Ableton Forum

Need a portable (25 key max) control surface/audio interface. Have trawled through the forum and it looks like the Edirol works best with Live, however the Ozone has a mic preamp. Is the Ozone really much worse than the Edirol with Live? Any advice appreciated.

I've got the Edirol PCR-30, which is slightly larger than the PCR-1 and it is a good quality unit. The PCR-1 is a lot narrower I believe so that the keys don't travel so far when you press them. Its a piece of cake to set up with live and it comes with software to edit the MIDI CC values should you wish to do so.

the ozone has a very sick and mean driver for osx (jaguar). I don't know if it works better with tiger, but I had some very evil osx-bluescreens on my ibook during the last year and I am pretty sure that it has something to do with the m-audio-ozone-driver.

Also check out the ESI Neon, very good keyboard action, good price and good soundcard, I've had mine for 3 months, toured Germany with it and it works 100's.

Don't forget Alesis X25. Not had much chance to use mine yet but like it so far - just make sure you download latest drivers as manual advises.

Goseba

If you need a mic pre, the Ozone. If you want better quality keys and case, in a really slim package, the PCR. The PCR is way better built than the M-audio controllers.

The PCR is cool, but, I never understood why Edirol would choose to put RCA ins and outs on it. Why have such a portable unit with an input that would require a mixing board to be of any use? But, I guess in the Liveworld, a DJ can use it in the booth and the RCAs could be handy.

It does have an input level knob, but, a mic pre it aint.

I just got a PRC-30 a few days ago and I fucking LOVE it. It was 50 bucks less than m audios controller, and i think its a lot better quality. I ALSO didnt know that Edirol was owned by Roland

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like the PCR1 has it (PCR30 too bulky). The Alesis X25 looks good too. Anyone with any more thoughts before I buy tomorrow?