Which MIDI controller(s)?

Discussion in 'Recording Gear and Equipment [BG]' started by SoComSurfing, Nov 28, 2005.

  1. SoComSurfing

    SoComSurfing Mercedes Benz Superdome. S 127. R 22. S 12-13.

    Feb 15, 2002
    Mobile, Al
    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?
     
  2. Correlli

    Correlli

    Apr 2, 2004
    Wellington, NZ
    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.
     
  3. 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
     
  4. SoComSurfing

    SoComSurfing Mercedes Benz Superdome. S 127. R 22. S 12-13.

    Feb 15, 2002
    Mobile, Al
    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.
     
  5. keb

    keb

    Mar 30, 2004
    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.)
     
  6. bass_extremes

    bass_extremes

    Jul 9, 2005
    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.
     
  7. PunkerTrav

    PunkerTrav

    Jul 18, 2001
    Canada & USA
    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.
     
  8. WalterBush

    WalterBush

    Feb 27, 2005
    Yuma, Az
    Full disclosure, I'm a certified Fender technician working in a music store that carries Fender, Yamaha, and Ibanez products among others.
    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.
     
  9. 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...) :D :bassist:
     
  10. 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...
     
  11. The Owl

    The Owl

    Aug 14, 2005
    GA
    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.
     
  12. bass_extremes

    bass_extremes

    Jul 9, 2005
    those sliders of awesome its nice to have them when you mixing or if if you want to fade out certian instruments.