Inexpensive Midi/USB controller suggestions?

[Slowjett]

Hello. I use cubase sx3 with a firepod and the bcf2000. Im looking for something I could use to track beats (maybe a rythem pad on it?) and add piano or bass or whatever. Im very new to midi. Im looking for somethign that could do some assignable buttons, and is really functional for singer songwriter writeing rock music.

Would I be able to use several midi devices at the same time with sx3? like my bcf2000 and a usb/midi keyboard?

thanks for your suggestions!
josh

[altitude909]

Originally Posted by Slowjett

Hello. I use cubase sx3 with a firepod and the bcf2000. Im looking for something I could use to track beats (maybe a rythem pad on it?) and add piano or bass or whatever. Im very new to midi. Im looking for somethign that could do some assignable buttons, and is really functional for singer songwriter writeing rock music.

Maudio Axiom sounds like it would fit the bill

Would I be able to use several midi devices at the same time with sx3? like my bcf2000 and a usb/midi keyboard?

As many as you want. For the realime controllers like a keyboard, I would plug it into the firepod, not the USB. USB midi has fairly sketchy timing and you may get better performance going into the firepod.

[Nick98338]

I decided on an Edirol PCR-300 controller. Regular keyboard for notes. 18 pads for drum sounds. Other rotary knobs and slider-faders on there, too. I use the controller plus a software keyboard to trigger VST synths and soundfont players for piano, organ, bass, and drum sounds.

[M10K]

Another vote for the M-Audio Axiom series.

[Toddskins]

I just bought one for a friend, who is brand spanking new to music gear. Helped her buy Reason v.4, and Axiom 61 controller.

The Axiom 61 is not yet fully supported in Propellerhead's Reason 4, and I am not sure who is supposed to create that file - M-Audio or Propellerhead, but the Axiom is a good piece of gear.

I chose it based on several things, but not the least is M-Audio's history of creating top-notch drivers and keeping them upgraded as time goes on.

Bought it brand new on Ebay for $257 including shipping.

[rightroad1]

I recommend you to have a look at the M-Audio MidAir 25 wireless USB MIDI controller, you can read some reviews on it. And the price has dropped a lot ,a recent deal on it is $200.

[altitude909]

Originally Posted by Toddskins

I am not sure who is supposed to create that file - M-Audio or Propellerhead

You are

Its pretty simple actually. Turn the mapping on, select the control you want to assign, and turn a dial on the controller. presto

[antispatula]

Another vote for the Axiom. Can't say I like all m-audio keyboards (prokeys 88 is terrible) but this keyboard looks great.

I just bought an Axiom 61 earlier today actually,
can't say I have any hands on expirience with it since it's not shipped yet,
but it seems fantastic from what I've read. 8 drum triggers, 61 semi-weighted keys, a bajillion assignable faders/knobs, tone/mod wheels, octave transpose, usb output, a nice LCD with a blue backlight, and AFTERTOUCH! Didn't even know they made aftertouch for such inexpensive keyboards! I also just bought Garritan's Personal Orchestra, so the aftertouch will really come in handy when wanting to add vibrato to strings, flute, etc etc.

The Axiom is a very comprehensive keyboard, especially for the price. Just bought the 61 key version, brand new off ebay for $260.

[JMarcomb]

the m-audio boards are nice

im stuck with my casio ctk-541 though .. whatever works

[antispatula]

Originally Posted by JMarcomb

the m-audio boards are nice

im stuck with my casio ctk-541 though .. whatever works

*shudders*

I remember my first keyboard, it was something very similar. Then I got a Fender Rhodes 73, then a Hohner Pianet, then another Fender Rhodes, then a Prokeys 88sx, then a Prokeys 88, then a Casio Privia px-700, and then an Axiom 61. I'm keeping the Privia and the Axiom. The Privia is perfect for serious piano playing because the action cannot be beat, and the Axiom is for everything else. It's the perfect combo, fulfilling all my midi needs. I'll never understand why someone drops nearly 10k on an Oasys or something.

[altitude909]

Originally Posted by antispatula

I'll never understand why someone drops nearly 10k on an Oasys or something.

I think it would have something to do with the state of the art synth engine

[Toddskins]

Originally Posted by altitude909

You are

Its pretty simple actually. Turn the mapping on, select the control you want to assign, and turn a dial on the controller. presto

I do not know where the settings are stored, when you set up a parameter. Is the new routing stored in the Axiom keyboard, or in the Reason software on the hard drive?

It's confusing because the Axiom can store settings, too, as described in their literature and the evidence of a "Store" button on the keyboard. And the Reason Software has a specific way of enabling MIDI mapping of parameters, too.

Also, if you know... Sounds in software synths do not follow General MIDI layouts, and yet all the MIDI controllers I have been investigating, refer to the sending of Bank & Program information to control sounds on your gear (or computer). How is this achieved, since the GM spec is 128 programs per bank, while your computer simply stores programs in the Directory Tree of Folders?

How does the MIDI Controller know how to communicate with random programs on your hard drive?

Any help is appreciated.

[altitude909]

the CC's (continuous controllers) are sent from the midi controller via USB just like note data. Each knob per patch on the axiom will send out some form of CC, it can be in several different format (usually 0-128). The mapping will be stored on the Axiom and Reason will have its own default mapping for each instrument also, the 2 just need to match. Reason actually sends the right map to my Remote automatically on startup, so I dont really have to deal with it

You need to setup you controller as a "generic controller" (check help or the manual for "control surfaces")

There will be a default map for each instrument. Axiom has presets for reason built in (check manual page 48) so just change to those when you want all the controls mapped accordingly (presets 7-12). You can also overide the default map by either right clicking on the control, selecting "edit overide mapping", checking "learn from control surface" and simply moving that control, or you can look at all the controls by going to option/keyboard control edit and double clicking on the control you want to override (it will turn into a spinning lightning bolt) and then moving the control on the axiom

As far as controlling other hardware/software. You will need to look up the documentation for each devices midi mapping. Some are static so you will need to make a patch for the axiom manually (use the software) and some have a learn function like reason so you can leave the controller alone and program the soft synth instead. Midi learn IMHO is useful really when you just want to tweak a couple of parameters and building a whole learned map is kind of a pain.

As far as bank and program changes, this is done via "Bank MSB/LSB" which uses two controllers to define the bank/patch. Here is a good resource since I don't feel like writing a super long explanation:

http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/midimsg.htm

The controller is just a midi device and is seen as such my all programs that utilize midi so it is effectually a generic midi port as far as everything is concerned.