Hi,

I'm planning to learn piano and some music theories. So I decided to buy a midi controller rather than an actual big budget piano. And will do some production works using ableton live too.

My budget is 150$, and I saw m audio oxygen 49 iv generation got some good reputation, but I also saw launchkey is dedicated for ableton but I have to pay 40$-50$ additional . Anyone used those? Which got best keys for playing?

 

People are basically giving pianos away, if you have manpower/space/transportation.

If you are learning piano I would save up and buy a used Fatar/Studiologic or similar that has hammer weighted action . I have both 88-keys Fatar sl990 and maudio oxygen 25-keys. They are different beasts - one suitable for piano playing and orchestration...and one suitable for "one hand playing" and controllerism.

If you are just starting out playing softsynths you can basically pick any semi-weighted keyboard/controller. Most of them will suffice for that task.

 

I would love to buy a good piano, but the room space and money cant afford. You liked the m-audio keys? Its not semi weighted but synth action I think.

 

I had one M-Audio Oxygen... After two weeks I switched to my Alesis QX 49, and I'm a very happy person.

 

I still have a white oxygen 49 keys, it was a gift.dramatically overpriced at that time.
the keys felt cheap (even if you know what to aspect)

but it is nice to program, especially windows commands.

these options are missing in the 4th generation?

 

Last edited: Feb 3, 2016

May I know why? The Alesis QX 49 got cheap price than maudio oxygen 49 4th gen:

 

I'm using windows and ableton. I dont know which generation you are using
I'm using ableton on windows, and I t kno

 

I have a QX49 and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone using it to play expressively. It has very springy action that's pretty much random for every key, so if you want to put some dynamics into your playing, it's definitely not worth it. Plus, if you're a beginner, and you need help understanding midi, you won't get it from a manual, because it comes with none. So basically, you have a keyboard you have to ask people how to use.

 

You cannot learn to play the piano without a piano.

 

M-Audio is notorious for making cheap stuff and has IMO kind of iffy support policies. Lower end Novation stuff is generally light plastic and kind of feels like a toy but is otherwise decent quality. I had a LaunchKey 25. No complaints really for a $150 keyboard. I upgraded fairly quickly but it was nice for what it was

 

Thanks for your comment. Currently I'm planning to buy m audio oxygen49 4th gen. The novation launchkey also considered, but the price is too high

 

My teacher said dont go lower than 49keys. I'm a beginner. Have you used
m audio oxygen49 4th gen?

 

You're right, but you can learn scales, chords, learn melodies, learn how to improvise... Sure, you can't learn how to play piano, but you can get well ahead of someone starting out.. I mean, you can't really compare how expressive you can get on a piano, but it can help in the long run. (from my own experience, something is better than nothing).
Still, as someone else suggested, there's cheap hammer-action keyboards with midi outs, so you might consider saving up a bit. Impatience is what gets a lot of people stuck with equipment they realize is not for them after the initial hype passes. And that's usually within days.

 

Nope. I wasn't suggesting you get the 25 key. I agree that 25 keys is very limited and I wouldn't recommend it. I was just giving you my experience with Novation and my impressions of M-Audio.

I own a Trigger Finger Pro. It's pretty good build quality, but that's because it was originally $400 and was supposed to compete with Albeton Push and Maschine. I own a Push and I can promise you the two are worlds apart. My point is, M-Audio tends to fall short of the mark of quality. If the quality they're aiming at is a $150 keyboard, I'd hate to be stuck using the result of their efforts. Many or most audio people will tell you the same thing. So, from my experience with both brands, I suggest you spend the extra $50 and buy the Novation. Hope this helps.

 

The launchkey 49 lacks buttons for program change, so it's impossible to step through presets without the mouse. Big, big drawback. The build quality is not good. The keys started clackering after six months.
So, I don't recommend it.

You know, @abhizz , Baxter has got a point there. Pianos do get thrown out - so if you can organize a transport (usually much cheaper than a controller keyboard), you should be able to get one for free. One in need for a repair, most likely, but a real piano nevertheless.

 

I have launchkey 49, the third replacement as the first two were shit, buy anything but dont buy launchkey....

 

Hi Thanks for the reply.. The space is a big issue for me . I dont think the piano can fit into the room.