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Midi keyboards - help! Bring your bias!
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| Th3Reindeer |
So, my local guitar center is having a few promotions, and it looks like I’m gonna go snag a midi keyboard while the deals are going on. However, I’d really like your guys input, as I haven’t had a lot of luck with narrowing down my options.
I’m really interested in which of the following will integrate with my setup the best, which is currently FL Studio and Sylenth/Massive as my main synths. The controllers and their prices are:
M audio axiom 61 - 300
M audio axiom pro 61 - 475
Novation Impulse 61 - 325
Novation SL mkII 61 - 510
Akai MPK 61 - 400 - 100
Price is not really a priority, as I’m to get a controller that lasts me for years.
Thanks! |
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| cryophonik |
| How important is the action to you? i.e., do you play keys? |
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| Th3Reindeer |
| I haven't experimented enough to have a preference really. Just something feels smooth if im mapping out quick melodies, and doesn't feel overly cheap |
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| cryophonik |
My thoughts, keeping in mind that I have been playing keys for decades, so my priorities are probably different than yours:
Personally, I think the Novations have the best keyboards, but you couldn't pay me enough money to use AutoMap ever again and I think it's a pretty average control otherwise.
I owned an MPK for a short while (used it as a dedicated controller for one of my rack synths) and I really liked it as a controller, but I hated the keyboard action on it. I really wish that they would put a better keybed in it, but I'm probably overly picky in that area.
I've never owned either of the M-Audios and, based on my experience with the few M-Audio devices I have owned, I would have to be very impressed by it in person before I'd consider buying one, so there's some bias for ya. That said, if you're a ProTools user, apparently it does have some really cool integration features.
It's a shame that the keyboard controller market is so limited to gadgety, cheap Chinese-built crap. |
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| LoveHate |
i have the Novation SL mkII
even though its the priciest, its really easy to use and you can easily assign anything in your plugins to a switch of your choice with a flick of a button
with that being said, like cyn suggested automap can be a pain at first but novation has a nice community to answer your q's ..and its always being updated so your controller never really goes antique
the one m audio keyboard i owned awhile back broke after one year, so never dealing with them again, unless they convince me.:stongue:
if your just looking to play keys,and get ideas down on.. id go with something really cheap.. |
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| cryophonik |
| Not sure if your local GC stocks the Roland A800-Pro (61 keys), but it gets good reviews and is probably in the same price range as the others. |
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| floyd741 |
| Idk I've had an M-Audio Oxygen 49 for 3 years and it's fine. the Axiom looks pretty cool, impulse looks cooler tho |
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| Mel David |
| quote: | Originally posted by cryophonik
Not sure if your local GC stocks the Roland A800-Pro (61 keys), but it gets good reviews and is probably in the same price range as the others. |
I have an A800-Pro and am happy with the build quality and features. They've dampened the keybed so that when you quickly release a key, it does not make a loud thud on the way up.
Part of me wishes I had a 88-key piano controller though.
Have not tried these new Akais but if those touchstrip faders work like they should, I think they would be better than physical sliders. |
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