Hi all,
I'm getting attracted towards electronic music and I want to purchase a midi controller.

What I want:

1) Pitch Joystick, instead of Pitch wheel. Preferably something like the EDIROLs have:
Image Link
As far as I know, it goes both left and right, and up and down.

2) Additional Controls for controlling my DAW. I' not really sure exactly what I want in this department since I'm just getting started but basically some knobs for modulation/automation control and some faders for the in-DAW-mixer would be nice.

What I Have:

3) I already have a Casio CDP-120 Digital Piano. so I have a full length keyboard with great touch response for all kinds of instruments and also plenty of samples on my PC so I don't need built-in sounds. What I need are the extra controls of Pitch & Modulation, Automation, additional Knobs etc. so keyboard length is not that important, if it's possible and lowers costs I would buy something that has only the controls and no keys at all. although a few octaves are a good investment for the future when I'll get out of the home studio...

Budget & Options
1) Low as possible, I was thinking about 100$ tops would get me a decent midi controller on eBay(I don't mind getting one used if I can trust it works)

2) The only thing I could find that fits my needs is EDIROL PCRs. for example Edirol PCR 300 | eBay This one is a lil' pricy, but I think I can find one for less. What do you think about this option? I also noticed there's an PCR-M series which looks better ;-) what are the main differences?


Thanks in advance for the help,
ZBBZ.

Joysticks are pretty rare in the world of MIDI controllers, so if that's an important feature I'd say get the Edirol. It's also got a whole bunch of assignable knobs, which are fun.
 
The reason joysticks aren't common, frankly, is that they are awkward when used in the conventional way to control pitch and modulation in live performance. However, I can imagine they'd be quite handy for software synthesizers (e.g. Zebra, Omnisphere) that implement X/Y controls.

What do you mean by awkward?
 
I'm a guitar player, and I also love Infected Muhsroom's sound. and they have a great keyboard player who applys vibrato and bends very suitably in live performances as well as in the studio. To me it seems like the best way to control a pitch. something along the lines of a keytar.

Maybe one of these would do the job without getting the whole controller.  
 
http://www.meritline.com/logitech-extreme-3d-pro-joystick-for-pc-mac-963290-0403---p-114409.aspx?source=fghdac&gclid=CMPttZSZiLwCFdOVfgod_Q0AAw
 
I haven't tried it, so I don't know if it will work with MIDI.  There are plenty of other models to choose from.  
 

I think I'll stick with conventional options Old55, I tried using another kind of joystick and it's not working TOO GOOD,
and besides - I would like to have some additional knobs, and maybe faders...

zoobooboozoo
What do you mean by awkward?
 
I'm a guitar player, and I also love Infected Muhsroom's sound. and they have a great keyboard player who applys vibrato and bends very suitably in live performances as well as in the studio. To me it seems like the best way to control a pitch. something along the lines of a keytar.

"Awkward" doesn't mean impossible to master. I've seen people who are proficient with touchpads! I used to be pretty good with the ribbon controller on my old MicroMoog, even though I never liked it.
 
There's a reason why wheels have become standard equipment. It's because you "get" them right away and for expressive playing they're as natural to a keyboardist as bending strings is to a guitarist.
 
Joysticks are harder - IMO - to control with repeatable precision. It's difficult, for example, to change one axis without also moving the other axis. Fine if you're after random modulation, and sometimes that's what you do want, but if you want repeatable performances it works better if the two parameters are independent of one another. It's still quite possible to operate two wheels simultaneously by using two fingers (I use the ring finger and thumb).
 
I'm not trying to talk you out of using a joystick, just explaining why wheels are more popular.

I truly enjoy using the joystick on the original Novation ReMote.  I'm not sure if the successor SL mkII model is the same, and just appears to be updated.  There is/was a switch on the bottom (not in the ReMote LE models) that freewheels or snaps to zero for the Mod Wheel axis.  The Pitch axis returns to center, of course.
 
With a programmable X/Y pad underneath, and Octave buttons just above, there's a lot of performance options without ever moving the left hand (making even a 25-key model extra powerful).  Lots of knobs, programmable buttons, and sliders round out the package.

zoobooboozoo
1) Pitch Joystick, instead of Pitch wheel. Preferably something like the EDIROLs have:
Image Link
As far as I know, it goes both left and right, and up and down....
The only thing I could find that fits my needs is EDIROL PCRs. for example Edirol PCR 300 | eBay This one is a lil' pricy, but I think I can find one for less. What do you think about this option? I also noticed there's an PCR-M series which looks better ;-) what are the main differences?

I've had the PCR M-50(pictured in your joystick link) for about 8 years.
The joystick goes left/ right(pitch) and up(modulation). It does not pull back(down). For me, primarily a guitarist, the motion is very natural. It's funny, but I actually feel kind of awkward on the two wheel keyboards. All in what you get used to, I suppose.
The keys are "synth action" so they have a different feel from the weighted keys on your Casio piano. It's a steady resistance for the full stroke of the key. For synth work I prefer this to weighted keys.
A lot of inexpensive keyboards have keys that are too soft or floppy. If you can, try some out at your local music store.
The PCR-M series preceded the PCR X00 series. The PCR-M series don't have the drum pads, and the controls may be arranged a little different. The PCR X00's claimed to have a better keybase.
They are sensitive to dirt. I baby mine, but if one has been exposed to a grungy environment, it may not be in great shape. Because they are fairly old, you should see decent prices on M series. If it has lived a good life and been taken care of it is a pretty solid unit.
 
Here's a little teaser of the joystick in action. It's a clean organ patch fed through an amp sim. I used the joystick extensively through this, and the last 30 second or so is a held note, rolling the joystick through its range.
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=6913509

As always w/ a keyboard controller, try the keybed first.
 
I've got the old novation 25 too.  It uses a fatar bed, which is pretty standard for synths (and feels normal if you grew up using a synth and not piano).  The joystick is great for modulation, not so much for pitchbends.  Maybe I just need more practice.  It also has a touchpad, which can be very nice.  Note:  I used to use a synthi analog synth w/ the joystick controller, which got me hooked.  3-dimensional control instead of the wheel 2-d.  It was good for micro shifts of filter stuff or pitch, or both at once.  The touchpad and joystick are both dependent upon setting up parameters in the synth for best use.  If you just want modulation/pitchbend, wheels work well and are precise.
 
I've always hated the roland/eridol 1/2 joystick control, while other dig it.  I wouldn't recommend it without trying, tho as with anything, you should be able to get used to it w/ practice.
 
I don't know what is out there at this point as far as controllers.  Most of the better ones are more expensive, natch.  You might want to wait for a controller and see when they come out w/ one for the iPad or android or windows.  virtual joystick and touchpad controllers would be ideal and would make programing easier, once someone figures out the right way to do it.  They are getting closer.  In the meanwhile, I'd use a cheap wheeled controller w/ the keybed of your choice.

@b rock:
It seems like a great instrument, but the SL Mkii is considerably over my budget... the 25 modle is at least double the budget :(
 
@RobertB:
Thanks for the detailed info, I feel the same way about wheels.
 
@AT:
What do you mean by "Fatar bed"? why do you think the joystick is not so great for pitch bends?
 
 
 
Thanks for the replies, y'all.