Need a Midi Keybaord (Thinking Axiom 49)

Ok I have just about $300 and going off a recommendation for the M-Audio Axiom 25 I thought I'd get the 49 instead from here for $250 with free shipping.

I really don't know anything about Midi's or what makes a good Keyboard a good keyboard. I just know what I want to use it for.

Primary must for whatever I get is at least a good sounding piano as one of the standard instruments. I'm planing to learn to play piano and really enjoy playing ever since I taught myself to play Radio Ballet by Eluvium by playing the Piano at my moms work. I'm currently going to look up the Axiom 49 reviews to see how it sounds in that area, but input from people who have had personal experience would be better.

Secondary use would be with Renoise (probably other software as well) as a Midi for use with Vsti. The Axiom seems to have a good set of features for use in this area which is another reason why it appeals to me.

If anyone has any suggestions of any kind, I'm all ears.

Doing some research it seems as though the Axiom doesn't have any default sounds and relies souly on Software via a computer for sounds. While this isn't a big issue and I could overlook this I'd considering another Keyboard if it provides at least a decent sounding piano. Just not sure what to go with :/

It also seems that there are pro and advance types which are more expensive... Hmmm...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3iqyZi4GbE

yeah man, any midi keyboard is simply that.. its a controller and nothing else.

you'll need to get a VST or VSTi that either emulates or samples pianos..

there's many VSTs that do a pretty great job of this.

what i like about the Axiom 25 is it has pressure sensitive drum pads (8 of them)

and 8 knobs you can assign to controls, as well as supporting aftertouch.

its built very well, a tough little controller.

the only downside to the axiom 25 is only 25 keys.. for piano purposes this may hinder you

as your limited to only a couple octaves and then octave switching buttons.

i still think its great for programming melodies, rhythms, and assigning vst synth controls to knobs.

that axiom pro 49 does look beast though!

keep in mind m-audio isn't the only company making nice midi controllers,

i'm sure someone else could recommend something that may be more interesting to you.

  On 1/1/2011 at 3:05 PM, fiznuthian said:

yeah man, any midi keyboard is simply that.. its a controller and nothing else.

you'll need to get a VST or VSTi that either emulates or samples pianos..

there's many VSTs that do a pretty great job of this.

 

what i like about the Axiom 25 is it has pressure sensitive drum pads (8 of them)

and 8 knobs you can assign to controls, as well as supporting aftertouch.

its built very well, a tough little controller.

 

the only downside to the axiom 25 is only 25 keys.. for piano purposes this may hinder you

as your limited to only a couple octaves and then octave switching buttons.

i still think its great for programming melodies, rhythms, and assigning vst synth controls to knobs.

 

that axiom pro 49 does look beast though!

keep in mind m-audio isn't the only company making nice midi controllers,

i'm sure someone else could recommend something that may be more interesting to you.

Thanks for the input. I'd be fine with buying the Axiom Pro 49 right now but sadly its out of my price range. I'd wait to save up enough to get that instead.

Hopefully more WATMMers can be of assistance.

Ive got the 25 and I love it. So the 49 must be better.

  On 1/1/2011 at 9:53 AM, ZiggomaticV17 said:

I'm planing to learn to play piano

consider this m8:

Keyboard response: Weighted or spring-loaded keys. The least expensive home keyboards have no keyboard response, and they use plastic keys that are mounted on soft rubber or plastic pads. This set-up, called "synthesizer action" is also used in synthesizers. "Weighted response" refers to keys with weights and springs in them, which give a "hammer action" feel similar to an acoustic piano. Most electronic keyboards use spring-loaded keys that make some kinds of playing techniques, such as backhanded sweeps, impossible, but make the keyboards lighter and easier to transport. Players accustomed to standard weighted piano keys may find non-weighted spring-action keyboards uncomfortable and difficult to play effectively. Conversely, keyboard players accustomed to the non-weighted action may encounter difficulty and discomfort playing on a piano with weighted keys.

  On 1/1/2011 at 3:59 PM, THIS IS MICHAEL JACKSON said:

  On 1/1/2011 at 9:53 AM, ZiggomaticV17 said:

I'm planing to learn to play piano

consider this m8:

 

Keyboard response: Weighted or spring-loaded keys. The least expensive home keyboards have no keyboard response, and they use plastic keys that are mounted on soft rubber or plastic pads. This set-up, called "synthesizer action" is also used in synthesizers. "Weighted response" refers to keys with weights and springs in them, which give a "hammer action" feel similar to an acoustic piano. Most electronic keyboards use spring-loaded keys that make some kinds of playing techniques, such as backhanded sweeps, impossible, but make the keyboards lighter and easier to transport. Players accustomed to standard weighted piano keys may find non-weighted spring-action keyboards uncomfortable and difficult to play effectively. Conversely, keyboard players accustomed to the non-weighted action may encounter difficulty and discomfort playing on a piano with weighted keys.

