I think your right. I just recieved mine yesterday and I love the feel of it. I played one at GC and it was not real inspiring. I still went ahead and ordered one I must admit I like the feel of this thing alot. It's more of a keyboardist feel than a pianist. It's replacing an old Ensoniq KT88 which had the Fatar weighted action and it was great also and I would say it's more of a pianist feel. I wont say that one is better than the other because they are diffrent. I'm a keyboardist who got used to playing on the weighted keys but being that I don't consider myself a pianist actually prefer the KeyStation 88 Pro. It's also a quality built product. No loose or uneven keys or nothing. Makes playing SS1+2 a real treat.Jake Jackson wrote:I think there was an early batch of these keyboards that had all kinds of problems--sticking keys, bad velocity response. I doubt that M-Audio would want a product out there that has these problems, and I think velocity response would be fairly easy for the manufacturer to fix. I hope so, anyway--I want one, though I'll wait until the one with the sounds is released.
In any case, I liked the 88 I played one for a few minutes at Guitar Center, hooked up to a Motif rack. Didn't notice any problems, but that could have been the ambience...
M-Audio Keystation Pro 88?
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- KVRist
- 302 posts since 23 Aug, 2004 from US
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 75 posts since 1 Nov, 2003 from Charlotte, NC - USA
I just took a closer look at the Pro Keys 88 (with sounds) at Sweetwater's web site. After enlarging the picture, I notice it doesn't have near as many controllers (sliders, knobs, & buttons) as the Keystation Pro 88. Therefore, I'm going to have to pass. I really do want all the control options. I mean for crying out loud, I have some of the best pianos in the world right here in my PC in ST2 and SS2. Why pay the extra $100 for less control options? I guess just like any healthy American male, I was wanting to have my cake and eat it too! Oh well, Keystation Pro 88 ... here we come! Been toying around with the idea that I could always use it live with a laptop!
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- KVRer
- 9 posts since 12 Feb, 2005
[quote="midinut"Been toying around with the idea that I could always use it live with a laptop![/quote]
That's exactly what I do every week. Powerbook + Motu 896 in a Gator Rack bag, plus the Keystation, and all is well. I've got a Logic template built that has the EV-B3 for organ, EVP88 for Rhodes, and then I've got a multitimbral instance of SS2/ST that has 12-14 sounds loaded up (synth strings, pads, Vox, bass, etc.) I use Garritan GPO for solo strings and most acoustic instruments because the quality is so high.
I've programmed the Keystation to control all the key organ parameters (including drawbars), volume for synth patches and buttons to move between tracks.
Once ST2.1 allows keyboard splits, I'll be able to set up layered combi's ala hardware workstations, and never miss a beat when we're playing. Right now, I haven't bothered to work out the multitimbral issues and set up Keystation zones, though I could do it.
I just sold a Roland module that I had been using live, and am now 100% soft-synth driven. (Though if you think about it, I've got way more computing hardware than a 1U module). The sounds are so much better, and it is nice to have balanced outs - no direct box required to elimitate hum - just straight into the mixing board at +4 with a stereo pair.
I set the laptop up on a music stand tilted horizontally along the top edge of the keystation. I tape the music stand to the top of the keystation so that it can't shift or tilt any more with masking tape (leaves no residue). The MOTU bag stands up on end facing me from the floor, though I only adjust levels initially.
I've equalized the volume of all the various patches in my combi so that I never touch the master output volume of the MOTU - if I just play, the sound guy never has to touch the fader. Then I can control volume using mod wheel, programmed knob, etc.
Logic is set up with a "locked" screenset, so every time I load my "live' file, the screen displays exactly the same thing - all the possible tracks (sounds), the SS2 plugin screen, the top 1/3 of the B3 simulator, and the CPU/Memory meter. I put a mouse and mouse pad on the top right of the Keystation, and it is easy to grab something quick if I need it.
You will want a decent case if you are going to be transporting it often - I had Calzone make me a custom case - with wheels (that's key). Without even asking them, they left just enough room in the end of the case to fit a sustain pedal and little 9V AC adapter!
The only thing left to sort is that I want an expression pedal - for whatever reason, the Keystation does not work well with the Yamaha FC-7 pedal I have - it only indicates a minimum value of 40, not zero when the pedal is all the way open. This makes it seem like a light switch, and it is much to fussy to use live. I'm going to have to look around for another pedal that works better.
