Which MIDI controller(s)?

[SoComSurfing]

I'm looking for a set of MIDI controllers for Reason3.0, BFD, etc, and don't have much experience in this realm.
I'm looking at the Akai MPD16 or the M-Audio Trigger Finger to pair with something like the M-Audio Oxygen8.
Does anyone have opinions pro or con about these products? If you considered these, but purchased others, why? Any advantages of these vs. something like the Korg Microkontrol?

[Correlli]

I'm interested in this topic too.

I have a Roland FC 50 MIDI Foot Controller that I'm planning to use in live performance.

[FCM3]

for me- live i trigger all my samples/ sequences, as well as play some keyboard bass using a roland Pk5 footpedal, and 2 midi units; the bass being a akai nanobass

[SoComSurfing]

I'm looking something more for recording than live. My MIDI switcher for my big live effects rig uses the Digital Music Ground Control, and I've done some controlling with the VBass, but with the ones I listed above, I'm looking to run some virtual instruments for a recording rig.

[keb]

I have an Edirol PCR-80. It's not bad, though I've heard the keyboard action has been improved on the updated model (PCR-M80 or something, I have the old, discontinued version.)

[bass_extremes]

you could check out the m-audio radium 49 its what we use in my music comp class with reason. Its really awesome its nice because you can use the radium to fade out songs with the sliders and stuff I recommend it.

[PunkerTrav]

I use the Alesis Photon X-25. It's worked great for me.

We didn't need anything with tons of features, but this unit provides a solid platform with enough control options to be very very versatile if need be. The 10 programmable knobs are great for controlling a bunch of parameters quickly in Reason.

[WalterBush]

I've got the Edirol PCR-30M, and it's great. Tons of controls, programmable velocity curves, the keyboard action's much better than similar M-Audio products I checked out. I even managed to program the sliders to act as faders in Sonar to mix without much trouble, although I quickly determined they didn't feel as good as my Tascam. Highly recommended.

[addylewis]

I'm not really a big techie-guy...but I've got a 49 key Emu Xboard which does the trick for me along with some VSTis:

B4
Elektrik piano
Minimonsta
Moog Modular
Arturia Minimoog
Lounge Lizard
Oddity
and an m-tron

All I'l ever need probaby...I've got the Plugsound synths too and that Sonik Synth thing (just in case...)

[MKS]

Trigger Finger coupled with an Evolution UC-33e?
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/UC33e-main.html

Alternatively, Trigger Finger and/or floor controller (footpedals) combined with Bome's MIDI translator?
http://www.bome.com/midi/translator/

MIDI translator works by changing MIDI signals into multiple keystrokes or multiple MIDI messages. So you can set one pad on the MIDI interface to say, select a preset and launch a clip etc. Versatile...

[The Owl]

Originally Posted by bass_extremes

you could check out the m-audio radium 49 its what we use in my music comp class with reason. Its really awesome its nice because you can use the radium to fade out songs with the sliders and stuff I recommend it.

Good call! I have the 61-key version and it's proven extremely useful for me. I like the fact that for one, I can use the sliders like drawbars on a Hammond organ (while using an organ VST plug-in)

M-Audio is one amazing company, they'll definitely be seeing LOTS of business from this Owl.

[bass_extremes]

those sliders of awesome its nice to have them when you mixing or if if you want to fade out certian instruments.