GuiliClayder

Well, getting anxious to order my MODX8. Projected availiability is within 2 to 5 days from Thomann. Still, I"m not too confident as the MX88 went from 1 week, to 2 weeks, to 3 to 4 weeks, back to 1 week again, and jumped back to 2 weeks yesterday... MODX8 is still 2 to 5 days away, fingers crossed. I think that, since the MODX has a built-in step seqeuncer now since the last update, Cubasis 3 on the iPad will complement that perfectly as a linear sequencer. Can"t wait, really.

Well, I"m going with the MODX8, a lot to discover on its own, and will probably try some sequencing with Cubasis on the iPad. Question : if I want to perhaps migrate to a DAW on my Mac later on, either Logic, Ableton or even Cubase, and add a small midi controller afterwards, 49 keys or ecen smaller, to play some instruments on a second tier, or even just placing a mini controller on the MODX"s right panel, I suppose I can just connect a powered hub to my mac and just connect everything I want ? And I"ll still be able to benefit from the USB Audio/MIDI interface on the MODX ? Also, in either case, using either the Mac or the iPad, since the MODX has a USB Audio/Midi interface, I can just hook up my monitor speakers to the line outs on the MODX, NOT to the Mac/iPad which would be the case if I used a 88 key MIDI controller, for example ? Sorry for the stupid questions, I am just starting my MIDI journey...

The problem is that a good quality weighted keybed is only found on more expensive controllers whose price gets really close to the MX88, which has the advantage of having internal sounds and an audio interface, untethering the player from the PC (so being "a board to have fun with") while still making it easy to play VSTs if needed. This. Not sure about Fatar...

I'm not simply looking for a controller, but a board to have some fun with, completely separate from my 'serious' classical CA58. I've been looking at different options, from pure controllers like the Arturia Keylab MK2 or Native Instruments, to boards like the MX88 with some fun connectivity. I'm open to using either my Mac or iPad (or both) with a DAW and/or software instruments. To be honest, I've considered multiple configurations, from the MX88 with a separate midi 49 key controller, or even the D1 with an Arturia Keylab MK2. So much choice, too many options. One thing I am sure of, though, is that I don't want any cheap controller with a clickety clack typewriter for a keybed action, which rules out anything from M-Audio, Nektar and Alesis. But I think I've got it narrowed down to either the MX88 or the MODX8, and better start off with just the board in combination with either my iPad or Macbook.

It's not an easy choice. I just want a board to mess around with, for my personal, highly amateuristic, home studio, and certainly not for live playing. So I was thinking an entry-level board, like the MX88, hook it up to my iPad and mess around with FM Essenials, and try my hand at Cubasis. Later on, I could just move up to a DAW on the Mac, Logic Pro or Ableton or whatever, and buy an extra controller. But the MODX is a newer board, more expensive yes, but still within my budget, really. But more complicated, yes, more capable, definitely, but I'm not sure I will have the courage to learn everything about it. Strangely, and funny you should mention the PC4, but while I was looking around in the MODX8's price range, I also peeked briefly at the Kurzweil PC4, a bit of an 'outsider'. I've heard good things about the capabilities and the sound, but also that the Medeli K6 keybed doesn't match the quality of the rest of the board, not by a long shot. Plus I'm afraid it might even be more complicated to use than the MODX. My other instrument is a Kawai CA58, which I mostly use for classical piano. That's just a 'turn on and play' piano which I like very much. And so, while a board like the MODX fascinates and impresses me, I think I will have given up long before having discovered not even 10% of its capabilities. To be honest, I practically know nothing about MIDI yet, and I certainly don't know the first thing about synthesis and sound design. Maybe I should just toss a coin...

The MX88 more satisfying... I guess I can see that. The MODX8 is a cracking board but I fear that I'm not even going to use 25% of the capabilities. I don't know the first thing about synthesis. I just want a board to have some fun with, an alternative to my serious classical playing on my Kawai CA58... Still, MODX is more expensive, but not THAT much more expensive. Maybe it would be a shame to miss out, and the MX is getting on a bit. Anyway, can't go wrong with either board, but just wanted to check that quality issue thingy...

Been waiting for a while now, as I wanted to buy a Yamaha MX88 but it was out of stock everywhere. But I've ckecked with the store and i should be back in stock within a week. However, while I was waiting, I've also been looking at the MODX8, about 50% more expensive than the MX88 but probably a lot more bang for the buck. There's a bigger learning curve, but I can also start with Cubasis and some other apps, and move on to something more serious later on, if and when I feel ready. That FM Essentials app for the MX is very cool but everyhing that's in the app is also in the MODX. So, perhaps, once the novelty wears off, I might wish I'd gotten something a bit more advanced in the first place... Both boards have rave reviews although the MX88 beats the MODX8. Where the MX88 has been regarded as a very sturdy board and quality board for the price, there seem to be some quality issues cropping up here and there as far as the MODX goes, and not just the 88 key version : keys that become loose after a relatively short while and 'uneven' build quality for the MODX6 and 7, and a noisy keybed for the MODX8, which is hard to believe as the MX88 has the same GHS action and I haven't read any comments about noise. Anyone here has either the MX88 or MODX8 (or perhaps even both) that can give me some feedback ? Thanks !

Not interested in PC connectivity, only iOS and Mac OS... In any case, the Roland A-series are too old. It is true, though, that the more recent controllers come with lower quality keybeds. Sign of the times, I'm afraid...

