Korg ESX1 Electribe SX Music Production Sampler Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The user interface on this beast is stellar. Easiest to use and most interactive. Nice sounds, features, flexibility.
However, I have both an EMX-1 and ESX-1 and both relatively quickly developed data-knob jitter. Try to turn it up or down and it'll bounce the other direction intermittently. From some of the forums I find this is not uncommon. It's extremely frustrating and annoying. Korg will fix but they just replace the knob with another which will develop the same problem again. This is a serious flaw because it makes it unreliable for live performance. I do love this box but you'll have to hook up an external MIDI device to substitute for the data knob if you want to depend on it live. If it wasn't for that I'd give it a solid 5...

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Native Instruments Maschine 1.6 Groove Production Studio Review

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(More customer reviews)This is pretty much the coolest thing ever invented. Does more then stated on the box or the advertising material and is fairly easy to use. At the moment I have this and Traktor (NI's vinyl reproduction software) run through my studio. I create a beat or hook on Maschine upload to Traktor and I have custom vinyl. Seriously, a basic layout could take you 5-10 minutes with Maschine, and a full production could be done in as little as an hour or two (of course that is if you knew exactly what you wanted).
I did a tremendous amount of homework before I bought every piece in my studio and have been doing music (DJ, producing etc..) as a hobby for over twenty years (god I feel old saying that) and this is by far the best purchase I ever made next to my 1200s of course :p
The only "problem" I currently have with Maschine is that recording outside sources doesn't work. I have also never bothered to troubleshoot this, so it might be user error.

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Korg nanoKEY 25 Key USB Controller Keyboard, White Review

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(More customer reviews)The Korg Nano Series is, quite simply, among the most useful sets of tools ever produced for the COMPUTER... Let me say that word again: "COMPUTER."
I write, arrange and orchestrate music for a living. The nanoKey, in particular, is a lifesaver! It's portable, so I can stuff it into my laptop bag when I'm on the road. It works seamlessly with Finale, Encore and - my personal favorite - Sibelius (the "Big 3" of notation programs). It isn't as convenient for real-time sequencing, unless you've developed "the touch." It took me a while to get used to that, but I do play scratch tracks in Logic and Sonar, on occasion.
Anyone considering the purchase of this device should realize up front that it isn't really designed for stage performance, etc. It's best suited for computer entry. In fact, it's PERFECTLY suited for computer entry.
...and for fifty bucks it's WAY ahead of anything else!

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The nanoKEY is an ultra-compact keyboard controller, featuring a great-feeling 25-key velocity-sensitive keyboard that's ideal for song production. Each key on this USB-MIDI controller can also be set to send MIDI control data, further expanding its power.

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Novation Launchpad Ableton Live Controller Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned one of these for four months and have gotten a good grasp of its relative strengths and weaknesses. The Launchpad is a natural extension for Live's Session View. There is just enough visual information implanted on the interface for you to identify clips easily. The User1 User2 modes are great for a few MIDI triggers but lack any serious expression as the pads themselves aren't velocity sensitive. The mixer mode might be useful for some but I never touch it due to the limited resolution of expression and the immediacy required for their proper function (if minimalism is your goal in this department, seek the Korg nanoKONTROL USB Controller, Black). The saving grace, outside of its Session mode, is the user created software. The Launchpad has been transformed into a monome like device, a visual harmonic table, a step sequencer and a few other creative apps that are hard to describe in a concise fashion. When loading Live 8.1.1 (Vista) the Launchpad will sometimes not be detected and will need to be replugged into the USB port and Live restarted (it only seems to happen less than 3% of the time).
Physically the device seems sturdy 'enough' it has fallen a few feet onto a rug a couple times but I wouldn't call it 'road worthy' since it's still made of plastic. The pads have a nice soft rubber texture though kinetically clunky when being pressed dead center. There is a decent amount of give on the pads before it triggers but in practice it isn't a big deal especially without velocity sensitivity. The LED lights aren't entirely uniform in brightness and color. You might receive a unit with a few slightly brighter pads or ones that display more red but it's only noticeable when all pads are lit up of the same color.
I don't know of any other open grid interface device that comes close to its price which probably explains the $199 price tag. Regardless of the competition, the Launchpad feels more like a $100-$150 device (due to aforementioned limitations of the device). When all said and done, I would buy one again if I had to. There isn't anything on the market right now at this price for the utility you gain from having it. The Akai APC40 Abelton Performance Controller might be an alternative solution if you don't have any other control devices for Live and don't need its alternative functions or its minimalism.

