Greetings all and happy new year!

I'm in the market for a MIDI keyboard controller (32~49 key), but live in an area where music gear shops are far away, so I cannot try any out for myself.
Can only read reviews and tech.specs.

I'd appreciate some user feedback on the quality, key feel and controllers performance on boards like these:

Novation - SL series
Novation - Impulse series
Novation - Launch series
Akai - MPK series
M-Audio - Axiom Pro series
M-Audio - Axiom Air series
Arturia - several (?)
... etc...

Thanks.

 

I currently own the mkp49. But before i give you advice i think there are something you might need to factor into your potential purchase:

1. Are you looking for hard weighted keys or soft weighted keys? this plays quite a big factor in more organic compositions...
-soft is better because it is easier to express lighter velocities (for pianos, expressive writing.)
-hard, for getting key notes down, better for electronic music production.

2. How many octaves of keys are you going to want/need?
3.Will you need portability? Will you use the keyboards functions for live purposes?
4.Are you looking for extra functions? Sliders, knobs and pads?
5.Is price a big concern?

Now back to the my experience with the MPK 49:
-49 keys
-hard type: the keys are sturdy, quite hard to play gentle compositions that arent all max velocity, but once you get used to it, it isnt a problem.
-contains a 3x4 set of MPC style pads, which are poorly designed, but you need to whack the living shit out of them to get decent velocity sends. This can be alleviated by using electrical tape or duct tape to raise the contact level so you don't have to hit it hard.
-Wear and tear: haven't used it in a live set but i would say it is definitely sturdy. had it for 1 year and keys are still even and havent displaced yet.
-Has a pitch wheel and a mod wheel, both of which are fantastic and sturdy. Have a really nice feel to them.
-8 sliders and 8 knobs: Both of which are good quality, the sliders are reliable as midi sends and after initial use, haven't loosened. The knobs can be turned infinitely in both directions (i would class this as a benefit).
-Has 30 base presets and comes with some setup software (should you need it). In all cases the keyboard (mainly keys) work straight out of the box for vsts.
-The keyboard accepts midi in and out cables as well as the usb to printer cable (im not sure if printer cable is the official name). They are cheap anyway but google it just in case.
- Assigning midi isnt a problem, i mainly use FL and Traktor and after minimal setup it works fine.

Price (£240) when i bought it.

 

The Novation SL MKII keys have the best feel out of your list. The Akai feels are springy as Hell. It feels like the keys are fighting to return to default position.

 

Thanks for feedback.

1. I'm into expressive playing of varying velocities.
Lots of light, ambient style but a few trance/chord stabbing a times too.
So would spend most of the time around the light~mid velocity ranges.

I know what 'LiveLogicLoopsTools' means by springy and I don't like that feel of resistance either.
I've owned synths before and currently a Kawai K5000 which is ~medium weighted, so I think mid-weighted keys would be my preference.

* Ok keys - After-Touch (pressure sensitive) is also a must criteria.

2. 3~4 octaves

3. Portability not important.

4. Sliders, knobs, pads - all of these preferred
Knobs - yes continuous turn/rotary encoders sound best over 0~100% potentiometers (27 degrees?).

5. Price - I'd rather pay a few $100 for a good feel and build than something like a K-Mart toy!

... yada

 

I own an Arturia Keylab49 and I like it a lot. Its keys are "semi-weighted" but really it feels like a quality synth keybed. The knobs and faders feel nice. The construction is solid. I like the fact that it has 16 backlit (and fairly sensitive) pads. The only complaint people generally give is that the pitch bend and mod wheels are too small. Personally, I kind of like them for playing pitch bend by flicking your finger rather than using the thumb. But some don't like it. Overall, I really like the board. But the Analog Lab software it comes with is dongle locked--be warned about that.

No experience with the axiom pro or airs. But I like my axiom49 mk2 quite a bit as well. The keys are a bit tougher to press and the 8 pads aren't backlit. But the faders and knobs feel quite nice as well. And it has the full size pitch and mod wheels. There is no pc editor available for the mk2. Not sure if this is the same for the other m-audio boards you are looking at. But I figured I'd add what I do know to the conversation.

Oh, I have played akai mpk's quite a bit, although I don't own one. They are nice. They have a more "heavy" feel than the other 2 boards I have mentioned. Some complain that the black keys take more pressure to play than the white keys. And this is true to some degree. Some people claim the board is intolerable because of this. I would argue otherwise. It is barely noticeable, and real pianos are this way (less leverage for the hammer to strike with). Good board. I prefer my pads to be in either 8 or 16 so I haven't picked one up personally. But I hear good things about them and haven't had any real complaints when using them at other peoples' houses. The mod and pitch wheels are backlit--which is super cool lol!

 

i had the sl 49 MK II for several years and sold it finally because it was much too much for my demands. And too big. Besides that i had major issues with the novation automap thing. Frustrating piece of shit in my eyes. Since I use my keyboard just to figure out some ideas and never record any playings i bought the Arturia Analog Experience the player. 25 keys, cheap, nice finish. I never had any regrets about that switch. If i'd ever plan to record my playings i'd go with Akai stuff...But I won't do.

 

my vote is for the Akai - MPK series or M-Audio - Axiom Pro series. i currently use the axiom pro mk2.

 

I really hate avid products :dancing:

I bought the mini Air keyboard and it was ok. I return it within a week cause they didn't have drivers for like 6 months after release... lol?


I have a mk2 sl Novation.

It's pretty good if your looking for controlling everything within the keyboard. Only downside is the pads. Their not really meant to be use for drum pad. They are hard and you would probably hurt your fingers from using them.. trust me.

It does come with automap which alot of people have a headache with. It's pretty easy to set up and it comes with presets for most of the plugins. You can create your own preset and set up hotkeys for daw/plugins. It really give you a lot of versatility if you often use the same type of plugins constantly. Only downside is that it creates a shortcut or extra file with the name "xxx automap" which duplicate your vst list. You can just make a new folder and use that.. either way once you have your plugins set up on Automap. It's pointless using the other plugin file.


Short story:

Pro:
A lot of sliders/knobs/buttons/mod = joystick style
Automap (Easy to use and faster workflow in my opinion)
The keyboard is pretty good. I like the feeling.
LED on all the controls which is hepful if you plan to use it live or in the dark.


Con:

Pads are bad ): I think my only complain