The Novation SL MK3 could be of interest to you. Better keybed than most but like all Novation stuff, optimised for Ableton. I'm a Mac user (have been for over 20 years) but not sure about Logic ; have messed around with Garageband and while it's good, I can't say I like it all that much. Logic has the same interface, which I'm not all that keen on either. Plus, don't need the hardware support of the SL. Think I'll go for the Launchkey MK3 instead, apparently it works with iOS, too. Want to use Ableton Live on the Mac, and Korg Gagdget and Cubasis 3 on iPad. I think Novation offers the best quality, when compared to M-Audio, Alesis and Nektar. And from what I've gathered, the Launchkey's keybed is the 'quietest' of the lot (except for the SL MK3, of course).

Those Roland models are 11 years old. The chance that they work with the latest versions of Mac OS and iOS is very small, indeed...

My bad, apparently, the Launchkey does support iOS and they keys actually seem to be quite good...

What I'm trying to find, is a white raven... My mothertongue is Dutch, so I don't know whether that expression translates well, but in any case, it basically means something that simply does not exist. I'm looking for a 49 or 61 key MIDI controller with a (whisper) quiet full-sized keybed, and which can be used on both Mac OS and iOS, via USB (Bluetooth is nice, but not a must-have). What's more, everything, from board to bundled software has to work with the latest versions of both Mac OS and iOS. I've been searching for weeks, but no luck. Want to use it with either Logic Pro X or Ableton Live on Mac OS, but also with Korg Gadget 2 and Cubasis 3 on iPad. Some boards would work, I guess, but I haven't found one yet that doesn't go 'clickety clack toy store like' as far as the keybed is concerned... (basically anyting from M-Audio, Alesis, Nektar and Novation, with the exception of the SL MK3 which might be overkill for the noob that i am). It would be to complement a 88-key board (most probably a Yamaha MX88) and I would have settled on the Roland Go Keys (or even Go Piano, not bothered about the built-in sounds), since that keybed is pretty good, but sadly, that doesn't have MIDI over USB, only Bluetooth. Perfection really is something alien... What I'm considering : - Arturia Keylab MK2 (no iOS) - Native Instruments A49 + Maschine Mikro MK3 (no iOS) - Korg Microkey Air + NanoKontrol Studio + NanoKontrolKeys (would work everywhere, basically, but don't want minikeys, so haven't found a suitable replacement for the Microkey Air) - Alesis VI49/61 and V49/61 : clickety clack - M-Audio Keystation 49/61 MK3 ( as a replacement for the Korg Microkey) : clickety clack - M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49/61 : clickety clack - Novation Launchkey : clickety clack and no iOS - Novation SL MK3 49/61 : great keybed, but too complicated, will never ever feel the need or have any knowledge of hardware/modular synths - IK Multimedia iRig I/O : piece of crap plastic - Korg Triton Taktile : plasticky, old, almost legacy - Akai Professional MPK 249261 : high quality keybed, but won't even work properly on latest Mac OS, let alone iOS - etc. I know it's probably just me, always looking for perfection. I know 99% of people won't care whether the keys of a piano or keyboard are noisy or not. But for me personally, that drives me crazy, just cannot stand it. I guess I'm looking for the synth or semi-weighted equivalent of Kawai's Grand Feel,which for all intents and purposes, really does not exist. Think I'll go back to playing just the piano...

Still, my question remains : can the two 'eco-systems", Arturia and Native Instruments coexist in one DAW, whether it"s Logic or Ableton ?

I know, point taken. My problem is that I'm always looking for perfection, and I imageine different scenarios to achieve that. But I know I'm going to have to compromise since there's no such thing as the perfect controller, or setup, for that matter...

Keylab MK2 has expression pedal input, even on the 49 key model, and I watch tons of positive videos and read as many positive reviews but the negative comments keep sticking to the back of my head... As for sound libraries, I think Native Instruments has the edge but not by all that much. I"m a novice, but enlighten me : why would I miss an expression pedal and faders ? I"m not going to play organ, not going to perform live, I"ll just be messing around in an amateuristic home studio. Which use case could warrant the use of expression pedal and faders ? And if I get the MX88 as well, which has expression pedal inputs, can I not consider that as a 'workaround" ? Still no faders, though. Perhaps some external add-on later on, something like a Korg NanoControl ? Edit : apparently, there are USB expression 'pedals' you can connect to your setup. And external fader controls as well, should the need arise. Of course, one would have to configure those manually for use in your DAW, but could that not be a solution, further down the road ? Edit 2 : what about 'interoperability' with third party VST's, sounds, plug-ins, or whatver. Native Instruments has the NKS standard and is more 'open', apparently, whereas Arturia's software supposedly only works with libraries from Arturia. Also, since Arturia is said to have adopted the NKS standard, you can use Arturia libraries in NI Kontrol, but not the other way around ? How does all that relate to DAW integration etc. I'm a novice so I'm bound to ask stupid questions. I've also read that the Native Instruments ecosystem is more flexible and more open, so easier to expand later on. How do you see this ? Edit 3 : going out on a very big limb here... I'd go for the A49 and the Mikro Maschine. The MX88 as a 88 key controller for the piano parts (and I do want to have separate keyboards). But... since the MX88 costs just as much as an Arturia Keylab MK2 88, why not go for that instead ? Would i not have the 'best of both worlds' ? Could I use the software from both Arturia and Native Instruments together with Logic ? Seems like a good compromise but I've got a feeling there may be a caveat...