GuiliClayder Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 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... Quote A long time ago, in a musical galaxy far, far away... Eminent-Solina B412, Yamaha DX21, Yamaha V50, Yamaha U1 21st century... Kawai CA58, Korg Liano, Arturia Minilab 3, Arturia Minilab MkII, Arturia Minifreak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuiliClayder Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 My bad, apparently, the Launchkey does support iOS and they keys actually seem to be quite good... Quote A long time ago, in a musical galaxy far, far away... Eminent-Solina B412, Yamaha DX21, Yamaha V50, Yamaha U1 21st century... Kawai CA58, Korg Liano, Arturia Minilab 3, Arturia Minilab MkII, Arturia Minifreak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redknife Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 Might want to add Roland a-500 pro (49) /a-800 pro (61) to your list. I think they fit all of your stated criteria and are no more clackey than the average synth action. Ultimately actions are a personal taste, though. Quote Chris Main gear: Yamaha C7, Kronos 2 88, Moog Sub 37, CK61, Kurzweil PC2x, Pearl epro, Mac/Logic/AUs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuiliClayder Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 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... Quote A long time ago, in a musical galaxy far, far away... Eminent-Solina B412, Yamaha DX21, Yamaha V50, Yamaha U1 21st century... Kawai CA58, Korg Liano, Arturia Minilab 3, Arturia Minilab MkII, Arturia Minifreak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redknife Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 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... I just offloaded an a-500, but it ran with an iPad Pro current iOS and Mac OS Catalina. I am not forwarding the Roland models as ideal, just an option given criteria based on my experience. Quote Chris Main gear: Yamaha C7, Kronos 2 88, Moog Sub 37, CK61, Kurzweil PC2x, Pearl epro, Mac/Logic/AUs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvercaut Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 GuiliClayder, you're not alone ! I'm in the same situation, looking for the perfect semi-weighted or synthfeel 49 or 61 controller for logic. I studied them all but most qualityfeel controllers are old (+-10 years) Novation Impulse, Roland A500 (800) pro,... So, i think we have to wait a couple of months for updated versions of them IF they gonna be manufactured with quality keys..... And...i'm from Belgium to :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuiliClayder Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 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). Quote A long time ago, in a musical galaxy far, far away... Eminent-Solina B412, Yamaha DX21, Yamaha V50, Yamaha U1 21st century... Kawai CA58, Korg Liano, Arturia Minilab 3, Arturia Minilab MkII, Arturia Minifreak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrrtyuuiioop Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 The Roland A series does work with both a PC and a Mac. This range has been suggested to you before in another thread and in another forum. I did even say that setting it up on a MAC is not straightforward as it is not plug and play. It certainly was the quietest of any MIDI keyboard that I have owned or tried Quote Feck u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuiliClayder Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 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... Quote A long time ago, in a musical galaxy far, far away... Eminent-Solina B412, Yamaha DX21, Yamaha V50, Yamaha U1 21st century... Kawai CA58, Korg Liano, Arturia Minilab 3, Arturia Minilab MkII, Arturia Minifreak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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