All user reviews for the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88

This keyboard is amazing for synths and pretty good for organs because of the ungodly amount of knobs and buttons and sliders. It is usb bus powered which is very helpful. The hammer action is fantastic for the price. The biggest problem I have encountered is the velocity sensitivity is a little substandard. It is very difficult to make a soft sound it tends to make things sound harder than you hit it. I have experimented with different built-in velocity curves but the problem persists.

Price paid

500

UTILIZATION

The keyboard is very easy to use but the included enigma editor is a little overwhelming and is still an enigma to me. Get it? I made a pun. The keyboard is also amazingly light when you take into account that the keys are semi-weighted.

The keyboard seems well built.

OVERALL OPINION

This is a great keyboard for gigging with my electronica band but I was disappointed on its inability to handle subtle levels of velocity.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: We Are Numbers ( 9-, 2005)

I'm a custonmer of the M-Audio/Midiman line and I must say that this controller is the truth. Being able to navigate and control my software on my G5 makes me feel more in control of my creative processes.

Price paid: $250 (Demo)

UTILIZATION

The sliders & knobs are a very nice feature. Works well with Digital Performat 4.6 mixer view for mix downs and works well with Reason 3.

Nice hammer action keys, pretty sturdy built controller. Thought a bitheavy.

OVERALL OPINION

I love the feel of weighted keys, I love the way the controller feels and performs. The Keystation Pro 88 is the center of my studio as well.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Mholla (January 0-, 2005)

I got this thing a couple years ago because I wanted another MIDI controller for my little synth station. I mostly got it because of the cheap price for the amount of features it has. As for connections, you have a standard MIDI connection and also a power cable. There aren't any sound banks on this so you aren't going to have any audio inputs or outputs. The other nice thing about this is that you can use it to control parameters on software using the faders, buttons, and panpots on this thing. It also has a digital LCD display to make it easier to navigate your selections.

UTILIZATION

The action on this keyboard is very mediocre. It definitely doesn't really feel like a piano, but the keys are weighted so it's slightly more realistic to play than your average keyboard. This works a little bit to its disadvantage though, because in my opinion they over-weighted, and it becomes difficult to play something light and soft and have the velocity values that it outputs properly represent the performance. It is very easy to set up - just get it going into your USB port on your computer and install the drivers if you need to. The channel/patch selection is very easy - there are plenty of buttons other than the piano keys to handle all of that. The manual goes over everything in a little detail, so it's sufficient to get a good working knowledge of the keyboard.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had this for a couple years. I mostly like the fact that it's a full 88 keys - I hate having to use octave scrollers. Obviously the price was a great benefit, and the extra software controllers are nice. It also has worked in good condition and nothing has broken on it. The thing that mainly disappoints me is the action on the keys, they are okay, but definitely feel kind of clunky and cheap. It's a very good value for the price, though. I would get it again.