midi controller with 49 keys: Akai vs. Cakewalk vs. Novation - opinions?

[ariston]

A question as I'm kind of undecided.

I just purchased an Akai MPK49. I still have the option to return it and exchange it for something else. I'm thinking of the Cakewalk A500 Pro or the Novation Remote.

I had a short opportunity to compare the Novation with the Akai. While I was intrigued by Novation's features such as the Automap and the XY pad, it seemed a little on the cheap side (knobs were really plasticky and felt like they would break off if you looked at them too hard...). The Akai is really very robust, and it has those MPC pads which are a big selling point, as are the massive rubbery mod wheels and the metal-guided faders.

Now the only reason I'm considering trading it in is that the keys make it really difficult to play with nuance. I can get forte and pianissimo, but anything in between is just pot luck. I like the heavy feel of the keys, but I'm just not able to play them like I want to (coming from the piano, this shouldn't be a problem). There's no adjustable velocity curve, either, which really sucks.

So, my question is: has anyone tried these three and decided on one? Which one did you prefer, and why? How does the Cakewalk stack up to these two?

Yeah, that's more than one question.

[ariston]

Bumperoo! Has anyone played these three and compared the keys? I would really appreciate the feedback.

[CPCompany]

A question as I'm kind of undecided.

I just purchased an Akai MPK49. I still have the option to return it and exchange it for something else. I'm thinking of the Cakewalk A500 Pro or the Novation Remote.

I had a short opportunity to compare the Novation with the Akai. While I was intrigued by Novation's features such as the Automap and the XY pad, it seemed a little on the cheap side (knobs were really plasticky and felt like they would break off if you looked at them too hard...). The Akai is really very robust, and it has those MPC pads which are a big selling point, as are the massive rubbery mod wheels and the metal-guided faders.

Now the only reason I'm considering trading it in is that the keys make it really difficult to play with nuance. I can get forte and pianissimo, but anything in between is just pot luck. I like the heavy feel of the keys, but I'm just not able to play them like I want to (coming from the piano, this shouldn't be a problem). There's no adjustable velocity curve, either, which really sucks.

So, my question is: has anyone tried these three and decided on one? Which one did you prefer, and why? How does the Cakewalk stack up to these two?

Yeah, that's more than one question.

I have a Roland A-300 pro. Its a bit plasticky for me, but I have never used another controller to compare it to.

But, I just got a used synth with a well respected keybed and to be honest the Roland holds up fairly well in comparison.

[ariston]

I have a Roland A-300 pro. Its a bit plasticky for me, but I have never used another controller to compare it to.

But, I just got a used synth with a well respected keybed and to be honest the Roland holds up fairly well in comparison.

Thanks for the reply. It's got aftertouch, right?

[CPCompany]

Yeah,its got aftertouch.

It doesnt have the same kind of comprehensive Midi Mapping (maybe why its much cheaper) like Novation, M Audio but I dont really bother with that anyway.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I have the Akai MPK61 and have the exact same problem with the keys. They just feel and respond terribly. I can't believe Akai even released these keyboards considering how bad the velocity response is on them. Even playing at medium to medium low velocities will trigger MIDI velocities of 117+ on the Akai. As a result, I'm looking to get rid of mine. My advice: return it.

I too would like to know what other options are out there. I'd like similar features but it must have a better keyboard.

It's a damn shame too because the knobs and sliders feel excellent, and the pads work great with the cork upgrade kit you can get at MPCStuff. Just horrible keys.

Luckily I have a Yamaha P95 around that has a great weighted key response. That gets used for most everything whereas the MPK is more of a performance controller. There has to be something better out there though.

[Gonga]

I too have the Cakewalk / Roland and like the action and have played some nice delicate stuff with it. I've read complaints about the after touch, but it seems OK to me. You really should try to demo them to be sure.

[ariston]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Funkybot, you described my feelings perfectly. I'd like the Akai with different keys, that about sums it up. I'd really hate to lose those pads, wheels and knobs, but the keyboard is the most important thing about it. I heard somewhere that the big brother (the 61 key version) offers control over the velocity curves. Fat lot of good that'll do me.

I'll drop by ye olde Rockshop on Wednesday and try out the others again. I'll make sure this time to hook them up to something that makes a sound.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Funkybot, you described my feelings perfectly. I'd like the Akai with different keys, that about sums it up. I'd really hate to lose those pads, wheels and knobs, but the keyboard is the most important thing about it. I heard somewhere that the big brother (the 61 key version) offers control over the velocity curves. Fat lot of good that'll do me.

I'll drop by ye olde Rockshop on Wednesday and try out the others again. I'll make sure this time to hook them up to something that makes a sound.

I have the 61 key version and the different velocity curves do little to help. The problem is that it maxes out to easily and the different curves do nothing to address that as they just deal with the middle velocities. If you end up returning it for a Novation keyboard, please post back or PM me to let me know how the keys are. I'd rather have worse knobs, faders and pads if the keys were substantially better.

[JJBiener]

If all your are looking for is keyboard, you might look at the Alesis Q49. I have the Q25 and it is working well for me. The downside is it has no pads, knobs, sliders, etc.

