Need second opinion on midi keyboard

hectikx · Post by **hectikx** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 7:16 pm

yo. just can't make a decision on what to buy, so im hoping you guys can help make my mind up. just want a basic midi keyboard to help with making tunes. more keys make a difference? 25 enough?

here's my shortlist

M-Audio Keystation 49E - £60
Esi Keycontrol 49 - £50
Esi Keycontrol 25XL - £40
M-Audio Oxygen 8 V2 - £60

price is an issue. e.g. is it justifiable paying £10 more for the oxygen over the 49 Esi?

safe

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 7:48 pm

Several considerations.

1> How much desk space do you have? The more keys you have, the more desk/storage space you'll need.

2> Do you want controller pots or not? If you like tweaking things live with a twist, then £10 extra is well worth it!

3> Do you need sliders or drum pads? If so, you'll need to check some other keyboards or add a midi drum pad box at a later stage.

4> How portable do you need this keyboard to be? Small = more portable.

5> Can you actually play the keyboard with both hands? If you can't, and price is an issue, then stick to the smaller less costly option. Tapping a transpose key can be annoying, but only when your trying to jam live across multiple octaves. For general sequencing work, it doesn't make any difference...

I've had an Oxygen for six years, and have loved using it every moment of that time!

myst · Post by **myst** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 7:49 pm

Id recomend the Korg K25. Its what ive been using, really good. BUT i think its been discontinued now...couldnt get in anywhere online apart from ebay

hurlingdervish · Post by **hurlingdervish** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:07 pm

i had a oxygen 8 v2 and the knobs bugged out on me, then the usb cable power started flickering with it

so i would avoid that one.

bedroom beats · Post by **bedroom beats** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:45 am

I have the m-audio key-station.

There is no bells and whistles but it does its job well.

Id definitely choose something with the extra octaves tho

hectikx · Post by **hectikx** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:00 am

bumpage

ascii · Post by **ascii** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:15 am

If you're making Dubstep you'll only really need 2 Octaves. And maybe a few knobs to assign to parameters on your synth. If your making anything which uses piano improve, strings etc. Then forget it.

the get down · Post by **the get down** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 3:40 am

i think the novation keyboards have the best feel of the others in the price range- 49 key is a good practical size that won't limit you too much.

s & m · Post by **s & m** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 5:44 am

The Get Down wrote:i think the novation keyboards have the best feel of the others in the price range- 49 key is a good practical size that won't limit you too much.

i own this and i think it is a great keyboard. the SL is awsome which i have with all the faders/knobs i need all compact into one keyboard.

the snare bear · Post by **the snare bear** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:59 pm

for convenience and price, i dont think you can beat the Korg nanokey. things is slim, portable, and 50 bucks. plugs right into usb. obviously its not super high quality like an actual keyboard, but for the price and to produce some subs and music with a keyboard, you cant beat its usefulness

FSTZ1 · Post by **FSTZ1** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:11 pm

I have a CME UF5 49 key

it's the bizness

built like a friggin tank

hectikx · Post by **hectikx** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:56 pm

The Snare Bear wrote:for convenience and price, i dont think you can beat the Korg nanokey. things is slim, portable, and 50 bucks. plugs right into usb. obviously its not super high quality like an actual keyboard, but for the price and to produce some subs and music with a keyboard, you cant beat its usefulness

looked at the nanokey but im not to sure on the design to be honest, prefer something a bit more traditional. i seriously aint got 200 quid to spend on a keyboard as some of you have suggested; just need some basic kit for plugging into the computer and aiding me with making tunes. im gunna probably go with the keystation for forty squid. i take care of my shit so I can't see myself needing a tank a keyboard.

safe

hectikx · Post by **hectikx** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:58 pm

nowaysj wrote:
hectikx wrote:so I can't see myself needing a tank a keyboard.
Fail, but enjoy.

man, missing an "of" constitutes as fail? fail fails.

cheers for all the suggestions tho

ninjadog · Post by **ninjadog** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 5:45 am

I hear ya on the price thing, had an oxygen 8 in 2002, 2 knobs broke and always had phantom slider and knob movements in Reason. The midi learn in Reason dident work for me either. Retired it and was going to get the kontrol 49, dident have the cash or patience to save up and got the oxy8 v2...same fucking phantom issues and is a pain in the ass to get everything working as it should. Sometimes the transport controls wont work...fucking hate m-audio's quality, there like half a step better than berringer.

My pad kontrol on the other hand has never let me down once. I could easily recommend korg products and warn you you get what you pay for with maudio.

mico viejo · Post by **mico viejo** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 3:39 pm

hurlingdervish wrote:i had a oxygen 8 v2 and the knobs bugged out on me, then the usb cable power started flickering with it

so i would avoid that one.

suffering from both of the above problems right now. had it about a yr and a half only. cheap junk.

and i never thought that playing on such a limited number of octaves wld b a problem, but it is.

Need second opinion on midi keyboard

Need second opinion on midi keyboard

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