What's A Good Midi Controller?, Oxygen8 or Ozone? usb or firewire? Options

[everybodysnobody]

I'm using a mac g4 with digital performer with the motu828, and i'm confused on what midi controller to get. Is there a midi controller out there that uses firewire instead of USB?

Does anyone have any recommendations as far as m-audio oxygen 8 v.s. m-audio ozone? I'm just really lost as far as what midi controller to get. I'd really like to get one with firewire capabilities or plugins, but can't seem to find one.

all advice welcome! Thanks!

[rickenbacker]

You don't need FireWire for Midi - it would be overkill, really. And I don't know what you mean by plugins onboard.

Anyway, with the M-Audio gear, the Oxygen 8 is cheaper but only has 8 controls. I think the Ozone has 10 or 12. And an audio interface. Which might not be necessary. Edirol do a nice range of controller keyboards, too.

[everybodysnobody]

thanks for the advice, i'm sorry, i didn't mean plugins as in plugins for the controller, wrong wording, I meant inputs/outputs. I've seen the Edirol keyboards, but haven't really checked into them a whole lot. Will definitely check into them a little more. So... just go with USB 1.1 or 2??? is 1.1 USB fine for Midi?

Thanks.

[drewmtb]

A g4 will only have USB 1.1 so even if it's a 2.x device it will switch itself to a USB 1.1 compatibility mode. Again a midi controller doesn't need to transmit very much data, USB 1.1 should
be more than fast enough.

I have an edirol PCR-50 and love it. It feels pretty good compared
to most of the other controllers out there in it's price range.

I hope this helps
Drew

[silsoe]

I've got an Edirol PCR-30 which works fine.

One thing I would think about carefully when buying controllers is size of keyboard.
Mine has just under 3 octaves which can be abit of a bind when I'm trying to be creative.
I guess its a trade off though as its far more practical for taking to gigs...

[everybodysnobody]

good advice guys, thanks! After looking at the Edirol's, I think I will definitely go for one, still determining which size tho, Portability seems nice, but more variation and room for creativity is enticing as well. One thing I am curious about the edirol's that I can't completely grab from reading about it online is.... Do they have different memory banks with effects or patches so to speak (i.e. - piano, strings, synth, horns, etc...) like a normal keyboard would?

[drewmtb]

The edirols are just a controller they don't generate any sounds on their own. You can use them to control many aspects of any sequencing program you use though which is very nice.


Drew

[nate d]

I'm a huge fan of the Oxygen8. While there are only 8 knobs (and a slider), there are multiple preset settings so you can assign the knobs to controls, go to the next preset, and basically have a new set of 8 controls. I forget how many presets it has.

A lot of people swear by the Oxygen8 in an Ableton Live/Propellerhead Reason setup. Especially with a Powerbook or iBook...it's small and very portable.

If you're looking to really write complex music with it, however, such as piano scores, it is a bit limiting since it only has a few octaves.

[Panopticon]

It's a little expensive for a MIDI controller, but the Korg microkontroller is SO sweet! I was playing with one yesterday at GC; and it had, far and away, the best look and feel of any dedicated controller I've come across. I would also probably guess it is built well...I have a few Korg synths on hand and have had no problems with them. It's a little pricey, so you might not want to go that route; but I was very impressed...

[annadyne]

hi there, psssstt,

ya might wanna check out the .......

Evolution
MK-461C USB

Flagship model for the Evolution line, featuring 9 assignable 35mm sliders, 12 assignable rotary knobs, 10 assignable buttons and 61 full-size touch sensitive keys.

i just bought one. haven't received it yet but i'll be glad to post a nice quickie review.

here's a link from the people i got it from - been doing biz with them for several years and they gave me a nice purchase price with absynth2.0 - no they did not pay me to plug them.

Evolution MK-461c USB midi kbd



i'm hoping that this, along with my motu 828, cubase, live, reason, max/msp, pluggo, metasynth, and all the other hoo-ha i've got crammed into my G4 1Ghz PB will make an excellent road studio as i travel back and forth between my studio and work.

not that you have to have all that software to make great music. truly.

good luck and watch for my review in the next 2 weeks....

elizabeth
'auracene'
secret orange star studio

motu 828 (2), g4 933 desktop, nord modular, eml 101, sh101, etc. reason, cubase, max/msp, etc