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The compact Novation Launchpad is designed to give electronic music makers the most interactive experience possible in Ableton Live. Jointly designed by Ableton and Novation, Launchpad communicates bi-directionally with the software to give you real-time session feedback. With a multi-color 64-button grid and dedicated scene launch buttons, Launchpad can trigger and manipulate clips in Live as well as provides a totally new way of controlling Ableton Live's mixer. Launchpad's buttons can be used to sketch out beats with drum racks, and they can be assigned to other functions in Live using Ableton's Learn mode.
The device is bus-powered from a single USB connection, and has a ten-inch square desktop footprint. Rubber feet ensure Launchpad stays secure on the surface on which it's placed, and an optional padded neoprene travel sleeve is available. The Launchpad ships with a dedicated Launchpad edition of Ableton Live 8, but it can also control almost any other music software using Novation's award-winning Automap control software. It's compatible with both Mac OS and Windows operating systems.

Key Features
Launch clips and scenes: Launchpad's 64-button grid and dedicated scene launch buttons are ideal for launching and controlling your clips and scenes.
Innovative control over your mix: Including volume, pans, sends, track arming, soloing and muting. Launchpad lets you jump to different levels across eight channels at once.
Sketch out beats: Launchpad can be used to play drum racks, creating beats and triggering samples in real time.
Controlling other functions Launchpad can be used to control other functions using Ableton's 'Learn' mode. This includes Ableton's knobs and faders, which can be assigned to rows of buttons on Launchpad.
Multiple unit operation: Connect up to 6 Launchpads at a time. Expand your grid with multiple Launchpads, or have one Launchpad dedicated to mixer mode, and the other to launching clips.
Expand your Ableton control solution: Novation's Automap-enabled controllers work seamlessly together--a ZeRO SL MkII to control the mix, whilst Launchpad triggers clips.
Automap-enabled: Launchpad can control other DAWs and plug-ins using Novation's Automap control software. Automap can assign controls to software parameters on VST/AU/RTAS/TDM plug-ins by simply clicking on them, and touching a controller.
See what you're triggering: Automap provides a customizable heads-up transparent display across your computer screen. Ideal for seeing at a glance samples that you're about to trigger.
QWERTY keyboard shortcuts: Automap PRO, an optional upgrade available to purchase online, lets you assign almost any computer keyboard shortcut, and combinations thereof, to Launchpads buttons.
Old-school MIDI control: Utilizing Automap, Launchpad can operate as a standard MIDI controller, creating custom MIDI maps with 72 of its buttons transmitting either CC or MIDI note data.
Flexible trigger platform for Max MSP and Reaktor programmers: Programmers can utilize variable brightness and multi-color LED states to their full advantage when designing new and innovative tools in Max MSP and Reaktor.
Launchpad and Max for Live: Max is a visual programming environment that allows you to custom build instruments and effects. Launchpad can be used to control these instruments. For example, parameters on Max for Live's step sequencer can be triggered using Launchpad's buttons. Launchpad gives you a huge amount of visual feedback. Multiple colors and brightnesses across different buttons display visual information about whether the note is on, the velocity, note length, pitch, and whatever else you want to see.

What's in the Box Launchpad, USB cable, DVD-ROM with Ableton Live 8 Launchpad Version (Mac and PC installers) and 1 GB of Loopmaster sample content
Specifications
Physical Controls and Indicators:
64 (8x8 grid) square multi-color backlit buttons
8 round multi-color backlit system buttons (assignable)
8 round multi-color backlit function buttons (not assignable)

Connectivity: USB 1.1
Mac system requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or later; Intel Mac or G4 and higher processor
Windows system requirements: Windows XP or Vista; 1.5 GHz or faster processor; 512 MB of RAM (1 GB recommended)
Dimensions: 9.45 x 9.45 x 0.79 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 25 ounces (1 pound, 9 ounces)

