Which MIDI Keyboard do you use

[13 AD]

I'm going to be purchasing my first Midi Keyboard and I'm shooting for a 25-Key with pitch wheels and hopefully some drum pads. I enjoy making trance and dubstep. I've narrowed it down to:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringer-U ... 1410752.gc

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboard ... controller

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom25New.html


I'm leaning towards the Behringer or the Axiom (due to the pitch wheels being on the left side instead of the top like the Oxygen).

Anyone use any of these keyboards. If so, do you like it.

If you use another in the $50-200 price range, please share what you have and if you like it.

[Gaol]

I would also be interested in an answer. I am thinking about getting the oxygen as well. I have an akai MPKmini but its just way to small and no pitch and mod wheel is killing me.

[wormcode]

I use my Virus as a keyboard but I have used the Novation Impulse on occasion and it's great and has drum pads.
http://www.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers/impulse

Also a fan of the Alesis Photon X
http://www.alesis.com/photonx25

Everyone always recommends the Akai MPK which isn't bad but the above 2 don't get enough love.
http://www.akaipro.com/mpk25

[Aufnahmewindwuschel]

oxygen is fucking gay i had too and both where broken after few month

my brother has an axiom and no trouble yet

[13 AD]

I use my Virus as a keyboard but I have used the Novation Impulse on occasion and it's great and has drum pads.
http://www.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers/impulse

Also a fan of the Alesis Photon X
http://www.alesis.com/photonx25

Everyone always recommends the Akai MPK which isn't bad but the above 2 don't get enough love.
http://www.akaipro.com/mpk25

That Novation is sexy! and the Photon as well!

[Attila]

Use an m audio keystudio, would buy another no questions if it broke somehow...been going for 5 years of heavy use though.

[clayrocks]

I have an oxygen 49.It's a great keyboard with velocity sensitive keys and quite a few programmable knobs and sliders and the price is great . So far i have had no trouble with it and it sure does help to ideas down faster. I do like the look of the axiom and i think that it will be your best option if you want the drum pads. If you don't then i would go with the oxygen simply because i was in the same situtation as you and the Oxygen had much better reviews overall than the behringer.

[wub]

oxygen is fucking gay i had too and both where broken after few month

I've had my Oxygen close to 8yrs now and it's still working fine

[13 AD]

I have an oxygen 49.It's a great keyboard with velocity sensitive keys and quite a few programmable knobs and sliders and the price is great . So far i have had no trouble with it and it sure does help to ideas down faster. I do like the look of the axiom and i think that it will be your best option if you want the drum pads. If you don't then i would go with the oxygen simply because i was in the same situtation as you and the Oxygen had much better reviews overall than the behringer.

Good to hear about the oxygen, that price is definitely killer. How much did you get yours for?

[Aufnahmewindwuschel]

oxygen is fucking gay i had too and both where broken after few month

I've had my Oxygen close to 8yrs now and it's still working fine

haha dunno maybe i shouldnt have treated it like my ps 2 and 3 controllers

[Mad_EP]

I've had my Oxy8 for 8+ years... not only in the studio, but toured all over with it .. and played about 80-90 gigs with it.

It's about as reliable as they come in my experience. It has wheels, but no pads... but I ended up using the keys as triggers and I used the knobs as volume kontrols.

For studio-only use, I'd probably get something with more keys.

[1point5]

I've had my Oxy8 for 8+ years... not only in the studio, but toured all over with it .. and played about 80-90 gigs with it.

It's about as reliable as they come in my experience. It has wheels, but no pads... but I ended up using the keys as triggers and I used the knobs as volume kontrols.

For studio-only use, I'd probably get something with more keys.

This!

I've had an Oxygen 8 for a few years, never any problems with it (can't get the transport buttons to work with logic but I think it's a software/laziness thing - I'm sure there's a way!) but having only 2 octaves can feel really limiting, I definitely wish I'd got a controller with more keys

[clayrocks]

I have an oxygen 49.It's a great keyboard with velocity sensitive keys and quite a few programmable knobs and sliders and the price is great . So far i have had no trouble with it and it sure does help to ideas down faster. I do like the look of the axiom and i think that it will be your best option if you want the drum pads. If you don't then i would go with the oxygen simply because i was in the same situtation as you and the Oxygen had much better reviews overall than the behringer.

Good to hear about the oxygen, that price is definitely killer. How much did you get yours for?

I got mine for around £100 from DV247 so about $150 for the 49 key version.

[Marzz]

using this for now but I am gonna use my big yamaha one soon

[Electric_Head]

I use the ESI NEON.
Nice little keyboard.
Solid knobs, sliders, nice weighted keys.

[jonx8814]

I've had my oxy25 for about 3 years now..

Its been great since i learnt about ableton scripts.. i think its a great 1st midi controller..

[Ongelegen]

I use my Nord Lead 2 as my keyboard, but I used to have a 2nd gen Oxygen 8 for a bout a year or so. I know, it's not very long, but didn't have a single problem with it. Great value for the money imo.

EDIT: I also recommend getting atleast 49 keys, unless you have no room or budget.

[WhaddupBrew]

I have an Akai MPK 25, it's great!
I have played with my buddies Axiom 25 too, also very good...not as easy for me to use in comparison to Akai, though.

[SKIN E]

I use my Nord Lead 2 as my keyboard

jealous!

Oxygen is indeed sick! although I sold my 49 key one and got a axiom 49 instead, they are solid too

[Dustwyrm]

I recently acquired a Casio WK-1630. It's a full size keyboard with a lot of features. I'm debating whether to run with this or add a 25-key for easy access at the computer desk. Do most guys out there use a full size and a 25key to have on the table for easy accessibility.