First Impressions: M-Audio Axiom 49

[dolivas]

Finally got to try out this controller yesterday. First off the thing that should be noted about this keyboard is how hefty it is. It's not like the very lightweight controllers of yore. Second thing is that this keyboard by far has the best keys and feel of any controller I've tried before. The weighted action isn't overbearing and the actual keys and pressing of the keys feels very natural... plus it has very very realistic aftertouch. Third thing is the backlit big LCD screen which definately helps out when you're trying to do CC editing or any other kind of MIDI task requiring you to change a setting on the keyboard itself.

The installation of the keyboard itself is non-existant to be honest since it's class compliant and doesn't require any driver disks unless you have Windows 2000 and below. Thats a GOOD THING. Bad thing is that you would expect to get the Enigma editor (M-Audio's preset midi manager) included in the M-Audio install disk that comes included. I had to go to M-Audio's site and download their editor just to save or upload the original presets they talk about on this keyboard. The presets themselves are awesome if you have the plugins like the GForce Oddity, TimeWARP2600 etc.. plus they give you a very cool Reason premap that makes most of the editing to be done afterward a breeze. You get a preset for using Subtractor, one for Malstrom, one for the mixer, etc. Midi mapping for the stuff without Presets like my fave plugin daHornet synth can be done through control mapping and that itself is pretty easy and responsive with this keyboard.

Caveats about the mapping would be that the knobs do have unlimited encoding which means they keep on turning without you reaching a point where you cant turn them but it seems some of the plugins didn't respond as swiftly to the turn of the knobs as you would expect causing you to turn that knob a near 60 degrees before the knob on the virtual plugin moves. However on the fader sides... the faders are killer you can map them behave like organ faders to go from up to down, which is great for organ vsts or you can use them regular-style to control the mixer faders. They are very responsive and move in small increments that are realistic increments, unlike some faders which you are moving halfway up the pike and they are still near the bottom the virtual fader line or all the way up the pike at the end.

The Axiom 49 also has 8 velocity pads for use. They are feel very good to play and are in fact quite responsive to touch. If I barely tap one of the pads I can hear a very faint synth/drum sound on whatever Im using it for. It's very cool to be able to have such pads to trigger drum samples as you play a pad or a lead on a synth or sampler.

All in all this is probably one of the best and most unique controllers on the market right now. I just have to try the transport controls and see how those work as well.

[johnS]

Wow. Great post. Thanks, Dolivas!

Here's a pic, for the curious:

[mikegee]

partial quote;

The Axiom 49 also has 8 velocity pads for use. They are feel very good to play and are in fact quite responsive to touch. If I barely tap one of the pads I can hear a very faint synth/drum sound on whatever Im using it for. It's very cool to be able to have such pads to trigger drum samples as you play a pad or a lead on a synth or sampler.


very cool product review!

say, can ya tell me; regarding the 8 velocity pads, you can assign them to a different soft synth than the keyboard keys simulataneously? so it operates like more than 1 midi controller for multiple soft synths at the same time? i would like that totally... that WOULD be cool

[dolivas]

Originally Posted by mikegee

partial quote;

The Axiom 49 also has 8 velocity pads for use. They are feel very good to play and are in fact quite responsive to touch. If I barely tap one of the pads I can hear a very faint synth/drum sound on whatever Im using it for. It's very cool to be able to have such pads to trigger drum samples as you play a pad or a lead on a synth or sampler.


very cool product review!

say, can ya tell me; regarding the 8 velocity pads, you can assign them to a different soft synth than the keyboard keys simulataneously? so it operates like more than 1 midi controller for multiple soft synths at the same time? i would like that totally... that WOULD be cool

yeah in practice you can do. one of the presets for Reason allows you to, if you have Redrum open, play a synth and then use the pads to trigger Redrum drum samples seperately. I would believe it's some sort of virtual MIDI split function it has that allows it to do that. I really haven't explored that aspect of it too much to say that's a definitive yes but in practice I've been able to do it so far in Reason. That "feature" I imagine should transmit correctly to other applications.

[mikegee]

Originally Posted by dolivas

yeah in practice you can do. one of the presets for Reason allows you to, if you have Redrum open, play a synth and then use the pads to trigger Redrum drum samples seperately. I would believe it's some sort of virtual MIDI split function it has that allows it to do that. I really haven't explored that aspect of it too much to say that's a definitive yes but in practice I've been able to do it so far in Reason. That "feature" I imagine should transmit correctly to other applications.

thnx for the info! thats a very useful feature, indeed.

[dolivas]

Just to update this review I have explored that drum trigger pad feature a lot more recently. What you can do is assign those pads to seperate channels and to specific notes. For example you would have the C1 key being note 36 assigned to Pad 1 and have it trigger Redrum drums.

If you're smart you can assign certain virtual instruments to just one pad and one specific note and have like a little quick one-shot triggering mechanism while you play the main part on the keyboard. It's a nifty little feature I am using more of now. Also since the keys have aftertouch if you have violin or strings sounds you can do quavering string sounds, and vibrato just by applying more pressure or less after the key. All in all a great controller for the money. Only thing it is missing though is Breath control (if u want that) and some easy way of setting up the transport controls.

[zicky]

Can anyone tell me why, lets say I'm creating drum pattern, and using the Axiom as a midi controller, then I'll go to another track, and try to play along with let say "Colossus" or something, the notes would get stuck, and I would stop hearing any sound?


Thank you
Fadedjean Productions

[controlphr33k]

This is where Axiom users (first-timers and power-users alike) are coming together:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/M-Audio_Enigma/

Tutorial docs in the files section, lots of help in the message archives, ask any relevant question you want.

-cF

[ConceptionsForFuture]

I am using the ESI Keycontrol 49 and its a terrible feeling. If you push a key, you will hear a loud plastic sound coming from the key. The keys are also waggly. I don't want to buy again a bad keyboard. Can you really say that the M-Audio controller has a good feeling?

[dolivas]

Originally Posted by ConceptionsForFuture

I am using the ESI Keycontrol 49 and its a terrible feeling. If you push a key, you will hear a loud plastic sound coming from the key. The keys are also waggly. I don't want to buy again a bad keyboard. Can you really say that the M-Audio controller has a good feeling?

Hello. Just speaking personally the keybed on the Axiom is one of the best on a MIDI controller I've tried. The key action is semi-weighted though which if you're strictly a synth enthusiast would provide too much resistance than what you're accostumed to. The keys are very solid and full sized keys in every way as a regular piano key would look and feel. Keys are nice and quiet as well..