MIDI Controller

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6629 Location: Minnesota

I'm looking for an entry level MIDI Controller to use with Cubase Elements 6.

I have ZERO knowledge of MIDI or how it works, so I'm totally green to this stuff. Any suggestions on where to start?

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

M-Audio Oxygen 25. It's the first one I ever got and it's about $99 now everywhere. It's really cool for recording.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12253 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

the behringer is the best one on the market imho. I have collected 3 over years and this is the best I have used.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/behringer-fcb1010-midi-footcontroller

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6629 Location: Minnesota

I dont know how that is going to help my programming in Cubase but than you for reading the title of my thread and nothing else. Lol.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12253 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

Graunke wrote:

I dont know how that is going to help my programming in Cubase but than you for reading the title of my thread and nothing else. Lol.

youre right. I didnt read Smile

hahaahah I saw midi and not the controller part. Sorry. carry on. Razz

Joined: 06 Jul 2011 Posts: 122

Assuming you are somewhat comfortable playing keys, the suggestion of the M-audio or similar device is a good one.

If you are like me and keys are not part of your skill set you might find that the device is more of a barrier than assitant. You need to know how to use the tools before they can be helpful - my keyboard is used soley to send real time modulation info and controller data to my synths.....almost never for composing the actual notes. I have become somewhat capable of playing my computer keyboard for simple chords and basic drum/bass line patterns. And don't over look the power of the 'step-entry' option for entering data.....works a charm for drums!

If you are into keys and capable...then ROCK ON! If you are not a keyboard player, trying to capture the feel and dynamics is real difficult.....I found I ended up doing as much (if not more) re-programming of the MIDI when I used a keyboard as opposed to manually creating the MIDI track.

I find that alot of folks get down on midi because the choir you spent so much time programming ends up sounding like an mp3 of kazoos! Lots of folks accuse the midi and then give up....the real culprit is your synths (and the default responses they can have to midi messages). If you find good synths and learn how to interact with them, MIDI becomes a friend indeed.

Good luck with it...MIDI can be a real bitch sometimes but it is only through effort we learn anything new. If there is any interest, I'll post my cover of 'Diary of a Madman' when it is done - Everything is MIDI except the guitars! Trying to make those string and choirs sound real has been much more difficult than the actual MIDI notes.

Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2976 Location: UK

MIDI controllers can be super inspiring. My favourites are the Akai MPK mini, which has a small keyboard and MIDI programmable finger pads which you can MIDI sync with a drum rack and physically play and record loops in, or use a sample and play in effects and audio cuts/slices.

Or anything M-Audio.

What kind of size are you looking for key-wise?

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6629 Location: Minnesota

I was thinking of 49 key at the most, unless I find a great deal on a full size that I can use dobule duty and begin to revisit my old piano days.

Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 2902 Location: Norway

The Akai MPK49 is great. I'm planning to get one myself next paycheck.
In classl we use M-Audio Axiom 49 Pro's. Those works great aswell, but personally i find the Akai better. It just feels less cheap, and the keys are more comfortable imo.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

M-Audio has an Oxygen 61. You can assign anything you want. I am pretty sure you can assign the faders to faders in your DAW which would be super convenient.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/m-audio-oxygen-61--usb-midi-controller

Novation has a 49 key which is really nice but it's like $350. Akai makes nice stuff as well. I think the M-Audio will be the cheapest that is quality made, after that the sky is the limit.