KVR Audio

Scott Murrell · Post by **Scott Murrell** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:25 pm

--I use a little M-Audio 61 key controller and it's okay but I'm hoping to find something that's velocity and touch sensitive and also has better controller features. Any ideas?

oldlibmike · Post by **oldlibmike** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:20 pm

I bought an Akai MPK mini keyboard for just the purpose and I use it daily, but not in the way I originally intended. This keyboard has a combined set of drumpads and compact keys along with built-in arpeggiator and 8 programmable knobs. EDIT - forgot to mention, it is velocity sensitive! No aftertouch - but I haven't seen that in compact keyboards at all.

It does NOT have a traditional pitch bend or mod wheel but you can often use Midi Learn to map these to the knobs it does have.

BUT, When I put the camera connection kit into the iPad, attach the keyboard via the USB cable and take this awkward combination to a table to work on, I scratch my head and say - exactly why am I doing this? The beauty of the iPad is portability. I prefer on screen interfaces to music making on the iPad. Garageband is excellent. Figure is great. Animoog - etc. All of these have novel ways of bending notes and making music beyond what a keyboard does.

The keyboard does work just fine with the iPad - I just don't like the awkward set of cables to hook it up.

Now, the MPK mini is my favorite keyboard for my Logic 9 creations. It is low profile and actually fits into the keyboard drawer of my computer desk. It is compact, works well and has replaced my larger Edirol-30 keyboard for my everyday work on the desktop DAW. To be clear - I am not a keyboardist by any stretch and do not do live performing. So, for track recording and compactness, the MPK mini fits the bill nicely.

Shameless plug - I blogged about it in the blog below if you want more info.

MorteKai · Post by **MorteKai** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:48 pm

Novation SL MK2 - besides keeping track of everything, AUTOMAP!!!!

oldlibmike · Post by **oldlibmike** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:57 pm

MorteKai wrote:Novation SL MK2 - besides keeping track of everything, AUTOMAP!!!!

For iPad? Not sure this one is bus-powered - might require a powered hub which makes all the wiring on mobile platforms all the more cumbersome. Sounds like the software included would require desktop - no?

iPlogger · Post by **iPlogger** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 6:21 pm

I mainly use the M-Audio Oxygen 49. It's been working out GREAT for what I wanted it for. I have a completely portable system now. With knobs, faders and buttons for editing sounds. Great for apps with MIDI Learn. The iPad, the M-Audio, a cable and headphones. This is totally lite and easy to carry. I often bring in the keyboard to practice at my work desk. I play on my couch.

The drawbacks are many. 49 keys is not much. Plastic keys. 2-Digit interface. Due to minimal interface, I am running blind most of the time not having feedback on what sound I am on or control I am changing. It is not that great for playing piano sounds. But for what I am using it for, it's been fantastic and I highly recommend it. I knew its limitations going in. I've had it for just almost a year now.

Early on (around Jan/Feb) I did start using it live which is when the drawbacks began kicking in. My main keyboard is a Korg 01/wfd, but it does not have any MIDI controllers to make sound changes on-the-fly which I do all the time with the M-Audio.

I did do some research into looking for a better keyboard controller for myself. I was reading about Akai, M-Audio and Novation. I was leaning towards one of the better Novation models. But someone on here mentioned how modern controllers are not cutting it. They recommended the General Music Equinox (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may99/a ... mequin.htm) which is kinda what I have most likely settled on once I decide to buy something. Ebay has them once in awhile.

My thing is, I actually mainly use the M-Audio with a hardware rack and control THAT while my Korg controls other equipment. I don't use my iPad live too much. The M-Audio is good for pads and organs, though, so I will sometimes offload my hardware synths with the iPad.

When you are deciding, I recommend at least 61 keys with controllers. But it comes down to what experience you want. Are you looking for easy portability? Will this be for live use? Do you like visual feedback? Most everything has velocity, though not everything has aftertouch.

billcarroll · Post by **billcarroll** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 6:37 pm

Arturia Analog Experience The Laboratory 49 key

Great price, keyboard felt better to me than all of the m-audio and akai models I tried at Guitar Center. Keyboard also came with 3 free choices from the V collection.

Has Aftertouch - this was a big factor in making my choice.

audiojunkie · Post by **audiojunkie** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 10:08 pm

I have several, but the one that I am wanting to get right now, is the iRig Keys. I am currently on a quest to become as portable as possible. I still use my laptop and all of the great plugins and apps that Windows offers, but I am using my iPad more and more often, and the main reason is that it is instant-on/off, has a long battery life, is extremely portable, and is very accessible. I can use it anywhere at any time, and do what I want, which means more opportunities to do music.

