Entry level Midi keyboard - Opinions?

cooch · Post by **cooch** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:49 pm

So I've spent 30 mins trawling around but can't find an answer - so I'll post a request. I did try - honest!

My boy - affectionately known as Dubson to the Streamizm crew - wants to start composing. He has Reason 4 on the PC and Logic on the Mac.

What he needs now is a Midi keyboard, and I have up to £100 to spend.

He's not to bothered about loads of keys - even 25 is OK. So long as it has a pitch bend and a mod wheel. Dual-platform would be good too.

So what should I be looking towards spending my hard-earned cash on? The M-Audio Oxygen range seems OK, or even the Axiom 25. Also looking at the Korg K25.

One other issue is that I'm not sure if his PC may need a new sound card to deal with the latency. So are there any connectivity issues, should we need to upgrade the sound card?

Thanks guys - I'm out of my depth here!

cooch

alan_ · Post by **alan_** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:53 pm

the m-audio oxygen is pretty durable.

as far as latency, not really sure. I have to deal with this issue with my own system, just because it's not all that screamin fast.

anthonyfromtheuk · Post by **anthonyfromtheuk** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:55 pm

I have an Oxygen 8 and have never had any problems with it other than it does not have enough keys! Real good for the money

cooch · Post by **cooch** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:02 pm

AnthonyfromtheUK and Alan_ from Texas - thanks for the quick response guys!

May go towards the Oxygen - unless other Dubheads give me a good reason not to.

tata

cooch

Pallms · Post by **Pallms** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:21 pm

I am an M-Audio user as well.

I have tried one of Korg's MIDI keyboards and did not like it as much as my M-Audio O2.

shane · Post by **shane** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:08 pm

m-audio all the way.

i'd suggest the axiom 25 over the oxygen personally.

linedamage · Post by **linedamage** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:18 pm

shane wrote:m-audio all the way.

i'd suggest the axiom 25 over the oxygen personally.

+1 Iv'e got and axiom 49 and its chuffing brilliant, semi weighted keys, sliders the lot.

You can pick one up second hand for less than £100

press · Post by **press** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:45 pm

id recomend the oxygen over the axiom, only because the knobs on the axiom click in specific incriments and that records in automation. the axiom is better built im sure, and the more wieghty keys and drum pads are cool but for me were not important so all in all i think the oxygen is a better value for the money.

linedamage · Post by **linedamage** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:59 am

Press wrote:the knobs on the axiom click in specific incriments and that records in automation.

Good point man, the axiom has those 'limitless' knobs, you can increase the acceleration but the turns never feel exactly right

The sliders are great in Ableton though, you can control so much stuff off one controller

joshbdoc · Post by **joshbdoc** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:26 am

I have an Oxygen 8 and it's pretty solid. I've seen the Axioms, but have yet to try one.

legend4ry · Post by **legend4ry** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:20 am

I got a M-Audio MidAir 25.

Had some problems getting it working but after it did, not one problem at all with it, I'd recommend it.

I did get mine for 50 though, brand spanking new, I think its like 100+

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:42 am

I've been using my Oxygen for 4 years now, and it still works like a dream!

My mates Korg is falling apart in the same time :S

psychonaught · Post by **psychonaught** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:57 pm

id recommend the axiom

cooch · Post by **cooch** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:03 pm

Thanks for the tips Stateside East & West Coast, down South in Texas, deepest SE18, Geordieland, Wild Wales, and especially futures_untold, who can't be far away from me. I bought an M-Audio Oxygen 8 V2 from PMT today (futures knows the shop - http://www.pmtonline.co.uk/) they almost matched the best price I could find which was from Digital Village. But I've always found the PMT guys good to deal with, and will always negotiate on price.

TRIVIA for those of you who don't know the Cowley Road area in Oxford...

It may be an Urban myth, but PMT (Professional Music Technology - not to be confused with Pre-Menstrual Tension, which is a different matter entirely) used to have premises next to a Private Sex Shop and a Pharmisists.

That area of the Cowley Road was known as Sex and Drugs and Rock'n'Roll.

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:55 pm

Yup, big up the room with all the synths & keyboards in it...

Best bit of Cowley Rd no doubt

mike honcho · Post by **mike honcho** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:35 am

shane wrote:m-audio all the way.

i'd suggest the axiom 25 over the oxygen personally.

ya fuck the axiom. i have heard of way too many problems with it. m audio oxygen or radium all the way mate.

threshold collective · Post by **threshold collective** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:05 pm

AXIOM all day!!

Had mine runnin on 2 years now, no issues

shane · Post by **shane** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:03 pm

Mike Honcho wrote:
shane wrote:m-audio all the way.

i'd suggest the axiom 25 over the oxygen personally.
ya fuck the axiom. i have heard of way too many problems with it. m audio oxygen or radium all the way mate.

not a single issue has popped up with mine and i've had it for a while.

Entry level Midi keyboard - Opinions?

Entry level Midi keyboard - Opinions?

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