What's the best 61-key or better control keyboard?

[Sendy]

Have had an M-Audio Axiom 61 for two years but it's packed in suddenly, giving me the dreaded "blue screen of death". Other problems I had with this controller were:

- Sticky keys at the beginning of sessions
- Mod wheel sending high value spikes when moving away from zero (infuriating!)
- MIDI transmission goes off for a few seconds when initializing a new instrument
- Stingily small and fiddly mod and pitch wheels

Other than that, it's been a great little keyboard. But it's dead now. I'm looking for something with similar features - 61 or more keys, good key action, channel aftertouch, and a few configurable sliders would be a plus (I wasn't really into the stepped knobs on the axiom, though). It also needs to send midi via USB as I don't have a midi port on my computer.

I'm starting my search now, but if anyone has any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them. Thanks

Sendy

[chk071]

How about one of these: http://de.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers/impulse. Never played on one, but they seem to be quite ok.

Edit: And a pretty nice price too : http://www.thomann.de/de/novation_impulse_61.htm

[budweiser]

Can seem ridiculous, considering how cheap it is, but the Behringer UMX61 is a really solid and reliable peace of gear, far better than the axiom. And the keyboard is among the best, better than akai and novation. Best buy, imo. Pita they don't have a 88 keys.

[chk071]

Can seem ridiculous, considering how cheap it is, but the Behringer UMX61 is a really solid and reliable peace of gear, far better than the axiom. And the keyboard is among the best, better than akai and novation. Best buy, imo. Pita they don't have a 88 keys.

Then you had better experience with that thing than i had. I ordered the 49 key version, and it turned out that the holes of the plastic body of that thing weren't cut precisely, so that the knobs were partly very difficult to turn. Was kind of a catastrophy, so i sent it back immediately... but could be of course that i just received a bad exemplar.

[Gonga]

If you're a pianist at all, you might consider a Studiologic 88-key piano action controller. Besides having that action which is good for Rhodes, etc., they make good controllers where 88-keys are needed, such as with certain sample libraries with key switches. I think every studio should have one ultimately.

That said, I like the Novation 61SL Mk II, although I wish it had 76 keys. I have a Korg Triton 76-key. My old Novation X-Station 49 synth has the nicest synth-action I've ever played, and it also has tons of labeled knobs and sliders. You can get a 61-note version pretty cheap too. There's a thought...if you pick up a quality used VA synth, it might have a bunch of assignable knobs that are labeled. Thje 61SL Mk II though has LCD screens above each assigned slider / knob (and it comes with Automap, for what it's worth).

I know this is off-topic, but I decided to get an Arturia Spark drum machine. Those pads and knobs are amazing! I thought of you more than once when I was looking at percussion controllers

Good luck!

[ghettosynth]

Have had an M-Audio Axiom 61 for two years but it's packed in suddenly, giving me the dreaded "blue screen of death". Other problems I had with this controller were:


- Mod wheel sending high value spikes when moving away from zero (infuriating!)

Sendy

Not that it matters, but this is a dirty pot. It can often be prolonged with a little TLC by a mechanically inclined person. As a preventative measure, it's usually better to leave any non-spring-return pot stored at one of the extrememe values.

Mixers in particular, might be less problematic over the long haul if you store them with their gains set to max. They tend to develop problems where they sit the most and with mixers, it's more annoying at low settings than at high settings.

[budweiser]

Then you had better experience with that thing than i had. I ordered the 49 key version, and it turned out that the holes of the plastic body of that thing weren't cut precisely, so that the knobs were partly very difficult to turn. Was kind of a catastrophy, so i sent it back immediately... but could be of course that i just received a bad exemplar.

Maybe... all i can say is i never had a problem with my umx61 when a friend of mine had tons of problems with his axiom !

[Sendy]

Have had an M-Audio Axiom 61 for two years but it's packed in suddenly, giving me the dreaded "blue screen of death". Other problems I had with this controller were:


- Mod wheel sending high value spikes when moving away from zero (infuriating!)

Sendy

Not that it matters, but this is a dirty pot. It can often be prolonged with a little TLC by a mechanically inclined person. As a preventative measure, it's usually better to leave any non-spring-return pot stored at one of the extrememe values.

Mixers in particular, might be less problematic over the long haul if you store them with their gains set to max. They tend to develop problems where they sit the most and with mixers, it's more annoying at low settings than at high settings.

Thanks... Actually, I'd have expected it was just dirt in there if it weren't for the fact it came from the factory like that... and what's more, I ordered a foot pedal from them, and that arrived with *exactly* the same problem o_O

Anyway, doesn't really matter now. I've cut my losses. It was very cheap (100 pounds) and now I know why. I've ordered the Impulse 61-key and am very excited about it. I can try it and send it back if it doesn't suit my playing style, but it looks very solid and usable. If anything I found the Axiom 61 a bit clunky to play, the keys have too much resistance or something but I find myself whaling on it way too much and soft playing is difficult.

Thanks for all the suggestions and input everyone

Gonga - I've never really used drum pads or anything to input most of my main beats. Perhaps to add a loose clap or shaker, but beyond that most of my beats are made with a mouse I wonder how one of those would affect my workflow...

[billcarroll]

I really like the Akai keyboards. 61 and above full weighted, felt fantastic to me, and they come with excellent controls and drum pads.

[paul psilas]

I 2nd Gonga's appraisal of the Novation X-Station.

The X-Station has a great keyboard action,very smooth indeed.I believe Prince Board from the Black Eyed Peas uses one too so it cuts it in the pro world for sure.

Add the fact that it not only has a built in half decent soundcard,2 preamps and a very useable synth,but the damn thing also takes rechargable batteries and get this......has a built in battery charger.

In other words the X-Station = a very big .

ps.Got mine as good as new,61 key version for £200.Total steal for possibly the most versatile synth/controller around.

[Gonga]

I've ordered the Impulse 61-key and am very excited about it. I can try it and send it back if it doesn't suit my playing style, but it looks very solid and usable. If anything I found the Axiom 61 a bit clunky to play, the keys have too much resistance or something but I find myself whaling on it way too much and soft playing is difficult.

Thanks for all the suggestions and input everyone

Gonga - I've never really used drum pads or anything to input most of my main beats. Perhaps to add a loose clap or shaker, but beyond that most of my beats are made with a mouse I wonder how one of those would affect my workflow...

Congrats and have fun!

I'm also totally stoked about the Spark. You'll be hearing the results soon after I get it!

[lfm]

I find the Arturia 61 key board really good, if not going for really weighted keys. And on top of that getting Laboratory software there is plenty fun and useful to choose from.

[Sendy]

Got the Novation Impulse today... You could say it was an... IMPULSE BUY!

It's REALLY nice. The Axiom had a good weighted key action, BUT it was plagued by stickey keys which really made it uncomfortable to play after a while. I prefer keybeds that have a teeny bit of bounce in them (the MicroKorg XL is REALLY good for this!) otherwise they kinda feel "dead".

The sliders are very sturdy and embedded in tracks like a mixer. Rotary knobs are infinite travel and don't click to steps like the Axiom ones do. Very sturdy also.

The drum pads are backlit in three different colours. Yet to see how that'll be useful to me, but it says something about being able to launch, play and roll drumbeats and clips. *shrug* Whatever

[phazedown]

delete-me

[chk071]

Thanks for that, that's some EXCELLENT review in the video. The only downside is that i want to have the Impulse too now.