MAudio Hammer 88 Pro

[ElmerJFudd]

 

[video:youtube]

 

https://m-audio.com/hammer-88-pro

 

Dimensions

56.0' x 11.1' x 5.0'

 

142.2 x 28.2 x 12.7 cm

 

Weight

40.8 lbs.

 

18.5 kg

 

Key Features

Best-in-class 88 graded hammer-action keys with aftertouch and assignable zones

(16) RGB, backlit, assignable, velocity-sensitive pads with Note Repeat for beat production, clip launching, and more

(8) assignable knobs & buttons for controlling virtual instruments, mix plugins, DAW controls, and more

(9) assignable faders for controlling virtual instruments, plugins, DAW faders, and more

Preset and DAW buttons for auto-mapped DAW controls & plugin parameters

Smart Chord mode enables playing of enharmonic or custom chord voicings

Smart Scale mode eliminates wrong notes making it easy to craft a perfect song

Arpeggiator with Type, Octave, Gate and Swing controls

Ergonomically designed pitch and modulation wheels & (3) footswitch pedal inputs and (1) expression pedal input

USB-MIDI connection and 5-pin MIDI Input and Output for connecting to external MIDI gear

Intuitive layout featuring an OLED screen for quick control edits

Includes music rest, MIDI editor software and a complete software production package

 

$799

[johnchop]

Commence "no wheels on top" and "76-key version" comments!

 

I wonder if this is the same action as the previous version, which ranged from "nice" to "crap" in various user reviews.

[Docbop]

Looking forward to a review comparing this to a Native Instruments S88 especially from a keybed POV.

[stoken6]

+1 to Johnchop's comments. At least it's got 5-pin MIDI. Weight is reasonable if it's a quality hammer-88 action.

 

Can it send program changes, I wonder?

 

What's an "enharmonic...chord voicing"?

 

Cheers, Mike.

[Docbop]

What's an "enharmonic...chord voicing"?

 

Like enharmonic notes a C# and Db are two names for the same note they are enharmonic. I'm assuming since you set the key you're in it uses the correct chord name/type for chords based on the key signature.

[Konnector]

They could've just not mentioned anything about the action as the "Best in Class" marketing jargon bs means absolutely nothing.

[Mighty Motif Max]

Wow! What timing. I was just wishing the Hammer 88 (regular) had more controllers. It's going to be between this and a Komplete Kontrol S88 for me.

[Fleer]

Why would one get this if an RD-88 is not much more expensive?

[Mighty Motif Max]

Why would one get this if an RD-88 is not much more expensive?

 

It might have a better action, it has way more controllers (faders and pads particularly), and if one cares about pitch/mod placement it has those at the left of the keys as well.

[stoken6]

What's an "enharmonic...chord voicing"?

 

Like enharmonic notes a C# and Db are two names for the same note they are enharmonic. I'm assuming since you set the key you're in it uses the correct chord name/type for chords based on the key signature.

 

I know what enharmonic means. I didn't understand it in the context of a controller. Does it display chord names/voicings?

 

Cheers, Mike.

[Nicky]

"Smart Scale mode eliminates wrong notes"

Man this is great! Why don't all keyboards have this feature??

[Ken Beaumont]

I've been burned way too many times with M-Audio gear. I had a ProKeys 88 that the G4 key was dead after 6 months, the keys turned mustard yellow in the case in my closet after a year of storage. Out of about 5 pieces of M-Audio gear I can name off the top of my head only a set of 5 inch powered monitors lasted or worked as advertised. I haven't bought anything from them in nearly 10 years since the ProKeys but I'm not willing to spend my money to see if their quality has changed.

[Mighty Motif Max]

[video:youtube]

[video:youtube]

[gg22]

Why would one get this if an RD-88 is not much more expensive?

 

"Smart Scale mode eliminates wrong notes" - this alone might be a good reason to buy it! Plus is has a power switch and comes with a USB cable

[AnotherScott]

Why would one get this if an RD-88 is not much more expensive?

$800 vs $1300. Or if you want sliders, trigger pads, or aftertouch.

