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Post by scottkahn on Aug 16, 2014 20:47:57 GMT -5
With so many inexpensive MIDI controllers out there, I'm curious as to which ones you think feel like pro keyboards and which ones feel like cheap, plastic toys. What are your thoughts?
Scott
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Post by musicman on Sept 20, 2014 20:13:18 GMT -5
I got the Arturia Keylab 61 and it's not bad. Not as good as my real synths, but better than a lot of the cheaper controllers out there.
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ItsASecretAndImNotTelling
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Post by ItsASecretAndImNotTelling on Oct 22, 2014 21:09:58 GMT -5
I use a Yamaha MM6 which I like because the keys are not weighted, however IDK how much longer it will be before it breaks from the flailing and other abuse I give it, and there is no after touch. I learned to play KB on harpsichords, and after than second hand store old Yamahas, like a PSR-6, so weighted keys only slow me down and feel weird. I also have a Novation 61SL MkII which seems tougher, but there are these stupid weights in the keys but I have made arrangements with the mfr to get a set of unweighted keys with which they say I can replace the stock, weighted keys. The Novation keys also have rounded edges, sort of waterfall-ish, which of course are much better for flailing KB abusers like me. Instead of separate pitch & mod wheels, the Novation has a spring loaded joystick stick controller which I find unusable since I am a two handed player. It has a touchpad, which I haven't tried yet, and tons of knobs and sliders, which _may_ come in handy but for now just using the knobs, buttons and sliders on my synths -- a couple of Korg RADIAS's -- work OK, but I am transitioning to Reaktor and Max/MSP, and then, all those knobs and switches on the Novation may come in handy and I'll replace the joystick with a couple of wheels, although I am constantly investigating and evaluating other KBs, including alternative KBs like the Chromatone isomorphic KB from Japan. It's so different though, it might be totally unusable with my style of KB abuse. Cheers!
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Post by scottkahn on Oct 24, 2014 7:55:04 GMT -5
I got the Keylab 61, too. I was already using Arturia's V-Collection, and the metal/wood construction seemed great. The keyboard definitely feels cheap -- as in, the keys are such thin plastic I feel like I could end up breaking them. They have metal weights glued underneath like your Novation, too. But functionally and FEEL-wise, it's nice. That said, I also sprang for a "real" controller -- the Roland A70. Picked one up in great condition on eBay. THAT is of course a fully pro, non-weighted synth action keyboard. What I really NEED is something that falls in between the A70 and Keylab... :-p
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Post by Matt Donnelly on Dec 9, 2015 22:15:47 GMT -5
I just got a Nektar Impact LX88. I tried a Panorama P61 and ended up returning it because of stability problems in using it with MainStage. However, I was nothing but impressed with the LX88. The keys are full sized, it has a small form factor, all of the necessary controls and a very simple operating system.
Most importantly, it has the best feeling action (for me) of any of the "semi-weighted" controllers. It offers a bit of resistance and bounce and makes playing piano possible. It certainly is not the ideal controller for a true piano feel. However, it is the best I've tried of this class of controllers.
Five stars from me!
Matt Donnelly
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Post by scottkahn on Dec 10, 2015 19:14:09 GMT -5
We're just getting ready to publish a review of the Native Instruments Komplete Control S series and Jason was very impressed with the quality of the keyboard keys/action on the S49. I'm thinking of picking up the 61-key version now.
That's good to know about using the Impact with MainStage... I use that for my VSTs...
scott
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