threaded | unthreaded | newest first

Controller/keyboard recommendations

topic posted Thu, February 5, 2009 - 12:32 AM by  Olivia 		Share/Save/Bookmark
Advertisement
I've been a guitarist for many years and was a professional musician. My experience with home digital audio is working with audio in video and recording voice-overs. My old PC setup has a M-Audio Delta 66 card, a Mackie mixer and a pair of Event PS-8 monitors. I've got a Behringer B-1 (I know people that them) that I've used for quick VO work.

I want to get into making music with keys and samplers, and also add guitar and vocals. I'm looking for suggestions and recommendations on a controller/keyboard.

I want something with weighted keys, pitch wheel and probably pads. I don't need 88 keys, but more than just two octaves. I'd like to stay under $400 or $500. I was looking at the M-Audio Keystation 88es, but I need something that's got more controllers for samplers and stuff rather than just a keyboard (plus it was too big). I'm mainly Mac based and will use Logic and Reason, but I've got a PC too and have been doing loop based stuff with Acid for a few years, so something that works well with both platforms is a must.

I'm also looking at an Eridol FA-66. I prefer firewire over USB, need something I can plug a mic or guitar into as well as MIDI I/O. Low latency is important as I'll be doing a lot of overdubbing, especially with vocals and guitar.


Thanks a lot,
Olivia
posted by:
Olivia
offline Olivia
SF Bay Area
296 friends
join to post
Advertisement
Advertisement
  • Pr3st0n
    Pr3st0n
    offline 106

    Re: Controller/keyboard recommendations

    Thu, February 5, 2009 - 9:00 AM
    I've been really happy with my Novation Remote SL. Mainly due to the "Automap" feature which automatically maps controls to Logic, Reason, Live and all my plugin instruments, which makes it pretty easy and fun to use. It has a ton of knobs, sliders and pads, and the build-quality is pretty good:

    www.novationmusic.com/product...mote_sl/

    However, if I were in the market for a new controller, I would strongly consider the Akai MPK 49. The Akai has a very solid build, and good key feel. The pads on it are beefy and responsive (unlike the Novation). It also has some bells n' whistles like an arpeggiator, note repeat, swing, etc.

    www.akaipro.com/mpk49

    Have fun!
    join to post
    • Olivia
      Olivia
      offline 296

      Re: Controller/keyboard recommendations

      Fri, February 6, 2009 - 11:26 AM
      The Akai seems pretty cool. Both it and the M-Audios (Axiom 61) have negative marks about the pads.

      I've read tewo mentions of the Akai as a "hip hop" controller. Was that most likely due to the popularity of Akai drum machines in hip hop?
      join to post
      • Shawn
        Shawn
        offline 5

        Re: Controller/keyboard recommendations

        Fri, February 6, 2009 - 6:12 PM
        Depends on what you want to use the pads for.

        They are in no way drum machine pads and you wont get anywhere drumming with them.


        But to trigger samples, loops, and so forth they are fine.

        Personally If I was overly concerned about drumming on pads then I would get something designed purposefully for that.


        I am exceptionally happy (though still a Newb:)) with the Akai as a controller with Live. Live makes it easy with its mapping features.

        IT also has an internal arpegggiator if you dig that, but you have to make sure your tempo is synced to your DAW to get the right tempo from it for whatever project.

        Pitch Bend Mod wheels, 8 Pots with 8 Faders X 3.


        Just about everything on it sends notes including the buttons for the time division for the arp.

        In Live it lets you change what track you are live with instantly (its already set up).



        join to post
  • dan
    dan
    offline 25

    Re: Controller/keyboard recommendations

    Sun, February 8, 2009 - 6:07 PM
    I agree with the Akai mpk49 reccomendations. I own one and i love it. It is built very well, nicely weighted keys, my only beef is that the knobs don't have any stop points, but this can be extremely useful as it gives you flexibility to make the values it controls infinitely large and still be able to fine tune them. It does have some quantization issues, but these can be solved without too much trouble. Here is a youtube video explaining these issues, and how to solve them. www.youtube.com/watch
    The mpc pads are great to use as a sampler, and you can switch octave up or down with a push of a button on the keyboard itself. There is also a time division setup for the sliders. The usb interface actually acts as 3 midi lines.

    I also own a novation which is also a quality company to go with, if your budget can't handle the akai. Novvations higher end stuff looks really nice, but i only have experience with a barebones model i got for 20 bucks used.
    join to post
    • dan
      dan
      offline 25

      Re: Controller/keyboard recommendations

      Sun, February 8, 2009 - 6:11 PM
      oh and btw, anyone that had problems with the pads wasn't setting them up correctly. I'll admit it was fairly tricky at first finding the correct global settings to use the mpc and keyboard as one unit. But if you do your research the pads are great. Akai is known world over as the best when it comes to the the MPC.
      join to post
      • Squee
        Squee
        offline 268

        Re: Controller/keyboard recommendations

        Mon, February 9, 2009 - 11:16 AM
        oh man, check out the new akai apc40.. a pure midi controller, teamed up with ableton to produce it. there are youtube videos, just type akai apc40...

        for a really cheap way to get lots of knobs/sliders/buttons, check out behringers bcf and bcr series. they are cheap and fairly durable for behringer equipment and they are loaded with lots and lots of things to touch!


        squee
        join to post

Recent topics in "Electronic Music Production"

Topic Author Replies Last Post
Production equipment and DAWs? offlineElohim ( aka... 2 November 3, 2009
Vocal Mic & Instrument Mic Suggestions Giraffe 1 October 24, 2009
easy audio editing question. Hå®ø£d 3 October 1, 2009
The Perfect Kick Mark 4 September 30, 2009