M-Audio Axiom Pro-Series?

[elwoodblues1969]

Upon first glance of the new Axiom Pro series midi controller,I was a bit shocked & put off by the drastic change in the color scheme,but given time,it's one of those unique products that grows on you...just as I've become accustomed to the radical look of the Clavia Nord Lead 2X!
Just as an artist in the medium of paint does not consider white to a a color,I generally tend to view white as a blank canvas,which is why I was not thrilled with the appearance of the Korg M3....however though,I found the Access Virus TI Snowto be a wonderfully nice color scheme,because I felt that Access's particular use of the variances of this color were tastefully executed and similarly,this is how I feel about the new Axiom Pro series.
When you think about it,the Axiom Pro series resembles a motif that NASA would use...which makes the Axiom Pro keyboard really cool!
Aside from the aesthtic aspect of this controller,I am very curious about the advances in technology in terms of functionality of this new product.
Since key action is very critical to my performances,I am especially interested in the new "TruTouch" key action of the Axim Pro & I am wondering if there is really much of a difference-if at all,in the key action between the old & new versions of the Axiom lines??
M-Audio's propaganda on the Pro series implies that the TruTouch action is superior to the old,as well as having improved compatibilty with DAWS...particularly with Reason...just to name one.
M-Audio also boasts of their new MIDI mapping technology,which automatically maps the keyboard's 65 controls to commonly accessed parameters in DAWS,by providing a constant two-way link,thereby ensuring syncronicity between the keyboard & the software in a seamless fashion-including the prevention of parameter jumps.
Since I am brand new to the concept of midi controllers,I'm having a difficult time ascertaining the significance of these said features-especially so,in consideration of the fact that the Axiom Pro 49 has a list price of $599(street price of $519 possibly)...what?!!!
I certainly cannot justify buying a controller that costs more money than the Reason 4 software that I want...especially so..knowing that I could get the M-Audio Pro Keystation 88-key controller for $339.95!!!
As it is now,I can get the old Axiom 49 key for as little as $219,so naturally,that seems like the overall best buy for me.
Still though-at this point,I don't really know what the actual street price of the new Axiom Pro will be when it hits the market & if in fact,the new Axiom Pro does work significantly better with Reason 4 than the old Axiom series...then possibly the Axiom Pro is the way to go?
I will be venturing into unknown territory,when I take that intrepid step into the softsynth world,so investing in a midi controller blindly,really worries me,because I won't be anywhere near as good at bargain hunting for computer hardware,as I am at making good choices with outboard hardware gear.

If anyone here has some practical advice in regard to my inquiries on this matter,I really appreciate some navigation through this to obtain some fundamental insight.
UPDATE: Here's the first U.S. retailer to provide a street price for  the Axiom Pro Series....
http://www.fullcompass.com/product/364053.html
Their street price: $444.15(49-key)

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/01/20/m-audio-axiom-pro-offers-novation-automap-rival-if-youve-got-the-right-daw/

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/AxiomPro49.html

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=O1taRNb-JDA
-Thom

[elwoodblues1969]

In researching the M-Audio Axiom Pro at greater depth,it seems that this new & improved version of the Axiom series might be of significant benefit to me,since it's new functionality may very well make the transition from hardware to software alot easier,since there is alot less programming involved to integrate the controller with the DAW.
The auto mapping with this particular controller seems to be the most advanced & since Reason is amongst one of the selected DAWS that works exclusively with this technology,this apparently is just cause for me to choose the new Axiom series.

[elwoodblues1969]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=C3iqyZi4GbE

[kara]

This looks indeed as a very good solution for a keyboard with a software DAW

k

[elwoodblues1969]

Probably one of the most informative & helpful videos I have found thus far:

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2009/01/27/wnamm09-m-audio-axiom-pro-wows-protools-user/

-Thom

[kara]

I'm posting from the middle of Schotland at the moment, you could allso call it the middle of nowhere 
I'm in a hotel with a free internet connection over Wifi. The download of this 7 minutes video took me 30 minutes  So I couldn't watch the other full 30 minutes video that he mentionned...
But it certainly looks an interesting tool

k

[folderol]

If I'd known you were oop there I'd have waved while the sun was shining

This certainly looks like an interesting bit of kit, but I found the the guy was talking to quickly about too much for me to really follow

[kara]

If I'd known you were oop there I'd have waved while the sun was shining

Sun ? in Schotland hmmm long time I didn't see that 

[elwoodblues1969]

Update:

According to the GuitarCenter website,the arrival date of the Axiom Pro has been pushed back to 3/31/09...not really a big deal for me,as I won't be able to place an order for one until May anyway,but I'm sure allot of folk will be disappointed.

-Thom

[Oren]

I'm sure allot of folk will be disappointed.

I know what you mean, Thom, but sometimes the wait is half the fun...

There is a Godin bass case with my name on it that has been back-ordered for at least 6 weeks, now. The store owner is a friend, and the delay is not his fault - just a very large demand and limited supply.
But we are all quite stoked to see this critter, just to get a close look at what all the fuss is about. The moment just gets sweeter with every passing day

[Marc JX8P]

From what I gathered in the NAMM video, this one is specifically oriented towards pro-tools. Fantastic integration there. I'm not sure if - and how far - it can be integrated in other DAW's though. The ability to send key commands is very useful, though. I hope they do some kind of update for my trusty Axiom 25 and 61 so they can do that too.

[folderol]

The tie-in to pro-tools is something that gave me pause for thought. I really, really hate anything that dictates what it will work with. There are so many data communication standards,so why do manufacturers chose to do it their own way, unless lock-in is the prime objective?

[Oren]

I really, really hate anything that dictates what it will work with. There are so many data communication standards,so why do manufacturers chose to do it their own way, unless lock-in is the prime objective?

M-Audio is, however, one of the more Linux-friendly manufacturers. Do I sense a moral dichotomy....

[kara]

Perhaps it has templates for different DAW's ?

k

[Marc JX8P]

I stand corrected: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/AxiomPro61.html. It supports several daws: 'compatible with DAWs including Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic and Reason'. The demo on Sonic State had me thinking that it just supported pro tools (or at least, was focused primarily on pro tools) which isn't too far fetched, seeing their pro-tools m-powered collaborations.