budget midi controllers that double as midi interfaces

[jaytee]

Just looking for some ideas. Getting a few hardware items because I'm sick of writing music with a mouse and keyboard. Bought a synthesizer, but still need a MIDI/USB interface. Looks like decent ones cost about $40, and for not much more, I could just get a USB midi control surface with MIDI din ports, since the synth doesn't have much in the way of knobs.

So I'm just looking for suggestions of midi controllers that double as midi interfaces (if it has an audio interface too, even better!). And I'm trying to keep it under $100 but I don't mind buying used on eBay. I also don't mind getting an older unit, so long as there are current drivers (or plug-and-play).

So far I like the MPD24/26 and the PadKontrol. I've also been checking out auctions for an Evolution UC-33, which is discontinued and perhaps a little cheaply made, but otherwise ideal. I also know about the BCR and BCF2000, which might be a little out of my price range.

Any other suggestions?

[jaytee]

I'm also thinking about midi/audio interfaces. Something that does double-duty just seems to be the prudent thing to do.

[LP]

The Evolution UC-33 is one of the best simple MIDI control / interfaces ever made, IMHO. It can be a rigamarole to find the editor software, but it exists, now from M-Audio. It seems that most others want the software to do everything, but the UC-33 lets you access all of the MIDI elements natively. It is actually pretty robust.

I have used a LOT of different ones, and I have found the UC-33 to be better than most. I have also seen it used onstage by serious and experienced improvising electronic musicians who could have any kind of controller they wanted...( Pauline Oliveros, Ikue Mori, John Oswald...)

I like that it has easily accessible multiple presets, and has lots of knobs, buttons and faders...

The padKontrol is pretty good too, but I find it much harder to program and less versatile as a MIDI controller, although it is great for performance, not for control.


Neither of these is an audio interface.

[channelite]

Maybe a used Axiom 25 first generation. I have it and also use its midi in and out. Its a great feeling keyboard too.

[Cezband]

It depends on what exactly you want from the controller - there are a few combined keyboard/interface type controllers out there but as far as I can tell, not so many for just knobs/sliders/pads. It might be better to buy both seperately to ensure you get the exact functionality you need - a simple interface, and then one of the korg nano series, or an MPK mini perhaps.

[LP]

The thing that the OP asked about was a MIDI controller that was also a MIDI interface.
The Korg mini series are all fine USB MIDI controllers for sure, but are not interfaces to the world of MIDI hardware, unlike the UC-33 or the padKontrol.

For instance, a morcoKorg and a UC-33 make a good team with LIve, as the keyboard synth has no computer connectivity but can be easily controlled from LIve using the UC-33 once a connection is established.

[memes_33]

find a used m-audio oxygen 8. i recently sold my old one for $25

[doghouse]

Do you need just the MIDI OUT or also a MIDI IN?

The current trend sadly is to have no MIDI jacks at all. Some units offer MIDI OUT but not IN.

The only controllers currently sold that also have audio interfaces are Behringer UMA25S and M-AudioKeystudio 49i, both with MIDI OUT only.

There are a few boards that are controllers, audio interfaces and have sound engines: Novation xioSynth, X-Station and UltraNova, Roland SH-201 and Gaia, M-Audio ProSolo are the cheapest of these.

[theophilus]

you can often get a used remote sl zero for $100 on ebay. it has midi i/o as well, and a wealth of controllers.
no audio though.

if you just need audio + midi i/o, those are well available. or you could look at something like the tascam us428 which can be pretty cheap I think (there may be others like it), which are audio + midi I/O + sliders etc, no keys though. and i don't know how it sounds. maybe there's something more modern similar.

[jaytee]

I'm trying to avoid buying a midi keyboard if possible. I just bought an Akai Miniak, so I was planning on making that my master keyboard for everything (for the time being) and was hoping to find something that will both allow me to hook it up to the computer for midi and allow some extra functionality, either as an audio interface or a midi non-keyboard controller.

Having said that, I may just get an Axiom 25 keyboard, they seem to go for very little on ebay (~$70), which is comparable to the lowest end non-keyboard controllers. It's got everything I need, plus an extra 25 keys.

[oddstep]

I've recently used a padkontrol as a midi interface. It was really easy.Unlike my mate's m-audio 25 key keyboard - which was baffling.