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Akai MPD26 USB/Midi Pad Controller Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Where to start !
Ok the basics, This product boasts a lot of features, and for anyone who has dreamed of owning an MPC, but cant afford it this is a great alternative.
Straight out of the box this item looks good, its solidly constructed, and just looks cool.
It comes with a copy of Ableton Live LITE, which honestly is not worth using, it is very limited in what you can do and to take advantage of the MPD you really need the features of the full version.
When it comes to installation it couldn't be any easier, plug in the USB cable and away you go, the only other thing you need to do is set up Live or whatever program you are using, its just a case of selecting it from your midi devices section in your program preferences..
Once I had this set up I was already to go, or so i thought, I found that LIVE's preset instruments wern't all that great for the MPD, however after searching on the net i found some cool videos on youtube that show you how to set up preset settings in LIVE which work really well.
The next thing i found was that there was quite some delay when i would hit the pad compared to when i would hear it, which was very annoying, it made trying to time things right near on impossible, after a little more research i found out what the problem was, it is the latency, which is determined mostly by the quality of your sound card and its drivers. There is a fix for this that worked brilliantly on my setup, and on a mates who purchased the MPD 18, you need to download ASIO4ALL a simple google search and you'll find it.. This has got my latency down to near zero and i can no longer feel any delay at all.
Now that I finally have the MPD set up the way i like, and all my little hardware bugs sorted, I love this thing, It's mad addictive, and I find myself getting lost in the mix and time just dissapears.
In conclusion, this product is fan-freakin-tastic... For the price of this compared to the MPC it is definetlly worth it, Although all MPC owners out there will tell you how it is nothing like an MPD, the truth is it does everything an MPC will do but you need the computer set up in a way that allows you to do it... Im sure they will all disagree, I personally think they're just a pissed that they spent so much on something that you can do with the MPD for a fraction of the price.. Obviouslly there is the downside that you cant just pick it up and take it to a gig without having ya pc with ya, but for recording / beatmaking this thing is great.
Although it was a little tricky getting all my presets sorted, once that was done its sweet.


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The MPD26 is a MIDI-over-USB pad controller with genuine MPC pads. It's perfect for producers, programmers, musicians and DJs. Its blend of intuitive MPC controls and technologies meshes with easy USB connectivity to bring the feel of classic beat making to the world of computer music production.
A MIDI-over-USB pad controller with genuine MPC pads. Click here for a larger image

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Akai XR20 Drum Machine Review

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(More customer reviews)I sent my XR20 midiclock, balanced its levels with some other gear, and voila! Amazing results. Funky, groovy, sounds awesome through my Korg KP3 Kaoss pad. Cool modes on this machine, too: it plays bass and synth. And one-shot FX. And there's tons and tons of samples--and you can switch drum kits on the fly. And you can switch patterns on measure boundaries only! Which keeps live jams with it from running out of control. And it does fills. And it sounds great. AND it has a microphone input, which means that I can send my voice into it! And it looks awesome. And the user interface is really well designed. And it's small. And it runs on batteries. And and and and and...

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Create beats wherever you roam with the Akai XR20 Beat Production Station, perfect for making hip-hop and R&B wherever and whenever inspiration strikes. The XR20 features sounds of standard and electronic drums, single (one-shot) hits, bass and synth sounds to easily create the maximum mix in minimal time.
More than 700 pre-loaded sounds cover a range of drums, percussion, effects and instrument samples, while an integrated effects engine includes Reverb, EQ and Compression, enabling users to make complete backing tracks. Plug in a microphone and mix vocals with your beats. In Pattern Play mode, you can trigger different patterns from each pad, so you can tailor the beats to flow with the energy on-stage. Bright blue pads light with the beat to illuminate your performances as you light up the club. The XR20 runs on wall or battery power, so it's flexible and portable.
Key Features
Over 700 sounds produced by Chronic Music
99 preset patterns and 99 user patterns
Backlit LCD
Bright, glowing, backlit pads that follow the beat
Microphone input and headphone output
Pattern Play Mode -- different patterns can be triggered from individual pads
Drum Roll / Note Repeat feature for realism and expression
Battery power capability and AC adapter

Specifications
Inputs:
One 1/4-inch mic
Two 1/4-inch footswitch
One MIDI

Outputs:
One 1/4-inch stereo pair (main)
One 1/4-inch stereo (aux)
One 1/4-inch stereo headphones
One MIDI

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Akai Pro MPK mini Review

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(More customer reviews)If you have spent any time reading the reviews of the LPD8 and the LPK25, rest assured you can apply them to this product as well. The MPK Mini is literally a combination of the LPD8 and LPK25; nothing less and nothing more. Which is a great thing if you've been considering both!
This is my first MPC product but I am an experienced keyboardist. The Pads are pretty nice. I enjoy how they light up when you hit them. Like others said regarding the LPD8, they aren't as sensitive as some might prefer, and I'm inclined to agree. It tends not to register some of might lighter hits, so I'm having to get used to how hard I have to hit it. No big deal. It's also nice to have the knobs. They aren't as nice as professional grade knobs, but they work nicely for such a compact unit. The keyboard has mini keys and they are very sturdy. Some complain that it feels like a toy keyboard. Of course it does, they are mini keys! The keys are fine for their purpose of capturing ideas. I do not consider them performance worthy.
For those comparing this to other 25 key midi controllers, please know what you are comparing. There's a reason this is $100. It's simply a combination of two other products. Don't complain about the lack of pitch/mod wheels. The purpose of this product is portability and to allow you to capture ideas when you don't feel like lugging around larger equipment. For these reasons, I find it to be an excellent product.
Definitely pick this product up if you're looking for something extremely portable with acceptable mini keys and very playable MPC pads.

