Heh phriends (Rounik), Can anyone recommend a decent MIDI CONTROLLER for a beginner using MIDI? I've been checking around and am considering M-Audio's Axiom 61: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61.html Any other suggestions or advice? Thanks. Jodie

Hey Jodie, A few questions... what's your budget? Do you want buttons, faders, controllers? How many keys would you ideally like? Do you want a dedicated controller only? and..er...budget ;-) By the way, if you look in Gear: [url]http://www.macprovideo.com/forum/general/gear[/url] You'll find some more threads about MIDI Controllers and you can also search the forums to find more too: Here's one that popped up when i search for MIDI Keyboard: [url]http://www.macprovideo.com/forum/logic/logic-pro-express&id=11947&sid=#11947[/url] Let us know what you're after, may be there'll be some good opinions flying around here to help you :-) Rounik

Heh Rounik, How r things? Thanks for the link info:) To answer your questions: 1) Budget: Anything under $500 American. 2) Do I want buttons, faders, controllers?: I guess so. 3) How many keys?: Well, I dunno. Remember, I'm new to this MIDI stuff. 4) Do I want a dedicated controller?: What is a dedicated controller???? Basically, I was watching a youTube video about exporting drum sequences from the step sequencer in Ultrabeat, and then importing those sequences into Mainstage, and then assigning specific keys on a MIDI Controller keyboard to trigger those sequences with the touch of a specific key on the MIDI Controller (eg. C1 on the MIDI Controller triggers sequence C1 from Ultrabeat). The guys name from the youTube video is Matthew Hendershot. Have you ever heard of him? He has a website called Zoom In Online, which is pretty cool:) Anyway, the MIDI Controller that he mentions that he uses is the Axiom 61 by M-Audio, so I checked out their site, and the Axiom 25, 49, & 61 look like a possibility:) I just don't know which one would be better for me, or if there is something out there that is better for a beginner using MIDI Controllers! I can get the Axiom 25 for about $300 here in Japan, and the 61 for about $350. I watched this video from the M-Audio site, and the Axiom series looks good. http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=media.maudiotv&PID=bfb1e714c6bb8470a63338979cf7be24 Whaddya think for me? Wow, that was long. Any advice? Thanks man. Jodie

Hi Jodie, RE: Number of keys... well this depends on you really. If you want to play it like a piano / keyboard, then the more keys (octaves available), the easier it is to play methinks. But, if you're not really a keyboard player it may not be so important. However, if you want a very portable setup, then the smaller models will suit you well. By dedicated controller, i meant a "Control surface". This would be a piece of hardware with only knobs, faders, etc and no keys. The idea being to act in a similar way to the mixing desk you see in pro studios. The benefit of having lots of knobs, faders, pads and buttons is that in Logic you can assign each pf these to a different function! Instead of having to remember that key command or menu function for... assign it to a control on your Controller! Being able to add automation to your project, e.g. adjusting volume, pan, EQ, + whatever else(!) by twiddling knobs on your controller can be a lot more intuitive and fun than using a mouse to adjust one parameter at a time... The axiom series does look very good. Choose the one which fits your most important needs: e.g. mobility, price, number of controls or number of keys... They will all be suitable for beginners. MIDI is not such a scary world anymore. It;s very accessible for all, especially in Logic 8. By the way, in reference to the tip you were talking about, Steve H. walks through this feature (called Pattern Mode) in video 25 of the Ultrabeat Unleashed tutorial (if you already have it - you may be interested to check it out :) Cheers Rounik p.s. i use an M-audio Oxygen 8 & personally (for my needs) if i had to upgrade, I'd go for axiom 49 due to it's faders, extra octaves etc... :-)

Heh Rounik, What's up? Thanks again for the info.:) I think I'm gonna go with the Axiom 49, like you, because it's in the middle of the 25 & 61:) Yeah, I have the Ultrabeat Unleashed tutorial, which ROCKS, so I'll check out the Pattern Mode section that you mentioned:) Thanks a lot man. I'll let you know when I get the 49. Jodie

No problem Jodie! [quote:44659] Thanks a lot man. I'll let you know when I get the 49.[/quote] When I first read that early this morning, I thought you said you'll let me know when you [b]get[/b] to 49 ;-))) Take care :-) Rounik

Heh Rounik, Whatchu talkn' bout Willis???? "GET to 49????" Heh, I was just checking out the Oxygen series, and they look pretty good, too. Why did you say if you upgraded you would upgrade from the Oxygen 8 to the Axiom 49 and not upgrade to the Oxygen 49 or 61? Also, is a firewire connection better than a USB connection for MIDI? Thanks. Jodie

Me again, Heh, I was just checking out prices for both the Oxygen & Axiom MIDI controllers, and here are the numbers: Oxygen 8: $126 (American$) Oxygen 49: $ 153 Oxygen 61: $180 Axiom 25: $212 Axiom 49: $284 Axiom 61: $337 Whaddya think? Jodie

Dude:) Me again:) My g/f did a search of the Axiom, and some dude in Japan said that when he bought the Axiom brand new, it made these weird sounds when he wasn't touching the keys, so he returned it, got a new Axiom, and it did the same thing, sooooooooooooo, he bought the EDIROL PCR-500, and this guy recommmends Roland products over M-Audio products! Whaddya think? Jodie p.s. I think I've narrowed it down to either the Oxygen, Axiom, or PCR series!!!! DOH stupid Flanders!!!!

Hi Jodie, Just to add my 2 cents worth... I've been using the EDIROL PCR M50 for a few months now and am very happy with it. Just had to install the necessary drivers (very painless) and was up and running in no time at all. Also found Roland On Line Support nice and friendly. Cheers, Bj