MIDI controller the the MAX.

anyone have advice on a midi keyboard to buy. im not looking to go light on one of these. i want one that i will stick with. the edirol pcm 61 key and the new maudio axiom 61 look tempting. any suggestions???? i dont want or particularly need one with an audio interface because i would just go through my current interface, unless there is something special you can do with an onboard interface that i dont know about? thanks.

ps. by the way i use protools (digi 002), and i would be using it for bass, noise, harmonies, controlling soft synths, and maybe drums.

CME!

CMEs or the Novation SLs

why do you say that. and how much are they?

i just checked out the CME. holy {censored}. thats nice. pricy though. the novation looks cool as well. why is the CMEs price tag over $1000, when another nice controller like the novation is around $600. is there something im missing about MIDI controllers that they can do that i dont know about?

You have to pay more money if you want the keys to feel decent. The keys on most of the m-audio and edirol stuff are awful.

I can't comment on the CME but the novation controllers have really nice key action and are pretty well made.

Depends on the CME. The UF series is VERY affordable, with VERY nice action. The VX series has motorized faders and some other additions, so they cost quite a bit more. I have the UF-7, and have thoroughly enjoyed using it.

The Novations have more controls, but are plastic. This makes them a bit noisier, and the board tends to flex a little bit. Still very nice controllers though.

The ultimate controller if one were to ask me would be the Oberheim MC-3000, but I don't see them around too much. Expensive too.

how are the CME's with effects. one of the reasons i am really liking the edirol's is because of all the knobs and buttons you can tweak. do the cme's have that. i recently talked to one of my friends and he said the CME's arent that good...i dont know because i have heard good reviews here... what do you recommend with $500? i dont care about looks and {censored}. i just want something that is good. think stuff like nord sounds.

The more I look at this thread, the more I think you may not understand what a controller does. A MIDI controller only sends out MIDI data. It will not make any sound of its own. You can use it to control software synths and effects, and other MIDI devices. So you won't be getting any Nord type sounds out of a controller. You'll need to have a synthesizer to control with it (whether it's software, or hardware.) If you want the Nord sound you need a Nord. (or something like it) As far as controlling these types of devices, yes, the knobs and sliders on the CME boards will work perfectly well. I don't really know what your friend is talking about either. The build quality of the CMEs is better than any other controller out there. Novation being a close second. Anyway, as to your friend's comments on the CMEs, I feel they are largely unfounded. I haven't run into a single person yet who owns one and doesn't like it. I saw some complaints about this or that early on on their forums, but anyone that I know that actually has one likes it. If you can, go check one out. Also, check out the Novations too. They're quite nice, they just aren't quite as solid as the CME. As far as Edirol, I personally wouldn't use any of their controllers, but some people like them.

yeah. i know what a MIDI controller does. i meant i am looking for a MIDI controller that can how act a Nord sounds. versatile and capable of being immensly tweaked. i went to guitar center in san jose yesterday. the only thing they had worth looking at was the Novation le. they didnt have an SL or any CME's. you know how they dont stray from brand names. i will take a look at the CME's, but are they worth the 1000+ that the best model costs. i have only seen pictures of them, and the Novation SL, and because i havent tried any of them out, all i can judge them by is the looks. and as far as i can tell, both have the same number of buttons, sliders, etc. the only bonus i see is better key action and an auto-mapping feature. is auto-mapping really worth the hundreds extra? is there any other factors i am not realizing less latency,,,etc??? -thanks.

oh J3RK. you mentioned the VX series had motroized faders and other additions. like........ and is that the only difference between the series?

I haven't looked into the VX series extensively. I just remembered that stuff from NAMM. None of the UF series boards cost $1000 either. My UF-7 was $399 (which is one down from the top 88 key weighted action model which is still only $599)

Anyway, you can map all the knobs and sliders to your software to tweak it with. You can also map them to mixer/transport/etc. controls in your sequencer/DAW/whatever. The Novations are a little nicer in this department I think, just because they have more controls, but I think the CME controls feel a little better.

The action, and solid feel of the CME is worth it alone for me. I hardly touch the controls, so for me they are just icing.

I would pretty much only recommend the Novations or CMEs, and depending on which features are most important, I would lean one way or the other.

Or the Oberheim, but I don't think it's what you're looking for.

The VX5 (49 key) costs $899.99; VX6 (61 key) is $999.99; VX7 (76 key) is $1199.99; and the VX8 (88 key) is $1299.99. kind of pricey. the novation sl 61 key looks slick, but you said it was made out of plastic. so im guessing its not very durable. in the future i plan on gigging with a controller. are the CME's strong enough for that? do you think the key action really affects playing? for me, i havent had that much contact with a real piano, so i dont think having stiff action will affect me much. i am just guessing though. so is the action really the factor that determines the price? it seems like every controller no matter what has a plethora of sliders, buttons, knobs to mess with.

I think action has a very pronounced effect on playing. I've been told that the action in the CME's is by Yamaha. It actually just feels good to press the keys down. The velocity response is excellent as well. I think you'd be fine gigging with the Novations, but they do flex a little, and are quite a bit noisier (key noise.) The CME feels pretty solid. It's made of aluminum and plastic. It doesn't flex like the Novations do. I haven't actually played with the SL series, just the older greyish ones. I imagine they aren't that different construction-wise. If you think you need the controls of the Novation, I'd see if you can find one somewhere close to you, and see if you think it will work. I doubt you'd have a problem with it unless it got bashed upon somehow. If you're going to gig, I think the CME might hold up a little better and feel a little better, but with the little LCDs and the extra controls, the Novation might work better for you.

wow. thanks for all the information. youve been a real help. now.......i just need to get my hands on some virus and moog samples.

i think ill just save up for the cme.