Midi Controller, need to choose.

[funaki]

Hi everyone, thanks for reading this thread. I am starting out in Making Music using Computers, i have bought myself Reason and Fruityloops. I need to buy a Midi Controller now so i can easily control the different knobs etc with a keyboard rather then a mouse. I looked around over the internet and found couple of different models. Posting here to see if someone has any experience with any of these or can recommend which one i shall go for out of the one i have mentioned. My Budget is $200 Dollar. and here are the models i have stumbled on


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=key/search/detail/base_pid/705359/ : Edirol PCR-50 USB MIDI 49-Key Controller

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=key/search/detail/base_pid/700718/ : Edirol PCR-A30 Audio Interface/MIDI Controller

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=key/search/detail/base_pid/709513/ : CME UF5 49-Key MIDI Controller

These are the three i have found, so now can you tell me which one i should be going for out of these 3 or if you have any other model that i need to check up on. Also going to a store and checking it out is not an option because in "bahrain" we dont have Stores that stock these kind of items. it iwll have to be purchased over the internet.

Thanks

[Mo-Kay]

you might want to go with a controller/audio combination, or else you might get too much latency (whatever you play will sound too late...without delay playing is much more comfortable.

[funaki]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

you might want to go with a controller/audio combination, or else you might get too much latency (whatever you play will sound too late...without delay playing is much more comfortable.

Do you have any specific model in mind for controller/audio combination?

[Phyl]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

you might want to go with a controller/audio combination, or else you might get too much latency (whatever you play will sound too late...without delay playing is much more comfortable.

With a reasonably fast computer this should never be a problem.

[Mo-Kay]

well, unfortunatly, that's not true. the soundcard is also part of you "latency chain"... so you WILL need a decent soundcard to achieve low latency.

Oh and the M-Audio Ozone might be a good idea...it's basically an Oxygen 8 (I've used and liked that one) and an audio interface in 1.

[funaki]

they CME keyboard is USB powered. although if it really makes a difference i am ready to shell out for an audiophile 24/96 or something in that range.

[Mo-Kay]

doesn't the CME have a firewire-audio-interface option?

[funaki]

and an M-LAN compatible FireWire audio expansion port.

There is a link to this product http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/709514/

If that is what you meant.

[Mo-Kay]

yep. (plus some characters to get up to 10, required for a post on this board)

[Phyl]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

well, unfortunatly, that's not true. the soundcard is also part of you "latency chain"... so you WILL need a decent soundcard to achieve low latency.

Oh and the M-Audio Ozone might be a good idea...it's basically an Oxygen 8 (I've used and liked that one) and an audio interface in 1.

You're correct, I forgot to mention the soundcard.

[funaki]

so shall i go for a CME keyboard and a Audiophile soundcard or no?

and Mo-Kay does it makes any difference with the fiber-audio thing you mentioned. or is it like an added soundcard?

[Mo-Kay]

it's like an added soundcard.

I read the CME keyboards have great action btw, so I don't think you could go wrong there...

[funaki]

Thanks Mo-Kay for answering and your suggestions. I would be buying the CME keyboard.

Cheers

[Fieva]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

well, unfortunatly, that's not true. the soundcard is also part of you "latency chain"... so you WILL need a decent soundcard to achieve low latency.

Oh and the M-Audio Ozone might be a good idea...it's basically an Oxygen 8 (I've used and liked that one) and an audio interface in 1.

I love the Oxygen.

Hey funaki, with a budget for finding a good controller, $200 should be able to get you a good one. Are you wanting full size or compact? That in itself can eliminate a lot of controllers. I didn't see that being asked so if someone already asked that and I missed it, my apologies.

[funaki]

i am quite sure i dont know what is the difference between full size and compact size keyboard, i have never owned one. and i need one to control reason and fruity loops with and also add new sounds etc using the same keyboard. i spoke to someone and he told me i needed a Midi Controller so i flipped through some sites and picked some which i liked and posted them here with links so i can get better help from experienced people.

Thanks

[Fieva]

I probably didn't give enough info concerning full size and compact. Compact controllers are small so that you can use them for laptops and usually have buttons you can use to stretch across all of the tones. Full size are usually as big as the regular keyboards and still can stretch across some tones. l

[funaki]

umm dont suppose i will be doing lot of this stuff on the Laptop also i dont currently own a laptop but i might in future. I think i will go for a fullsize rather then compact one.

Thanks

[Fieva]

No problem. Do you have a Guitar Center or something similar in your area. That way you could go there and get a fell for them and try them for yourself to see if you like it.

[funaki]

nope, unfortunately there is nothing like guitar center in the country there is this one place that sells keyboards and stuff like that but everything in there is of yamaha. I am going to Order it Online from musicianfriend or music123.com get it shipped to mate in USA and then he will ship it to me.

Cheers and thanks for the reply.

[Fieva]

No problem. Where are you from?

[funaki]

Bahrain http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...k/geos/ba.html

[Mo-Kay]

where are you at, funaki?

[funaki]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

where are you at, funaki?

Bahrain http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...k/geos/ba.html

[Fieva]

He posted a map for better description. That beats trying to explain it to me. Now I understand wher he's from.

Thanks

[Mo-Kay]

haha indeed...I just wanted to ask you because over here in Europe, those boards are not hard to find.