Yeah another reason for wanting the pro http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/AxiomPro49.html

49-note, semi-weighted TruTouch keybed > expressive feel and response

So far its still looking good for the Axiom. But I've got time, gonna go to my local store and try some out see if they have any reasonably price Keyboards there.

Fully weighted keys FTW. I've got an 88 Key fully weighted that only has old midi out so I use the M-audio Uno to convert that to USB. I love it more and more now that I have more dynamic VSTs like Pianoteq & String Studio.

The next midi controller will probably be some pads but after that I am probably going to get the Akai 88 key fully weighted with pads & lots of goodies. I will never go back to a semi-weighted controller again. If this controller died right now I would probably buy a similar one for mad cheap on ebay

if you are learning to play the piano a weighted keyboard is a must. so what you are looking for is not a midi keyboard ,but an electric piano with midi.

  On 1/2/2011 at 2:45 AM, yek said:

if you are learning to play the piano a weighted keyboard is a must. so what you are looking for is not a midi keyboard ,but an electric piano with midi.

Right I learned as much. However all the extra feature the Axiom Pro has still very much appeals to me. It seems as though its a good intermediate solution between using it for music production and learning on it as well. Unless I find an electric piano with all the features of the Axiom near its price range I will have to settle with the Axiom. However since I decided to get the pro I'm about $100 short so I've got some time before I make up that $100.

  On 1/2/2011 at 3:41 AM, ZiggomaticV17 said:

  On 1/2/2011 at 2:45 AM, yek said:

if you are learning to play the piano a weighted keyboard is a must. so what you are looking for is not a midi keyboard ,but an electric piano with midi.

 

Right I learned as much. However all the extra feature the Axiom Pro has still very much appeals to me. It seems as though its a good intermediate solution between using it for music production and learning on it as well. Unless I find an electric piano with all the features of the Axiom near its price range I will have to settle with the Axiom. However since I decided to get the pro I'm about $100 short so I've got some time before I make up that $100.

if yer learning piano you really won't appreciate the keys of these midi controllers

yeah yek and blanket do make great points, as a pianist or learning pianist you may be underwhelmed by semi-weighted keys.

granted, the axiom semi-weighted keys do feel great and don't feel cheap at all but if i learned to play piano music on them then switched to an actual piano it would feel really, really awkward.

also not having an 88 key range may feel weird as well.

personally i'm not a pianist and don't mind writing piano parts on a 25 key semi-weighted board, but i'm not playing concertos either. ;)

Fully weighted keys feel way better in my opinion for anything but if your trying to get really really slow attacks or something. With fully weighted keys it's actually really really fun and responsive punching in percussion. Just makes the feel much more confident & trusting when you are doing anything even slightly rhythmic than compared to semi weighted keys.

Fully weighted keys are worth every penny. Like I said you can get one of these 10 year old-ish 88 key full weighted controllers pretty fucking cheap on ebay and spend 30 bucks on an M-audio Uno Midi to USB and its pretty much flawless. My friend got this a while back and everyone thought the Uno converter or the controller had bad latency... but it was just because of the buffer sizes he had on his laptop.. was using a integrated default soundcard without even using Asio4all LOL it was horrible. Come to find I finally set this thing up, drop my buffer rate to 288 samples & ITS FLAWLESS.

Hmmm I see... Dilemmas...

haha, just apply for a part time job doing fast food and work for a month

then quit.. then buy a really good one. :)

Isn't the only advantage of Axiom Pro over the simple Axiom is the "hyper control"? Do you really need it?

Also, if you want to learn piano then i'd recommend geting a piano. Or as BFC said an old 88 key controller, for example this http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/product-uf.html

  On 1/2/2011 at 7:03 AM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

Like I said you can get one of these 10 year old-ish 88 key full weighted controllers pretty fucking cheap on ebay and spend 30 bucks on an M-audio Uno Midi to USB and its pretty much flawless.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_kw=fully%20weighted&_fcid=1&_jgr=1&_localstpos=&_stpos=&gbr=1

not that cheap, and very few

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fatar-SL-880-Studiologic-MasterController-MIDI-Keyboard-/160525358495?pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item25600e959f

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fatar-Studiologic-SL880-Master-Controller-Used-/400183313024?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d2cc8c280

Aftertouch is another thing to consider.

  On 1/2/2011 at 4:43 PM, Adam Beker said:

Isn't the only advantage of Axiom Pro over the simple Axiom is the "hyper control"? Do you really need it?

 

Also, if you want to learn piano then i'd recommend geting a piano. Or as BFC said an old 88 key controller, for example this http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/product-uf.html

Can't seem to find a price on the UF8. The UF7 has pretty much the exact same specs as the Axiom Pro, just more expensive. If I can find a price on the UF8 I might just save up for it. Also I've never heard of CME. I assume they are good?

