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eljoakim « Pleasant and built like a tank »
Published on 11/03/10 at 09:02I had before buying this keyboard a MPD32 with the build quality impressed me so I jumped on the MPK49 soon as I had a little money.
Before that I had a mini keyboard travel M-Audio Axiom, a big shit unbearable to use, limited and soulless, like nearly all M-Audio products that I could try (always problems drivers , mac, which is a shame anyway!). So when I owed choose between MPK49 and Axiom Pro 49, seen my previous disastrous experience with M-Audio I have chosen the MPK49.
It is plugged directly into my computer and powered by USB, no problem to see that side.
UTILIZATION
The touch keyboard is super nice, semi-weighted quite heavy, but it is a matter of taste.
For cons the pads are really there to make nice. Unless it off velocity are downright useless, and far from the quality of the pads of a MPD. In terms of sliders and knobs, it's perfect for cons, fluid and solid.
Manuel perfectly clear, no problems on that side.
The general configuration is rather simple once you've figured out how to get there, but this lack of clarity-of "user-friendliness."
Channel selection is very simple: once again we read in the manual (it does not jump clear in the eyes for those who discover the mode of operation common to all Akai products in which rule by a button that everything.
For the patches can not be made simpler, but the beast is unpatched for Logic or Ableton default, it will create them yourself (quite easy with the patch editor Vyzex).
OVERALL OPINION
I have been using 4-5 months, am more or less happy. Very disappointed by the pads which are used to clearly nothing in the state, and the boat as I experienced in trying to get everything working with Logic. The two are clearly not meant to work together, we will use the elbow grease to use the keyboard to its full potential with Logic. Synchronization between MIDI arpeggiator, assigning all the buttons and sliders, this keyboard give me a good headache. And when I reinstall my computer due, I owed it all over again!
In short, a better integration with Logic is not asking too much for a keyboard of this price.
I never tried with other programs for which the keyboard patches pre-recorded as Sonar and Cubase, Ableton Live, but it was not really better, for the cons Reason recognizes and takes care of itself rather well.
Did you try many other models before getting this one?
I owned an M-Audio keyboard low range of drivers who had to be crappy, and M-Audio sound card drivers with worse, so I spent my path in front of the Pro 49, Axiom in a very bad experience with the brand. And I tried other keyboards in store for touch, I have chosen the akai.
What thing do you like most/least about it?
+
Built like a tank, this keyboard is heavy and feels like to survive a lifetime of abuse on the road, then the sensitive semi-weighted heavy suits me perfectly.
-
Pads useless crap in the state, complicated to set up and run with Logic.
Good value for money rather seen the amazing quality of finish, this keyboard weighs a ton, and clearly do not plastic made in china. Not easy to adjust, very little "user-friendly.
Overall Rating 7 / 10
Before that I had a mini keyboard travel M-Audio Axiom, a big shit unbearable to use, limited and soulless, like nearly all M-Audio products that I could try (always problems drivers , mac, which is a shame anyway!). So when I owed choose between MPK49 and Axiom Pro 49, seen my previous disastrous experience with M-Audio I have chosen the MPK49.
It is plugged directly into my computer and powered by USB, no problem to see that side.
UTILIZATION
The touch keyboard is super nice, semi-weighted quite heavy, but it is a matter of taste.
For cons the pads are really there to make nice. Unless it off velocity are downright useless, and far from the quality of the pads of a MPD. In terms of sliders and knobs, it's perfect for cons, fluid and solid.
Manuel perfectly clear, no problems on that side.
The general configuration is rather simple once you've figured out how to get there, but this lack of clarity-of "user-friendliness."
Channel selection is very simple: once again we read in the manual (it does not jump clear in the eyes for those who discover the mode of operation common to all Akai products in which rule by a button that everything.
For the patches can not be made simpler, but the beast is unpatched for Logic or Ableton default, it will create them yourself (quite easy with the patch editor Vyzex).
OVERALL OPINION
I have been using 4-5 months, am more or less happy. Very disappointed by the pads which are used to clearly nothing in the state, and the boat as I experienced in trying to get everything working with Logic. The two are clearly not meant to work together, we will use the elbow grease to use the keyboard to its full potential with Logic. Synchronization between MIDI arpeggiator, assigning all the buttons and sliders, this keyboard give me a good headache. And when I reinstall my computer due, I owed it all over again!
In short, a better integration with Logic is not asking too much for a keyboard of this price.
I never tried with other programs for which the keyboard patches pre-recorded as Sonar and Cubase, Ableton Live, but it was not really better, for the cons Reason recognizes and takes care of itself rather well.
Did you try many other models before getting this one?
I owned an M-Audio keyboard low range of drivers who had to be crappy, and M-Audio sound card drivers with worse, so I spent my path in front of the Pro 49, Axiom in a very bad experience with the brand. And I tried other keyboards in store for touch, I have chosen the akai.
What thing do you like most/least about it?
+
Built like a tank, this keyboard is heavy and feels like to survive a lifetime of abuse on the road, then the sensitive semi-weighted heavy suits me perfectly.
-
Pads useless crap in the state, complicated to set up and run with Logic.
Good value for money rather seen the amazing quality of finish, this keyboard weighs a ton, and clearly do not plastic made in china. Not easy to adjust, very little "user-friendly.
Overall Rating 7 / 10