I'm looking to get a keyboard controller as soon as possible. 61 keys feels right (after having owned old Technics SX KN3000 and KN5000 keyboards a long time ago).
I'd like it to have faders, knobs and pads.
My budget for now is about $500 (equivalent).
The day after tomorrow, I'm looking to check out the M-Audio Code 61 which comes in at less than $300 equivalent (which seems cheaper than my memory of the older Axiom keyboard prices when new), but I realize that the Code range is not so new now, technology and competition is moving forward, and I haven't seen or felt the quality of them. (I usually watch reviews on YouTube.)
 
If you'd recommend any other keyboard controllers, I'd appreciate the heads up. Thank you.
 
Edit: I just found this post too, which is helpful.

All I can say about keyboards is one factor often overlooked when shopping  is the  most important of all. 
FEEL! -- How does it feel under your fingers? 
You wouldn't buy a guitar if you didn't like the way the neck felt so the same applies to keyboards. And we all have different opinions on this just like we will have with any instrument. 
So I bought my Roland A49 solely based on I love the way it plays and feels compared to all the others that were on display the store that day. Of course I was also comparing features too which it also had the correct stuff for me as well.

+1 to the feel comment. One person's joy is another's misery, so unless it suits you it could end up a waste. Any big music shop with demo keyboards can be your fun house for a couple of hours and you will get the touch time on the different keyboards. Features is another consideration since a simple MIDI controller to drive virtual synths is less costly, but if you want more features there is also the risk of some not working well with a given DAW. "Class compliant" is something to look for to ensure basic functionality, but won't guarantee the full feature set if too complex. You will also want to buy from a source with a liberal (often 30 day) return policy so you have an out if you get it home and things go awry on you.

Integration with your DAW will also be important for those knobs and faders ...

+1 to the feel comment. But that is IMHO.
 
For "faders, knobs and pads", while it looks like IMHO or even as an Ad., these are facts. You have following options:
1) controller with original Sonar integration. Nektar LX-61. The only in that category. Faders/Knobs/buttons are simple, but it does what documentation specify.
2) controller dedicated for particular plug-in framework control. NI or Akai Advance. That will not control Sonar except transport, till you switching the board into MIDI mode you use (3) or (6).
3) any other controller when you ready to be limited by:
3.a) Generic Surface plug-in. Tracks control (no buses) + transport + very limited Plug-in mapping. No feedback.
3.b) ACT MIDI plug-in. 8 faders + 8 knobs + 8 buttons (counted including transport!). No feedback.
3.c) (a)+(b) together, will have bad "side effects" when you work with MIDI tracks.
3.d) "MIDI Learn" in Sonar, was broken at many places before, claimed to be fixed in the latest update (I have not checked yet).
3.e) "MIDI Learn" inside VSTi (can be used in parallel with other methods, but can not share controls with them till they are switched on the device or in (6)).
4) keyboard and DAW controller separately, like X-Touch, MCU-Pro, Faderport. All 3 have good Sonar support, but for the first two comments in (5) also apply. Or Console 1 for own and UAD FXes (only).
5*) controller with partial MCU emulation. M-Audio / Behringer Motör. You will need my MackieControl plug-in mod, but it is open source. You will have feedback where hardware support it (for Motör with motor sensors). Partial FX control (hard to setup, manually editing XML files), no SoftSynth control, in ProChannel EQ and Comp. only.
6*) any controller with the number and kind of faders/knobs/pads you like (except Naktar Panorama). You will need my AZ Controller (free to use but proprietary and not open source) and cooperate with me (so spend quite some time) to make it work as you like (all available for surfaces by Sonar functionality can be programmed, specifically for your needs, with feedback on device, computer screed and/or phone/tablet throw network). Technically everyone can configure it for own needs. Practically only one person has managed to make complicated configuration without me).
 
Finally, if you want control plug-ins using Sonar Dynamic Mapping (in options (1),(3) and (6)), you will probably have troubles without yet another my tool

+1 on the "Feel" factor
 
If you can... go check out several MIDI controllers in person.
It's great that MIDI controllers are so accessible (affordable)... but quality varies radically.
 

I purchased the M-audio Code for Christmas as a gift to myself and haven't looked back.  
 
Take a closer look at the M-Audio CODE 61

Cactus Music
All I can say about keyboards is one factor often overlooked when shopping is the most important of all. 
FEEL! -- How does it feel under your fingers? 
You wouldn't buy a guitar if you didn't like the way the neck felt so the same applies to keyboards. And we all have different opinions on this just like we will have with any instrument. 
So I bought my Roland A49 solely based on I love the way it plays and feels compared to all the others that were on display the store that day. Of course I was also comparing features too which it also had the correct stuff for me as well.

Thanks Cactus Music,
Yes, I agree that feel is very important. I expect that your Roland A49 was easy to setup with Sonar, too.*

mettelus
+1 to the feel comment. One person's joy is another's misery, so unless it suits you it could end up a waste. Any big music shop with demo keyboards can be your fun house for a couple of hours and you will get the touch time on the different keyboards. Features is another consideration since a simple MIDI controller to drive virtual synths is less costly, but if you want more features there is also the risk of some not working well with a given DAW. "Class compliant" is something to look for to ensure basic functionality, but won't guarantee the full feature set if too complex. You will also want to buy from a source with a liberal (often 30 day) return policy so you have an out if you get it home and things go awry on you.

Thanks mettelus,
I enjoyed spending time with a few keyboards today, deciding what felt better and for what price, etc.
 
 

BobF
Integration with your DAW will also be important for those knobs and faders ...

Thanks BobF.
I'm hoping that the one I bought will integrate well with Sonar, although maybe not as easily as it does with some other DAWs apparently..