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Novation Nocturn 25 USB MIDI Interface Keyboard Controller, 25-Keys, NOCTURN 25 Review

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(More customer reviews)The general concept of the Novation Nocturn series is that you have a responsive MIDI controller that is less expensive because a lot of the display parts and intelligence are handled through Novation's AutoMap software. AutoMap can be great, but it can also be very frustrating if the mappings for different devices aren't up to date, and Novation has a poor reputation for keeping their mappings current (in particular with Reason).
I originally had an Akai MiniMPK, which worked great, but wanted something a little larger, so I figured that the Nocturn 25 was just the ticket and only a bit more expensive (and still less expensive than the MAudio Axiom Pro 25 or the Akai MPK25).
It showed up, I installed it, and everything seemed fine, until I tried to use the drum pads. The drum pads under Windows were sporadically responsive, sometimes they'd show up, sometimes they wouldn't. I tried calibrating them, and AutoMap never registered them. Hmm. This is on a Mac Pro 2008 running Win 7. On a hunch, I booted into OS X...and they work perfectly.
So it's not a hardware issue, it's software issue, and one with their drivers. According to another user on the Novation forums, he reported this a year ago and support claimed that they were aware of the problem and 'looking into it'. Non-functioning drum pads on Windows would seem to be a fairly significant issue.
Support hasn't responded to me in 3 days, so I'm guessing they're not going to address this, at which point I'll need to return this. Disappointing since I'll have to spend more money.
Overall I give it 2 stars. If you're solely an OS X user and can live with the Automap quirks, it's probably a 4 star product, but if you use Windows, one of its major features may or may not work for you at all.


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Alesis SR18 Drum Machine with Effects Engine Review

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(More customer reviews)I had the SR-16 and out of all the drum machines I ever owned it was the most user friendly so when I noticed the new SR-18 I had huge expectations, basically this is the same machine but they have made some very weird changes, my first complaint is you have to save every single thing that you do, they took this to the point of being completely ridiculous,every single edit you make must be saved I am not kidding. and then something weird; I noticed that whatever tempo you decide to play a pattern in it is automatically saved, one of the least important things (to me anyway) so now every pattern has it's very own tempo, that just seems strange to me, one thing I liked about the SR-16 was when you wanted to change the length of a pattern you were give the option of taking bars off the end or the beginning, the SR-18 is like every other drum machine and you can only cut off the end, the SR-16 also had an output to dump all of your data onto a tape or cd (or whatever you prefer) so then you never run ot of memory, The SR-18 does not have this cool feature either,the sounds are good,lots of cool presets but drum machines still have a very long way to go before I will get too excited, I thought this was supposed to be an upgrade. ?

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The next-generation Alesis SR18 drum machine is loaded with cutting-edge drumsets, electronic drums, one-shot hits, and modern percussion sounds--from hip-hop to country and everything in between--for any cutting-edge musician's performances and compositions. It also offers an effects engine with Alesis reverb, EQ, and compression so you can output recording or performance-ready sounds. And Alesis' exclusive Dynamic Articulation feature enables a drum sound to change its tonal content as it's played harder--just like an acoustic drum--for truly realistic performances.
You can plug in an instrument, such as a guitar, and play along for setup simplicity. You can play in bass parts using the pads on the SR18 or connect a MIDI keyboard for fast, musical low end. The SR18 can be powered by AC or batteries for on-the-go composition
Key Features
Large, 32 MB sound set with percussion bank and bass synth
Over 500 drum and percussion sounds and 50 bass sounds
Built-in Alesis effects: reverbs, EQs, and compression
Pattern Play Mode enables different patterns to be triggered from the pads directly
Programmable Drum Roll function
Mute/Solo Function: mute drums, bass, and percussion or individual pads
Flexible wall (adapter included) and battery powering (six AA, not included)
Backlit LCD
100 preset patterns, 100 user locations
12 velocity sensitive pads
Tap tempo for instant beats exactly as you want them

Dynamic Articulation Discerning ears will notice that each sound is actually a series of different samples; multiple dynamic-level samples and articulations are all built in so as you play harder and softer, the drum or cymbal changes its timbre, not just its volume. This engineered realism is known as Dynamic Articulation, an Alesis exclusive.
This results in sounds that respond accurately not only to dynamic changes, but also with the appropriate timbral and color changes you'd expect from their acoustic counterparts. You can play with or without reverb for different room sounds and enjoy a wide variety of rimshots, rim clicks and different stick-placement sounds on the cymbals. The Random Sample feature also ensures you don't get the same sound twice for further creative realism.
Specifications
Sound set: 32 MB, multi-sampled
Polyphony: 32 voices
Inputs: 1/4-inch instrument (guitar)
Outputs: 1/4-inch stereo pair, 1/4-inch TRS, 1/4-inch TRS stereo headphone
MIDI: in, out/thru
Footswitch: two inputs - start/stop, count/A/B/fill

