. Have a Motif XS as well,but for controlling softsynths it really does suck.