Midi Controller: M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 Key USB MIDI Controller

[sjonathan02]

That's actually my next choice.

From the looks of it, that should be your only choice.


88 keys; weighted action. What more could you want?

[robdown]

From the looks of it, that should be your only choice.


88 keys; weighted action. What more could you want?

gotta co-sign on this one. i own the 61 key version studiologic (yes, 61 FULLY weighted). i got the 61 for portability - lugging 88 keys to gigs got old quick! the action is second to none. if you get the 88, you'll never need another controller - it is THAT good!

[Skizo Frene]

From the looks of it, that should be your only choice.


88 keys; weighted action. What more could you want?

A few knobs & sliders.

If the action is great, that trumps all though.

gotta co-sign on this one. i own the 61 key version studiologic (yes, 61 FULLY weighted). i got the 61 for portability - lugging 88 keys to gigs got old quick! the action is second to none. if you get the 88, you'll never need another controller - it is THAT good!

61 keys weighted?  That's pretty sick!  However....


If I had a choice between:

a $620 61-key weighted controller with a lot of knobs and sliders

or

a $380 88-key weighted controller with slim-to-no knobs and sliders.



....I'll go with the cheaper 88 version.

Still, that board looks pretty good to me.  Down the road perhaps....

[B3Wannabe]

I had one. I just gave it to my brother-in-law. I'm playing it in some of my videos on Youtube. I connected to a Kurzweil KME-61 and MM8. Once I got the MM8, I stopped playing it.

It was kind of cool, but the action has much to be desired. Get the CME VX8, if you want controls. It costs a lot more than the other ones out there, but it's definitely worth it. Any of the CME series won't disappoint you.

If you just want a board for performance, then maybe a normal Casio would work. The action on it is pretty good.


Beautiful, innit?

[robdown]

If you just want a board for performance, then maybe a normal Casio would work. The action on it is pretty good.

Beautiful, innit?

B3 makes a good point...if all you want is a controller strictly for playing, then you could consider one of those casios/yamahas. i use the knobs and sliders on my studiologic for my software (NI B4 Organ, Reason, DAW's), so i needed more than just a keyboard. but if all you need is a good weighted 88 keys, i would go the casio route + a usb-to-midi cable ($40 - if that)...Edirol is a good brand to look at for these cables.

[Skizo Frene]

B3 makes a good point...if all you want is a controller strictly for playing, then you could consider one of those casios/yamahas. i use the knobs and sliders on my studiologic for my software (NI B4 Organ, Reason, DAW's), so i needed more than just a keyboard. but if all you need is a good weighted 88 keys, i would go the casio route + a usb-to-midi cable ($40 - if that)...Edirol is a good brand to look at for these cables.

I'll be running Logic Pro.

[B3Wannabe]

Yea. That CME has it all.....

Drumpads, motorized sliders an knobs, multiple mic inputs, and multiple midi inputs/outputs....but it also come with a price tag equal to a classic motif. The positive: you'll never need another controller. 

[gutdow]

I just bought this about a month ago - I use it at church, I am still learning how to use all the features. Its a good product for the price.

[docjohn]

What about the "feel" on the CME ? I've played a couple at Ash and didn't like them;maybe the 61 or 76 version.

[docjohn]

Hey Skiz,another thought;how much " control" do you need?  How about an older Motif or ES 88? Or a Nord electro? Any of those are quality+probably cheap but pro.The Motif would be less portable,the Nord lacks the 88 wtd-but with the octave shift even the 73 might do what you need.Maybe check out Kurzweil,they had some boards in the $1100-1600 in an old Sweetwater catalog that they tout for controller function.That's a lot of $$$$$,but you'd have the advantage of a 1 time purchase,proboard,extra sound set.

I played an older Kurzweil -great sounds and feel,and like B3 said;Casio's 88 will fool you-great sounds for the price.Couple churches back,played 2 Casios-the Rhodes,B3,and piano sounded GOOD!

[Skizo Frene]

Hey Skiz,another thought;how much " control" do you need?  How about an older Motif or ES 88? Or a Nord electro? Any of those are quality+probably cheap but pro.The Motif would be less portable,the Nord lacks the 88 wtd-but with the octave shift even the 73 might do what you need.Maybe check out Kurzweil,they had some boards in the $1100-1600 in an old Sweetwater catalog that they tout for controller function.That's a lot of $$$$$,but you'd have the advantage of a 1 time purchase,proboard,extra sound set.

I played an older Kurzweil -great sounds and feel,and like B3 said;Casio's 88 will fool you-great sounds for the price.Couple churches back,played 2 Casios-the Rhodes,B3,and piano sounded GOOD!

