Which 61 key keyboard controller?

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.

azslow3
+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

azslow3

Jesse G
azslow3, 
 
When is the book coming out,  we can have it as good night time reading.

Easy way to have nightmare, English native speakers will see Putin is hacking there computers from control surface 

azslow3
I am glad you like your setup. And you are welcome in case you have future questions.
 
But please do not look into AZ Controller yourself... It is complicated even for MIDI experts and programmers. If/when you have time and willing to extend the functionality of your Code, just contact me.

mudgel
I've just put a deposit on my Native Instruments Kontrol S88. Hope to have it by the end of August.

Hi Alexsey - guess I'll have to setup a bat phone for direct communication with you at that time. Lol.