M-Audio Hammer 88 MIDI Keyboard Controller, 88-Key

Get natural grand-piano feel for your virtual instruments with the M-Audio Hammer 88, an authentic hammer-action, fully weighted MIDI keyboard controller.

Overview

The M-Audio Hammer 88 Keyboard Controller is a premium, no-compromise keyboard controller, ideal for professional, semi-pro players or students seeking the realistic grand piano feel to use with virtual instruments or sound modules. At the heart of Hammer 88 are 88 velocity-sensitive, fully-weighted hammer-action keys that are guaranteed to faithfully capture every subtle nuance of your performance, while providing the unmatched response of a traditional grand piano-classic feel fused with the unrivalled sonic capabilities of virtual instruments. It's the perfect combination for performers and producers to experience their plugin collection like never before.

Expressive

Put expression center-stage with Hammer 88, thanks to a core range of controls, thoughtfully positioned to complement and enhance your performance. With a unity-locking pitch wheel and a separate modulation wheel, add portamento and glissando effects, or map the Mod-Wheel to any assignable parameter in your virtual instrument collection to reshape and evolve your sound on the fly. With the dedicated Master Volume Fader, you can instantly control the intensity of your performance or MIDI map this to any compatible parameter in your DAW or virtual instrument collection for expanded, hands-on control. Use the assignable Up and Down buttons to select different programs, effects, MMC messages, jump between octaves and more. Add some pedal-based performance articulation using the three dedicated inputs for… read more Sustain, Expression and Soft. With Hammer 88's performance-centric feature-set, expressing yourself has never been so easy!

Outboard Control

Don't limit yourself to your computer-based virtual instruments! Take control of your studio equipment with Hammer 88. With its conveniently-located 5-pin MIDI Output, you can send all MIDI information to any compatible peripheral device, including hardware synthesisers, sound modules and drum machines. With Hammer 88, it's easy get the most out of your external sound generators. This is a controller designed from the ground up to place you firmly in the driver's seat.

Seamless Integration

An instrument shouldn't limit your creativity, it should enhance it! Hammer 88 is USB-powered, class-compliant and supports USB-MIDI connectivity for rapid, hassle-free setup that lets you focus on what's important - your performance. Plus for iOS enthusiasts, Hammer 88 supports seamless connectivity with the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (sold separately), enabling you to perform and compose with audio apps on your iPad and other iOS devices.

Features

- 88 fully-weighted, hammer-action keys
- USB-MIDI connection for playing virtual instruments, controlling recording software and more
- 5-Pin MIDI output to trigger external MIDI devices
- Pitch bend, modulation, volume and - controls for expressive performances
- Multiple keyboard zones for layering, splits and 4-note chords with a single key press
- Inputs for Sustain, Expression and Soft pedals
- USB-powered, no power supply required
- No drivers required, supports plug-and-play connectivity to your Mac or PC
- iOS compatibility using the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (sold separately)
- Multiple keyboard zones for layering, splits and 4-note chords with a single key press
- Clean, professional editing with included Hammer 88 Controller Editor
- Power adapter (optional) for stand-alone use
- Includes Music Rest

Included Software Package

- Ableton Live Lite, a powerful music performance and creation software
- AIR "Mini Grand" Acoustic Grand Piano
- AIR "Velvet" Vintage Electronic Piano Instrument
- AIR "DB-33" Tonewheel Organ Simulator
- SONiVOX "Eighty Eight Ensemble" Authentic Piano Instrument

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.p65Warnings.ca.gov.

Specs

- Keys: 88, velocity-sensitive, weighted keys
- Octaves: 10
- Connections: USB port, sustain pedal, soft pedal, expression pedal, MIDI Out
- Dimensions: 11.9" x 5.0 x 55.9"
- Weight: 38.5 lbs
- In the box: 1m USB B to USB A cable, User Guide, Software Cards

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Base Item: Shipping Weight: 43.75 lbs; Shipping Dimensions: 62 x 15 x 8 in; Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): Hammer 88

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 401-658-5765

Reviews

(7 ratings)

Submitted October 24, 2018 by William A in Bogota, NJ

"Very nice piano controller"

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.

I used to have a Yamaha KX-8. This is quite close in action to that controller, and much more road worthy. Since I will be touring soon, I needed something robust to bring on the road. However, I am quite impressed with the features of this controller. The action is quite good, and much better than I expected for the price. The "preset editor" does a good job of letting you adjust the keyboard for your tastes, and requirements, and I've already made significant changes after only a day of ownership. There are three controller inputs: two latch type controller inputs: one for a sustain pedal, and one for a soft pedal, but you can assign any MIDI CC controller to either input, as well as an expression pedal input, which can also be assigned any MIDI CC controller. There is a "master volume" fader on my front of the keyboard, which you can also assign to any MIDI continuous controller. You also have the ability to move up and down octaves, directly from the front panel. There is a pitch bend wheel, which most of the other piano controller do NOT have, and an assignable continuous controller right next to it. Again, most piano-type keyboard controllers do NOT have these, so they are a very nice added bonus, and let's me keep this on my studio desk as my only controller. I'll probably sell my Nektar LX88+ plus controller now, but may keep it as an extra for touring purposes. There is a MIDI out port, for any older gear you might have, as well.It also has up to four zones you can use… read more to trigger different sounds in a live setting, which is required for many of my compositions to be played live. The transposition features are wide, and should satisfy almost anyone.The one thing I wish you could do is draw your own velocity curves. Perhaps M-Audio will include that ability in a future update. Otherwise, I'm very happy with this purchase.

Musical Background:
Professional musician and composer

Musical Style:
Rock, progressive rock, jazz, classical

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