Hello,

I'm preparing to buy midi controler for use with my macbook mini and I'm find these little controlers.
I'm intrested of quality and what is better choice. What is best buy. Anyone have experience with these... ?

Also, Alesis QX49 is in game, it's a little bigger but...

Thanks

 

Acctualy, I'm looking for mini midi controler with small number of keys (25) and a couple rotary knobs for controling synths or fx.
As I read more and more, with this controlers it's impossible to control vsts, because rotary knobs arent infinite
Any other suggestions for this ?

 

oxygen 8

 

M-audio Axiom Pro 25 great midi controler with a killer option " Hyper control "

http://www.m-audio.fr/products/fr_fr/AxiomPro25.html

 

Hi Nikon (your name is really a camera or just an avatar?)

both alesis & m-audio are similar in quality. but m-audio is the largest seller of MIDI keyboards, so you might find better service & warranty. another advantage of m-audio is that they have a new music composition software Ignite which is free but as of now supports only m-audio keyboards, but they say others will be supported soon enough. Ignite looks rather simplistic i have not tried, so might be good.
for a 25 key, another strong contender is Akai. Their pads are more responsive and better if you want to use them for drums.

none of these have Aftertouch, which are available only in higher models.
Novation has just launched a good one called LaunchKey, affordable but more customized for Ableton Live. this does not have aftertouch.

novation's older keyboards called nocturn have aftertouch, but since it is an earlier product, they are now available in the same price range.

best of luck

 

I had the Alesis QX49. It actually wasn't bad, pretty responsive for paying 109.00 free shipping. None too shabby, to say the least!

 

Whoops, sorry I only read your first and not your amended...oh well here's what I started with:

Get your hands on them and compare. Joywheel (scarce)....pitch and mod wheels?....sustain button or pedal?...Yes the sustain button transmits to the sequencer that cc number so it is recorded. Seems you have to buy a few to decide...So far they all seem fairly well built except some early nano korgs...the nano kontrol is solid....How about IRig for a mini? Or 2, one for each setup (split or otherwise)

 

I agree, I've got one too

 

ha ha, just avatar my name is Sasha

 

Practicaly I found this too

http://www.zzounds.com/item--NOVNOCTURN (Novation Nocturn).

This controlar has infinite rotary pots, and can remember positions of each instance of plugin etc... but it hasn't keyboard

Price is around 100$ which is fit to my budget for this investiment

 

I found Novation Impulse 25 as second-hand in local web store for 125 $ It's not new but is conserved a lot.

This controler has all things that I mentioned before... oppinions ?

 

And shame, I forgot !

Thanks a lot guys for your time

 

akai controllers are fine, too
and you will get keys, fader, knobs, switches and pads
quality is ok, price also

http://www.akaipro.com/mpk49

 

Korg have some 25 keys
Akai - "
Novation - "
Roland / Edirol - "
...

 

Well that really depends on a number of things. Ask yourself these questions first, I know it can be confusing choosing a keyboard I've been through it trust me. First of all:

1) What level of production/composition are you at? Are a beginner, intermediate or pro?
2) What do you need to use the keyboard for? Will you be doing live automation as you're playing back? Will you need drum pads to play drum sequences? Will you need modulation and pitch wheel? Do you play complex melodies and need more than 2-3 octaves to play with?
3) How much space do you have?
4) Of course your budget

If you need a simple keyboard that gets the job done, no frills, good quality, awesome on space saving, nice keys then I highly suggest these 2
-M-Audio Keystation Mini 32
-Korg Microkey 37
-Korg Microkey 25

If you're Looking for something more complex yet is still good on space and has many features go for the
M-Audio Oxygen or Axoim
M-Audio Axiom Air Mini 32 - This one is a great balance of features.

All of these keyboards are reasonably priced, of good quality and will get the job done. Don't worry about any crazy features or claims, you will probably end up never using them unless you're doing some sort of crazy live shows or just want to have a little extra fun. But production wise, just stick to what works. Hope this helps. These are my recommendations.

 

I respect your decision to get something with only two octaves. But trust me you should save up and get one with at least twice as many. The best bang for your buck in my opinion is the M-Audio Oxygen and for the ones with pads Akai, Novation, M-Audio (Again) are pretty cool as well. Cheers

 

Fuad (thanks for your reply) hvala

I write my primary conditions and the ways of using in first two posts

 

Simply I have Casio keyboard with 6 octaves, but I don't have knobs for controling other things... on my master PC. But I want to:

- control synths and fx (in multitrack mode) !
- use this little controler with my mac laptop when I'm out of my home studio etc..

This small controler I can connect to my master PC when I need synth control, and I play keys of Casio

 

I see what is on market today, controlers with 25 keys, I have google

I need opinions by the people who own some of these controlers and pros and cons of using one beside of other etc...

Maybe, there is a problems with Akai and M-audio is better choice, better plastics etc...

As I have Casio keyboard, I can describe pros and cons for using it with DAW (as midi controler), there is a problem with velocity control, etc... besides of Korg per example, just because my friend have Korg and I tested it

 

I can tell you that a good controller that will last and not make any problems, will cost you a bit more. I can only vouch for Akai and Novation as far as the build quality is concerned. M-audio being the worst in quality, in my experience. Alesis QX49 feels all around good.

The thing is, I don't know if you're looking for a mini controller, drum controller, keyboard controller, mixer, what? QX49 is all that. Akai MAX, or MPK is great and have it all in one solid keyboard. Novation controllers are great, too, but I've heard Impulse keyboards are not that good. That's just what I've heard. I've played Ultranova and I'm planning on buying it, and it seemed really nice. People are in general satisfied with Novation keyboards.

I am yet to encounter a better feeling M-Audio keyboard than my Keystation 49e. It was made by Evolution, actually, and they don't make these any more. it's a really cheap looking keyboard, but has a good playing feel for my taste. I heard newer M-Audio Oxygen models are better quality than the old ones.

I hate "sticky" keys that most M-Audio keyboards have. I like half weighted "synth action" keyboards like the ones I grew up with: DX7, D-50. Roland and Yamaha keyboards in general.