Alesis Photon X25 USB/MIDI Keyboard with Audio

Feature:
The templates arent to usable for the synths in Reason. Similar buttons are mapped to different layers. Too much togling back and forth. Its kinda sucky like that, at least for me.

Quality:
The keys feel way better than M-Audio's do. Only Novations higher up SL series feels better. The Alesis knobs also fell WAY sturdier than the M-Audio stuff. Overall very solid and well built. Not crappy feeling.

Value:
Great value if it works with your setup, worthless in my case.

Desirability:
Like I said, best bang for the dollar IF it works for you.

Sound:
Works well on my tower with no issues. BUTT, (thats a big butt) my Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop for some Reason, cant power this particular keyboard via USB and the Battery power drained right down so I had to suffer the expense, and worse, the inconvenience of another cable (power supply). Also, the audio would squeal out high pitched sounds that I couldnt use whenever the laptops disk drive spun. So, the audio i/o was basically useless for me.

Ease of Use:
The thing went into melt down from the low power conditions when connected to my (kickass) notebook. USB is rated for 5 volts but this units power supply requirements is 6 volts, also four C batteries at 1.5 volts, equals 6v total. So, I dont understand this. Although, again it does work on my tower PC. Anyway, the thing had to be reflashed as per Alesis website instructions. Really the whole thing was a PITA and sucked up half my Saturday for nothing. I needed this to connect to my notebook so Im going to return it. I wish it worked. becuase its the best for the money, no doubt. If it worked that is. Ease of use? Yea, right.

Support:
Some support, but I shouldnt have needed it. I felt like a Alesis tech when I was running thier flash upload utility.

Overall:
Just didnt have any luck, I guess.

Feature:
Has everything I was looking for, but I wish Alesis made a power supply appropriate for this controller. I hate relying on batteries when I can't get a USB 1.1 connection.

Quality:
Never had any problems with the keys, but the controller assignments are sometimes flaky. A few times I've tried to turn a knob and gotten gibberish on the display, with no CC data sent. Changing the CC value makes it work again, but this kind of unreliability is unacceptable for performance if you need the knobs. I have had problems with the pitch bend and mod wheel calibration, this is a known issue and Alesis offers a recalibration guide on their website. Having to recalibrate my controls about once every two months is a drag. The USB audio/ASIO is unusable for me; routing WinAmp through the keyboard sucks 40% of my CPU. I've tried ASIO4All in several configurations, but it's still a CPU drainer in every application. Will never route an audio signal through this device, nor will I recommend it.

Value:
If everything worked as it should, it would be worth the price, but instead I get 25 keys, some unreliable controls, and useless audio capabilities. I wish I'd gotten a Photon 25.

Desirability:
Looks like a toy IMO. The light-up controls don't appeal to me, but everyone I know likes them.

Ease of Use:
Not difficult. Learned to program presets without having to read the manual.

Overall:
An intro-level MIDI controller compact enough to take on the road. If you're willing to take the time to learn to deal with its quirks, it's not bad.