What is the best 61 note controller....that has a great synth keybed feel and many switches etc ?

A good question. I currently have 2 kbs which- between them- more or less work for me: M-Audio's Evo 461C, and a Yamaha P-120. The 461C has more faders/controllers etc. than I'll probably ever want, but the action is just awful, it feels like a little plastic toy. The P-120 has (for my money at least) a fine hammer feel. So, running virtual instruments through Sonar/Kontakt, I use the Yamaha for anything percussive, including of course pianos & organs, and the M-Audio for emulating voices such as violins, trumpets, or e-guitars, where I want to bend/slide notes and don't require a resistive touch response.

This works ok for my little home studio. For a single, roadworthy, "do-all" controller, I would look at the Roland A-37 (because Frank L. swears by it) and I'd like to try some of the Edirol boards, if I could find any locally.

Michael

Anyone try the Roland A37
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLA37

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 10-04-2005).]

Yes, the Roland A37 works for me and has for years without a hitch. Keybed feels ok, etc.

If you want more without voices/instruments included look at oberheim/viscount.

If you want more and don't mind paying for voices/instruments then some of the workstations will work, e.g., Kurzweil, Roland, Yamaha, etc.

[This message has been edited by Frank L. Rosenthal (edited 10-04-2005).]

... good example .. you convince me !

:-)

Cheers


[This message has been edited by Booby (edited 10-04-2005).]

Are there any other 76 key controllers other than Roland A-37 and the CME UF 7?

Possibly the Novation X-Station 61. I use the 49-note version and it's the handiest keyboard I currently own. The X-Station is a VA synth with built-in effects, and a MIDI/USB controller and audio interface. I like the fact that the knobs have real-world functions/names instead of generic designations like "S1". And the keybed feel is outstanding. A laptop and an X-Station is a complete portable studio.

Don't forget the Novation ReMOTE 61 which is the same as the X-Station 61 without the VA Synth or sound card features. (ie get that if all you need is the controller function.)