During my visit at a SamAsh music store,I wandered into the computer room to get a feel for the M-Audio Axiom 49 controller & upon tinkering with the key-bed,I was disgusted at how flimsy & lifeless the key action is on this board!
I realize now that you do get what you pay for in a midi controller,& I've reached the conclusion that if I am to spend any less than $400 on a compact controller,I will not get the key action i am looking for.When one is choosing the ideal hardware workstation keyboard,sounds & sequencer quality is the primary objective,since key-beds are not inter-changeable,so in order to get the workstation you want,you have to compromise....but since I have many choices in the computer arena,key action quality is equally as important as any other key feature in a controller.
That being said,I am throwing my budgetary concerns to the wind,as I will spend whatever is necessary to obtain the quality of key action I seek(in a 49 key).Since there is no store in my area that has all the midi controllers on display that I need to demo,I most likely will have to make my choice online & I'll have to be prepared to return possibly several different brands of controllers until I get the right one.
Right now,I am considering the Akai MPK49,the Novation Remote SL49 & the new M-Audio Axiom Pro49.If anyone here has-or will have in the future,any experiences with these said controllers at some point,I would appreciate it if you could share your impressions of these controllers with me.
Thanks,
-Thom