I have a question about the Akai. I looked at it and while I didn't really get a chance to put it through its paces, I didn't notice the problem you spoke of. Are you sure that the problem is not just a matter of getting used to the touch? It seemed like such a solid keyboard.

[ariston]

If all your are looking for is keyboard, you might look at the Alesis Q49. I have the Q25 and it is working well for me. The downside is it has no pads, knobs, sliders, etc.

I have a question about the Akai. I looked at it and while I didn't really get a chance to put it through its paces, I didn't notice the problem you spoke of. Are you sure that the problem is not just a matter of getting used to the touch? It seemed like such a solid keyboard.

No, definitely not. I played it a the shop, but it wasn't hooked up. Big mistake. I really like the feel of it, the way the keys responded was a bit springy, but it was nice to play. Then, when I got home, I noticed its glaring shortcomings. I've been trying to get used to it for over a week now, but to no avail. It's such a shame, cause it's so solid in every other respect.

Thanks for the suggestion re Q49, but I need a full-featured controller. Give me knobs to twiddle and such.

I'm going to trade it in. Probably go for the Novation; I'll post my impression when I get to it.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I have a question about the Akai. I looked at it and while I didn't really get a chance to put it through its paces, I didn't notice the problem you spoke of. Are you sure that the problem is not just a matter of getting used to the touch? It seemed like such a solid keyboard.

It's the Akai. I had a non-weighted Roland A-30 and later bought a Yamaha P95. Now the Roland A-30 had keys that went down at the slightest touch, but it had a great velocity response in terms of light hits triggered light velocities to hard hits triggering near max velocities (just what you'd expect). My Yamaha P95 requires more weight to go down, but also has a great velocity response (meaning I end up playing at softer velocities overall, but the full range is there). I've also got a Wurlitzer spinet/console piano, a Rhodes Mark 1, and a Wurlitzer 120 electric pian, all of which have their own unique velocity responses.

But the Akai MPK61 is just TERRIBLE here! Medium-light touches will literally trigger the max velocity regularly. Especially with black keys, which are especially velocity ultra-sensitive. I mean seriously, these keys are unusable for anything other than synths. There's no getting used to it. I tried. It was my only controller for months. It didn't get any better.

In addition, the keys are exactly half an inch shorter than your normal keyboard keys. You may think, "well a half inch isn't bad," but it's just one more thing to deal with on an already bad keyboard.

And as mentioned, the action is springy. It wouldn't be bad...if not for the terrible velocity response.

My hatred of the keys on this thing seriously knows no bounds. It's the worst purchase I've made in years, and what really upsets me is that there aren't any good alternatives that I know of. M-Audio Axioms: the keys feel bad, Novation's new controllers: I hear the knobs, faders, and pads feel very cheap and poor, the Cakewalk synths: no pitch and mod-wheels, no deal. Why is there nothing else?

I even emailed Akai to see if there was a way to change the overall sensitivity of the keys and never got a response.

So I'll continue to use the MPK61 for synths and my Yamaha P95 for everything else, but the minute something truly better comes along I'm ditching this thing. Shame on you Akai.

To anyone thinking about buying it new: get the Novation. The keys HAVE to be better than the Akai, and trust me, you may think the knobs and whatnot feel cheap, but at least the velocity response of the keyboard should be usable. Just don't go wild on the knobs.

[ariston]

To anyone thinking about buying it new: get the Novation. The keys HAVE to be better than the Akai, and trust me, you may think the knobs and whatnot feel cheap, but at least the velocity response of the keyboard should be usable. Just don't go wild on the knobs.

Yeah, it's not going to be a stage keyboard for me anyway, so it's more in danger of coffee and migrant dust than it is of my tearing its knobs off while in the throes of performance extasy.

[coincidental]

I did exactly this comparison a little while back and tried all three out quite carefully. FWIW, I found the Cakewalk Pro A300/A500 keyboard to be the most playable - which was actually not the result I was expecting. It was also the most robust overall (knobs. sliders etc). The Novations (I tried a couple) felt disappointingly rickety in comparison. The Akai was spongy and, yes, the velocity response was poor. In the event I didn't buy any of them, but I would have chosen the Cakewalk.

[Bronto Scorpio]

I did exactly this comparison a little while back and tried all three out quite carefully. FWIW, I found the Cakewalk Pro A300/A500 keyboard to be the most playable - which was actually not the result I was expecting. It was also the most robust overall (knobs. sliders etc).

+1

I have the predecessor of the A500 (The Edirol PCR-500) and it feels like a tank compared to all other keyboards I had before. The keys are really great too and is has some very nice features. I have it since years and I never had any problems with it.
Sadly the A500 doesn't look as cool as the PCR-500 though

The only thing I could complain about is the aftertouch. I *really* have to use my whole weight (which isn't much though ) to get it going. The funny thing is that Roland has that problem since the Alpha Juno and never solved it. I have no idea how that's possible since I doubt they build their own keybeds.

So +1 for the A500

Cheers
Dennis