Piano Action, full featured controller at minimal price! Perfect from M-Audio (M-Audio Keystation Pro 88)

Member Name: McBeer

Product:	M-Audio Keystation Pro 88
Date:	23/05/09 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hammer action, vast amount of controls and adjustability

Disadvantages: none to date.

Not got room for a piano but want that feel? Maybe you just want the freedom for MIDI work and need those extra knobs, buttons and faders? M-Audio have pulled all of this out the bag with the Keystation Pro 88.

This MIDI controller has 88 full size and hammer weighted action keys. For anyone whos not aware, hammer weighted keys are the equivalent of how a piano feel, compared to many semi weighted keyboards. In my own time as much as I love to write new music via MIDI and vst instruments on the computer, Im also a big fan of the piano and wanted something which I felt would actually represent the real deal. Ofcourse, with pianos being thousands of pounds and very big in size, I knew they wouldnt be what I wanted, so I searched for this product.

Along with the great feeling hammer action keys, it comes with a big blue LCD screen, making it very easy to see exactly what you are adjusting.

There are 9 fantasic MIDI-assignable faders, which are perfect for mixing in any software for songs. There are 24 MIDI-assignable rotary controllers, making them perfect for any adjusting such as frequencys on EQ, filters and even volumes or auxillieries. Finally there are 22 MIDI-assignable buttons which are perfect for any solo, mute, EQ and even shortcut buttons. This makes this a very adjustable keyboard.

It also comes with presets for the most popular of softwares such as Cubase/Nuendo, Reason, Pro Tools and Logic!

This keyboard, with the price tag of £250, is a bit more expensive than the usual MIDI controller, but what do you expect for such a vast amount of control and features? For any starting, semi-pro or even professional musician or producer, its a great peice of equipment to have sitting in the studio!

Summary: Whether for playing or practising piano, mixing or mastering a song, or even writing. Its perfect!