I'm a family man, and music is my hobby, so I don't get much time to do my hobby, and have to make the most of what little time I have.

--Sean

Scott Murrell · Post by **Scott Murrell** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 10:50 pm

--thanks to all of you for the suggestions. I definately want and need a tleast 61 keys but more is better for me, I want them to be velocity and touch sensitive and pitch and modulation wheels. I have the M-audio but I also have an Alesis QS7.1 that I'm not using for anything but Tron sounds so I might recruit it and see how well it works.
Once again, thanks for the advice it's apprciated...

Axis1~SL61 · Post by **Axis1~SL61** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 11:23 pm

oldlibmike wrote:
MorteKai wrote:Novation SL MK2 - besides keeping track of everything, AUTOMAP!!!!
For iPad? Not sure this one is bus-powered - might require a powered hub which makes all the wiring on mobile platforms all the more cumbersome. Sounds like the software included would require desktop - no?

The Novation SL61 (and I think all the MKII SL61. SL0, SL25, etc) can have its own external power supply, or (if you don't want to have one more thing to connect) batteries too.

Scott Murrell · Post by **Scott Murrell** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 12:24 am

---Thanks, I will try out the Novation. I tried my Alesis GS7.1 and it just doesn't do it for me, I won't give up on it quite yet but so far I'm not impressed.

Axis1~SL61 · Post by **Axis1~SL61** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 9:40 am

I have a Novation SL61 (5 octaves) and I'm very pleased with it -- it's somewhat more expensive than the M-Audios and many others, but well worth the price difference. I bought mine in 2008 and I remember I made a thorough investigation and feature comparison between the models then available and the Novation was the only one that had everything I needed. Also, I like the keyboard action, the velocity sensitivity, and the after-touch is excellent. It's feature packed and yet very light weight(easily carried under one arm only!). The only thing to be careful about is that it's not a sturdy keyboard to carry around carelessly at gigs. If you play live, this is a keyboard to be carried by you and not by careless roadies of any kind.
About the external power supply, it must be ordered separately (it's not included in the box). Without external power supply, it's USB powered and sends and receives Midi over USB, but to use the 4 traditional 5 pin MIDI ports (2 MIDI Outs, MIDI in and MIDI thru) it needs the power supply. Also very important, it has good software and driver support from the manufacturer, but I must say I've been using it with a laptop with win7, not a tablet.

Scott Murrell · Post by **Scott Murrell** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 6:40 pm

---Thanks for the review, it sounds like this ought to be my choice..I appreciate it..

iPlogger · Post by **iPlogger** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:32 pm

Thanks from me, too. I appreciate the information and firsthand experience. The SL61 MkII was one of the controllers on the top of my list. One question I have is in regards to the pitch/mod controller. Does it stay in place or move back to center when you let go? I use the Mod Wheel a lot for controlling a filter, amount of Leslie effect, etc. I often like to leave the mod wheel in place and continue to play. For example, sometimes I am using both hands on two keyboards and need that Leslie to continue. Thanks for any information on this.

Axis1~SL61 · Post by **Axis1~SL61** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 11:32 pm

iPlogger wrote:Thanks from me, too. I appreciate the information and firsthand experience. The SL61 MkII was one of the controllers on the top of my list. One question I have is in regards to the pitch/mod controller. Does it stay in place or move back to center when you let go? I use the Mod Wheel a lot for controlling a filter, amount of Leslie effect, etc. I often like to leave the mod wheel in place and continue to play. For example, sometimes I am using both hands on two keyboards and need that Leslie to continue. Thanks for any information on this.

it has a spring that pulls it back down (mod wheel, CC1) and center (pitch). However, I've read in the Novation site (or in the manual, I can't remember) that the spring that holds the CC1 down (up/down movement of the joystick) is easily disabled by opening the underside of the keyboard and disengaging the spring. I still didn't do this operation on mine, but it's described in detail how to do it, either in the site or in the manual.
Just under the joy-stick, there's also an X/Y touch pad to which you can assign any 2 parameters (including CC1), and in this the value stays whatever it was when you lifted your finger from the pad.

delonlemos · Post by **delonlemos** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:20 am

I use Novation SL, easy to play for me

--If you use a midi controller keyboard which one do you use and why?