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Posted by echosystm on Nov-05-2007 02:53:

M-Audio Axiom

I remember a lot of guys in here have these...

I'm planning on getting the Axiom 61. There are a few things the internet isn't telling me:

1. Is the aftertouch polyphonic?
2. Are the drum pads crap?

I'm not expecting the pads to be as good as Akai or Korg, but I expect them to be semi-decent. This is one of the main things I'll be using it for (drums) so if they're really bad, I would rather get a separate MPD16 or something. If they're "OK", I can live with that. I'd rather not have another box taking up space on my desk!

Advice and horror stories appreciated!

Thanks.

Posted by MERiDiAN5i2 on Nov-05-2007 03:28:

I own one, and I would NOT recommend this keyboard. I regret purchasing it.

They have a nasty problem that is fairly common. The first sign of trouble is that the display flickers. Most of the time, this flickering causes the device to drop off and reattach to the USB bus, which means the application needs to be restarted. Real pain in the arse. faaaa-lakey!

I did some searching online and found this is fairly common. There were a couple of threads with people complaining about it over on futureproducers, and a couple of reviews on vendor sites warning of the problem. I'd provide the links if I saved them, but I did not.

Mine started this crap about 6 weeks after I got it, and mind you it never left my desk that whole time. Was not abused or anything.

So, I opened it up, figuring it was a loose connection and after reseating all the internal connections the loose circuit path would be remedied and all would be better. After all, M-Audio isn't going to help me since I didn't mail in the registration card. My bad. But regardless, I was amazed at what I found inside. I expected it to be a bit cheesy, but seriously... after I saw the poor soldering job on the boards, I was surprised the piece of junk even worked at all.

I can hand solder better than the boards inside this thing look. When I worked as an electronics tech, doing repairs and reworks, I'd have been fired if I turned out boards looking like the axiom boards do.

a) MPGA chips barely aligned well enough to be soldered, obviously off-axis
b) excessive solder on the majority of connections, so much that a microscope was required to see if any of the joints were bridging. We're talking simple push-through-hole stuff too, large clearances. Someone was drowning these boards in excess solder.
c) Multiple components not sitting flat on the board

All three of these are considered serious process indicators and would generally stop a production line in it's tracks. Apparently those rules don't apply at the chinese sweatshop that builds stuff for m-audio.

Check this one out, it's what I'll likely be getting when I have some extra cash... Real MPC pads, many other cool goodies. For how much the Axiom's cost, I expect better build quality, that's for sure.. And the MPK49 isn't much more cash. $300 for m-audio crap, $400 for akai pro.. hmm. hard choice? nah!

http://www.akaipro.com/prodMPK49.php

Edit: found a few of the links:
http://www.futureproducers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219485
http://www.futureproducers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144320&page=6
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/M-Audio_Enigma/message/2874
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/M-Audio_Enigma/message/2794

Posted by 3F05Q on Nov-05-2007 03:30:

I've had the 49 for a while, and I really do like it. The build is solid

From what I understand your question to be, the aftertouch is NOT polyphonic. I thought the standard was only one message for aftertouch from any keyboard, so it wouldn't be polyphonic. The message sent is whatever the highest value is from any given key.

I like the drumpads, but they're also the only ones I've experienced. Nice thing is the ability to change what message they send individually. Since they're pressure sensative you can assign a pad to... mod wheel perhaps, and you now have the ability to make very quick mod movements. You can get add a lot of character to leads this way.

One thing I DON'T like is the detents on the rotary encoders. I'd much rather they be smooth than 'clicky'.

Overall it's been a perfect way to control what I want in Live.

Posted by echosystm on Nov-05-2007 03:52:

Ok, looks like I'm not getting an Axiom then!

Grrrrr... I hate it when something that looks so good goes to poo like this. Now I gotta get an MPD24 and a keyboard.

Those MPKs look good, but I need 61 keys minimum.