M-Audio Radium 61

[VTgreen81]

Any opinions on this as a first MIDI controller?

[stonepiano]

Originally posted by VTgreen81
Any opinions on this as a first MIDI controller?

Yeah.

good choice, esp. at your price.

If you're a real keyboard player (I can't remember from your first post if you're dabbling in keys or were trained) you might find it limiting and kind of toyish w/o 88 keys or weighted action. As for me, I'm a guitarist that plays very limited keys so it was perfect.

[VTgreen81]

Actually i'm a drummer, using MIDI in production to add strings, maybe some piano, I may even program the drums if I can't get a good sound with live drums. I understand there's tricks you can use to make midi drums sound more like a live drummer, like putting the notes slightly off beat just enough to get rid of the mechanical sound/feel.

[Chrisjob]

Originally posted by VTgreen81
Actually i'm a drummer, using MIDI in production to add strings, maybe some piano, I may even program the drums if I can't get a good sound with live drums. I understand there's tricks you can use to make midi drums sound more like a live drummer, like putting the notes slightly off beat just enough to get rid of the mechanical sound/feel.

True. As a drummer, you understand groove. If you play with a metronome, you rarely hit right on the beat. The same applies with programming drums... though a midi controller won't really help with it.

-Chris

[VTgreen81]

but once the data's in can't I manipulate it?

[Chrisjob]

You CAN... that's what's so convenient about sampled drum tracks... you can change the groove on the fly, or even switch you samples entirely