Hi,

I am looking for a good 61-note midi controller for playing VSTi's (later on perhaps also hardware synths), preferably at a good price. Can anyone tell me which ones are recommended and which ones have certain problems/drawbacks compared to other models cause they all look so similar. Hard to know which one I should choose so hopefully you guys can give me some good advise!

The ones that seem interesting to me are those from M-Audio, like the Radium 61 or the newer Keystation 61es, however how come that there is so much hype around the Keystation 61es that seems to have less sliders and stuff compared to the Radium 61?! Isn't this a step backwards or am I missing something?!

Also, the Evolution MK-461C seems like an intersting one with also lots of sliders etc.. and there is ofcourse Roland with its PCR-80 but perhaps that one is more expensive and it seems to take a bit more space then the M-Audio or Evolution keyboards. Don't the big brands have more interesting models at a good price? Any other models I should consider?!

So which one should I choose, especially with using it for VSTi's in minds and perhaps also mixing in Cubase SX. Perhaps the software that comes with it also makes a difference? The Keystation 61es seems to be popular, but don't the other ones have more to offer (more sliders and stuff)?! Strange that none of them seem to have keyboard splits where the left and right part can send on a different midi channel, but perhaps you don't need that with VSTi's?!

I really don't know which one to choose so all good advise is very much appreciated!! Thanks in advance!!

Last edited by Dance123 on Jul-19-2004 at 14:31

If you want to go cheap and all you want is a keyboard, then try using a cheapo Casio with a MIDI port. I got one for christmas a couple years ago and I'm now using it with Fruity. I use the MIDI/game port that comes standard on most PCs and works fine.

I'd like other controls but for $3.50 I can't complain. I'm looking to build something like the MIDI64 at www.ucapps.de and put it in the keyboard or probably even seperate.

if quality means nothing to you than get the cheapest one you can find.. some old crappy casio with MIDI in/out would do if you can find it for under $100 USD..

someone can feel free to correct me on this, but I've always felt that having a MIDI controller with knobs on it is worthless.. you can get a smoother curve by drawing it in with your mouse and you have to re-program it everytime you change your VSTi..

myself, I'm getting a Keystation 61es from M-Audio which has no knobs.. just the keys and pitch bend/mod wheels... it just came out and I've heard it is really high quality and it seems to have a piano-style action..

___________________
Youtube || Soundcloud || Synth Patch Banks

for just playing the synths, without controllers I bought a used yamaha pss 480, cheap, has midi, and different velocities for the keys (dunno what that feature is in english)

I have the 61key m-audio radium with knobs and sliders and I like it.

Although paramater automation can be drawn on most good sequencers, the knobs and sliders gives a more "hands on approch" to automation that can be done in realtime. I think it comes in handy when you dont want paramater changes to sound so perfect but a bit more human,. I know that you can obviously draw linear curves,but like i said, its a more 'hands on' approch to automation via real time. Also, can save you time if you do it real time through just to get some ideas down. .. lets say that very quickly you want to experiment with the filter cutoff or resonance and you want to use it on a particular part in the mix, but dont know how well it will sound.. With knobs and sliders, you can easily tweak the paramaters to see how well it flows in real time.

quote:

Originally posted by bachatu , can save you time if you do it real time through just to get some ideas down. .. lets say that very quickly you want to experiment with the filter cutoff or resonance and you want to use it on a particular part in the mix, but dont know how well it will sound.. With knobs and sliders, you can easily tweak the paramaters to see how well it flows in real time.

you can just as easily adjust it using the knobs in the VSTi and when you do it in the VSTi, you don't have to search for the knob on a controller that sends on the correct CC channel (if there is a knob that does)

___________________
Youtube || Soundcloud || Synth Patch Banks

^^ but when you are controlling a hardware rack module or synth... Its not convinient to jump back and forth screens and use tiny buttons for automation.

And im not sure about you, but not too sure of how much of a 'hands on' feel a mouse gives you.

Also, forgot about those paramaters that you assign to misc controllers that you can create that you want to automate and that you dont have a physical knob for (ei FX paramater controllers and misc global controllers #s). ei. Lets say you assign LFO to control the pitch and want to automate the rate of LFO... assign the LFO rate to a controller #, assign the appropriate knob or slider to that controller.

Last edited by bachatu on Jul-19-2004 at 21:11

If money is no object, Virus KC

J/K - I actually would recommend Fatar or actually you can probably pick up a 76-key Roland A70 for about $200 - one of the best controllers out there.

___________________
Proud member of the "Filthy Zionist" coalition

quote:

Originally posted by bachatu I have the 61key m-audio radium with knobs and sliders and I like it. Although paramater automation can be drawn on most good sequencers, the knobs and sliders gives a more "hands on approch" to automation that can be done in realtime. I think it comes in handy when you dont want paramater changes to sound so perfect but a bit more human,. I know that you can obviously draw linear curves,but like i said, its a more 'hands on' approch to automation via real time. Also, can save you time if you do it real time through just to get some ideas down. .. lets say that very quickly you want to experiment with the filter cutoff or resonance and you want to use it on a particular part in the mix, but dont know how well it will sound.. With knobs and sliders, you can easily tweak the paramaters to see how well it flows in real time.

have always thought, KNOBS and FADERS useful or not? I know its really COOL to tweak the filter in realtime but ..
But do I have time configure the knobs with every new synth?
Who tells that I can't use my mouse same way as some knob?? I'm MOUSEMASTA after practicing almost decade.

___________________
http://www.supuer-music.com

quote:

Originally posted by Sebraa have always thought, KNOBS and FADERS useful or not? I know its really COOL to tweak the filter in realtime but .. But do I have time configure the knobs with every new synth? Who tells that I can't use my mouse same way as some knob?? I'm MOUSEMASTA after practicing almost decade.

no, you do not have to reconfigure the knobs. most of the synths have a midi-learn function, so you can use one knob for cutoff on most of the synths without reconfiguring. i have a radium49 keyboard (8 knobs, 8 sliders, 49 keys) and it works like that.

I always use the nobs on my controller. Because I use a lot of 303s using ABL, I create a .ini file which always assigns the same dials to the same parameters in ABL so I don't have to play silly buggers every time I reopen Cubase. Then (because ABL only has 6 dials) I tweak untill I get the perfect sound. MUCH better than trying to use the mouse.

___________________
1 out of every 4 people in this country are mentally disturbed. Look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem okay, then you're the one.