Best Keyboard and Controller (Ableton) for the value. (Reasearching for purchase)

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

Best Keyboard and Controller (Ableton) for the value. (Reasearching for purchase)

Hey everyone. First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope all of you are enjoying it! Now, I have a few questions. I am planning on investing on a keyboard (midi or not) and controller for Ableton. I was wondering if anyone could give me any recommendations in terms of the ones with the best value in several price ranges ($100-150, $151-200, etc). I was looking at mainly the Akai MPK 25 (apparently I cannot find the 32 anymore and the 61 seems pricy) for the keyboard

In terms of the controller I am pretty set on the APC 40 unless someone knows of a better one for a similar or cheaper price.

Your thoughts? Thanks!

2

M-Audio Oxygen 49 can do both.

3

The APC40 is a really good choice. Especially since it is made specially for Ableton you probably won’t find anything better.

For a midi keyboard I would suggest not too spend too much money. I even do most of my recording with a korg mini keyboard when I want to lay something down quickly. Just pick one that has enough keys for you and doesn’t have real shitty build quality. There are also keyboards with rotary knobs and all that extra, but I don’t think you need that when you are also getting an APC40.

4

Akai APC40

Akai Mini mpk

370×320 74.3 KB

most definently … great controllers

5

I read some bad reviews on the build quality for the mini MPK.

I sohuld note that I am planning on using both the keyboard midi and the contorller to produce (mainky use the APC to control my stuff in session view to control and record to arrangement view.)

Later down the road i may use the apc for live use. I am jsut forcusing on production now.

thanks!

6

Another good bet is a Korg microKontrol. Can be picked up in Europe for around 150 euro second hand, which should translate to 150 USD.

You get good build quality, 37 keys, some faders and encoders with LCDs AND a 4 x 4 grid to tap in your beats. Can’t go wrong with that one…

7

Is it better to get a mini MIDI keyboard for production or is it better to get like a full MIDI keyboard?

8

hahaha i like the way you think. im sitting around my house with my family thinking what am i gonna blow this christmas/birthday money on…

decision made. lol

9

the way who thinks?

huh?

what is going on?

10

Gian! He’s saying he likes the way YOU think! Cause he got a lot of cash and stuff for Christmas and did not know what to buy, now he’s going to buy production tools as well!

11

how so? i mean i see how u can probably configure it so that the faders and knobs control ableton, but what about actualyl activating each sound and such on ableton (like the many buttons ont he aPC40 does)?

12

update: so wat about this.

a slightly used mpk 25 for $150 ($250 new) and get the apc40 in a few months for my bday.

Would that be a better deal then the m-audio oxygen 49?

How do the build quality compare as well as the overall control of ableton with them (mpk 25+apc 40 v. m audio oxygen 49)

thanks!

13

bullseye coldfuzion, gotta love new toys. its either the APC or the Novation Launchpad, havnt completely decided yet. i mean im gonna end up puttering around guitar center for atleast an hour trying to make a decision anyways. god i love that place.

14

apc 20 ! is 136

note mode lets you get the sounds you want.. especially if you dont need the classic look of a piano octave.

apc 40 with NATIVE KONTROL templates is pretty bad ass

15

i got my mpk 25 for 100 bucks on ebay. these things are built like tanks and have an amazing amount of control for the price. I would highly recommend this. I played with the mpk next to the m audio stuff (axiom/oxygen) and the action of the keys is much better and having the twelve pads is extremely handy.

16

Gian, i just picked up the MPK Mini. the thing is dope. ive only had it hooked up for like 20 min and its fantastic. only 100 bucks too… now i gotta decide if i want the APC 40 or the s4 for my birthday.

i fucking love new toys

oh btw, i know youll appreciate this. guess who i heard on the radio today while i was at work…

17

I have the MPK25 and it’s a nice machine. Love it to death. The pads on it suck ass though, but since I also have the MPD24, it didn’t bother me as much as it might have bothered others.

18

Apc 40 for ableton controllerism OR Novation launchpad+bcr2000

Keyboard: oxygen 49. Your making hip hop? If not, pads are not necessary

19

@sm00sh thanks for the info, seems like its good to buy used!

@djnesquigs I have heard about some build quality issues in the short-long run for the mpk mini. Also, im guessing its eithe rPOrter Robinson or skrillex? Sucks that nearly no radio station in MIAMI (of all places…) plays electro house or any good edm. The most I ever here is ghosts n stuff and some guetta…

@swiftninja - Not makig hip hop.

@Sano Insano - What exactly dont u like about the pads compared to those on the MPD?

thanks for the replies. As ofnow Iam between the MPK25 and the Novation 25SL MKII (leaning towards the mpk25 though…)

Here is the Novation 25SL a friand of mine extremely recommended.

http://www.novationmusic.com/us/products/midi_controllers/sl_mkii

since it is a lot more expensive (400$), I will not be able to get an APC 20 or 40 for several months, then agian now that I think about it I do not think I will need the APC (YAY FOR RESEARCHING!)

thoghts?

20

this was brought up in the fbook ableton group chat

korg microkontrol

http://www.korg.com/product.aspx?pd=511

methinks itll be my next purchase…

edit: already have an apc40