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Roland SP-404SX Portable Sampler with Effects Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a really cool effects device for the price. Although I was able to figure out the basic functions without reading the manual I eventually had to break it out in order to learn how to use this device for my purposes. For what I plan to use it for this is plenty powerful enough and at half the price of the SP-555 it is a great deal. Better yet, this model can run off 6-AA batteries and has a built in mic. Granted, I tested out the built in mic and it sucks compared to connecting a real microphone to the unit but at least it has one. Also, this can support up to a 32GB SD card vs. the 555 which only supports up to a 2GB CF card. Again, 2GB of storage for both of these devices will store a tremendous amount of samples but it is nice to know I have options. Have I mentioned that this is less than half the price of the SP-555? It really depends on what features you will be using the most. For a mobile and club DJ like myself, this has everything I need to make my DJ drops and add special effects to many of my samples.

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CAKEWALK Dimension Pro Virtual Synthesizer Win/Mac Review

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(More customer reviews)I started with Dimension LE bundled with Cakewalk Home Studio 6 XL, but upgraded to Pro when they ran an upgrade deal. The more I use Dimension, the more I like it... it's now the primary synth in my virtual rack. Free upgrade sound packs and a software update are available on the Cakewalk web site, be sure to download. The grand piano is particularly striking, as are all the string patches in the Garritan Pocket Orchestra; very realistic sounding.
The manual is pretty weak in terms of describing how to create new sounds beyond the presets (there are whole books available on that topic), however the synth is capable of quite an array of sounds and includes a large number of built-in effects that can be chained together. The envelope generation editors allow envelopes to be applied to just about every facet of the sound module; thus using the included analog waveform samples (saw, square, etc.) you can actually make some pretty interesting analog synth-style sounds; check out some of the presets to see how this is done.
So right in the box you get a very nice sampler synth, that also can be programmed like an analog synth using raw waveform samples and the effects/oscillators, capable of stacking up to four samples at once each with separate envelopes and useful effects, that is even capable of firing MIDI sequences/loops as well, with MIDI controller/note mapping any of the settings in the patch... this is pretty much a "work horse" synth.
As a result I find I reach for Dimension as my first choice when adding a virutal synth. It's simply a great, versatile, all-round synth with a huge library of presets (counting the free downloads something like 8 _Gig_ of samples!) and an amazing amount of control to find that perfect sound. The user interface is indeed a bit daunting, so I would probably recommend getting one of the books available on Amazon if you want to dig deeper than the presets (of which counting the free addons must be around 2000 or so presets).
It may not be the perfect sampler synth, or the perfect analog-sound synth, or the perfect loop player... but it does a very decent job of all three of those with a high degree of controllability for the musician, so it's quite a nice "1-stop shop" once you get to know it.

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Dimension Pro combines real instruments with advanced synthesis. This two-DVD sound library has over 1500 sound programs, with tools that are ideal for preset addicts, while its deep editing and sound generation capabilities should appeal to sound designers. It offers n abundance of sounds that range from pristine realistic acoustic instruments, thumping basses, cutting leads, to complex, evolving atmospheres.Multi-stage effects sections and filters -insert and send effects for each part including -Bit reducer and Decimator 16 filter types; 5 tone drive modes; 3 stackable parametric EQs; 6 delay types; 3 chorus types; LFO filters; Autopan Room simulation and modulation effects Mix and layer up to 4 stereo parts per program Vector Mixer for real-time sound morphing - morph sounds by gliding between the different elements of a program Drag-and-drop MIDI into host applications for groove manipulation

