Can you help me pick a keyboard/controller?

Hi,
I have(had) a Korg I3 keyboard and I use BIAB and Sonar 8. The keyboard just died and now I'm looking for a replacement keyboard. I do have a Ketron SD2 Midi module which I bought a few years back after reading what some of the reviews and I use that for sounds and not the internal I3 sounds.
So what I really need is just a controller.49 or 61 keys not weighted. I'm not a keyboard player, bass is my main instrument but I know my way around the keyboard well enough to play some basic stuff.
So I have a computer with XP, USB2 and a firewire port.I would like to have a controller that can act as a transport control for BIAB and Sonar.
Novation Impulse or Alesis Q61.... that's what I have been looking at. Are those contenders? I'm not a pro and I don't want to spend a whole lot of money.I really don't know much about this stuff,
can you guys help me pick a good basic controller keyboard?
Thanks

Hey Roxy,
   I was able to pick up a used A800-pro for a bit over $200. It works quite well with Sonar, including transport controls, faders, and fairly good synth integration (for the synths I use).
 
It's 61-key and the feel of the keys is quite nice.
 
Hope that helps!
Mike

Hi there, and welcome to posting on the forums.
 
If you just need to have basic functionality, go with something cheap.  I DO happen to be a keyboard player, and I have 1 actual keyboard and 2 midi controllers.
 
I have a wonderful Axiom 61-Pro controller, but never use its midi controller functionality - I do it all within Sonar or the synths.  I LOVE the action, and its build, HOWEVER it was around $450 or so, and way more money than what I would recommend you buy.
 
I would actually suggest you take a scroll through Guitar Center's midi controller section.  www.guitarcenter.com and then when you get to the midi controller section, try the M-Audio filter, and you will see a bunch of used and new ones.  I DO suggest you look at a 61-note one, but it is up to you.  They are cheap and basic functionality, but that is all you need for your limited recording-based data entry needs.
 
I just took a look through their stuff, and they have used ones from about $80 usd, onon up to new ones $150-$250.  I wouldn't suggest spending more than that.  I was able to pick up a brand new M-Audio Keystation 88 controller for $129, and love it, but it is basically just to give me 88-notes for when I am triggering grand piano sounds from my computer.
 
So, anyways - I recommend the M-Audio ones just for basic midi entry.  I would not count on them for gig ruggedness, but fine for a guitar player just entering keyboard parts into Sonar.
 
Bob Bone
 

Hey thanks, Bob. I had not thought about looking at Guitar center.I'm so used to E-Bay and Amazon. But I'm glad you like the Axium61. That's kind of what I had in mind. My Korg I3 was a pretty nice keyboard (It never left my room but it still broke and my local repair guy has just about given up on it.)I don't want to get something that will feel really cheap by comparison and that Axiom seems like it is pretty nice.
The used stuff on the GC website is not very well presented. One small picture and no little blurb about the unit.I think I'll still look on e-bay but the M audio stuff is definitely interesting.

I really hope you see this post, @Roxy.

My personal advice to you will be to AVOID M-AUDIO PRODUCTS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! ESPECIALLY their keyboard controllers. So far I've already had two keyboards that went bad (pitchbend wheel goes nuts along with sliders, sending MIDI signals on its own!).

Consider Roland's A-500 Pro (49 key) or A-800 Pro (61 key) keyboards.

It bears the Roland name (hope you don't have anything against them) and it's guaranteed to pair up nicely with SONAR allowing you to use the transport buttons AND slider/knobs to interact with SONAR.

Thank you so much for the suggestions.I will continue looking for a roland, but they are on the high end of what i want to spend. So M Audio ... can you control Sonar 8 with That? Also I'm wondering... there is USB 1 and the faster USB 2. I know, they are backwards compatible. My laptop has USB 2 ports. Which one of the controllers is designed specifically for usb2?
There is also a Novation Impulse 49 controller for sale on my local craigs list.It looks like a very nice unit.How are those?
Like i said, 'm not really a keyboard player and I would use the controller just to play some pretty simple comping patterns and easy melodies. So maybe even a 49 might be enough. What do you guys think?
 

As I had indicated above, I would not generally bring an M-Audio controller out on a gig, because I don't believe they would hold up well to the stresses, meaning it may break from gigging with it.
 
Mine has held up with no issues though, in my studio.  a 49-key keyboard is fine for doing chords and single-note bass notes, but I find a 61-note keyboard is just more usable.
 
Anyways, good luck - hope you find something that works for you.
 
Bob Bone
 

I can tell you not to get a Akai. I have the MPK49 and it does not play well with Sonar.