SineWave779
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 42
- Joined: 2011/12/13 19:28:11
- Location: New Jersey, US
- Status: offline
Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
Hello,
I am shopping around for a new MIDI Keyboard. I had such a difficult time getting the old M-Audio Oxygen to work properly with ACT, so I am thinking... maybe no more M-Audio and Sonar???
I am looking at the Cakewalk/Roland A-300 Pro... Obviously everything should work right out of the box, but what about that damn Pitch/Mod stick? It resets the Modulation to ZERO when you let go!!! What?? Who thought of this? Sometimes a modulation parameter can drastically change a synth sound!!! Is there a way around this???
Or is there something better out there in the 25-32 key range?
Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!
-SineWave
DAW EQUIPMENT LAPTOP: Asus U56E-BBL6 / i5 2.3Ghz CPU / 6GB RAM / 640GB, 5400RPM HD / USB 3.0 Port / 15.6" LCD EXTERNAL DRIVE: Seagate Turbo Go-Flex 500GB, 7200RPM HD / USB 3.0 SOFTWARE: Cakewalk Sonar X1 Producers Edition (Patched to X1C) MIDI: Alesis Q25 Keyboard
My signature will grow as my DAW and music grows :)
|
tomixornot
Max Output Level: -58.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1674
- Joined: 2011/03/05 11:31:26
- Status: offline
Re:Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
2012/03/12 04:01:49
(permalink)
|
JPPOLECAT
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
- Total Posts : 60
- Joined: 2004/04/08 18:55:27
- Location: Canada
- Status: offline
Re:Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
2012/03/12 13:53:05
(permalink)
i use pcr-500 works great probably dicountinued ?
|
rkl122
Max Output Level: -85 dBFS
- Total Posts : 262
- Joined: 2003/11/06 22:27:20
- Location: NJ
- Status: offline
Re:Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
2012/03/12 14:25:14
(permalink)
SineWave779
.........
Or is there something better out there in the 25-32 key range?
Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!
-SineWave
Take a look at the Novation SL MkII series. There's a 25 key unit. I can't recommend it, because I don't have one, but user reviews seem generally favorable. It has a toggle that unhinges the joystick from that mod=> zero default. On a store demo, it was a tad flimsy construction-wise, but you'd only need to switch it once. Still trying to decide myself, so if you give it a good look, post your impressions. Good luck, -Ron
|
dubdisciple
Max Output Level: -17 dBFS
- Total Posts : 5849
- Joined: 2008/01/29 00:31:46
- Location: Seattle, Wa
- Status: offline
Re:Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
2012/03/13 13:25:50
(permalink)
I would wait on the akai to see how it it is reviewed. Akai's last series of controllers were not very good. The mini versions are not bad for what they are, but the larger size products were a bit of a disappointment. Novation products are excellent and would be my choice at the moment. They just seem to work, are constructed solidly (in comparison to similarly priced units) and seem to play well with most DAWs.
|
GlennKay
Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
- Total Posts : 143
- Joined: 2011/02/19 06:20:16
- Location: Toronto
- Status: offline
Re:Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
2012/03/13 14:13:10
(permalink)
Greetings; I bought a Roland A300 six months ago specifically for Sonar, and i've been delighted with it. It's very sturdy and well designed, and if you're generally ok with the key action found on newer Roland synths, you'll be fine with the A300.
In terms of the mod wheel factor that you mention, you can always assign CC #1 to on of the knobs or sliders -- the A300 is fairly well eqipped in this regard (nine of each).
The A300 has a dedicated button for the ACT function, so it does play especially nice with Sonar, but it's equally enjoyable using it with other DAWs.
The one criticism i would mention is that i find the aftertouch to be stiffer than i would prefer, though i recently learned through trial and error than pressing (channel) aftertouch further up the keys makes it far more responsive. In terms of alternatives, M-Audio's Axiom is not bad (my previous controller), and of course there's always the Novation line.
Regards
Glenn
ASUS P8P67 LE/i5-2500k/8GB DDR3-1600/1 SSD (system) & 3*SATA HHDs (recording, samples, backup)/ ATI HD 6450 Silent/Win 7 Ultimate x64/RME Multiface/ UAD2/3*Creamware DSP cards on a separate PC connected via ADAT "The path of excess leads also to the palace of wisdom," but they let you in through the back door.
|
osd
Max Output Level: -84 dBFS
- Total Posts : 345
- Joined: 2010/12/05 19:13:45
- Status: offline
Re:Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
2012/03/13 14:23:53
(permalink)
Oxygen 49, version 2.
Edit: See the OP is not a current M-Audio fan, so take my rec with a gallon of salt.
i7-870 2.93Ghz, 16GB RAM, Radeon HD 5770 + 2 x DisplayLink w/ 4 x 22" screens, Intel SSD 80GB, Sonar X1-D Exp. - Problems? How's your latency? What processes are running? Driver crash?
|
ProMusic27
Max Output Level: -84 dBFS
- Total Posts : 341
- Joined: 2009/11/27 06:05:55
- Location: Granja Viana - Carapicuíba - SP - Brasil
- Status: offline
Re:Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
2012/03/13 14:53:15
(permalink)
I have an A-800 PRO... Since the A-300 is just the same with less keys I believe it is a quite good option!
I never have a problem with the modulation thing, besides, when I let the Mod wheel go is because I want the modulation (or whatever) out...
Mauricio Monteiro - BrazilIntel I7 2.8Ghz 16Gb ram | Win 7 64 | Sonar Platinum 64 | UAD-2 Octo | UAD-2 Quad | VS-700 rack | VS-100 | FaderPort | JBL 4326 monitors | A-88 | Integra 7 | iRig keys 37 PRO | Akai MPD 226 | Full AIRA system | XPS-10 | JP-8000 | Super JV-1080 | R-8 | R-44 field recorder.
|
codamedia
Max Output Level: -67 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1185
- Joined: 2005/01/24 09:58:10
- Location: Winnipeg Canada
- Status: offline
Re:Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
2012/03/13 16:02:57
(permalink)
If you want tight integration with Sonar, then I certainly recommend the roland/cakewalk keyboards as many others here have mentioned. It likely won't get any easier than one of those.
Don't fix it in the mix ... Fix it in the take!
Desktop: Win 7 Pro 64 Bit , ASUS MB w/Intel Chipset, INTEL Q9300 Quad Core, 2.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, ATI 5450 Video Laptop: Windows 7 Pro, i5, 8 Gig Ram Hardware: Presonus FP10 (Firepod), FaderPort, M-Audio Axiom 49, Mackie 1202 VLZ, POD X3 Live, Variax 600, etc... etc...
|
dubdisciple
Max Output Level: -17 dBFS
- Total Posts : 5849
- Joined: 2008/01/29 00:31:46
- Location: Seattle, Wa
- Status: offline
Re:Can anyone recommend a good 25-32 key MIDI controller for Sonar X1?
2012/03/13 16:20:25
(permalink)
I have an oxygen too and it sucks with sonar. luckily I'm not much of a keyboard player so it does not make me as crazy as others with the same issue. For those with the Roland controllers, how do the drum pads compare with the akai and novation pads?
|