MIDI controller + built in sounds in 1 unit???

[draff]

Hey everyone,
This isn't Ableton-specific, but I find the resources here to be more reliable than just about any other forum I reference.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as a MIDI controller keyboard, such as the M-Audio Axiom 61 which has knobs, sliders and pads, that also has a basic set of built-in sounds like piano, e-piano, clav, organ, wurli, etc.

For the life of me, I just can't understand why something like this doesn't exist. My keyboard player uses Mainstage at gigs, but sometimes prior to our main set I have him doing a jazz set somewhere else on site, and he doesn't want to have to set up the laptop in both locations. It would be nice to be able to just set up the keyboard for the jazz set and play the piano setting, then move the keyboard to the main area and plug into the laptop to play the full gig with all the customized synth sounds and such. Also, on some gigs, he may not need the laptop at all, and only needs those basic sounds, but he'll need 2 separate keyboards to fill this need. Finally, when we do recording in the office studio, we use Live and the controller is just fine in those instances.

Anyway, to close it out, I just wish there was a great MIDI controller that provided knobs, sliders and faders that also had a basic set of built in sounds. Anyone know of something like this??
Thanks!

[102455]

There are plenty of keyboards on the market with built in sounds, that can also be used via MIDI and/or USB.

[TYLRbass]

I used to have a Novation Xiosynth and it worked great for this..

I would route the on-board sounds into Live so I could add effects/processing and then simply switch into MIDI mode and all of the buttons/knobs/keys would be MIDI mapped to my set, pretty handy little synth because I could use it to it's full potential with Live and then also just plug in headphones and jam out without my laptop if I ever wanted to.

[draff]

There are plenty of keyboards on the market with built in sounds, that can also be used via MIDI and/or USB.

102455: I think maybe you're not following my point. Yes there are plenty of keyboards that have usb ports and can be used as a midi controller. However, from what I've seen there is nothing that has a decent built in sound set that also has mappable controls such as knobs faders, sliders and pads. For instance, the perfect product to me would be an M-Audio Axiom 61 (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61.html) that has the built in sounds of their ProKeys 88 (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProKeys88.html). One has the mappable controls, the other has the built in sounds. Why not make both in one unit?!?

So my question was, does anyone know of a product that DOES have both mappable hardware controllers as a MIDI controller and built in sounds as one unit?

[102455]

One such unit was the Novation X Station. No longer made but you might pick one up s/h. If you do some Googling, you can find others too.

On the other hand, if all that's needed is bog standard sounds like piano, organ, strings etc. then you could use a small GM (general MIDI) sound module with your existing controller - assuming it has a 5 pin DIN MIDI output.

[jlgrimes]

Hey everyone,
This isn't Ableton-specific, but I find the resources here to be more reliable than just about any other forum I reference.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as a MIDI controller keyboard, such as the M-Audio Axiom 61 which has knobs, sliders and pads, that also has a basic set of built-in sounds like piano, e-piano, clav, organ, wurli, etc.

For the life of me, I just can't understand why something like this doesn't exist. My keyboard player uses Mainstage at gigs, but sometimes prior to our main set I have him doing a jazz set somewhere else on site, and he doesn't want to have to set up the laptop in both locations. It would be nice to be able to just set up the keyboard for the jazz set and play the piano setting, then move the keyboard to the main area and plug into the laptop to play the full gig with all the customized synth sounds and such. Also, on some gigs, he may not need the laptop at all, and only needs those basic sounds, but he'll need 2 separate keyboards to fill this need. Finally, when we do recording in the office studio, we use Live and the controller is just fine in those instances.

Anyway, to close it out, I just wish there was a great MIDI controller that provided knobs, sliders and faders that also had a basic set of built in sounds. Anyone know of something like this??
Thanks!

Buy an old used workstation like a Fantom, motif, or Triton.

They won't have as many sliders and knobs but they will have a ton of sounds. I tend to like the keyboard action a little better on workstations ESP when you get to 76 key or above models.

I bought a Yamaha MM6 for live shows. I didn't want to deal with a computer and it has decent sounds. My main reason for getting it though.

It is extremely light and inexpensive. I don't get paid much on my shows and I overheated my Triton extreme from playing in extreme hot weather.

I don't care for the key action though.


One of my favorite synths for key action is the Kurzweil K2000. The sounds are dated but it has the smoothest key action I have found in a synth.

It's big brother the k2500 is amazing. I use a K2600 for my studio.

[login]

Wait a second, the problem is you are thinking about it backwards.

Keyboards that have their own sound engine/samples are not marketed as MIDI controllers, they are sold as Synthetizers, Sampled instruments, performance keyboard or workstations.

The problem you are facing is finding one synth/sampler/workstation that also has many knobs/sliders that can work as MIDI controls,

You have plenty of stuff to check: Novation Ultra/Mininova, Nord lead/wave/electro, Roland synths/samplers, Korg kingkorg, yamaha motif, etc.

Just tell us ypur budget, number of keys required, do you prefer a Synth or Sample based?, what type of controls you require?

[draff]

Wait a second, the problem is you are thinking about it backwards.

Keyboards that have their own sound engine/samples are not marketed as MIDI controllers, they are sold as Synthetizers, Sampled instruments, performance keyboard or workstations.

The problem you are facing is finding one synth/sampler/workstation that also has many knobs/sliders that can work as MIDI controls,

You have plenty of stuff to check: Novation Ultra/Mininova, Nord lead/wave/electro, Roland synths/samplers, Korg kingkorg, yamaha motif, etc.

Just tell us ypur budget, number of keys required, do you prefer a Synth or Sample based?, what type of controls you require?

Thanks for the info login. But to be honest I really don't think I'm looking at it backwards. As I mentioned in my original post, I am only looking for something that has "a basic set of built-in sounds like piano, e-piano, clav, organ, wurli, etc." I don't need a full blown workstation with full synth capabilities. So many of these sub-$1000 stage pianos have great sound sets like this, but I also need one that has some pads, knobs and sliders so I can use Mainstage or Live as well. Just want to have the choice to say "ok, I just need a piano and strings setting for this gig, no need for the computer". Or, "ok, this is a full blown band gig, gonna need all my custom-created sounds from Mainstage to play all the top 40 stuff, better bring the Macbook on this one" and not have to use multiple keyboards.

Again, back to my original post, the PERFECT product to me would be a combination of the M-Audio Axiom 61 (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61.html) that has the built in sounds of their ProKeys 88 (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProKeys88.html). To me that seems like an incredibly marketable product.

[login]

if it exists it is this : http://usa.yamaha.com/products/music-pr ... ode=series (or at least yamaha advertises it as such but no pads )

I understand your needs, but I dont agree it would be a product with wide appeal. First because those who want a instrument, well they get a good instrument, they care about sounds not controls, and those who want a midi controller don't want to incur in the costs of the sound engine (being it samples or synth).

I prefer to have a synth and use it as a midi controller for VST editing, as I use a nord lead that has many knobs for the job. Then you just ad pads or sliders with another controller.

Also, maybe you should look to get a sound module (rack or desktop) to pair with your midi keyboard. Something really small like a waldorf blofeld or this

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SD50/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/QY100/

You should be able to find older versions of similar products cheaper.

Do you have an ipad by any chance? if yes, check out the akai synthstation 49.

[102455]

get a sound module (rack or desktop) to pair with your midi keyboard

I already suggested that, and got no response... Seems a sensible solution to me. Roland SD50 for example.