M-Audio Axiom 61 Keyboard MIDI Controller

61-key velocity-sensitive semi-weighted action keyboard with assignable aftertouch

Overall User Ratings (based on 66 ratings)
  • Overall:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    1.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    2.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
(66) (see rating details)
Submitted July 11, 2008 by a customer from gmail.com

"Great when it works, but the support is horrible."

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
All in all, if it works and you don't have problems it's a good piece of equipment to have in the studio...but keep your fingers crossed because the support people at M-Audio don't have it.
Sound
Works fine for controlling other MIDI units. Touch response is decent. The extra control knobs, faders, and pads are nice.
Features
Loads of buttons, knobs, features, presets, etc. Works MIDI and USB.
Ease of Use
Works out of the box, but to get the most out of it you should spend some time on the website and forums to get presets and other nice functionality.
Quality
Mine broke after 4 months. D and G# keys stopped working through USB, and when plugged in via MIDI the controllers would not record in ProTools.
Value
As long as you don't have problems with it I suppose your fine. But if you have to ship it in, get ready for shipping charges at very least and if it does go out of warranty after 12 months...you then get hit with labor charges.
Manufacturer Support
Miserable excuse for support. When you submit a problem, they rattle off items from the Knowledge Base as if we can't look those up and perform them ourselves. And then when those have been exhausted, it's a 4-week turnaround for repair and the owner (YOU) have to pay for shipment both ways. Buy crap, get crappy service.
The Wow Factor
I'm pretty sure based on my experience with support I won't buy any more M-Audio equipment. 4-month old equipment shouldn't have problems and an owner shouldn't have to pay for shipping or labor to have it repaired if it does break.

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Country, Rock
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Submitted December 30, 2008 by a customer from tempoaryinbox.com

"Good Product for Great Price"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Great price; however, the keys stick once in a while. The touch is kind of awkward.
Sound
does not have sound
Features
This product has great features and gives me excellent control. I like how it's powered via USB.
Ease of Use
Once you get going with it, the Axiom is really quite simple.
Quality
It's okay... nothing too bad. As far as I've used it, it's pretty dependable.
Value
Great price.
Manufacturer Support
none needed
The Wow Factor
The features all appealed to me and made me want to get it. As far as aesthetics go, the Axiom is fairly good looking with cool rubber pads on the sides as walls.

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Electronic, Jazz Ensemble, Alternative
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Submitted March 6, 2010 by a customer from gmail.com

"I wouldn't suggest.... But its a good Midi."

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Useful at first but I'd rather have my $300 back and a better keyboard
Sound
N/A
Features
Useful for MIDI and USB. No real features, except for various knobs for MIDI really only useful for running it through a sound module. Which in comparison to just getting a synthesizer, is a deal easier to deal with.
Ease of Use
Fairly simple. Download the software and apply common sense.
Quality
After about 6 months of basically sitting in my room a knob came off and the pitch bend became less reactive.
Value
Your mostly paying for the software if you want the keyboard I would suggest getting it second hand from someone.
Manufacturer Support
Never had to deal with supposrt.
The Wow Factor
I'd be regretful selling mine to someone for 100$ but really it just gathers dust in my room.

Musical Background:

Keyboardist/Pianist, Guitarist, Bassist

Musical Style:

Rock, Alterative,
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Submitted November 8, 2006 by a customer from execulink.com

"great features , abismal keyboard quality"

Overall: 2.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
read above as per value
Sound
it doesnt have sound , therefore i wont comment
Features
a ton of features for midi control
Ease of Use
fairly self explanitory if you have basic knowledge of midi controllers. good documantation
Quality
the keyboard sucks really badley , spongy feel , not the slightest bit weighted but there again that is the same for most m-audio keyboards , only slightly better than the average korg synth keyboard.
Value
features are good let down by a cheap nasty keyboard , too bad i'd rather see it priced $100 more and a better keyboard ( READ: novation)
Manufacturer Support
no experience here
The Wow Factor
no i dont

Musical Background:

24 years of synth programming and production

Musical Style:

film scores , progressive trance
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Submitted September 22, 2006 by a customer from gmail.com

"It's a great set of keys/controllers for your home studio, what puts it over the top is the low price for so much functionailty."

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
This keyboard will always have a place in my mini studio, but I will probably buy another small controller without semi-weighted keys.
Sound
Aftertouche, you can set velocity, tons of controllers, nice feel to the pitch and mod wheels. Good control over your midi sounds.
Features
9x Sliders, 8x 360 degree nobs, 8x drum pads, came with a usb cable.
Ease of Use
Fairly easy setup with Enigma software (download free from M-Audio)
Quality
Unreal quality - it's the best build at this price you will ever find. It's got a solid feel.
Value
The Axiom 61 could have easily been priced higher. Way more features and quality than other manufacturers that are at higher prices.
Manufacturer Support
There are known problems with the driver (which you don't really need since the Axiom is class compliant--plug and play). But M-Audio typically is fairly helpful on the phone.
The Wow Factor
It's awesome for your home studio, but it doesn't have any sex appeal. I wouldn't flaunt it's looks at a live performance. But the sides are made of these rounded rubber pads with "M-Audio" carved in them - looks cool.

Musical Background:

home studio amateur

Musical Style:

electronic
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Submitted July 20, 2009

M-Audio Axiom 61 Keyboard Customer Review

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I've been pounding on this fella for two years and haven't had a thing go wrong with it. It is simple to use and easy to control. LOVE IT.
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Submitted August 22, 2007

"great piece"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
good product for the money definitly
Sound
lots of programming to curve sound to work the wat you want with your music application
Features
plenty of nobs for progamming
Ease of Use
fairly eay to use and program considering all that can be done with programming keys
Quality
could have been more solid
Value
best thing for your money in my opinion
Manufacturer Support
no need for it yet
The Wow Factor
could look better not bad
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