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Akai MPK 49 Controller Keyboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First of all, the pads DO suck. MPC's are known for their pads so you'd think Akai would at least be able to put the same type of pad/contact design on their MPK line. Instead they put a bunch of pads with no play that feel like buttons and make the keyboard housing vibrate when you pound them. On top of that they placed the contacts so far away it's damn near impossible to get 127 velocity on the pads without going Full Level. Even my LPD8 feels better than this thing. And even though they look like the MPC1000 pads, the 1000 pads are twice as thick as the ones here. I would have loved for them to have put the 1000 pads on this. At least then I'd be able to play back a chopped loop without feeling like I'm dialing a phone number.
The best part of the controller is the control surface. The transport keys, knobs, and sliders feel great. The LCD screen looks great.
Something unique about the controller is that it has built in MIDI settings that mimic classic MPC functions (16 level, MPC swing, note repeat). Too bad the pads keep you from fully enjoying these features.
The keys are decent but slightly noisy because they vibrate on release. The controller is also one of the few 49 key controllers out there with aftertouch. I prefer the lever-like feel of the Axiom when it comes to using aftertouch but the keys here are not a dealbreaker.
There's also a simple arpeggiator you can use. It's fairly simple in that there are only 5 settings you can use to separate notes in a chord. If you've used a more sophisticated arp (like the one on a Yamaha KX8), you'll be disappointed though.
The MPK is a good controller but Akai could have done way better than this. If you're using this for the keys and control surface it's a decent investment. But if you're thinking of buying this for the pads so you can drum and play back chopped loops, get an MPD instead.

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More than just a USB/MIDI controller, the Akai MPK49 USB/MIDI Controller Keyboard helps you maximize your musical ideas on-stage or in the studio. It combines a high-quality, 49-key, semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch and 12 genuine MPC drum pads. It also offers 48 total accessible pads via 4 pad banks, and you can control up to 72 different parameters via 24 assignable Q-Link knobs, faders, and buttons as well as optional footswitches.

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Music Maker 16 Review

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(More customer reviews)The new Music Maker 16 comes with really cool new sounds and effects. For me the guitar amplifier Vandal se is the absolute highlight on this software! Furthermore I like the new option to play the instruments via the pc keyboard, with this I can play around and try some new melodies, if there is no midi keyboard close at hand.
5* because it is easy for beginners and extensive for pros (pros should have a look at the premium version of this software)!
Cheers

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MAGIX Music Maker 16 turns making music into a real experience. Easily get started and make your own exciting songs from scratch! Use practical info videos and numerous support options to develop your own musical style right away--without any prior skills. Thousands of sounds, realistic instruments, and great effects to create explosive drums, crunchy basses, and super melodies--simply get started in the world of music production.

Newest features to make your own sound
Sound archive with about 1,500 Sounds & Loops The new sound package features new loops and samples from every musical genre, e.g. rock, pop, dance, hip hop, disco house, techno, chillout, ambient, film music, minimal electro, and many more! Over 1,500 professional sounds provide the ideal basis for your sound experiments.
All sound building blocks can be combined without any problems and adjust automatically to the current song tempo--this ensures that you'll always be on the beat to let you concentrate completely on making your own sound.
Vandal SE: Top-quality guitar sounds With Vandal SE, the authentic guitar and bass amplifier, making music becomes a real experience.
Thanks to unbelievable sound fidelity and plenty of effects, your own songs become real hits with fantastic vintage sounds--that makes discovering new sounds a blast.
Helpful learning tools Music programs often seem so technical and complicated that the fun of making music is usually left out. With MAGIX Musik Maker 16, it's a different story: To ensure a seamless start, you may request support starting from the very first step!
The useful Infobox and the new interactive training course help you get to know everything about the program in the shortest space of time. Simply switch it on by clicking it and learn even more about making music during the process!
Get professional audio effects With the new essential FX effects series, any sound can be changed quickly and easily. Effects like chorus or flanger make exciting tones and real sound design a reality. Get the sound of the pros on your own PC--without any prior skills or technical knowledge.
Play any instrument right away with your PC keyboard Get started right away with the new version--play and record all instruments directly via your PC keyboard. Recording your own melodies, basses, or drums and mixing them into your own songs is even easier now!
Practical tools To make your own recordings easier to edit and perfect for your own music projects, every loop and sound can now be cut sample-exactly and positioned perfectly in the song with the object microscope. The object inspector also enables all settings and adjustments to be made directly in the Media Pool, which makes working with sound objects easier than ever before.
Simplified export dialog Exporting a finished song or video is even easier now, since the new export dialog provides a clearly laid-out list of the most important export options!
Transfer your own songs to your MP3 player, cell phone, or post them online on MySpace, YouTube and even on your own website in minutes!
Easy-to-use music composition software
Create your own music: It's easy
1. Select soundsPreview and select sounds in the Media Pool--or import your favorite songs from CD or MP3 and use them in your own song project.
2. Combine themAll sounds and loops can be easily cut, edited, copied, and arranged into your own song.
3. Mix themEasily add effects, vocals, and adjust volume with the new mixer.
4. Publish itExport the songs you create as MP3s, burn them to CD, or publish them on the web.