[wd8dky]

I've been burned way too many times with M-Audio gear. I had a ProKeys 88 that the G4 key was dead after 6 months, the keys turned mustard yellow in the case in my closet after a year of storage. Out of about 5 pieces of M-Audio gear I can name off the top of my head only a set of 5 inch powered monitors lasted or worked as advertised. I haven't bought anything from them in nearly 10 years since the ProKeys but I'm not willing to spend my money to see if their quality has changed.

 

I watched an older EWF concert where their keyboard player was using an M-Audio controller without issue. Maybe you got duds, or are more particular than he was.

[Fleer]

Mmmmmmmmm-Audio

[Mighty Motif Max]

I've been burned way too many times with M-Audio gear. I had a ProKeys 88 that the G4 key was dead after 6 months, the keys turned mustard yellow in the case in my closet after a year of storage. Out of about 5 pieces of M-Audio gear I can name off the top of my head only a set of 5 inch powered monitors lasted or worked as advertised. I haven't bought anything from them in nearly 10 years since the ProKeys but I'm not willing to spend my money to see if their quality has changed.

 

I watched an older EWF concert where their keyboard player was using an M-Audio controller without issue. Maybe you got duds, or are more particular than he was.

 

I've only had one piece of M-Audio gear - an SP-2 sustain pedal. Worked fine for about four years, then failed. I believe it's an issue with the internal cable connection. I've never had any other pedals fail, but to be fair, I know others have had all manner of pedal failures with many brands.

[Delaware Dave]

I just purchased a mint Code 61. Has all of the controllers on it that I need; 11 pounds. This beast is 41 pounds. Allot of weight for just a controller.

[johnchop]

I wish controller manufacturers could sort out a form factor that puts knobs above sliders while still keeping the buttons below the sliders.

 

Or perhaps give us longer throw sliders in one section with a separate knob/switch section.

 

And a pony.

[AnotherScott]

I wish controller manufacturers could sort out a form factor that puts knobs above sliders while still keeping the buttons below the sliders.

Arturia Keylab Mk II, Akai MPK261, Nektar Panorama P, Viscount K4/K5, Kurzweil PC4/PC4-7

[johnchop]

Ah, yes, the more premium ones, since it adds depth and therefore cost.

 

But these are all good examples of you get what you pay for.

[ElmerJFudd]

I wish controller manufacturers could sort out a form factor that puts knobs above sliders while still keeping the buttons below the sliders.

Arturia Keylab Mk II, Akai MPK261, Nektar Panorama P, Viscount K4/K5, Kurzweil PC4/PC4-7

 

side note: arturia's design choice to put faders on the right and drum pads on the left is irksome for what otherwise looks like a decent line of controllers.

 

[Docbop]

I just purchased a mint Code 61. Has all of the controllers on it that I need; 11 pounds. This beast is 41 pounds. Allot of weight for just a controller.

 

 

It's the hammer action that adds the weight and all hammers action board weigh more. A Montage workstation is 61 lbs, my StudioLogic SL88 Grand controller with hammer action weight as much as my RD-2000 and it a full stage piano. You want acoustic piano feel on a keyboard it's going to be heavy.

[aellison62]

So, what is the keybed? TP100L ?? Just like the M-Audio hammer 88 ? The reviewer doesn't say.

[GianfrixMG]

So, what is the keybed? TP100L ?? Just like the M-Audio hammer 88 ? The reviewer doesn't say.

The Hammer 88 has a Medeli K6 keybed AFAIK. I think the Pro has a different keybed because it's graded and has aftertouch.

Definitely not the TP100LR as reviewers say it's not an heavy action.

[Fleer]

The Kurzweil PC4 is graded (with aftertouch), while the SP6 one is not.

So I"m thinking the Kurz PC4 and M-Audio Hammer Pro have a Medeli K6S action, while the Kurz SP6 and M-Audio Hammer have the base K6.

[jeffincltnc]

It's actually heavy for a board with Medelli action (which I'm not a fan of anyway). 40 lbs should deliver something like a Yamaha NW-GH or a Kawai RHIII quality if it's in a plastic chassis with an external power supply.

[Mighty Motif Max]

It's actually heavy for a board with Medelli action (which I'm not a fan of anyway). 40 lbs should deliver something like a Yamaha NW-GH or a Kawai RHIII quality if it's in a plastic chassis with an external power supply.

 

I believe it"s a metal chassis/build.

[jeffincltnc]

Good to see that!