M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 - a MUST NOT BUY opportunity
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- KVRer
- 26 posts since 20 Jun, 2004 from Norway
As far as I know, there are few alternatives to the 88 Pro. I really need the simplicity of USB and the high amount of MIDI control that it gives. I have actually tried one myself, and I did notice some significant differences to my Roland RD-700, but it didn't bother me at all. Although its piano-handling may seem a bit rough, playing rhodes , clav or other types of keys really fits it well.
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- KVRist
- 106 posts since 6 Aug, 2004 from Kentucky USA
Please let us know how this turns out. I apparently have a defective pro 88, which I'm getting used to playing, and I am wondering if it's worth the trouble to send it back. Will you have to pay for shipping?ZioKiller wrote:INCREDIBLE!
Read the answer I just got from M-Audio:
Guido,
I’ve been informed that a batch of the Pro 88s were manufactured this way, so you should return your device. Please contact our RA Department by phone (626) 633-9050 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or via email at repairs@m-audio.com to receive your Return Authorization number. We will test, repair and/or replace the device and ship it back to you. The RA Department will give you all the details concerning shipping.
If you have had the unit for less than 30 days then you are within your right to return the device to the original vendor for an exchange or refund. However this may depend on individual store policies.
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- KVRist
- 156 posts since 13 Dec, 2004 from houston texas usa
ugh, wish i listened to everybody about this monster.
I lugged this 5o pound paperweight up 5 flights of stairs just to see it staring dumbly at me with it's big blue eye. useless. the action is horrible. period. i don't think that's a defect. it may have something to do with the price. you want usb, configurable buttons, knobs, and sliders, AND 88 hammer action keys for less than 500 bucks? m-audio almost pulled it off. i love m-audio when they stick to soundcards. my delta 1010's have never failed me. but a little advice for the working-poor musicians out there:
you want cheap hammer action? goto prepal.com and look up the prices for old ensoniq
synths. you can find them for under 300 dollars, if you watch the market for a week or two.
the same goes for the older kurzweils.
you want siders and buttons? get a behringer B-control fader box for $130
or find a peavey pc-1600 for dirt cheap.
i'm waiting for a major revision from the keystation.
but then again, i'm also waiting the m-audio's Control Surface One.
I lugged this 5o pound paperweight up 5 flights of stairs just to see it staring dumbly at me with it's big blue eye. useless. the action is horrible. period. i don't think that's a defect. it may have something to do with the price. you want usb, configurable buttons, knobs, and sliders, AND 88 hammer action keys for less than 500 bucks? m-audio almost pulled it off. i love m-audio when they stick to soundcards. my delta 1010's have never failed me. but a little advice for the working-poor musicians out there:
you want cheap hammer action? goto prepal.com and look up the prices for old ensoniq
synths. you can find them for under 300 dollars, if you watch the market for a week or two.
the same goes for the older kurzweils.
you want siders and buttons? get a behringer B-control fader box for $130
or find a peavey pc-1600 for dirt cheap.
i'm waiting for a major revision from the keystation.
but then again, i'm also waiting the m-audio's Control Surface One.
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- KVRer
- 22 posts since 20 Jun, 2004
I got one about a month ago and have been very pleased with it. It seems that the problems some people have been mentioning have been mostly ironed out. on my keyboard, at least:
1. black keys do not sink below white keys. when fully depressed the tip of the black key is still a few millimeters above the white keys.
2. velocity curves seem okay. I have noticed none of the "straight to 127" phenomenon that others have reported.
3. according to my pianist wife (she's not a pro, but she's had 8 years of lessons and her skill impresses me, at least
) the key weightings are very good; and what little perception I might have makes me agree. "Spongy" is definitely not and adjective I'd use to describe the particular keyboard sitting next to me.
I guess I got one of the keyboards from the "new batch", and for that I'm grateful. Unless something horrible happens soon or a new problem crops up, I'm very happy with this keyboard!
1. black keys do not sink below white keys. when fully depressed the tip of the black key is still a few millimeters above the white keys.
2. velocity curves seem okay. I have noticed none of the "straight to 127" phenomenon that others have reported.
3. according to my pianist wife (she's not a pro, but she's had 8 years of lessons and her skill impresses me, at least
) the key weightings are very good; and what little perception I might have makes me agree. "Spongy" is definitely not and adjective I'd use to describe the particular keyboard sitting next to me. I guess I got one of the keyboards from the "new batch", and for that I'm grateful. Unless something horrible happens soon or a new problem crops up, I'm very happy with this keyboard!
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- KVRian
- 1297 posts since 17 Aug, 2003 from Italy
Indeed.w1nt3rmut3 wrote:I guess I got one of the keyboards from the "new batch", and for that I'm grateful.
I've had the opportunity to test one of the new pro 88's and the keybed feels definitely different from my old one.
M-Audio has had ears this time!
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- KVRian
- 866 posts since 30 Jul, 2004
Note that the VMK-88 unit proposed as an alternative has only a "semi-weighted" keyboard. That having been said, the StudioLogic SL-880/SL-990 families have a proper hammer action. Playing Steampipe with the SL-880 changed my life. No MIDI buttons or sliders, though, apart from volume/damper/pitch/mod.
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- KVRist
- 34 posts since 2 Mar, 2005
Hello, I would like to buy this keyboard, but I have only read bad reviews in this forum. According to m-audio and their "new batch" keystation 88, now, there is no problem with their keyboard. But I have one little doubt, do they replaced they old keystations from every shop? Zio I´m spanish, and I bought in musicstore a lot of times so I supose (according your link: musikhaus thomann) these websites sell the "new" one. Am I wrong?
Greetings
Greetings
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- KVRian
- 885 posts since 14 Aug, 2001
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- KVRian
- 885 posts since 14 Aug, 2001
I also wait 
,... but in fact ,... Guess I will soon
just take a chance, price down 444 euro now,.....
http://www.musicians-gear.com/cgi-local ... ex=EUR_VAT
My fatar/studiologic has been just a terrible nightmare, all mechanics exchanged after 18 mth on warrenty, since
this I have been disassamblying and reparing the thing
once a year or so(I am Mechanics and can do this myself)
The M-audio misses aftertouch and looks/feels terrible, unbelievable that a compagny can release
a "controller-keyboard" with no aftertouch
,... but in fact ,... Guess I will soonjust take a chance, price down 444 euro now,.....
http://www.musicians-gear.com/cgi-local ... ex=EUR_VAT
My fatar/studiologic has been just a terrible nightmare, all mechanics exchanged after 18 mth on warrenty, since
this I have been disassamblying and reparing the thing
once a year or so(I am Mechanics and can do this myself)
The M-audio misses aftertouch and looks/feels terrible, unbelievable that a compagny can release
a "controller-keyboard" with no aftertouch
Last edited by HM on Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
HM
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- KVRian
- 885 posts since 14 Aug, 2001
btw. Martin walker from SOS Magazine will Review:
http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showf ... o=&fpart=2
http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showf ... o=&fpart=2
HM
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- KVRian
- 885 posts since 14 Aug, 2001
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- KVRian
- 885 posts since 14 Aug, 2001
You would like this link also
http://www.cme-pro.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=1
now You got all I had,.... LOL
http://www.cme-pro.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=1
now You got all I had,.... LOL
HM