Hows this look? I'm getting a Job soon so I could save up.

http://www.buy.com/prod/mpk88/q/sellerid/31397457/loc/101/217163521.html

88-key fully weighted, hammer-action keyboard with aftertouch for expressive melodic creativity

  On 1/1/2011 at 6:13 PM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

I am probably going to get the Akai 88 key fully weighted with pads & lots of goodies.

  On 1/2/2011 at 8:51 PM, ZiggomaticV17 said:

http://www.buy.com/prod/mpk88/q/sellerid/31397457/loc/101/217163521.html

 

88-key fully weighted, hammer-action keyboard with aftertouch for expressive melodic creativity

 

That the controller I am saving up for as well. Looks really perfect for multitasking all I want to do live (gonna build a workstation to house and transport all my gear)

I dunno though that just looks like the best thing possible since it it's more pricey I assume they build the pads better than their cheaper models.

I still haven't looked at reviews of it though, hopefully there will be a few more options by the time I'm ready to buy a new 88.

  On 1/3/2011 at 6:32 AM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

  On 1/1/2011 at 6:13 PM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

I am probably going to get the Akai 88 key fully weighted with pads & lots of goodies.

 

 

  On 1/2/2011 at 8:51 PM, ZiggomaticV17 said:

http://www.buy.com/prod/mpk88/q/sellerid/31397457/loc/101/217163521.html

 

88-key fully weighted, hammer-action keyboard with aftertouch for expressive melodic creativity

 

 

That the controller I am saving up for as well. Looks really perfect for multitasking all I want to do live (gonna build a workstation to house and transport all my gear)

 

I dunno though that just looks like the best thing possible since it it's more pricey I assume they build the pads better than their cheaper models.

 

I still haven't looked at reviews of it though, hopefully there will be a few more options by the time I'm ready to buy a new 88.

quickly glancing at that thing my first impression is that its probably a beast of a keyboard and will suit all of your needs perfectly fine!

:)

  On 1/4/2011 at 4:31 AM, fiznuthian said:

  On 1/3/2011 at 6:32 AM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

  On 1/1/2011 at 6:13 PM, Blanket Fort Collapse said:

I am probably going to get the Akai 88 key fully weighted with pads & lots of goodies.

 

 

  On 1/2/2011 at 8:51 PM, ZiggomaticV17 said:

http://www.buy.com/prod/mpk88/q/sellerid/31397457/loc/101/217163521.html

 

88-key fully weighted, hammer-action keyboard with aftertouch for expressive melodic creativity

 

 

That the controller I am saving up for as well. Looks really perfect for multitasking all I want to do live (gonna build a workstation to house and transport all my gear)

 

I dunno though that just looks like the best thing possible since it it's more pricey I assume they build the pads better than their cheaper models.

 

I still haven't looked at reviews of it though, hopefully there will be a few more options by the time I'm ready to buy a new 88.

 

quickly glancing at that thing my first impression is that its probably a beast of a keyboard and will suit all of your needs perfectly fine!

:)

Well if you learn anything bad about it or you change your mind let me know why! It looks really good, I almost feel like I'm not worthy. As long as I make good use of it I'd be happy with my buy.

well when it comes to keyboards they really only go so far,

i find i made a LOT of progress musically with that little axiom 25 and its nowhere near high-end.

there's still to much to learn for me to buy anything else at this point, its only for punching in melodies and rhythms anyway.

i feel like if i had that akai board it would put me in the position where

well, that's all i really need you know? work from there and see how far i can go with it..

sure you could blow 8 grand on a massive piece of equipment with 100 more knobs and sliders and pads

but none of its going to do anything to improve how well you write music.

but thats just me, maybe some people do think its important to have the best of the best

and maybe for them 88 fully weighted keys with the works just won't cut it

  On 1/4/2011 at 6:05 AM, fiznuthian said:

well when it comes to keyboards they really only go so far,

i find i made a LOT of progress musically with that little axiom 25 and its nowhere near high-end.

there's still to much to learn for me to buy anything else at this point, its only for punching in melodies and rhythms anyway.

 

i feel like if i had that akai board it would put me in the position where

well, that's all i really need you know? work from there and see how far i can go with it..

sure you could blow 8 grand on a massive piece of equipment with 100 more knobs and sliders and pads

but none of its going to do anything to improve how well you write music.

 

but thats just me, maybe some people do think its important to have the best of the best

and maybe for them 88 fully weighted keys with the works just won't cut it

Yeah I agree, I wouldn't need/ask for anything else. If I fail to make use of this I refuse to buy myself anything else (well I might get a Korg KP3 but that different). I plan to devote time to teach myself piano and make some tunes here and there. If I can develop some skillz along the way fantastic but my ultimate goal remains to create some outstanding music.