Hi
I have Sonar X3 and "some" Masterkeyboards. Because i have no "studio" and have to build up the keyboards on my desktop when i want to make music, i want to buy a little 25-Keys Keyboard that i can use for "faster Music Making" (i have an 88 and an 61 Keys Keyboard, the 25 is only for such things like basses, Drums, Atmos and so on).
 
Today i don't know if i buy simply an Keyboard without controllers (maybe the Alesis Q25 looks fine), or an Keyboard with more funktions and Controllers like an M-Audio Axiom (used) or Oxygen 25. Maybe an "fame tweak 25" (it is an "house-prduct" of the german "Music-Store".
This has an Aftertouch Keyboard, Triggers an Pads. But i read now, that many peoples has problems to use this functions in their DAW and of course i have problems with my 61-Keys Oxygen to use his controller-Functions in Sonar.
 
So i want to ask, if there some 25-Keyboards that works really fine with Sonar X3, maybe has perfect driver for sonar or will be detected by sonar.
I know, that the normal Keyboard will always detected (i hope) it is now just for the controller functions.
 
Thank you
 
Andreas

What OS and interface do you have? Any MIDI controller should be able to be connected and be recognized by Windows via USB. I stress controller here.
 
I have an old M-Audio Ozone and use it for the same purpose as you are intending, but the Ozone is also an audio interface and gave me a truckload of conflicts when connected via USB (Win7 does not recognize it at all without drivers installed, and those drivers are an "all or nothing" thing). Routing it through my audio interface with MIDI cables resolved this for me (the computer doesn't see anything but MIDI from it that way). Downside of this is that the keyboard needs a its power cord and MIDI cables, but I have not minded this since it is not always on anyway, and tripping it online/offline is invisible to Win7 and SONAR.
 
 

I use the A-300 pro built for Cakewalk by Roland, I have no problems with it, use it all the time.

I also use the a300, and like it a lot.
 
It has 32 keys, and I find that make it far more useful than a 25 key controller.
 
It integrates very well with Sonar, too.

I picked up an Oxygen 25 and I was able to use the keys immediately (didn't even need to install drivers) and the pitch/mod wheels with a simple MIDI learn set up in Sonar. The fader and knobs seem to be a little finicky about what can be mapped using MIDI learn but most things work and I haven't been able to figure out how to map the transport buttons but I'm sure if I ever bothered to learn all that ACT stuff I'd be rollin'.
 
It has aftertouch. The key action is a little "meh" but definitely playable (I'm used to old Rhodes keyboards and real pianos so I'm spoiled).
 
For $99 I'm happy with it. I probably could have gotten it for less but went through my usual retailer because I know if something goes wrong I'm not screwing around with cross border nonsense.
 
If I had a little more money I probably would have gone for the Axiom 25 just to get the pads and other goodies but then again that unit is a little bigger and probably wouldn't fit on my desk as well (I've got my DX7 sitting behind it and my padKontrol beside it and it all just barely fits.

Beepster - $99 is a heck of a deal. Great suggestion.

Here's my suggestion and what I use. The Line 6 KB37.

It's an ultra versatile mini keyboard. I use it all the time.

Demo 1:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zwBR1OfHRtM

Demo 2:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cRpCXWSC8TE

Price:

http://www.sweetwater.com...loe757sCFcQ9QgoddA8AEA

Something to also keep in mind when choosing is the feel of the keys. I have a Cakewalk/Roland A500pro and I love the keys on this one. It's not weighted keys (have a Yamaha P90 for that) but compared to many other brands the keyboard on the Cake/Roland A-series feels very high quality. M-audio's controllers are cheap, but to me they're horrible to play because of their plastic/toyish feel of the keys.. ..(the overall build of these feel "less quality", however it's the feel of the keys that are most important to me anyway).

lawajava
Beepster - $99 is a heck of a deal. Great suggestion.

Yeah, I did a lot of research on it and made sure to ask the forum before taking the dive. I didn't have a lot of money to spend and being new to MIDI it was a rather overwhelming topic. I am quite pleased with it for what I do which is basically just hooking it up to noodle around and get some basslines or try out patches. I could use the DX7 but it's much bigger and more cumbersome. Also it's one of the originals so it has that limited velocity range issues and it needs to be hooked up VIA din which confused me back then.
 

Loptec
M-audio's controllers are cheap, but to me they're horrible to play because of their plastic/toyish feel of the keys.. ..(the overall build of these feel "less quality", however it's the feel of the keys that are most important to me anyway).

This is the one turn off and I'd actually prefer full on piano action or maybe something in between but it wasn't really necessary for my needs and those types of controllers were far more expensive. Just needed to be able to easily punch in notes. If I need better action the DX7 has a better feel but even that I find a little plasticy compared to the old electric piano I used to practice scales and stuff on.

My first controller was a 25-key Akai MPK Mini - it works perfectly with Sonar, has great keys, ample controller knobs and decent touch pads. They go for around $75 on Amazon. 

sharke
My first controller was a 25-key Akai MPK Mini - it works perfectly with Sonar, has great keys, ample controller knobs and decent touch pads. They go for around $75 on Amazon. 

I think I was looking at those and it was going to be the one until I realized the keys were smaller than standard size. Not being a keyboard player I figured that would be a bad idea due to bumblefingers.
 
If that IS the one I'm thinking of I believe it would have been a much better choice for me if the keys had been full size. I think I found a full size Akai offering (or one that was similar anyway) but it was considerable more so I went with the Oxygen.
 
I also would have preferred to get an Akai MPD (or MPC... whatever they call them) but again because of price bought the padKontrol which is kind of plasticy but the pads are great. The X/Y pad is an interesting feature too but it's a little weird to figure out and most definitely does NOT make throwing fills/flams into a performance as easily as intended. It will be cool for other weird effects though I think if I can get it mapped properly.