M-Audio Axiom 49

M-Audio’s Axiom 49 MIDI keyboard controller is a great board! In my opinion, it’s probably one of the best out there. Producers who are skilled in playing piano gravitate toward this controller for the semi-weighted keys alone. I’ve seen many people from bedroom producers to long-time professionals utilize this controller in their studio, and I definitely understand, and agree, with their weapon of choice.

UTILIZATION
The Axiom was my second MIDI keyboard controller. I bought it used from a user on Ebay. It served it’s purpose well and though I do not have it hooked up to use in my studio anymore, it is still capable of getting the job done should I need it again. During its time of service, I used this controller for everything from school projects, to commercial productions, and a lot of practicing, all within Logic Pro, Maschine, or a combination of the two. Before I bought the Maschine hardware, I also used the Axiom 49 to program my drums and different instruments I created using vocal samples I recorded. This board also has faders and knobs that useful for setting volumes or automation. I also would use the board to control basic functions within Logic.

GETTING STARTED
The Axiom 49 is very sturdy weighing six pounds. Like many boards this size, the Axiom 49 has nine faders, and rotary knobs, and eight soft drum pads. There’s also a modulation wheel and pitch-bend controller. The thing I like best about this keyboard is the semi-weighted keys. I now use a Nektar Impact controller and I wish I could take the keys of my Axiom and put them on the Nektar controller! I love the feel of playing a real piano no matter what instrument I’m actually playing. It just feels right. The faders are nice to have, but they are limited to being programmed to control one track. If you wanted to control another track you would have to reprogram it to do so. The transport bar is very convenient. Without having to go back and forth in between my keyboard and computer, I can play, stop, rewind, fast forward, cycle, and record right from my keyboard. The other thing I wish I can salvage from this keyboard is the rotary knobs. I love them because they are infinite not having a start and stop point. Because of this, I am able to automate any parameter I come across while producing and mixing music. The only board I know that offers this is Nektar’s Panorama series. The only reason I do not use this board now is because the sensor alignment for my pitch-bend wheel is off and it hinders what I play when creating music. It was so bad at one point, before I realized the real problem, I literally transposed and entire song I did song I made a while ago because I thought that key was off somehow, when in fact the pitch-bend knob was not resting in the “neutral” position when not being touched. Though I can turn it off, I am finding that I desire to use the wheel more often, but it would come at the expense of constantly adjusting.

The Axiom 49 is a great controller, especially for experienced keyboard players. The price is not as competitive as others, but you will get more of the features that you need (and maybe want) by investing in this controller. Forty-nine keys may not be enough for some, but for most this board will exceed expectations.

PROS
Semi-weighted keys
Infinite rotary knobs

CONS
Be careful when using knobs not to move unwanted parameters

Axiom 49 - Advanced 49-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller

I set up a student music studio/computer lab in college, the lab had these keyboards hooked up to them. I have experience setting up and playing with this keyboard for Garage Band, Logic Pro, and Albeton Live

This is a great keyboard. I love the way the keys feel, the semi-weighted keys play just as I want them to. It reads velocities correctly, some other keyboards I have played will play either too soft or too loud of a velocity compared to what you are actually playing. It comes with a driver disk, but I never needed to use them. However I never tried to use it on a windows machine. But for Macs it will work no problem. All of the knobs on the keyboard can be customized to different midi functions depending on what software you are using. Channel pressure, pitch bend, modulation, etc. Its a great keyboard and will work well and with minimal setup for many programs.

I honestly can't think of any cons, It is big and not as easy to carry around as a smaller 25-key midi controller, but if you want more keys you need a bigger keyboard. Although the top and low ends of the pitch bends kind of maxed out before you extend them all the way. The best way for me to explain it is, when I go to bend the pitch up, about 1/8' before the pitch bend knob reaches its end, The controller reaches the highest point. So basically you don't have as much control of your pitch bends as you had ought to. Hope that makes sense.

Great quality, durable construction.

It is a great keyboard, and is no that expensive. You can do a lot with it and is a great addition for your studio, or for performance if you play through a laptop, the possibilities are endless depending on what software you use.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The M audio axiom 49 is a great keyboard for your midi production system. With enough knobs and sliders to program to all of your functions that you program has. I have used this will Logic and fl studio and had no problem doing so.


UTILIZATION

I like being able to mute, solo, play, stop, rewind, forward, and record without ever touching the mouse and the fact that pressing stop twice brings the marker to the beginning of the session or loop point. The new keybed is also nice too. It's not as stiff as the first Axiom controllers. It kinda has this extremely light piano feel but yet the keys aren't so heavy where you'll still feel comfortable whether you're playing pianos, synth, or expressive drum parts. The pads are cool as well. Even though M-Audio could make em' a tad bit "fatter" like MPC style pads, they still feel good when i'm doing drums from Ultrabeat or my own personal sounds in the EXS24. The only thing I have against it is that when you're "slam-dancin" on the pads to much, they tend to blank out a little but it dosen't happen that often. Not to mention i'm sure that M-Audio will work out the minor bugs in future versions of the OS. Above all else it's a great feeling controller and my next move will probably be the 61 key version when I install Logic on my new MacBook Pro. I recommend it for flawless workflow in sequencing or recording on Logic, or anything else for that matter. New buyers don't forget to download the HyperControl protocol for whatever software you're using from m-audio.com


OVERALL OPINION

Overall its great, it comes in the 49 and a few other versions, I must say the feel of it is great. Like I said before the keys arent too heavy so you can still play your leads on it well. But when you first get it if you buy it brand new the keys will be kinda stiff. But they will loosin right up for you after a few uses.

- What technical features/characteristics motivated your choice?
I had previously owned the O2, also from M-Audio, and so what i really wanted here was a keyboard that worked...with no latency...with velocity curves you can choose...and keys that actually had some sort of touch to them.
Well, the Axiom has all that and more, although i'm not sure the 25 model has the adjustable velocity...check before buying cos that is one hell of a feature.

- What connection types are there (MIDI, pedals...)?...
USB, MIDI out, MIDI In, Expression jack, Sustain jack, power in, on-off switch, all on rear.

UTILIZATION

After my disastrous experience with the O2, i wanted to check this one out thoroughly and went round stores asking a lot of questions...and demanded to try it.
I tried some other keyboards in the process, of course, some of which were top of the range very expensive synths...none were as good as this except this with a proper heavy piano touch. But you can't compare them, really: this was the best of all the semi-weighted ones.

Haven't used it extensively yet but everything seems simple.

The endless rotary knobs are a plus. You even have pads! Loads of buttons all over the place...you also have faders! The array of assignable switches is virtually perfect.

OVERALL OPINION

I got this second hand for 160 €...instead of 250 € new. So the value is amazing (for me) . I haven't used it much yet but it's a pleasure every time i do.

The only thing that could make it better? More keys (get the 61 model then!) and a proper weighted touch.

Is this the best MIDI keyboard of this size/price? Most probably, yes! Would definitely buy it again!