Ableton Forum

I'm looking to get a compact 25 key midi keyboard. Any experience or problems with different models would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Hey,
I have 2, the m-audio keyrig 25 and the xiosynth 25.

The M-audio is nice and very compact. Very easy to transport and I wouldn't be afraid to toss it around, since the knobs appear to be pretty solid. It is also inexpensive. The keys have a very mushy feel that bugs me a little bit, but it definitely serves its purpose.

Now, the XioSynth 25 I freaking love. It is a piece of gear that I would definitely buy again. It is a USB audio interface, midi controller and synthesizer module with a very good engine in my opinion. I've gigged with it twice with no problems at all, using it for all of its 3 functions (of course hooked up to Live). If you have the extra cash I would definitely go for it. The cons on this little keyboard are that the knobs feel a little wobbly to me and that on a dark setting, the labels are kind of hard to read. The plus to that last one is that if you use a headlamp to read the whole thing you'll look uber-geeky and will get extra points for nerdyness, like i did.

cheers!

Thanks for the suggestions

I've currently got an Ozonic that I was using as keyboard/audio & midi interface, but having upgraded a lot of kit I only need the keys, and it's too bulky for what I now use it for.

I like the look of the Edirol PCR-M1, but I'm tempted by how cheap the m-audio keyrig & oxygen models are.

Xio +++1

I have the PCM-m1 and like it a lot for the size. Half height keys don't bother me, and it feels way better than the O2 which I had before.

Tarekith wrote:I have the PCM-m1 and like it a lot for the size. Half height keys don't bother me, and it feels way better than the O2 which I had before.

Quite neat, I didn't know it had half sized keys... Nice and compact.

I'm still thinking about picking up the Novation Remote SL 25 Compact.

the xiosynth is pretty cool, the keys feelzzz nice. my friend got one and i have an oxygen v2.... my controller's fucken lame.

xio all the wayyyyzzz

I was playing with an xiosynth in a shop last weekend and it looked and felt really nice. Having said that even the latest M-Audio Oxygen-8 felt way better than my old Oxygen-8 v1. One thing on the xiosynth: the pitch/mod joystick felt really strongly sprung (compared to other keyboard mod wheels/pitch bend) - is this normal on the xiosynth, or was it a display model defect?

I think i am about to buy one of the new Edirols...

they have cross-faders on em as well now, should be nice 4 live...

www.roland.com

I have the Novation Remove 25 SL, and it is the mutts nuts in my opinion. One of the best purchases I have made in a long while. Live integration is pretty damn good. Well it is in live 6, not tried in 7 yet.

Steve