The boards ES 88 you listed would be great, but I'm already spending $1500 on the Macbook Pro!  I'm trying to minimize the damage as best I can.   

I'd like to have at least a couple of sliders and knobs...but good action is more important to me.  That's why I'm leaning towards the StudioLogic SL990XP.

[docjohn]

Know what you mean about saving a few bucks;but I sort gave up on that as a musician! Quality is the way to go,all things considered-as techno improves we ARE able to get much MORE for our bucks.

Even a Motif 88 at full pop-3K + Mac @ 1500 is cheaper and more capable than what you could drop 100K + on 10-15 years ago.I think Zappa dropped around 200 K on a fairlight computer/keyboard.anybody remember those?

[chevonee]

So, walk me through this.

Would you be playing the controller (through the Mac Pro) and playing a song or what?


I've always wanted to ask this question but folks act like they're too busy to explain for us beginners.

Me too Sjon. I was always too embarrassed to ask questions like this.

[chevonee]

Let's just say that you have a MO8 like I do...do you need both midi cables and USB cables? Do you have to have a sound card to play your keyboard through your computer?

[docjohn]

Tell us about Mac and Logic Pro;is that a step up from Garage Band? GB has some decent sounds,have played with it some -it's pretty simple to to quick tracks.Unless you upgrade-the drum grooves are limited.

How much memory? I've got an external maxtor drive that was way cheap.

[Skizo Frene]

Tell us about Mac and Logic Pro;is that a step up from Garage Band? GB has some decent sounds,have played with it some -it's pretty simple to to quick tracks.Unless you upgrade-the drum grooves are limited.

How much memory? I've got an external maxtor drive that was way cheap.

I got put on to Logic by this cat in Baltimore.  I don't own either, so I'm not really qualified to speak on where Logic is better.

From what I've heard Logic Pro is really a more professional mixing/recording software than Garage Band (which is pretty cool in it's own right).  Garage Band nothing to scoff at (people have made entire albums using Garage Band), but Logic has a greater variety of sounds and features.

[chevonee]

Let's just say that you have a MO8 like I do...do you need both midi cables and USB cables? Do you have to have a sound card to play your keyboard through your computer?

And another thing do you have to have a computer to play a midi controller? Could you just play it like a regular keyboard in other words?

[Skizo Frene]

And another thing do you have to have a computer to play a midi controller? Could you just play it like a regular keyboard in other words?

Firstly, the vast majority of pro keyboards (and even many non-pro boards) have midi ports that can allow them to be used as midi controllers.

Secondly, SOME of the boards that designed for the main purpose of being midi controllers also have some built-in sounds that can allow them to be played like any other keyboard.  Generally speaking the sounds on those boards aren't great.

Thirdly, if you have a rack module you can use that with a midi controller.  Say you have a Motif XS Rack:



You can hook that up to a midi controller and have access to all the sounds on the rack.

[docjohn]

Skiz,when you get your Mac,GB willbe on it;in the newer Leopard OS-it's part of I -life.There are also a bunch of loops etc. from Apple that you can buy/load.That's why I wondered about needing both of them.Good luck-when do you get your Mac?

Chev,you can get a Midi to USB from Midisport that runs under $50;plug it in to your midi out/in on your MO into your computer,Whether you need a sound card or better card depends on your system.You have to load or get the drivers (should be a disc with the midisport)and then your midi uses your computer to record,etc.I suspect when your finished you can load your project to i-tunes and export it.

I haven't done a lot yet,but on my Mac I have a program called Bootcamp which allows it to run Windows XP.My Band in a Box program(xp) has some pre-loaded songs that are "takes" on say pop tunes.Since this has intros/breaks/chorus etc.,I pick the key/changes-what instrument playing parts;i.e.,drums,horns,guitar;trigger a Roland JV 1010 module for the sounds(thru midisport);and play along just like having a full band.You could recored/export,etc.

The midisport also works with;like Sz said a cheap midi controller-so I can use mine(or the mac keyboard itself ) in garage bad.

[Skizo Frene]

Skiz,when you get your Mac,GB willbe on it;in the newer Leopard OS-it's part of I -life.There are also a bunch of loops etc. from Apple that you can buy/load.That's why I wondered about needing both of them.Good luck-when do you get your Mac?

Yea, I'm looking forward to GB.  I think I'm actually going to hold off a little before getting Logic Pro.  I'll just explore GarageBand for a while first.  I've heard good things about it.

I'm getting my Mac in another two weeks or so.