Easy mode If you want, only the most important areas will be shown to make it immediately clear to you so that you won't have to wait too long to make your first songs!
PLUS! Practical help videos that help you make music like the pros in the shortest time possible.
Over 1,500 Sound loops and samples
Sound archive The new sound package features new loops and samples from every musical genre, e.g. rock, pop, dance, hip hop, disco house, techno, chillout, ambient, film music, minimal electro, and many more! Over 1,500 professional sounds provide the ideal basis for your sound experiments.
All sound building blocks can be combined without any problems and adjust automatically to the current song tempo--this ensures that you'll always be on the beat to let you concentrate completely on making your own sound.
What are loops? Loops are audio building blocks that are edited so that they play over and over without interruption. Melodies or drums are often played in loops to repeat multiple bars.
With an audio program like MAGIX Music Maker 16, slightly different loops can be combined to create your own songs. That's how you can make your own hits in record time.
Virtual instruments: Drums, Keyboards, Strings and More
Virtual Instruments MAGIX Music Maker 16 offers ultra-realistic simulations of real instruments like acoustic guitars, electric guitars, electric basses, bass, drums, grand pianos, electric pianos, power chords, synth bass, and much more
Thanks to the professional sound engine from Yellow Tools, making music with real sounds becomes an acoustic experience!
Get into the details when you want to The practical MIDI editor enables melodies to be simply drawn in and changed! You'll also receive more exciting synthesizers like LiViD, the first-class virtual drummer.
NEW! Play any instrument right away with your PC keyboard
Music Mixing and Sound effect solution
Mixing & effects Use the integrated studio-quality effects to get the most out of your smash hits!
Mix your music like a pro: All of the tracks can be adjusted to suit each other with the integrated mixer, and a click adds enriching real effects--that's how to make your sound brilliant, pumping, and crystal clear! TIP! Thanks to numerous effects and templates, which have been provided especially by pros, it's easy for everyone to find their own perfect sound.
Vintage Effects Suite Vintage effects provide even more possibilities for your own sound!
Make music with a personal touch--thanks to typical effects for any musical style. Numerous professional effects templates make using the Vintage Effects Suite child's play, and exciting results are produced quickly.
Sound effects and custom guitar sounds
Top-quality guitar sounds With Vandal SE, the authentic guitar and bass amplifier, making music becomes a real experience.
Thanks to unbelievable sound fidelity and plenty of effects, your own songs become real hits with fantastic vintage sounds--that makes discovering new sounds a blast.
Audio effects: essential FX With the new essential FX effects series, any sound can be changed quickly and easily. Effects like chorus or flanger make exciting tones and real sound design a reality.
Get the sound of the pros on your own PC--without any prior skills or technical knowledge.
Great all purpose sound editing solution
Music for videos, photos, websites, and much more MAGIX Music Maker lets everyone add their own unique polish to their work, without prior skill and without long learning period. You'll create perfect slideshows, video clips, and much more.
Who wouldn't like it? Hollywood-style cinematic sound, made by you and perfectly tailored to all of your needs. The songs you make will turn your own videos and slideshows into a unique experience.
TIP! Anyone who is already familiar with MAGIX photo and video software will be able to get started with MAGIX Music Maker quickly and easily.
Export your sounds and music to any source
Export and publish Find new listeners quickly--who doesn't want that? Publish songs directly on the web, transfer them to an MP3 player, and create your own demo or album CDs. Everything is possible with one click.
Feature your own songs online on video portals like YouTube or NEW! MySpace--directly from within the program.
Online extras Catooh--the Online Content Library is the online sound archive. Whatever you're looking for--drum loops, instruments, vocals, or sound effects. Direct connection to this massive sound library supports every song idea with the right material. Special tips about audio software are available at magix.info.
magix.info--the Multimedia Knowledge Community: Quick and direct answers to all of your questions about producing music: Simply write the question into the text window and submit it online--you won't have to wait long for the answer!
Fully compatible with Windows 7 MAGIX Music Maker 16 has been tested for operational conformity and functional security in Windows 7.
The advantage: If you switch to the new Windows operating system, you will be able to continue to use this product as usual.

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Korg nanoPAD USB Drum Controller, White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had really looked into the other reviews before buying this. I use Toontrack EZDrummer with various EZX's in Cubase and FruityLoops.
First off, the design is fantastic. The size is great not only for little studio spaces but also stages but also just makes it fun and inviting to play with. The touch pad is a great idea too and with all the midi mapping possibilities you can't really feel limited by having "only 12" pads.
The pads, as other reviews should note, are responsive all around and offer pretty good velocity detection, plus they have customizable velocity curves. The problem is that they are not made to last, not in the slightest! I ignored this when other reviews noted dead pads, and even getting dead pads after exchanging their unit for new ones. Don't make my mistake. I have two absolutely unforgivably sticky pads on mine that refuse to play two notes in a row. Dreadful. While I'm glad mine aren't dead per se, try playing for more than a minute without being able to play two kicks or high hats in a row. They may as well be.
I would recommend this to anyone willing to take a chance on it because it's a Korg. (I did... oh well.) If yours is flawless, sell it to me! This thing is really fun and the Korg Kontrol software is great too. If you have trouble with installation/detection you may need to run midifix which erases bogus midi connections from your registry. Hope this helps someone.

