Ableton Forum

I'm thinking of buying an M-Audio Axiom 61 for midi use, but not really experienced in the realm of keyboards. From features and brand name alone, this one looks pretty good. However..

Does anyone have suggestions on what might be the most preferred all-around midi-keyboard? Thanks!

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There are both lovers and haters of the Axiom but a lot of people here use and like them. They're certainly not a high end keyboard but I want one...They're perfect for Live style DJing and so forth. Are you keen on having the pads as well as the keys? Theres a new Akai board that has pads on but I can't think of any others that do. The Novation SL series do but they're tiny, although they do have one of the best reputations for keyboard controllers overall in terms of features and build quality.

I've got an Axiom 25, it's pretty cool, there seems to be a general consensus on this forum that M-AUDIO stuff is a bit shoddy but my controller works OK (I don't think I've had it more than 6 months though). When it was new there seemed to be a screw rattling around inside rather worryingly, but it seems to have got lodged somewhere and isn't causing any trouble. It is a really handy controller though, and I'm guessing the Axiom 61 is even better because it has faders and more buttons I believe...

The pads are certainly not the essential part..I think I would move more towards something like a trigger finger for that sort of use..The knobs and sliders on the axiom look a little more spread out than on the novation, not to mention there are more. The novation looks pretty slick and well-built.

THe main thing I'm curious about with the Axiom is how the keys are going to feel, being semi-weighted. I read one post regarding actually going in and tying weights to the keys, but I hope that's not in my future.. Thanks for the input!

anybody try the keystaion pro 88?


I was thinking aabout grabbing that.

Axiom 49 here. Can't speak highly enough about it. Not the top of the line by any means, but its a solid controller for a good price point. Built well, 8 endless knobs, 9 buttons, 9 faders, 8 pads and 49 keys. With the ableton preset dumps you can control just about every parammeter in live you need to. Doesn;t eliminate the mouse entirely, but it does allow you to focus more on playing. And you will like the pads as well, so much nicer than keys for laying down percssion. And you can do lots of other things with them as well.


Read through this, it was created by a poster on here named Newecho, and will give you an idea as to how you can use this unit:

http://newecho.typepad.com/blog/2007/05 ... _the_.html

Chris Paget wrote:THe main thing I'm curious about with the Axiom is how the keys are going to feel, being semi-weighted. I read one post regarding actually going in and tying weights to the keys, but I hope that's not in my future.. Thanks for the input!

Fully weighted keys feel similar to those you would find on a real piano, touch sensitive keys are what you find on many synths, and on controllers like the oxygen 8, they respond to the amount of pressure you put on the keys - semi weighted is kind of between the two. They feel very nice.

I just spent an hour with the Axiom 25 at The Guitar Center. They have them on sale for $179 right now. It's better than the Oxygen, but why is ALL M-Audio stuff feeling like a toy? There is HUGE profits in M-Audio stuff and it's marketed as professional gear. I mean, it's the industry really. The Korg controllers even felt MORE cheap than the M-Audio. Those were on sale for $99 and it was almost embarrasing looking at it. It's soooo freakin cheaply made. I would say get it but don't expect it to last more than a year or so. Two years tops! All this stuff is being slammed together by cheap labor in China. As I said, the Axiom 25 felt better than the Korg controllers.

darkcatt wrote:anybody try the keystaion pro 88?


I was thinking aabout grabbing that.

I've heard very good things about these from giging, pro musicians....