Old 06-28-2013, 02:29 PM   #1
jamison162
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Default Best Bang for Buck MIDI Controller?

Best "bang for the buck" midi controller for general purpose use? Running Reaper 4.402, Abletone Live Lite, Komplete Elements, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB.


Short List By Brand/Cost Below: (Any sway, what say you?)

Akai MPK-Mini $99.00
Akai MPK-25 $249.99

Novation LaunchKey 25 $149.99
Novation LaunchKey 49 $199.99
Novation Impulse 25 $249.99

M-Audio Axiom Air 32 $99.99
M-Audio Oxygen 25 $99.99
M-Audio Oxygen 49 $149.99
M-Audio Axiom 25 $199.99
M-Audio Axiom 49 $299.99
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Old 06-29-2013, 12:59 AM   #2
DarkStar
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Hello jamison162 and welcome to these forums. You'll find many helpful people here and a lot of useful information.

Well, I would always go for more keys, unless space is premium. The incremental cost is not that much. You will want the extra keys sooner of later. So that crosses several off your list.

Launchkey, Impulse and Axiom provide special features to integrate their controls with supported DAW hosts. I do not think that Reaper is fully supported by any of them (I could be wrong, though). Check out this forum for threads on them.

Then you should think about the keys. Do you want full-size or smaller keys. And the "action" - some are semi-weighted (heading towards a piano 'feel') others are "synth action".

Me - well, an Oxygen (61) is on my list.
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Old 06-29-2013, 06:06 PM   #3
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M-Audio Axiom 49 $299.99

I am still saving for this one. It feels great, all the controls mapped into Reaper 3.76 with no problem, and it feels great.....did I say that already?

DON'T try to save $$$ and by a V1 model, they just up & die on ya, WAY too many stories about that. V2 on up seems to be good.
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Old 06-29-2013, 09:36 PM   #4
jamison162
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Thanks for the feedback. Can anyone explain the basic differences between the Novation Impulse & LaunchKey. The LaunchKey does not look to even have midi in/out jacks, yet it is called a midi controller?

What about the M-Audio Oxygen vs. Axiom, pros' and cons on those differences?
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Old 06-30-2013, 01:35 AM   #5
ivansc
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I just replaced my elderly Phillips PC200 with a Emu Xboard61.
Great keyboard for an amateur keyboardist like me and the control section seems like it will be eay to integrate, but I am currently using to Korg Nanokontrol 1s.
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Old 06-30-2013, 02:22 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamison162 View Post
The LaunchKey does not look to even have midi in/out jacks, yet it is called a midi controller?
Yes, some modern controllers just send the MIDI info over USB so don't have the traditional DIN sockets. You just plug the USB cable in and your computer will see a new MIDI input.
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Old 06-30-2013, 09:52 AM   #7
fwd0120
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I got an Oxygen 49 for christmas. I'm not a pro, but I am very satisfied with it. It fits my needs.
Some people might want drum pads with theirs. Some people may want midi in/out/thru jacks.

If have had no problem using the controls with it in reaper, since it is so easy to assign stuff in reaper. For example, the transport controls work as you would expect.
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Old 06-30-2013, 01:10 PM   #8
Dafinga
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If you live in or near a sizable city, you can get great deals on midi controllers on Craigslist. I picked up an Oxygen 61 for $125 in MINT condition. That keyboard has a lot of bang for the buck, having 61 keys of course, but also a plethora of sliders and knobs. And it's quite pretty.
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