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Apple Logic Express 8 Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This update erases all Logic 7 voices and provides a new set of improved tones, although some needed instruments have been dropped (an '80's Yamaha DX7 electric piano, e.g.). If you cloned your hard drive before the upgrade, and with a lot of work, you can import most of them back as 'Performance' channel strips, including the old 'Ubiquitous DX'. No guitar sounds can be imported from Logic 7 so all guitar tracks must be reconfigured. Despite the incredible amount of work it takes to properly transfer Logic 7 files using internal sounds into Logic 8, I still give this upgrade the highest rating. However, I won't upgrade Logic Express anymore unless Apple makes the transition process much easier.
Apple dropped the price of Logic Express by $100 with this version 8 and wants $100 for this upgrade from Logic Express 7 owners! If Amazon didn't offer it for a much lower price, I never would have bought it.

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Logic Express 8 gives musicians everything they need to write, record, edit, and mix. It delivers the same innovative production tools as Logic Pro 8, including full notation, 24-bit/192kHz resolution, and Quick Swipe comping. A beautifully redesigned interface consolidates all windows into a single, efficient workspace made for musicians. Make music right out of the box with 36 instrument plug-ins from Logic Studio, including Ultrabeat drum machine, EXS24 Sampler, and ES2 synth. Shape music productions with 70 effect plug-ins from Logic Studio, including Guitar Amp Pro, Ringshifter, and full-featured Pitch Correction.

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Touch-Sensitive Digital Drums with MP3 playback and Instant Recording / Looping, Cymbal Choking Features. Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this electronic drum kit about 2 months ago. At first I thought it was great, I liked the layout, then I noticed some serious deficiencies that would make this unit much better.
First off: One pedal stopped working and I can't find a replacement.
Second: The unit has many drum sets but none of them can be user defined.
Third: The lower right pad is always pre-defined as a bass drum, which is a waste of real estate with a bass drum pedal in use. Rendering that pad almost useless, making an 8 pad kit a 7 pad kit for me.
Fourth: the sound from the speakers is rather tinny (probably can't be helped). I primarily use it with headphones and the sound quality with headphones is excellent.
Fifth: The aux input is great, the SD Card feature is very glitchy.
I'm most likely going to retire this kit and if I buy a new one I'd invest in one of the YAMAHA kits which allow you to create your own pad assignments.
All in all, I gave I rated it a 2 for these reasons.... kinda disappointed.

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iDrum 1.7 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a good piece of drum software but not great. I like the way you can assemble drum kits from external wavs. Pattern editing is pretty easy and intuitive. But what I don't like is that they don't separate drumkits from patterns/songs. Which means your patterns are basically bound to the drumkit. If you want a separate set of patterns, then you have to save as to a new drumkit and create your patterns there. But what if you want to just change an instrument in your drumkit? Yep, you have to go to each saved drumkit and do them individually. If they were to separate the patterns from the drumkits, I'd rate it higher. But there aren't that many alternatives for simple drum machine software so I guess they have no motivation to improve.

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Make Your Own Beats: Want to make your own hip hop and dance beats? iDrum adds the missing ingredient to your music creation: a powerful and easy to use drum machine. It's just as simple to use as the hardware drum machines of yesterday with all the flexibility and cost savings of a software-based virtual instrument. Powerful Beatmaking Tools: Drum comes with hundreds of pre-programmed patterns, rhythms and drum sounds for you to mix and match. The new Song Editor mode makes it a snap to assemble your composition even if you never sequenced before. Create drum patterns in iDrum right alongside your existing tracks, perfectly in time, or use iDrum to provide the backbeat when you're laying down new tracks. Create Custom Drum Kits: iDrum will load sound files as drum samples, making iDrum's sound palette limited only by your sonic imagination. You can even download more kits quickly and easily with iDrum Sound Portal. iDrum also features an array of sound-shaping tools like filters, pitch control and envelopes, letting you create custom drum sounds at the click of your mouse. iDrum works Standalone or with most professional host applications! Use iDrum seamlessly with GarageBand, Logic, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, SONAR, Cubase, Digital Performer and other host programs. Supported plug-in formats include: RTAS, VST, Audio Units and MAS. Whether a beginner or a professional, iDrum is your new beatbox.

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