That's exactly what I do every week. Powerbook + Motu 896 in a Gator Rack bag, plus the Keystation, and all is well. I've got a Logic template built that has the EV-B3 for organ, EVP88 for Rhodes, and then I've got a multitimbral instance of SS2/ST that has 12-14 sounds loaded up (synth strings, pads, Vox, bass, etc.) I use Garritan GPO for solo strings and most acoustic instruments because the quality is so high.
I've programmed the Keystation to control all the key organ parameters (including drawbars), volume for synth patches and buttons to move between tracks.
Once ST2.1 allows keyboard splits, I'll be able to set up layered combi's ala hardware workstations, and never miss a beat when we're playing. Right now, I haven't bothered to work out the multitimbral issues and set up Keystation zones, though I could do it.
I just sold a Roland module that I had been using live, and am now 100% soft-synth driven. (Though if you think about it, I've got way more computing hardware than a 1U module). The sounds are so much better, and it is nice to have balanced outs - no direct box required to elimitate hum - just straight into the mixing board at +4 with a stereo pair.
I set the laptop up on a music stand tilted horizontally along the top edge of the keystation. I tape the music stand to the top of the keystation so that it can't shift or tilt any more with masking tape (leaves no residue). The MOTU bag stands up on end facing me from the floor, though I only adjust levels initially.
I've equalized the volume of all the various patches in my combi so that I never touch the master output volume of the MOTU - if I just play, the sound guy never has to touch the fader. Then I can control volume using mod wheel, programmed knob, etc.
Logic is set up with a "locked" screenset, so every time I load my "live' file, the screen displays exactly the same thing - all the possible tracks (sounds), the SS2 plugin screen, the top 1/3 of the B3 simulator, and the CPU/Memory meter. I put a mouse and mouse pad on the top right of the Keystation, and it is easy to grab something quick if I need it.
You will want a decent case if you are going to be transporting it often - I had Calzone make me a custom case - with wheels (that's key). Without even asking them, they left just enough room in the end of the case to fit a sustain pedal and little 9V AC adapter!
The only thing left to sort is that I want an expression pedal - for whatever reason, the Keystation does not work well with the Yamaha FC-7 pedal I have - it only indicates a minimum value of 40, not zero when the pedal is all the way open. This makes it seem like a light switch, and it is much to fussy to use live. I'm going to have to look around for another pedal that works better.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 75 posts since 1 Nov, 2003 from Charlotte, NC - USA
Now THAT sounds like the way to go live! Only difference for me would be PC laptop instead of Mac (not to start a flame war - I love and own both, but all my music stuff is set up on PC with Cubase). Thanks for the vote of confidence on the Keystation Pro 88. Now if I can just find me an "old fart's" band to play with ...
You mentioned expression pedals. I noticed at M-Audio's website they have a new expression pedal. Seems like someone over at steinberg.net or musicplayer.com/keyboard forum mentioned using one and loving it. They had the same issues you mentioned with the pedal "throw". Might cure your problem too and considering it's from M-Audio ... I'm sure compatibility would not be an issue.
You mentioned expression pedals. I noticed at M-Audio's website they have a new expression pedal. Seems like someone over at steinberg.net or musicplayer.com/keyboard forum mentioned using one and loving it. They had the same issues you mentioned with the pedal "throw". Might cure your problem too and considering it's from M-Audio ... I'm sure compatibility would not be an issue.
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- KVRist
- 311 posts since 4 Aug, 2003 from Orlando, FL
What M-audio needs to come out with is an Ozonic 76-key. Have you seen the Ozonic? It is an awesome concept!
-Firewire bus powered
-Audio interface
-Control surface (including X/Y joystick aside from mod wheel)
That would be such a clean setup. No MIDI cables, no power supplies running to keyboard controller AND external sound card (in my case), controls for DAW and monitoring at your fingertips. I really hope they expand this concept and not just leave it for the Reason crowd or people on the go. I just would not be able to deal with 37-keys.
Pete
-Firewire bus powered
-Audio interface
-Control surface (including X/Y joystick aside from mod wheel)
That would be such a clean setup. No MIDI cables, no power supplies running to keyboard controller AND external sound card (in my case), controls for DAW and monitoring at your fingertips. I really hope they expand this concept and not just leave it for the Reason crowd or people on the go. I just would not be able to deal with 37-keys.
Pete