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Looking to buy a keyboard midi controller..advice?
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| hapamoto |
sorry if any of you are reading this twice, as i did post it in the promotion forum as well.. well you guys.. i've finally came to the conclusion that a keyboard will really help me with my work.. using the pc keyboard to control midi sux, i dunno if its cuz i have a wireless keyboard or that this method isn't as productive as my time should be spent.. thus i could use some advice on keyboards. i have no money, and the money i do have (thanks to my tax refund) i'm already getting a badly needed new mixer and styli and headphones (so my sony v6's can finally be my fulltime studio headphones). anyhow, so i've decided that i am looking to spend as close to $100usd as possible. basically, right now im looking at the midiman oxygen 8  , it seems reasonable as i don't need to really cover more than one or two octaves at a time and i won't be using it to bust out any grand symphony beethoven licks, so i figured the 25keys or watever it has should be satisfactory. the other keyboard i was looking at is about $40 more and its the EDIROL/ROLAND PCR30 MIDI KEYBOARD  this has 32keys and supposedly has really great flexibility as far as midi control, aparently more so than the oxygen 8 but i dunno this for a fact and i dunno if its worth the $40 extra, i mean i don't expect some awesome creation, if i did i'd be dropping 2grand for somethign thats top-of-the-line, i just want something that will help me be able to get the ideas outta my head and on the software w/o me clicking note after note to then realize that its not wat i had in mind. i figure the quicker i can get my ideas out, the better the chance that what ends up in the program is what i originally thought up, cuz seriously, i'll have an idea in my head, and in the process of programming it all in, it just ends up being something different cuz the ideas are moving faster than what can be inputted and i end up getting confused and frustrated, im sure if i could have the sounds all right there at my fingertips and recording in real-time, it will allow me to have much more control over the structures of tunes.. wat do you guys use? and what do u suggest between these two, and if theres any other cheaper keyboards out there that can get the job done, let me know. i guess the roland has synthesizers and other stuff which isn't necessary to me, i just really wanted the midi controller but i mean if its really a better deal, i'd pay the extra $40, but just keep in mind i'd rather pay as little as possible. thanks!!! |
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| hey cheggy |
| They're too small mate. The only real use for an oxygen8 would be as a trigger for a sampler when playing live and you want to save space. They're a great idea and I'm sure you can make stuff with it, but save your self the future hastle and get something with 4 octaves like the evolution mk-249 |
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| Prototrance |
I use an Oxygen 8 and its excellent. Gives you great smoothness of control with the rotary knobs.
If you are just after control of some parameters during automation you dont need a ing great midi keyboard. |
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| hapamoto |
| yah actually space is a big issue, but space isn't what keeps me from getting a big keyboard, i just don't see it necessary right now, by the time i'd really need something bigger, i'll be able to afford it, so for now im looking for something that is just enough to do the job. so as for the two keyboards i mentioned, do u guys have any suggestions? |
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| rb2k1 |
i use the m-audio radium keyboard.. Check It Out
This was the best thing i have bought for my "studio" yet..
You cant go wrong with it.
www.audioMIDI.com has em for cheap.
~rb2k1 |
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| hapamoto |
| thanks again fellas for the advice.. rb2k1, what is really the advantage of having the radium 61key vs. the 49key besides an extra octave? im assuming that since i was basically set on the oxygen 8, i'd be fine w/ less keyes, i really want it just to make programming a lot quicker, so besides the extra keyes, how does the functionality of the oxygen 8 compare w/ the radium series? |
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| rb2k1 |
hey, ok well i got the 61 key radium keyboard.. why?.. well because i played piano for 12 years.. and i could put the extra keys to use.. now for you that may not be the case, however having the 49 key board is what i would suggest for you.. this being because it has 49 keys (+/-3 octave transposition) 8 assignable MIDI control knobs and 8 MIDI-assignable sliders.. compared to the oxygen 8 (only having 8 knobs..) that is already a lot better. Also it is nice to be able to use the octaves while making chords.. or even when going an octave lower.. and comparing to higher octaves.. that is a nice benefit. I think the 49 keyt radium keyboard will be the one to suit you the best.
I hope i have helped. If you need any more help please let me know.
~rb2k1
p.s. audiomidi.com sells them for a great price.. and they ship out of cali.. so if your in their location you will probably get it quickly.. just make sure they are in stock when you order it =) |
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| hapamoto |
| wow, that company is in my neighboring city, although I'm not sure if they have store front, anyways, i liked ur advice on why going w/ 49key is beneficial to the 25key, it makes perfect sense, im just not quite sure if i can afford 200 for the radium 49, i don't even kno if i can afford teh 140 for the oxygen8, but either way, i guess this has turned more into a financial matter than product issue now thanks to your advice.. i'll keep you guys updated as to what i end up w/. one more question, will these things be able to plug into the midi input/output on my Audigy 2 front panel? |
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