favorite midi keyboard

Chris Paget · Post by **Chris Paget** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:03 am

I ask this mostly for selfish reasons as I just got an axiom 61 and am trying to feel my way around it and get used to things there..
Even with my short time playing it, I've realized a couple things:

1. you can't tell how the keys are going to feel until you play it;
2. how the knobs and sliders feel makes the world of difference for a keyboard.

It all really sounds like common sense, but really is driven home when it arrives in the mail and you play it the first time! What keyboard have you found that is just the all-around package for feel and functionality?

-sleepless in seattle about my axiom

edit: small keyboard reviews welcome

sesshin · Post by **sesshin** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:30 am

I have the Edirol PCR-800 and I like it. It has good synth action and a good smattering of knobs and sliders and the crossfader is nice too.

I'm debating picking up a Studiologic controller for piano action though.

Ozias Leduc · Post by **Ozias Leduc** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:03 am

i got a UF7 from CME

i like the feeling of the keys , and sliders are way better than the m audio ones i think. pots are too close together though, and they're not rotary. oh usb drivers are shit too, plus some knobs only put out sysex which is useless for ableton. but overall, nice

Sibanger · Post by **Sibanger** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:28 am

My Radium Midiman recently died & am looking at replacement, so this post is good for me.
Currently looking at Edirol PCR-800 or the Novation Remote 37 SL.
Don't really need the amount of keys on the Edirol, but am interested to know if the 'intelligent mapping'
is any good in Live compared to the Novations 'automap' and the action of the sliders & keys on both models.

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:09 am

I like the SL better than the PCR...the SL got way more action going on!!!
my buddy has the PCR-500 and I did'nt like the interaction with it at all...

Chris Paget · Post by **Chris Paget** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:55 pm

any thoughts about the emu xboard? ew over at the native instruments forums seems to think it's a comparable match to the axiom, but may have knobs that are little more fitted to work with VSTs. (I'm still working on that - the curves of the axiom knobs may just need to be adjusted) Viva poll

ewistrand · Post by **ewistrand** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:10 pm

Chris Paget wrote:any thoughts about the emu xboard? ew over at the native instruments forums seems to think it's a comparable match to the axiom, but may have knobs that are little more fitted to work with VSTs. (I'm still working on that - the curves of the axiom knobs may just need to be adjusted) Viva poll

Who, me?

Yeah, I'm a Xboard user. Personally, I didn't like the feel of the Axiom's keyboard when I tried one at my local GC, so I ended up getting the Xboard instead. YMMV...

ew

dancerchris · Post by **dancerchris** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 4:00 pm

I have yet to find a "midi controller only" that feels good, and I am talking full size weighted action boards. They all suck. But I like the feel of Yamaha hammer action keys on their S series keyboards to be the best board available right now. I have an S-08 that I bought just for that reason, the sound pallette sucks but the feel is marvelous. Load up Mr Ray73 and use the keyboard as a controller only, such a great Rhodes feel.

There are some controllers that are good for a "synth" feel. I think you should have both.

BTW, I use an axiom 49, but only as a general midi controller. The action is awful.

These are of course my personal preferences.

jeskola · Post by **jeskola** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 4:04 pm

Ozias Leduc wrote:i got a UF7 from CME

i like the feeling of the keys , and sliders are way better than the m audio ones i think. pots are too close together though, and they're not rotary. oh usb drivers are shit too, plus some knobs only put out sysex which is useless for ableton. but overall, nice

I got one o them too - very nice so they are

Chris Paget · Post by **Chris Paget** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:06 am

ewistrand wrote:
Chris Paget wrote:any thoughts about the emu xboard? ew over at the native instruments forums seems to think it's a comparable match to the axiom, but may have knobs that are little more fitted to work with VSTs. (I'm still working on that - the curves of the axiom knobs may just need to be adjusted) Viva poll
Who, me?

Yeah, I'm a Xboard user. Personally, I didn't like the feel of the Axiom's keyboard when I tried one at my local GC, so I ended up getting the Xboard instead. YMMV...

ew

howdy, ew, and thanks for the tips. in terms of the keys on xboard, how would you compare them to keys/action on the axiom?

my other main concern is knobs that click too much - as on the axiom - and the xboard has plenty of knobs (and no sliders, which can be nice if the knobs aren't pleasant). i'd be willing to rely on knobs if they are smooth to use, plus you mentioned their nice ratio on the xboard..

whiterabbit · Post by **whiterabbit** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:58 pm

sesshin wrote:I have the Edirol PCR-800 and I like it. It has good synth action and a good smattering of knobs and sliders and the crossfader is nice too.

I'm debating picking up a Studiologic controller for piano action though.

I saw that you also have a pcr-800. Did you get it mapped to the transport correctly? If I map L3 (pcr-800's transport start button) to ableton live's start, I have trouble getting the right behavior. If button mode is b-0 (unlatch) then the button will turn of when I put it then off when I release it, this causes ableton to start TWICE (kind of skips a beat). If I use b-1 button mode (unlatch) then A press and release will start it, but once I stop it, I have to press play (l3) twice in order to start it again. Anyway, if you've figured out the right way to map it please let me know!

Thanks
Max

Chris Paget · Post by **Chris Paget** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:45 am

The keys on the edirol look more "synth-like." I'm wondering how they compare to the piano-like keys on the axiom in terms of action and overall feel (the axiom keys kindof have a sticky feel to me)

Chris Paget · Post by **Chris Paget** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:12 pm

3dot... wrote:I like the SL better than the PCR...the SL got way more action going on!!!
my buddy has the PCR-500 and I did'nt like the interaction with it at all...

3dot, what was off about the edirol to you? (sorry for all the questions, but it's the only way to find out when ordering from ebay.)

nathannn · Post by **nathannn** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:16 pm

Chris Paget wrote:any thoughts about the emu xboard? ew over at the native instruments forums seems to think it's a comparable match to the axiom, but may have knobs that are little more fitted to work with VSTs. (I'm still working on that - the curves of the axiom knobs may just need to be adjusted) Viva poll

i have a xboard 25. its ok but i rather have the axiom because of the drum pads.

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:21 pm

I have a Remote SL37, has the best semi-weighted keys I could find for that size. Uses the same Fatar keybed as the Virus Polar, and a lot of other higher end synths. Still not as nice as the Fatar 61 keybed though, even though it feels good, the keys are noisier than I'd like.

I didn't like the Axiom either, too light feeling. I'd second the Edirol suggestions too, I've always like their feel.