USB woes/MIDI

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 5:40 pm

Hi,

Wondering if anybody knows of a reasonably priced, but GOOD quality USB keyboard/controller? After a few months with a MidiMan Keystation49, it seems to have gone south, with factors pointing towards it's USB port: are there any USB key controllers out there worth buying, or are they all 90 day investments we'll have to replace...

thanks,

Jay
PlugHead Productions

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:00 pm

Howdy

I've been liking my Novation Remote 25 for the past couple of months...

...until they came out with one that has audio as well. But still...its really quite good.

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 6:23 am

A controller will not be obsolete for a long time as it does not have any internal sounds. Pick one that has the keyboard feel you want and then look at the controller features such as pitch bend and modulation (wheels or levers), knobs and sliders, etc.

Peace,

Uncle Bob

:p:

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 8:47 am

Howdy

Yeah, that's a really good observation, Uncle B. I still see people using KX88s 20 years after it was released (wow).

I should've initially what features PlugHead needed for his controller. Do you need audio? Lotsa knobs and sliders with memories? How many keys?

I'd still probably recommend the Remote 25...

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 2:57 pm

i think you got a lemon plughead.

I'm really not into the controller thing, simply because I don't do a lot of sophisticated MIDI stuff. But I am still tempted by the MPD-16. I guess you don't have a warranty?

Do you have a MIDI interface? If so get a good keyboard controller, instead of spending money on the USB port on one of those newfangled thingamabobs. That's if you don't need the knobs and have a spare MIDI port.

mitz

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:54 pm

Howdy

I've been tempted by the MDP-16 too. A friend of mine has one and he swears by it for doing drums and SFX. Plus, the thing is TINY...I really dig that.

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:34 pm

Quote:

Originally posted by mitzelplik:
i think you got a lemon plughead.

I'm really not into the controller thing, simply because I don't do a lot of sophisticated MIDI stuff. But I am still tempted by the MPD-16. I guess you don't have a warranty?

Do you have a MIDI interface? If so get a good keyboard controller, instead of spending money on the USB port on one of those newfangled thingamabobs. That's if you don't need the knobs and have a spare MIDI port.

mitz

Warranty is 90 days on the Midiman crap - that's why I ask - is there any other USB solutions, or are they all cheap? I was wondering about getting a small MIDI/USB patchbay, but heard MIDI can be problematic with hubs/adapters - just don't know what to do with the laptop (portable studio). The main room has serial adapters (GeeThree stealth) on the G4 for MIDI (64XTC): MIDI's not a big priority for me there, but the laptop is (was Mad

) designed for running MIDI/softsynth pre-prod., as well as commercials/edits. Was working fine till the 49 went south - i would rather buy a solution once, rather than a bunch of times with plastic crap... That said, I was also hoping for a "portable" controller - don't need all the knobs/whirlies, just solid and compatible with PT. But if the only "real" controllers are non-USB entities, so be it - as long as connections work consistently thru USB (and their adapters :s: )

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 6:58 am

Take a look at the Fatar controllers. Industrial strength and road worthy.

Cool

In a past life I was in the NORAD Band, we went to White Horse a couple of times.

Cool

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 8:11 am

Howdy

I can't run MIDI on a USB hub with my G4 PowerBook. Fortunately it has two USB ports so that's not much of a problem. But I can see that would suck if your laptop doesn't have 2 ports.

Which PowerBook are you using?

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 8:20 am

Quote:

Originally posted by Nate Tschetter:
Howdy

I can't run MIDI on a USB hub with my G4 PowerBook. Fortunately it has two USB ports so that's not much of a problem. But I can see that would suck if your laptop doesn't have 2 ports.

Which PowerBook are you using?

Ti550 - 2 USB ports...

thanks,

jay

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 2:54 pm

i don't have any good solid solutions for a USB keyboard plughead, because like I said I'm not into the cute-little-USB-controller mode yet (I'm still tethered to my desk). But you can get a 1x1 USB MIDI 'dongle' like these:
http://www.edirol.com/products/midi.html

That'll turn any MIDI keyboard into a USB MIDI controller. Those USB MIDI thingies all seem pretty cheap to me. A good USB MIDI keyboard controller should be in the same price range as a good regular MIDI controller. Having said that, they're cutting corners somewhere. A 90 warranty proves it.

mitz

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 3:55 pm

Quote:

Originally posted by mitzelplik:
i don't have any good solid solutions for a USB keyboard plughead, because like I said I'm not into the cute-little-USB-controller mode yet (I'm still tethered to my desk). But you can get a 1x1 USB MIDI 'dongle' like these:
http://www.edirol.com/products/midi.html

That'll turn any MIDI keyboard into a USB MIDI controller. Those USB MIDI thingies all seem pretty cheap to me. A good USB MIDI keyboard controller should be in the same price range as a good regular MIDI controller. Having said that, they're cutting corners somewhere. A 90 warranty proves it.

mitz

mitz,

I'm with you 100% - I would much prefer a "real" keyboard; I still use my Roland FP-8 piano as a controller at the studio - i don't need bells and whistles, just simple, effective communication to and from devices into a computer - I don't need knobs and shite...

The catch-22 is I'd go for a "real" controller - 'cept I can't access MIDI due to adapter issues - OK then, I'll just get a "good" USB controller - wait - there's NO SUCH THING...

I am sick of "consumer" crap touted as "pro" solutions. I have an arsenal of perfectly good "serial" MIDI devices - now I am expected to get rid of them, upgrade machines that no longer use serial, and in it's place have USB ports that only connects to "new" devices, and of those, there are no real quality items that can connect to the computer.

Fed Up! Mad

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 3:58 pm

[quote]Originally posted by G-Dub:
[b]

In a past life I was in the NORAD Band, we went to White Horse a couple of times.

Wink

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 5:30 pm

Ok, Whitehorse.

More than thirteen years ago,(showing my age)I was discharged in 1979!!!

Surprised

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 10:54 pm

[quote]Originally posted by G-Dub:
[b] Ok, Whitehorse.

More than thirteen years ago,(showing my age)I was discharged in 1979!!!

:p

I gig regularly with a great trumpet player (from the RCMP band) now ret. for 6 months( at 56). I sometimes wonder what life that'd be - fishin, relaxing, time off galore... I imagine I'll HAVE to keep giggin till the day I die the way things are going... Rolling Eyes

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