Midi Controller...New...What it is? CME UF8

[sherok]

I'm not sure I understand what this MIDI Controller is or isn't all about.

I need to pick a controller and I was looking at this one

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...age?sku=702515

There is so much information about it, can you sort some of it out? It sounds like this controller replaces other equipment that I would normaly have to purchase. Being that I'm new and learning lingo such as preamp...I'm recognizing words

Mic input with preamp
IEEE1394/FireWire port
UF400e FireWire Audio Expansion Board
24-bit/192kHz A/D/A conversion

Am I buying something good? because I was thinking the M-Audio stuff was a better quality or more popular controller...I don't know...??

[richiebee]

I recently bought a CME controller and it came with a UF400 free. I installed it, but it doesn't work properly. I don't know if its a faulty unit, or whether they just suck. I'm not sending it back because a) I never asked for it in the first place, b) I don't need it.

It looks well made, and is actually a Terratec card. I;'m not sure where the mic pre-amp comes into it. The inputs are all 1/4" and there's no phantom power switch.

I took the thing out of my new keyboard because it seemed to be doing weird things to it.

I do like the CME UF series though. I think they're great value. I suspect they're getting rid of the UF400 with the UF series because of their new series of keyboards.

I believe CME is VERY closely related to Yamaha.

Rich

[sherok]

Thanks, that helps me a lot. I like the pros of what I hear about them too. The CME's. But the pros of what they're pushing about this one?...hmmm ok, I'm thinking probably no, I'll go back and look at some very good M-Audio's I've have a gut feeling about those anyway...thank you.
'

[brandondrury]

I see no reason to buy a high end midi controller unless you know what you need one....if that makes any sense. (I guess this applies to everything in recording).

I'm a wretched piano player and therefor I am content with a $40 piece of shit midi controller. (I'm very picky about how I setup my guitars.....I can't be bothered with a guitar with poor action). Pianos / keyboards / Midi controllers all have a certain feel. If you have no opinion, get a cheap one. Otherwise, you need to research or make a trip to Guitar Center.

Some of these midi controllers have a bunch of fancy knobs. I'm not really into all of that either.

So an old Roland worth $40 does the job for me. For some, a $500 midi controller is a necessity.

Brandon

[sherok]

ok. but what if I'm writing a song and I'm playing out the chords on the controller or the piano parts...I at least need a controller with enough keys right? I'd like an 88 key controller then right? Then what every I play goes into the Cubase and the sound that I select in the software is the sound that will be recorded. If I don't play piano parts of that song but switch over to a bass line or string line melody same thing, I play it out on the controller. I see why only a coupe of octaves are needed there, but not for the piano parts of working out a song or recording the keyboard part of my song. Or for writing the song and getting it down and recorded so I at least can remember what I was thinking about writing and maybe even in notation so I can read it and change keys on me so I don't have to since I've not played in so long, someone did this for me as we colaborated.

So...ok....I've seen a 88 M-Audio controller I like... M-Audio Keystation 88es USB MIDI Keyboard Controller..................

BUT....what's up with these synth's?..... seems like every has one?....I had one in the 80's.......why would I want one?..Kurzweil PC-2X/O 88-Key Performance Keyboard with Orchestra?...I'm up for either? or both since the other is cheap.

[brandondrury]

I at least need a controller with enough keys right?

Yeah, you do want enough keys. Few tunes require a single given part tol cover the sub octaves as well as the higher keys, so I have no trouble getting by with that I believe is a 61 key keyboard (It may be smaller).

I wouldn't mind have an 88 key controller, but I'm not convinced it's 100% necessary.

I can always hit the transpose button on they keyboard if I want to go super low.

what's up with these synth's?..... seems like every has one?....I had one in the 80's.......why would I want one?.

I only use the synths in the computer. I have no desire to use hardware synths these days when software synths and samples work so well.

Brandon