Midi Keyboard

[andycambo]

Hi,

So at the moment I have a electronic full sized piano which is great for recording (via midi) just piano but for base and effects it isn't that great. So I am thinking of getting a midi controller keyboard and just wondered if you have any advice for me.

I was thinking mainly of getting one because it will have a mod wheel which I think would be great for using with base and effects. I was thinking it would give it a bit more of a human touch/feeling.

But my budget isn't great, £100 is the best I can offer. But is there any real difference between the cheaper ones and the more expensive ones? If so is it worth saving up for a 'better' one? I deffinetly need touch sensitivity and a mod wheel are there any other essential things I should look out for?

Thanks Andy

[richiebee]

If you don't need a full 88keys (lets face it, you're not going to get that for £100!), I would recommend the CME UF5. It's around your budget, and although build quality seems to be a little spotty, this is an excellent keyboard with lots of controlability. http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/s...roduct_id/5743

There are also a few smaller options by Edirol and M-Audio that fit the bill. Personally, I think the action and feel is better on the UF5, though it does take up quite a bit of room.

[andycambo]

Thanks for your advice. That's more than I was hoping to get for my money so that's a great find! It seems to have everything I would ever need for now so thank-you.

But i've been on a few sites and nowhere seems to have it in stock, one shope even said it was a discontinued item. There does seem to be plenty of CME UF6's in stock so I might just have to wait for pay day and get that one. O well I don't think having extra keys is going to kill me.

Thanks again for the help

Andy.

[andycambo]

So i have a little more money to play with now and found this controller. So far it seems to have everything and more than I want at the moment and extra things I could use for future useage.

It is a:-

M-Audio Axiom 49

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/s...roduct_id/8134

Seems to be a nice piece of kit and every review I have read so far has praised it.

What do you guys think? A good purchase or are there better ones out there at a similar price?

Andy.

[andycambo]

Just another quick question.

Do you think I will regret not getting a 61 or 88 key controller? I mean i've got a full sized electronic piano if I need to do large 'sweeps'. But I've been looking at pictures of 49 keys and it just seems to have enough keys but i'm trying to think to the future, will I need more?

Andy.

[richiebee]

If you can, go and play them. I personally think that my CME UF5 has a really nice definite key action, and in comparison have found M-Audio keys to be somewhat spongey and lacking definition. It might be different on the keyboard you're looking at.

If you're a piano player, you may well regret not getting the biggest keyboard you can afford/find space for. Personally, I find a four octave keyboard big enough for everything I do.

R.

[andycambo]

So I nipped down to a music store during my lunchtime and they had a CME UF6 on display. I had a good look and feel of it and to be honest I wasn't all that impressed. The key action felt very plastic, if that even makes sense. The sliders and knob action felt okay but nothing that reasured me that it would last many years down the line. I might ask if they can get the M-Audio Axiom 49/66 out tomorrow and see if the key action is any better.

Maybe i'm just use to weighted piano keys and i'm comparing it to that when I shouldn't be.

Andy.

[Haven]

Have a look at the Edirol PCR-500 (they come bigger, like the PCR-800!)

Am an owner since one month and, (as soon as I can get it work completelly in Sonar 6) am quite happy with it!

Peace, haven

[andycambo]

So I took the plunge and ordered myself a CME UF6 along with a few other small things. So hopefully it will be a good choice and a nice birthday gift from myself to myself!

I will update once I get the chance to have a go at it. Can't wait!

Andy.