I have been reading and playing around with music production for the past 8 months or so. Interested in making trance, techno, and some progressive.

Right now I am deciding on a compact keyboard controller. I am interested in a 25 key keyboard but have heard that 25 keys are really limiting. However I have also read for making electronic dance music that 25 keys and their octaves is more than enough.

I have narrowed down my choices to M-Audio Axiom 25, Native Instruments S25, Novation Launchkey 25, or something from AKAI or Korg.

My budget is around 150-400. I want something that has good quality keys (something semi weighted), very easy mapping to Logic Pro X, and one with knobs and faders that allow me to control virtual AUs/plugins. Quality and durability is a must and aesthetics is always good.

I have never had a midi keyboard, so I am wondering how does mapping and faders work with a DAW? Do I assign ADSR stuff to the knobs and faders? What kind of stuff can I do with the knobs and faders? What can I assign and do with the pads? Will the piano from the controller make it easy for me to learn and create melodies? Right now I just plot random notes onto the piano roll and then just play the looped section. I find this process to be slower and not very musical so I am hoping a keyboard will help.

I feel like all of the keyboards I looked up or mentioned seemed to have its own flaws. M-Audio may have quality or mapping issues. NI S25 Komplete Kontrol seems to have too many limitations, Novation may have quality issues, AKAI just doesn't look appealing imo, and I haven't read enough about the Korg tactile.

I am learning towards the Axiom 25. Am wondering if I should spend the extra for Axiom Pro 25 if I go with the Axiom?

 

@ AB69,

Well it depends of your Musical 'ambitions'... I mean, if you want to simply play some (easy) stuff across 2 Octaves solely, then 'edit' it afterward through different Octaves, a 25 Keys MIDI Keyboard may be sufficient. *yes*
By cons, if you plan to play most of your musical stuff in 'real time' and to also be able to play it through several Octaves... you can easily guess that with only 2 Octaves available : 25 Keys = 2 x 12 notes, you'll be 'stuck' in no time... *yes*

Perfect... but 150-400 of what : $, £, Euros, Yens, CFA, Cruceiros,...

For the 'Keys', I think that your wish of a 'semi-weighted' Keyboard is a good choice, despite that you can 'edit' the 'Velocities' of your recording material afterward thanks to the 'MIDI'. But it's always better to be able to feel and play your music with your proper 'Human Touch', rather than spend (a lot sometimes !) of time with MIDI Edition.
Also I recommend you, if available in your range of price and within your choice of Keyboard Models, to get a Keyboard with 'Aftertouch'. This option can, perhaps, suit you as you'll be able to let your fingers on the Keys (e.g. after playing some Notes, Chords,... ), then by simply applying a slight 'pressure' that 'Aftertouch' Option will take effect and you can assign almost any of the MIDI Modulations available (Vibrato, Pitch, FX Mix Ratio,... ) to create very interesting effects...

 

Id say your best bet is a 49 keyboard. I have an axiom 49 which was 250 brand new. It is mappable and built like a tank.
you can also might as well get the Kontrol S 49 while ur at it. Good control over the NI software.

 

i've recorded plenty of stuff with 25 keys (akai, the bottom c broke off after about 2 years) you can even use the transpose buttons as your playing to go up or down an octave.

the advantage of a 25 key keyboard is that it is small. set it up anywhere and easy to carry around wherever you go. 49 keys makes for a big thing to stuff into a backpack with your laptop (that's how i carry my stuff)

the knobs and faders can usually be assigned to almost any parameter and the pads are just more midi notes. i don't really know enough about the brands to suggest something though

 

I have launchkey 49....on my third new one, the other two had major issues....all internal electronics, if I had a choice over again i would look at the Korg...but there are a lot, just not launchkey!

 

I have narrowed it down the the axiom 25 or the korg taktile 25.

I am undecided though, because the axiom has aftertouch and the taktile does not, but the taktile has 8 more faders and this touch scale mode that gives you example chords for ideas and seems like better quality, touch screen and better aesthetics.

Which do you think will be better for production in the long run (for faster paced 140 bpmtrance, psy trance, techno, progressive), axiom with the aftertouch or the taktile 25 with the faders?

I think I am pretty set on 25 keys. Portability will help. I have no music theory background so I think I can learn a lot and make the most of the the 25. Basically I want the best 25 key on the market though because I plan on using it as my main midi keyboard controller and it will also be 1 of the few hardware that I use until I potentially get a fancy synth keyboard down the road (I will be using software synths and AUs mostly). My ideal set up within 6-12 months would be my laptop, headphones, 25 midi keyboard, and some monitors.

So will trance production (melodies, synths, pads, chords, bass, etc.) benefit more from axiom aftertouch or taktile with touch scale mode and faders?

I can't seem to be sold on the native instrument 25 it doesn't seem worth its price

 

Roland A-800 PRO

 

my advice is to listen to what studio555 said. reconsider your decision to purchase a 2-octave keyboard. i made that mistake a few years ago, and i regret it. i should have spent a few extra bucks to get at least a four octave board. if you're serious about music, don't get anything less than 49 keys. 61 is better. a lot of the things that you might want to use have keyswitches that you will not be able to access if you are using a 25 key keyboard. it can become quite frustrating.

 

25 key portability will help a ton. Wouldn't a 25 key controller be fine for 1-3 years until I get an actual hardware synth with more keys?

 

If you are using it for live performance,than portability is legit aspect,if not,than forget about it and get something with 49-61.

 

49-61 keys is best..one that maps well to whatever DAW that you are using..

 

Anyone have any input on the Alesis keyboards? The Alesis VI25 in specific. I think if it has good reviews I would go with that one but there doesn't seem to be much reviews of it online

 

You can find its Features, Specifications,... in some of the most 'prestigious' Music related Websites/Magazines !

'Wirerealm'

'Sound On Sound'

'MusicRadar'

'Sweetwater'

'Gearslutz'

...just to name a few !!! *yes*

 

I recently heard that M-Audio is bringing back direct link which is this awesome feature that actually makes mapping your midi incredibly easy, it practically does everything for you. As far as I know, you just have to place a file in the right place and you should be good to go. This is only available for certain DAWs with certain boards but it maybe something worth looking into if you are new to midi mapping which can get pretty in depth and at the very least tedious. I would definitely say that even if you are going to play live get a bigger controller 49 keys are great. I previously had a 37 key controller and it did not seem to be enough for me. If you are going to play with two hands you will probably want a bigger controller than a 25 key in the future. This is all dependent on what you are going to play on it, and for me I had to upgrade boards a few times before I found the perfect fit.