Hi all, basically just had by bonus from work £8k the gov will take 40% bless em! Anyhoots I would like to buy some kit but to be honest getting fed up of reviewing. Any advice would be great. I after some midi stuff, annoys me as it seems like midi was cheap and solid when I was using in 20 years ago. I digress

I'm a guitarist and like to play with multi backing tracks, VSTi's and make my own tracks. Things I'm interested in.

New midi keyboard only thing that's taken me is Nektar Panorama P6
Don't laugh but something to control DAW and VSTi's ie knobs and pads. I'm knew to all the pad stuff.
I have a PODHD500X that I use as a midi floorboard. Drives me insane that you cant buy one that simply does it all, so cheap to build - annoying.

I use reaper as my DAW and use a range of VST's.

Bottom line been out of the loop for 5 so dont know what's good at decent money. I've seen cheap stuff that looks great and expensive stuff that has dire reviews, seems like a mine field. Any help greatly appreciated and anything of interest I'm all ears. Thx ;-)

 

Id suggext more vodka

 

Thanks that's super useful will look that up today. Another mate this morning, awesome bass player said look at the komplete stuff too. Appreciate the help.

 

hehe I will attach the picture of my bar later - no people I don't have a drink problem

 

NI stuff is great, might be worth holding out for a tad as their summer sale will be coming...

 

Buy bitwig

 

The most solid MIDI keyboards that my delirium tremens hands have ever touched are Akai ones. It really is a minefield these days [and other ], even when it gets good reviews you might end up disappointed. I'd suggest try before buy in this case, absolutely.

Are you using Windows or Mac? NI keyboards work better and easier with a Mac. Actually everything does. Akai ones work great without any OS, and are easier to use. That's why I prefer them. Something like this will make your life easier [Akai MPK249], guaranteed.

If you decide to go UAD way, it's recommended to use a Mac, either, and this interface [UA Apollo Twin] since you're a guitar player. Choose the plugins carefully because you could end up penniless very easily with UA.

Cheers!

 

Last edited: Apr 14, 2019

no problem mate ;)

 

Will look this up - looked at my SW1000xg a few days ago and thought hmm remember paying £280 for that, now its slung in my cardboard box hence why I like software hehe. But will look this up ;-)

 

So you're still using the same computer you used your SW1000XG in?

 

One of my clients got NI Komplete Kontrol A61. The one without the screen. The built is kinda solid. Keyboard, mod wheels, and knobs feel really nice and solid. But the software is not what people think. It works fine with NI programs and plugins, and plugins that support NKS, but there aren't many of those. So it's not that useful. The idea is commendable, though, but I'm certainly a bit disappointed with it. And there are certain problems with it and Windows 7. I mean wtf is NI thinking?! It's not like it doesn't work, just updating firmware is impossible to do, unless you have a Mac or W10 handy. I expect more from a company as reputable as NI.

Akai is cheaper than this keyboard and has more controls. The keyboard, wheels, faders, and knobs feel just as great, and there are more of them. Since I've tried both, I wouldn't think twice. You additionally get nice drum pads, more knobs, faders, and sliders. It is easy to assign these controls, depending on a plugin. You do get some kind of "automap" software with it, but I wouldn't use that since it's a wrapper, the same way as Novation Automap. It could make plugins more unstable. I have a Novation Remote keyboard and I've never used this software. There's no need IMO.

 

Last edited: Apr 15, 2019

if you can't afford or don't want to fuck with true authentic high end analog gear, then definitely go for UAD2.

 

Mwhahahaha gawd no!

 

I will give this a second look, I take it that it works n plays nice with PC?

 

Ive come to that conclusion from numerous vids n reviews now, so appreciate this. I know Im going akai or novation SL 61. But Im dropping Kontact, I dont want to be locked in to a certain way of working ✌️

 

I have a Akai MPK249, def. recommend.... Solid.

 

Yes it does. Thunderbolt can be a problem with W7, but since you're using W10 there is no problem.