M-Audio Prokeys 88sx
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- KVRist
- 413 posts since 5 Dec, 2005
Anybody using this as a controller? Im wanting something to replace my Nord Electro for playing Scarbee rhodes and B4 organ. The Nord has just become a glorified controller now, so Im looking for something cheaper. What is the action like? Looking at the Kurzweil SP76 which has 5 preset velocity levels compared to Prokeys 3.
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- KVRist
- 90 posts since 6 Aug, 2004 from United States
I was looking at this keyboard too but the lack of aftertouch has got me looking for something else.
I liked the hammer action but am thinking that for mostly synth playing, something semi-weighted might be better?
I liked the hammer action but am thinking that for mostly synth playing, something semi-weighted might be better?
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 413 posts since 5 Dec, 2005
There are two versions, the sx is the semi weighted version, other being 88note hammer action. But no doubt it will have the same keybed as the Keystation which is very bouncy and well, not good IMO.
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- KVRian
- 524 posts since 25 Aug, 2005
The sx is my bottom controller (Axiom 61 on top, exact same keyboard, which means getting used to one...)
The sybth action is not terrible for a cheap synth keyboard, it's about as good or bad as any other in it's price range, IMHO. The key depth, how far I have to push the key down to get a response, seems a tad excessive for me, but not so much as to be an issue. If you are a pianist and do not like synth action keyboards, you won't like it. But if you are comfortable with them, I'd give it a 3 of 5 - that's what you get for a cheap keyboard (and it is cheap, if it breaks, throw it away and get another, three of them cost one Roland equivalent. But rhe Roland keyboard will feel better - except - Roland DOESN'T MAKE a synth-action 88-note keyboard. Only weighted ones. This is 17 lbs. One hand, under the arm, hi guys, I'm here with my piano...
The one issue which is actually not usually as much of a problem as it sounds - every now and then you will hit a note softly and it will send a high note-on value. It happens seldom enough that I can live with it, because I have other needs that this board is the only match - layout, weight, sounds primarily. But you shoud be aware of this before you commit.
Onboard sounds are actually not bad. But as a controller? Now, the bad news, IMHO. Not much real control, only 7 fixed patch changes (in order: 1,3,2,5,6,8,18, the GM equivalent of the on-board sounds) and the control there is is not changable without setting it up EVERY time, it retains nothing. The volume slider does NOT transit cc7 on power-up, rather it is a sysex string which crashed the original B4 on Receptor EVERY time I forgot and used it. Instead, when you power up, you can press the Function key and then Bb4-G4-G5-C5 (VolSlider cc-0-7-Enter) It becomes quite quick to do and is not really a chore, if that is the only change you wish to make.
CHanging channels is Funtion-Note. So it is also simple to learn and use, though still a bit awkward at first. I have put labels above the appropriate keys - B4, PNO, EP, etc to find them quickly.
Other than that, there is cc 11 from the expression pedal and 64 from the sus pedal. If that is enough then you're good to go.
So for me, my bottom line is - I like it a LOT for my needs - there is no other 17-lb 88-note piano, period, and the controls are out of the way, but there. In combination with the Axiom 61 I have a 2-manual setup that is being dialed in to the closest I have ever gotten to <cue strings>"MY PERFECT SETUP" in 40 years of public performance.
OTOH, I just had a long talk with the M-Audio rep about making a PRO quality line as well, with a really top-end synth keyboard.
If you can find one, try it. If not, buy it from someone who will let you return it...
Good luck.
The sybth action is not terrible for a cheap synth keyboard, it's about as good or bad as any other in it's price range, IMHO. The key depth, how far I have to push the key down to get a response, seems a tad excessive for me, but not so much as to be an issue. If you are a pianist and do not like synth action keyboards, you won't like it. But if you are comfortable with them, I'd give it a 3 of 5 - that's what you get for a cheap keyboard (and it is cheap, if it breaks, throw it away and get another, three of them cost one Roland equivalent. But rhe Roland keyboard will feel better - except - Roland DOESN'T MAKE a synth-action 88-note keyboard. Only weighted ones. This is 17 lbs. One hand, under the arm, hi guys, I'm here with my piano...
The one issue which is actually not usually as much of a problem as it sounds - every now and then you will hit a note softly and it will send a high note-on value. It happens seldom enough that I can live with it, because I have other needs that this board is the only match - layout, weight, sounds primarily. But you shoud be aware of this before you commit.
Onboard sounds are actually not bad. But as a controller? Now, the bad news, IMHO. Not much real control, only 7 fixed patch changes (in order: 1,3,2,5,6,8,18, the GM equivalent of the on-board sounds) and the control there is is not changable without setting it up EVERY time, it retains nothing. The volume slider does NOT transit cc7 on power-up, rather it is a sysex string which crashed the original B4 on Receptor EVERY time I forgot and used it. Instead, when you power up, you can press the Function key and then Bb4-G4-G5-C5 (VolSlider cc-0-7-Enter) It becomes quite quick to do and is not really a chore, if that is the only change you wish to make.
CHanging channels is Funtion-Note. So it is also simple to learn and use, though still a bit awkward at first. I have put labels above the appropriate keys - B4, PNO, EP, etc to find them quickly.
Other than that, there is cc 11 from the expression pedal and 64 from the sus pedal. If that is enough then you're good to go.
So for me, my bottom line is - I like it a LOT for my needs - there is no other 17-lb 88-note piano, period, and the controls are out of the way, but there. In combination with the Axiom 61 I have a 2-manual setup that is being dialed in to the closest I have ever gotten to <cue strings>"MY PERFECT SETUP" in 40 years of public performance.
OTOH, I just had a long talk with the M-Audio rep about making a PRO quality line as well, with a really top-end synth keyboard.
If you can find one, try it. If not, buy it from someone who will let you return it...
Good luck.
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- KVRian
- 524 posts since 25 Aug, 2005
Just personal taste, I love my 2600 controller functions, but about all I like from Kurzweil sounds are the piano and some of the strings. For my taste they're way too heavy and the sounds are cardboard-ish. But like I said, just my taste.