Best 49 Key Midi Controller

[osta]

Hi, new to the board here.

I've been playing around with ableton for a while now, but I figure it's finally time to pick up a controller so I can actually work at a decent pace.

I've decided on a 49 key controller as it best suits my needs, but I don't really want to spend too much.

I was looking at the M-Audio Oxygen 49 since it's pretty cheap. Does anyone have experience with it?


Otherwise do you guys have any other recommendations? Help out a noob lol.

[TechnoLover]

MPK49 without any doubt big bomb!

[wreckcode]

M-Audio keyboards are good but be careful with the USB bus. I've had one from the time they called it "keystation e49" and the USB bus finally broke after too many plugging/unplugging operations. Now, I own this Oxygen 49 and the USB seems a little more solid, but I think it's still M-Audio and plastic... don't expect too much. But for this price it is great (a lot of knobs and faders), just be cautionous.

And MPK49 is waaaay more expensive by the way... For the same features, I'd rather have separate elements (mpd18 or mpd16 + a nanokontrol) for more versatility.

[TechnoLover]

The automapping feature of the MPK49 with Ableton is the greatest thing I've seen.

Just plug the controller, and it's mapped for every single instruments/midi FXs/audio FXs + external VST...

With an oxygen you'll have to make it by yourself...

Trust me, I had to make a choice between both controllers, and I am really happy to have chosen the MPK49. A bit more expensive but it's worth it

[Cool Character]

I hear the keys on the Akai MPKs massively self-destruct, though.

[wreckcode]

I hear the keys on the Akai MPKs massively self-destruct, though.

Don't know much about it, but Akai is generally way more solidly built than M-audio, and I guess if you use the keys of an Akai keyboard in the way they "massively self-destruct", M-audio keys would instantaneously annihilate.

[TechnoLover]

agree!

The Akai is solid and profesionnaly build... Professional gear for 350€

[oblique strategies]

E-MU Xboard 49 is a good keyboard if you don't mind a used one since they have been discontinued. Better keys than most of its competition, can run on batteries, has a MIDI out port, & has after touch.

[Cool Character]

I hear the keys on the Akai MPKs massively self-destruct, though.

Don't know much about it, but Akai is generally way more solidly built than M-audio, and I guess if you use the keys of an Akai keyboard in the way they "massively self-destruct", M-audio keys would instantaneously annihilate.

Maybe it was just one angry guy making his rounds posting images of mangled MPKs.
Like this:




And this:



If they are decent, though. I'm probably gonna buy one for myself. I really like they way they're laid out.

[RedGit]

Hello!
I´m trying to use an old MidiBoard - Zoom8050 toghether with Live.
Do you have any idea how to get a driver for this Midi Controller?
As a Guitarist I want to controll Ableton with my feet.

[ark]

I haven't tried one in person, and they're expensive -- but on paper the Novation Remote 49SL MkII looks nice.

Fatar keyboard, knobs that automap to Live, display that shows what the knobs are controlling, assorted select/launch buttons, joystick, and X/Y pad.

[oblique strategies]

This seems to be a common problem with this keyboard.

[darkenedsoul]

What about a good 61 Keyboard? I was thinking of augmenting my M50 with a strictly MIDI controller at some point and want a 61 key so it fits on 2nd tier of my dual tier stand and will fit nicely in the corner where the M50 currently resides. I am looking at as much as $500 US.

[cramos241]

I had a band mate that owned a mpk 49. dumbass dropped it down the stairs and a few keys popped up like that. afterwards, i took it off his hand for free and got it repaired . For your reference, they need to replace the whole interior...like...frame...thing cause the bar that keeps the keys from popping up and all that is one piece. so one key, or many a key broken: you are paying the same priceto repair. at the end of the day i spent bout 300 for that repair after parts and labor. honestly, imo not worth it but i was misquoted at the shop and kinda forced to pay that high price.

honestly my plan now that the mpk49 has been repaired and ive been playin on it about 6 months, im gonna sell it and go with an apc40 and an axiom49 keyboard or somethin similar. all those extra nobs on the mpk keyboard are great being that they auto sync to ableton amongst other daws but a little extra time spent midi mapping some stuff could fix that.
apc40's do the same thing with the auto syncin' knobs right? and that one seems way more friendly to use if you ask me.
pads on that mpk49 arent very comfortable to me either, super stiff. ive tried adjusting velocity sensitivity to somethin i like its just not workin. but a trip to my local pawn shop and find an m-audio trigger finger for 80 bucks fixed that issue .

i guess im sayin, that mpk is a cool all in one kind of keyboard, but once you get to really use it i feel that it is just mediocre at best across all categories.

[reticent]

I have an MPK25 and I love it to death - friend has an MPK49, and although there was a small issue to begin with, keys-wise, they fixed it for him free of charge and since then he loves his keyboard.