How is the Evolution MK-461C?

[Erki]

I was thinking of replacing my old midi keyboard with either the Radium 61 or the MK-461C, and after searching through the forum i´m leaning towards the MK-461C since almost everyone mentioned problems with the Radium (bad keys, jerky slider/knob data etc).

I did´nt find that much info, good or bad, about the MK though. How is the keys? I really don´t mind if they feel a bit cheap, but it´s important that the velocity sensitivity is good. I`m no piano player but i do play alot of drums and some orchestral stuff on the keyboard.

Also, how is the slider/knobs? People mentioned the Radium knobs were very jerky and did´nt send proper midi data (to low resolution or whatever). Is this also a problem on the MK keyboards?

Any other problems i should know about? Will the fact that it´s a USB keyboard have an impact on latency and/or CPU usage?

One more thing, is there a place where i can find some reviews on these keyboards? I´ve googled but i can´t find anything.

[Count Feedback]

If Evolution is still using the same cheap key-bed as the MK125 (one that I own), I would say steer-clear!!!
I have 3 broken keys on my Evolution MK125, and i've had it for about 3 years. The keys are not spring loaded, all the white keys stem off one piece of plastic and will snap-off in time. Same thing with the black keys. Verrrry cheap.
I tried contacting Evolution for replacement keys - but no luck.
I ended up buying an Oxygen8 and haven't looked back since.
Hope this helps.
CF

[Erki]

Thanks, well that does´nt sound too good. I don´t want to worry about the keys snaping off everytime i go crazy! Does anyone else know if it´s the same on the MK-461C?

[Count Feedback]

Here's a couple photos showing my broken (and dirty) MK-125. You may notice a little bit of metal strapping on the F key. The only fix I could come up with at the time of my first broken key.
By the time C & D went, I gave up and bought my Oxygen8.

Sorry 'bout the crap quality - a cheap webcam is all i have.

[Branis]

I remember I tried once a 4 octave Evolution master keyboard and it really felt cheap, but I just bought MK425C and I can tell the keys don't feel any cheaper than on my Yamaha AN1x.

I have it only one week, so I don't know how long it's going to last, so far so good.

The knobs act pretty good as well (I tried the Oxygene, and the knobs on MK425C are way better).

I guess the keys and knobs are the same on MK461C, don't know about the faders though.

Anyway, the best way is always to try it yourself.

There's a review on the MK461C in the June issue of Sound on Sound magazine. www.soundonsound.com

[Erki]

That looks really bad. But i noticed the model looks very different compared to the later models, so maybe they have fixed the keys. I won´t take any chances though, so i´ll wait until someone that knows for sure if the Mk461C models have the same key bed as the Mk125 before ordering it.

[Count Feedback]

That looks really bad. But i noticed the model looks very different compared to the later models, so maybe they have fixed the keys. I won´t take any chances though, so i´ll wait until someone that knows for sure if the Mk461C models have the same key bed as the Mk125 before ordering it.

Very wise...

[Ja.x]

I have a MK361C. Very solid, no doubt (although "plastic"), but still haven't figured out how to assign the knobs; instructions: only a small booklet. I read somewhere that the MK461C has a better assignment process, and is a better keyboard overall. I supose the bundled software is the same, and it sucks.

[Erki]

Jax: Does it have the same cheap key bed that Count Feedback mentioned above?

"The keys are not spring loaded, all the white keys stem off one piece of plastic and will snap-off in time" \CF

Would be great if you could check it!

[Erki]

Does anyone else have the mk461C and know what key bed it uses?

I know Edirol is better, but besides tha fact it costs twice as much it has that useless Roland pitch/mod joystick. And i need a keyboard with a proper mod-wheel, so i´m stuck with evolution or radium i guess.

[Count Feedback]

Well, I guess you know where I'm leaning on this debate...
All i can say is I have 3 pieces of M-audio gear, the Oxygen8 and 2 Midisport 2x2's - all of which never broke down on me (and I can be abusive... ).

When I hold my head close to my Oxygen8 & flick the keys, I hear the reassuring resonating of metal springs. Not the "plonk" I hear from my Evolution controller - which eventually becomes "crack" .

But to fair, my Evo. controller is an old unit - maybe they have changed the Keybeds since my version.
M-Audio now distributes Evolution stuff, maybe only to make their stuff look better... I dunno...
I could be wrong...

CF

[Erki]

Yeah and thoose pictures scares me a bit

The thing is i´ve read alot of people say the knobs and sliders on the radium 61 does´nt work that good with VSTis, probably becouse of low resolution output from the radiums knobs. And there´s apparently problems with the touch response.

On the other hand the keys on the evolution keyboards apparently snaps off! (Unless it´s changed on the later models)

Seems like booth keyboards sucks one way or the other eh..


Btw i emailed the store asking about the keys on the evolution, they responded something like -

"yeah it does feel a little bit plastic, but we´ve sold evolutions for years with only a few problems, so the quality is great!"

So that was´nt really helpfull at all...

[Count Feedback]

The thing is i´ve read alot of people say the knobs and sliders on the radium 61 does´nt work that good with VSTis, probably becouse of low resolution output from the radiums knobs.

Well I was just tweakin' the Oxygen's knobs controlling my Tassman synth and it was workin' silky smooth. I gotta say, the knobs feel pretty solid too - compared to my electribes or some of my other hardware that will go unmentioned (f**king Yamaha!! ).

I don't know about the sliders though, my unit's only slider is for the data entry.

[Erki]

I can´t find any info at all about the knobs and keys on the mk361c/461c when looking through the few reviews i could find on the net.

Jax: Can you give a bit more info about the knob movements and keys on your 361c?

[Aeros]

I use the 461C, and I like it a lot. The knobs are nice, but I find that the faders have a really good feel to them. They are not too loose, and they are great for controller filters in general. The keys seem fine to me, and they've been under quite a bit of stress. Overall, I like it a lot, and it has served me well in everything I have asked for. Hope that helps!