Midi keyboard that's compatible with Windows 7...?

I am looking for a keyboard to input midi into Sonar 8 PE. I currently have an old Roland D-20, but it's too big and I can't use anny buttons of it in Sonar. I want a keyboard with something like 49 keys and lots of buttons and knobs that can control various functions in Sonar.

Problem is: I use Windows 7 64 bit and I discovered almost all keyboards aren't compatible with W7 (Behringer, M-Audio, etc.). Anyone knows a good keyboard (not too expensive of course) that will worj iwht W7 64 bit?

Edirol and Sonar are close friends ;)

True, but the Edirol keyboards are a lot more expensive... and I hate the mod 'wheel' (where you have to push the pitch wheel): it's like that on the D-20 and it's one of the reasons I want another keyboard. Size is another thing: the Edirol keyboard with 49 keys is almost as huge as the D-20, it seems. The Behringer UMX 49 is what I want, really, but it's not Windows 7 compatible... so I am told.

The Novation SL MKII series should work for you... I have the zero, but with keys it's also nice :)
Oh...need to amend my sig...also using Win7 64 now....

I'm curious -- in what way are the keyboards not compatible with W7 (64-bit or otherwise)?

If you connect the keyboard via midi in/out to a midi interface, then the issue would be with whether or not the midi interface has W7 capable drivers.  I must be missing something.....

--Larry

@doctorweir: I already found the Edirol keyboard a bit too expensive... the MK11 costs more than three times as much as the Behringer...!

@larrymcg: you've got a point there... I guess you need drivers for all buttons to work...? I have no idea really... I only read a view posts on the internet saying people couldn't get it to work with W7...
I indeed intend to simply connect the keyboard to my Edirol FA-66 and that's it. Maybe you don't need a driver at all indeed! Maybe you only need a driver when you want to use the software that comes with the keyboard...?

Hm, interesting... Wonder if anyone can tell me more about that! I am afraid I can't test the keyboard: I have to buy it online and then I will be stuck with it. Anyone here who owns the Behringer UMX 49and has it connected by MIDI to an audio interface without installing drivers?

EDIT:
Just had another look at the keyboard: it's got an audio interface... I suppose you need the driver for that! So maybe it DOES work if you simply attach it to another audio interface... It would really be nice if someone could shed some light on this! ;)

hellogoodbye,  I've taken a quick look at the UMX49 controller and the FA-66 interface.  I'm no expert, especially on these devices, but what I think I saw was:

UMX49 is a midi controller, it has no built in sound generation capability (i.e., it is not a synth).  It's only connection to a computer is via USB where it implements midi IN/OUT.  It does not have specific midi IN/OUT connectors so you must use the USB connection.  It does have a midi OUT which, I believe, outputs a copy of the midi going out on the USB.  The midi OUT connector is for driving a separate midi module, for example, a midi sound module or synth.
I have no clue what the Behringer documents mean by the USB/Audio interface.  I don't think the UMX49 has any audio generation capability.  It is strictly a midi controller.

FA-66 -- looks like a real nice midi and audio interface.  Maybe the UMX49 USB can be connected to the FA-66 but I wouldn't think so.  So the FA-66 might only be useful for connecting your microphone to the computer.

I'm guessing that the Behringer midi driver provides access to all the buttons and facilities of the UMX49 via the USB/midi connection.  Behringer lists two midi drivers.  The one specifically for the UMX series of controllers is listed for WinXP systems.  They also have a more generic midi driver that is listed for WinXP and Vista systems.  I think Vista drivers are OK in Win7 but I don't really know and the generic version of the driver might not give all the access you want to the UMX49.

If you have the FA-66 working on your Win7 system then I would suggest that you find a midi controller with explicit midi IN/OUT connectors and hook them up to the FA-66.

Maybe someone with real experience with these two devices will come along and give you definitive information.  I'm hoping the info I've provided will guide you in understanding the UMX49 and in finding what you really need.

--Larry

Wow, thanks for taking the time to dig into this, Larry!!! :)
Well, clearly the UMX49 isn't something for me! I indeed really need a controller with explicit MIDI In/OUT...! So, I will have to look for another controller... Any tips anyone...? Preferably in the same price range... ;)

Thanks again for helping! :)

Actually I meant Novation Remote MK2 products...these go via USB and provide a Midi interface themselves.
As you mentioned you wanted lots of control knobs :-)
http://www.novationmusic.com/products/midi_controller/sl_mkii 

You can have it in flavors of 0, 25, 49 or 61 keys. As compact as you need it...

And with Automap, drivers are always up to date. As mentioned, works well for me in W7 64.
Cheers.

Hm, I just had a look at that Behringer manual, and it says you can use it in standalone mode, in which you only use the MIDI out to whatever you want (sound module, etc.). Seems after all it IS possible to use it for midi input without having it connected to a computer and so (I guess) without having drivers...

There MUST be someone out there who owns this keyboard and uses W7! Let me now, please! ;) All other keyboards cost to much for me, I am afraid...

I don't own one but I think the situation is that the midi OUT contains the midi stream generated by playing the keyboard and moving sliders and tweaking knobs, etc.  That's exactly what a midi controller is designed to do.
--Larry

Here's a suggestion:  Start another thread in this Hardware forum and make the subject line explicit about looking for information about the Behringer UMX49 controller.
--Larry