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...

Right, decided, (almost)... I really think the Novation SL MK3 and Ableton will be more than I can chew, being a complete novice. So, I've turned my attention to Native Instruments, not the S-series, but rather the A-series. Good quality and everything I need, really. Will be adding a Maschine Mikro MK3. Like their software offerings, but there's still a small chance I might go for the 'all in one' Keylab MK2 (I like the Arturia 'ecosystem' as well). And since I'll be using a separate 88 key board, there's no need for a 61 key controller so I'll be going for a 49 key one instead, and it'll even leave me some extra free space on my desk. For the 88 key, think I'll go back to the MX88, one that has been on my rader for a while. Solid decent keybed, and very good quality overall, and good fun, even when using without a computer, shoudl the need arise. My MP11SE is being picked up by someone next Wednesday so i'll be ordering the new stuff pretty quickly. Happy times

The Akai MPK series is quite old, out since 2014, if I'm not mistaken. I don't think it'd be wise to buy one now, as they're probably going to be succeeded by something new...

I had a little studio in mind and was going to put my MP11SE alongside my desk (L-shaped setup), and obviously have the MIDI controller and the iMac on the desk (sold my house and moving to my appartment). Turns out that the MP11SE is somewhat too big and cumbersome. In other words, it won't fit. So I guess I'll be selling it anyway. I could go for a 88-key controller right away, but Iwould still like to have the controller separate from my piano. So, I need a compact replacement for the MP11SE. A simple 88 key controller like the M-Audio Hammer 88 could fit the bill, but that is even longer than my MP11SE. Casio CDP-S100 or PX-S1000 then and use it as a controller. Could work. The Korg D1, that should be perfect, it has a superb action that I've played and love, so I guess that would be perfect. Only, it has no USB MIDI. Apparently, connecting it with a Roland UMK-One MK2 works perfectly. Anyone tried using the D1 as a controller ? Well, user reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt, I guess. But so do the more serious ones. Maybe they're being paid to say good things about a certain brand, even though most of them claim they're not paid. In the end, you can only trust yourself, I guess. I might take a chance on the Arturia, not sure yet, but only because i think the Novation might be a bit too complicated for a novice like me...

It's funny how reviews of the Keylab MK2, either editorial or user, are so different and contradictory. Some say it's absolutely fantastic, that the build quality is second to none, with a high quality expressive keybed, whereas others, mostly users, claim it's an interesteing design but with very poor build quality, keys with sharp edges made of cheap plastic, knobs and faders that lose resistance very fast, white keys tthat bend when you play a bit harder and you can basically fold over oneanother because they're so crap, etc. The list is endless. Very difficult to form an opinion, then. It's mostly posiive, though, but you do hear some comments about quality issues, even on popular review sites and youtube channels... What to think ?

Something else : Ableton Live Link... pretty cool ! I will have my MIDI controler on my desk, where I have my iMac. I'd also like to integrate my MP11SE into my setup : this one will be next to me, in an L-shaped setup. When playing the Kawai, I will not be able to look straight at my iMac's screen, but I also have a Macbook Pro. I suppose using Ableton Live Link, I could, in theory, install Ableton Live on both my iMac and Macbook, and work on the same project, with the two computers synced ? Very cool, if it really is as simple as that. I don't suppose Logic can be set up in a similar way ? Edit : I guess a 'synced' setup could be achieved using Mac screen sharing, or even better, using Logic remote on my iPad... But back to the controllers : I see various opinions about the Keylab MK2, going from very good, built like a tank, best controller ever, to, well, basically 'meh'... As for the Novation : it's actually hard to find something negative about it. I admit I have a soft spot for the Arturia, it looks supberb (especially the black one) and the fact it's made of metal, should differentiate it enough from the rest. Tough choice...

