Doesn't make any sounds...

This is what it is, a great, inexpensive controller. The semi-weighted keys feel great and it performs well. Could use a power supply...

It was a surprise when it arrived, looked and played great.

Can't get a better deal on 88 keys.

M-Audio is great with updates, etc.

Looks great in the studio

Active Musician, Studio owner

Christian music, jazz, acoustic, etc.

This keyboard is a MIDI controller. That is, it has been designed for use with a computer or other MIDI capable device. Therefore, it can sound every bit as good as the source of your MIDI sounds. I use the m-Audio keystation 49e with Garageband and Logic on my mac, and have found that a controller like this one expands the possibilities of music creation exponentially!

Anyone thinking about purchasing this keyboard would do well to consider adding a sustain pedal and a keyboard stand to their order (if you don't already have one!) And don't forget about the MIDI cable! The volume, pitch-bend and tremelo sliders are really nice for adding expression to the sound. On smaller keyboards (49 and 61 keys for example) the octave +/- comes in quite handy. However, at least with Garageband, I have never found any use for the "advanced function" button

On any reasonably modern Mac, this keyboard couldn't be easier to use - simply plug it in with the MIDI/USB cable, fire up Garageband and it's ready to go! The only thing is that this keyboard can't generate any sounds of its own, so it has to be used in tandom with something that CAN, like a computer. But Garageband comes with lots of MIDI tone generators, and most of them sound really good!

Lightweight and portable, this is a great keyboard to use at home, in a studio, or for gigs on the road. Practically ZERO setup time, with just the one cable to plug in. It IS fragile, though... unfortunately, mine took a spill off a table while still connected to the computer and never worked again (I used mine for four years without a single hitch). So BE CAREFUL not to drop it, and it will treat you well.

I voided any shred of a warranty when I brought my busted keyboard to an independent, local repair guy, and it STILL didn't work. So if you ever do need to get a repair, have it done by m-Audio!

Very sexy! Knowing what I know about the MIDI tone generators of Garageband and Logic, a controller like this one opens up limitless possibilities for the creation of original music - no more loops!

Active Musician, Band Leader, composer/arranger, amateur recording engineer/producer

Tango, Electronica, Jazz, Salsa, Blues, Funk, Hip-Hop, Rock, Classical, Contradance

no sound

no controller knob, the idea suddenly lost because no instant knob and should edit w/software not hardware. Better edit w/knob manual hardware

very easy, usb only.

so far is no prob

it is worth to my expectation, 88keys and cheap better than to the other items

so far is no prob

ok design, the color is like a new millenium

digital music recording, active electone player

any kind

Doesn't have sounds it's just a controller

Features it has are all I need.

Works as expected

It's sufficient

Great price!

Don't know. Haven't had to deal with anyone

Useful for anyone with a DAW and sound software.

Hobbyist,

Everything

I feel bad about rating the features with only a 5, because the only reason I bought this controller is that it is the only 88 key controller that doesn't cost a fortune due to the extreme simplicity of the design. But really, this controller doesn't have many features. Pitch bend and modulation wheel, little slider, and two buttons that can EITHER change the octave up or down, change the pitch up or down a semitone, or change the midi channel the signals are sent through (maybe these buttons can do something else as well, but I don't think there was anything else worthwhile). There is only a MIDI out jack on the controller, so if you are using this as a part of a chain it has to be your first thing. I have an old keytar controller from the 80's that I like to bring out on stage every now and again just for kicks, and since that is only MIDI out as well I have to unplug one to plug in the other. Other than the one MIDI out you have a USB midi thing and a damper pedal input. I should also mention that I cannot get the controller to send the signal from the damper pedal to anything I hook up with MIDI; I have to hook the pedal up to the device I am using the controller for. It does come with a USB cable and some stuff for a computer, but I have never used this for a computer, only as a real instrument MIDI controller.

Everything is easy to use about the keyboard, but the actual keys themselves are miserable to play on, for a few reasons. First of all, apparently "semi weighted" means sticking a spring(s) under each key. The end result is that the further down you press any given key, the harder it becomes to press. Also, it takes a good deal of effort to keep the keys held down, because there is so much upward force from the springs inside. Its honestly easier to press down the keys of a piano than these keys, and it is certainly easier to hold down piano keys than these. The second problem is that the keys can be pressed much further down than any piano, organ, or synth. I have no idea why they designed the keys this way, because it is really difficult to play softly or quickly on this controller. If you think about how hard it is to press the keys all the way down because of the springs, and then add the problem that the keys have to be pressed down further than a normal keyboard, the end result is an awful keyboard to play on. The final problem is that the black keys are much more sensitive to velocity than the white keys. The same amount of force played on a white key will yield a significantly different velocity signal sent than on a black key. For my M3, each patch I use is based on oscillators that make different sounds at different velocities. As a result, I have to be careful on certain patches to make sure I play the black keys more softly than the white, so that I don't accidentally make a different sound on just the black keys. Even still, just by listening anyone could easily distinguish between the white keys I play and the black keys. So like I said, this keyboard really is miserable to play on if you are used to playing a piano, organ, or synth.

Hard to judge to quality right now, because I have only had mine for about 6 months. However, even though it is only made of plastic, everything seems to be holding up alright so far. I use this controller all over the place, and I usually end up taking it out of my apartment once or twice a week. I've dropped it and bumped it on stuff plenty already, and although the plastic casing is scratched plenty, everything works like new still. I have heard that banging on the keys too much will cause them to stop working within a couple of years, but so far I have had no trouble.

I definitely bought this controller because it is the cheapest 88 key out there. However, for as little as it does and how terrible it is to play, and for the fact that it is 100% plastic, it seems a tad overpriced even. For the price you pay for it, it doesn't even include a power supply! I realize that most people probably only use these for USB stuff where you don't need it, but if you don't use the USB you need the power. I was fortunate that the guy at the store I worked at just gave me a power supply (since I was already spending $2300 anyway), but otherwise I would have had to have spent another 15% of the total cost of the controller itself just to power it.

Its not ugly, but its not really supposed to be sexy either. So just average.

Active Musician

Contemporary church, experimental electro-rock

Has no sound But still only need vsti and will work great.

Very outstanding feathers a must get for any seroius producer not trying to brake in the bank.

Ease of use is not only easy but very good if used with fruity loops ,Orion Platinum,Motu Synphonic Instrument,NI,Steniberg,Vsti,Rtmas,Protools,And many more.

Works great has great but you don't get a substain pedal.

I got it for cheap .

Don't need to fix yet .

I want it due to the fact that it is very good to use and looks like a champ .If you by also get a stand due to the fact that it is very tall about 4 foot 8" .