History Į-mu Systems was founded in Santa Cruz, CA by Dave Rossum, a UCSC student and two of his friends from Caltech, Steve Gabriel and Jim Ketcham, with the goal to build their own modular synthesizers. Į-mu was last based in Scotts Valley, California, on the outskirts of Silicon Valley. In 1998, E-mu was combined with Ensoniq, another synthesizer and sampler manufacturer previously acquired by Creative Technology. Founded in 1971 as a synthesizer maker, E-mu was a pioneer in samplers, sample-based drum machines and low-cost digital sampling music workstations.Īfter its acquisition in 1993, E-mu Systems was a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative Technology, Ltd. There might be some issues with the sustain pedal and pitch/mod wheels on the QX49, though.E-mu Systems was a software synthesizer, audio interface, MIDI interface, and MIDI keyboard manufacturer. It has synth action but then again it's a $200 keyboard (although you can get it for less online). And it's got loop/fwd/back/play/stop/record buttons that I don't even know what they are for.īut I do use the octave and transpose features.īut as a keyboard I'm happy with it. It has some advanced programming stuff that I haven't gotten into (setting zones, etc.). To be fair, I've only had the keyboard for a few months and really don't use the sliders or knobs much. That being said, I've emailed Alesis twice (once to ask if they know who makes a case for the QX61 which, like many MIDI controllers, isn't as deep as a normal keyboard with speakers, and is therefore too small for standard 61 key keyboard cases, and once to ask what sustain pedal they recommend) and didn't hear back from them either time. I did research before making my choice and saw a lot of people were saying their M-Audio stuff was breaking and customer service was non-existant. The QX61 has MIDI out as well as USB, and also a 9V power jack (although I'm not sure why because the USB to MIDI cable powers it just fine). The QX61 has the pitch and mod wheels to the left of the keyboard. The QX61 has 8 sliders and 8 knobs, the Oxygen 61 has 9 sliders and 8 knobs. Of course, the Oxygen 61 doesn't have pads. I chose it over the M-Audio Oxygen 61.īe aware, however, that the pads on the QX61 aren't very good. Whichever you decide, they are both great controlers with lots of options. It has everything the M-audio has PLUS a midi-out connector. If you really need a midi-out port, the Behringer UMX610 is probably your best bet. You can only connect the Oxygen61 thru usb to a computer. That means you cannot use an external instrument (like a synth-module). One thing to concider before deciding on a Oxygen61: The Oxygen61 even has transport controls like 'play', 'stop', 'record' and 'rewind'.Īt $181 it's also well within your pricerange. It has a lot of knobs to play around with, and you can use them to edit parameters both with a vst-instrument and Reaper itself. I have the M-audio Oxygen61, which is very good. The audio device has an ASIO driver, but that is only important for the transfer of sound, not midi information! With usb you cut-out one extra link to pc. I am basically taking US prices and adding some random extra cash to approximate UK prices cause I've heard everything is more expensive across the pond.Ĭonnecting a keyboard to your laptop is better with usb than with an audio device. it might be just out of reach budget wise though. The Novation Launchkey 61 is worth looking at too. I really don't see a reason to buy something new when it's got everything all the 'new shit' has minus drum pads and possibly transport controls(though most new controllers with pads will be out of reach for $199 anyway) 61 keys, 8 knobs, 8 faders, 99 channels, and all that other good stuff. If you really don't think it's going to be an issue, you may as well get a used radium 61. You're mileage may vary, but consider yourself warned ) It was fun for a little while but then it's just annoying and not worth the effort to spend time mapping everything to a knob that has no memory of where it was set in the first place. I never use the controls on my radium49 because it's just kind of toylike to touch a fader and have it throw the setting off in each session vs. That being said, I should mention that I personally don't see the point in non motorized faders. If I was in your shoes I'd get a budget "bare bones" 61 key now and a used behringer BCF2000 later. If you're willing to go down to 49 keys I think the samson graphite 49 looks pretty amazing for the price as well as the Alesis QX49. For those features in that price range the M-Audio Oxygen 61 seems to be one of the only choices (in my humble opinion).
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