I've considered M-Audio, and although I haven't been able to try any of the boards out, the impression I get from M-Audio is plasticky clickety clack actions, with the exception of the M-Audio Hammer 88 (I could be wrong, though, as Youtube videos and written reviews are all I have to go on). Normal synth action won't do it for me, I want semi-weighted, and good quality semi-weighted to boot. I have done my research and I am not going for cheaper, not from M-Audio, not from Nektar or any other brand. But thanks for the suggestions, anyway The Roland seems like decent quality but it sure is an oldie. And to be honest, the connections on the side would not be suited at all for my setup. @Escaperocks : I see you have a Keylab MK2, what's your opinion about it ?

i'm a piano player, have a Kawai CA58 and a MP11SE. Recently, I've found myself wanting something 'fun' to make music on the side (I'll probably be fooling around a lot more than actually making music, though). I have turned my attention to a MIDI controller I can use on my desktop, for use with my iMac. Have already tried different DAW's in trial mode and have narrowed it down to Ableton Live and Logic Pro X (downloaded 90-day trials of both, adn already fooled around a bit in Garageband). As for MIDI controllers, keybed feel and quality is requirement number 1 so I'm not looking at low-end options. Been comparing the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 MK2, the Arturia Keylab 61 MK2 and the Novation SL 61 MK3. Not really interested in optimised workflows or anything like that, I'm no professional, it's for home 'studio' use... The one that catches my eye the most is the Novation, although I fear that a lot of functionality might be lost on me (controlling hardware synths is not my thing, nor do I know the first thing about it). And even though, I own a Mac, I'm not immediately convinced that Logic is the best choice. Been comparing it with Ableton Live and to tell you the truth, Live seems like 'more fun' than Logic. So, some pointers ? For and against the Novation ? Will I be okay with it (I'm willing to learn) or will I be taking on more than I can chew? On the other hand, the SL MK3 is said to be very user friendly, even for a novice... There are no huge sound libraries that come with it, like is the case with Arturia and Native Instruments, but I think choosing a controller because of free goodies is not really a smart thing to do... The KK S61 looks appealing but I feel that the attraction of the 'bling bling' displays will wear off quite quickly. Plus, apparently, there are some issues with the Kontrol software and third-party apps and plug-ins. Plus, you'd have to add a Maschine (Mikro) to have some extra pad controls. Plus, why didn't they integrate pads on the S61 ? Probably to get you to buy accessories... The Keylab MK2, well, looks attractive, Most of the reviews (written and youtube videos) are very positive about the quality : built like a tank, professional feel keybed, etc. Then you hear comments about 'not so good' sliders and knobs quality, and even that the keybed feels cheap. Who to believe, then ? I know there were quite a few quality issues with the Keylab MK1 but apparently they have been solved with the MK2. Can anyone confirm ? I've read about several problems with the M2 as well, like some of the knobs feeling looser than others, resistance of the sliders wearing down over a short amount of time, someone even mentioned that there were some loose screws tin the box hat had apparently fallen out... So, although it ticks a lot of boxes, I'm a bit worried about quality and longevity. The Arturia is the cheapest around 500 euro, the Novation is around 600 euro, and so is the S61 but add a Maschine Mikro to it and that brings up to around 850 euro. I'm willing to pay that, if it does everything I want it to do. As suggested on another forum I frequently visit and post messages on, I could add a Korg NanoKontrol/Nano pad which is a lot cheaper, but I'd prefer the best integration so in this case it'd have to be a Maschine Mikro (MK3 would be pushing it). I appreciate all kinds of music, so that would be my goal, to create music of all genres, not just EDM or electonic music. But like I said, no big professional productions, just for my own use and experimentation interests. By the way, I would also throw my MP11SE into the mix... All feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Agree. In fact, he"s probably the best online video reviewer of stage pianos. JPS ranks the P125 and the ES110 the two best DP's in their price range. Stu Harrison called the action of the P125 '2-demensional'... Go figure ! They both agree on the ES110, though.

Now, now...