Opinions of M Audio Key Rig 49?

[L_Word77]

I'm currently looking for a decent, inexpensive soft synth for gigs with a cover band I recently joined as a rhythm guitar/keys/backing vox.

I play piano, but don't currently have a portable setup. However, I have an old Yamaha 61 key keyboard and laptop, so I've been looking for a decent all-around soft synth to install on the laptop, then use the Yamaha as a MIDI controller.

By all-around, I mean a decent piano, electric piano, organ, and synthesizer that can approximate keyboard sounds on 80s and 90s cover tunes for playing bar shows. Doesn't have to be astounding, studio-quality sounds, but I wouldn't complain if the tones were good enough for making home recordings. It would also be nice if it sounded good enough to incorporate some keyboard stuff into my original band's live set.

M Audio's Key Rig software seems like a decent deal, from the samples I've heard, and from some reviews I read on KVR. Did I mention my budget is beyond tight right now?

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/KeyRig-main.html

It looks like it comes with a "free" 49 key MIDI controller, which would be handy for the simple keyboard stuff I'll be playing, and also since my Yamaha keyboard currently has a broken key that I am in the process of fixing.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=700932

Anyone ever use this software? I haven't heard much of the EP sounds, I was wondering if does a decent Rhodes or Wurlitzer impression.

[Fhangor]

The EP's are well done. The Real Pianos are the weakness of the Rig. The GM Section is great (I think samples are from Wizoo).

[brok landers]

the whole thing is made by wizoo, as paul kellet coded it ...

[L_Word77]

pardon my ignorance, but I'm not familiar with Wizoo. Is the fact that they make Key Rig a good thing?

[brok landers]

not necessarily, but paul is a great coder ... and some stuff wizoo did is just great (as hypersonic2, darbuka and latigo, etc) ....
as the real pianos are based on samples it might be of importance to know that wizoo was actually a samplig-cd developing company for a long time ...
in terms of keyrig, i simply can't tell anything, as i never played it or heard it ...

[Numanoid]

Another old thread exhumed, but as M-Audio are launching a new series of Key Stations these days, why does it appear as they have discontinued the Key Rig software?



Why do they want to bundle some Sonivox piano (makers of Twist, Pulse, etc) instead of updating their own Key Rig software which is a pretty decent bread and butter package?

http://m-audio.com/messe2014/

[robotmonkey]

Another old thread exhumed, but as M-Audio are launching a new series of Key Stations these days, why does it appear as they have discontinued the Key Rig software?

Why do they want to bundle some Sonivox piano (makers of Twist, Pulse, etc) instead of updating their own Key Rig software which is a pretty decent bread and butter package?

http://m-audio.com/messe2014/

I'd guess it's because Wizoo products stayed with Avid maybe?

[Bubbamusic]

I remember trying that thing out a long time ago (2006). I wrote and recorded a song using it for the rhythm section parts. I had a good time doing it and I remember being impressed by the VA(s). I don't remember the EP's especially. I'll see if I can find the song.

[Numanoid]

Key Rig is nice for blending sounds, as all the 4 parts can be played at once, so it can make some complex sounds, as well as serving as decent bread and butter in parts.

Last updated by Avid back in 2011, so that it will run on Vista, should mean it also will function on Win 7:
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_U ... &q=key+rig

But I guess Avid will bury it now, that M-Audio has left the building.