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|  | |  | | | M-Audio Keystation 88es - 88-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller | | | | | | | |
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| | Features | 88-note velocity-sensitive, semi-weighted actionbuilt-in USB MIDI interface w/ MIDI out jackpowered via USB or 9VDCclass-compliant with Windows XP, Vista (32 bit), and Mac OS Xincludes Ableton Live Lite music production software, so you can make music right away
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| | Description | If you appreciate the full range of a piano keyboard in a lightweight package, the 88-note Keystation 88es is for you. You get great-feeling, semi-weighted action thats velocity sensitive to convey all the nuances of your playing to your computer and most popular music education and studio software. The pitch and modulation wheels plus slider and buttons make it a great controller for playing and programming synths, samplers, drum sounds and more. At just 22 lbs., the Keystation 88es is equally at home on stage and in the studio. Class compliancy with Windows XP, Vista (32 bit), and Mac OS X ensures easy plug-and-play setup. Its even bus-powered, so one simple USB cable is the only connection you need. | |
| | Product Details | | Product Length: | 0.0 inches | | Product Width: | 0.0 inches | | Product Height: | 0.0 inches | | Product Weight: | 26.8 pounds | | Package Length: | 56.5 inches | | Package Width: | 13.3 inches | | Package Height: | 6.5 inches | | Package Weight: | 26.7 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 37 reviews |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review:
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It's a MIDI controller Apr 05, 2010
My main keyboard which I have had for quite a while is a Roland Fantom S88. I love it, but when compared to other keys, the action is kind of like cinder blocks stuck in mud. So after a time I have adopted a pretty heavy handed style. Every once in a while if I get too aggressive, I can hear a bit of plastic creaking on the M-Audio. But it's been a few months and nothing has broken yet, so short of a hammer, I feel pretty certain its a close to worse case scenario for abuse. I don't know if it will last close to forever, like those keyboards that cost a well over a grand. But for the price, even one year, is one less I have to spend on worrying about getting a main replacement.
For my purpose of using internal MIDI instruments within a DAW and having one consistent playing surface for multiple keyboards, it has worked great so far. From my experience the action is slightly stiffer then a Alesis A6, Juno-G Roland JUNO-G 61 Key Workstation Music Keyboard and Korg PA80, ever so lighter then a SH-201 Roland SH-201 49-Key Music Keyboard Synthesizer , and like balsa wood compared to the S88. In my opinion comparable and similar to those keys mentioned, (except the semi-truck keyed Fantom).
The USB cord could have been longer (a lot longer). The advertised programing is really pretty rudimentary in practice, unless you got no other choice and a knack for remembering what the slew of hidden functions are assigned to which keys.
As a straight out MIDI controller, I'm satisfied with this purchase.
 Semi-weighted, my assessment... Mar 31, 2010
If you caught the joke in this review's title, then you already have the gist of my review. Not all semi-weighted keyboards are created equal and this one proves it. I've played a lot of semi-weighted keyboards and quite enjoyed some of them, but this is amongst the worst of the lot, to the point where I'm very surprised by and even suspicious of the content of the reviews here on Amazon and elsewhere.
Don't get me wrong - I know what not to expect out of a semi-weighted keyboard and my expectations are realistic. On the plus side, the price is killer while the keyboard's built-in USB midi interface and bus-powered design are big pluses. But at best this is the bottom end of what could be called semi-weighted action. I'd have a hard time calling this action semi-weighted at all. I'd just call it muddy synth action.
Overall I'd give it 2.5 stars if Amazon let me. If you're absolutely limited to that budget it might be acceptable, but I opted instead for the Casio CDP-100, which offers beautiful fully-weighted action without breaking the bank. It's also a little bigger and requires a midi interface, but is a pleasure to play and costs $400 although I see it occasionally for around $350. I'm just glad I got a chance to play the 88es before taking all of the reviews at face value and buying it blind.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Great value keyboard controller Mar 21, 2010
Just be certain what you're looking for. If you are a budding pianist, be forwarned - despite the product description telling you the semi-wieghted keys give you a "piano feel", they do not! These keys have little resemblance to a piano keyboard other than the size, shape and color. The keys just spring up quickly like any other cheap keyboard. If you are looking for an inexpensive, general-purpose keyboard controller for your MIDI rig or your PC-based music system, and you want to play some piano as well as organ, clavs, harpsichord, synths, and other instruments - then this might be the ticket. A big plus is when you schlepp this in your car to jam with your buddies, it's not super-heavy, and you won't worry about smacking it up. I would buy this again - but I would not get the 88-key version - I would get the 64-key version (smaller and lighter) and then probably also have a decent digital piano or fully-weighted 88-key controller for real piano feel. But I know that a decent fully-weighted controller will cost at least four times the price of this one. Just be realistic about what you want out of this.
 The Perfect Keyboard for your money if... Mar 19, 2010
...you have the necessary software!
This $200 keyboard plus a $30 M-Audio SP2 Pedal equals a superb sounding piano. Of course, you'll need to connect this to your computer via USB to get the most out of it. I use Logic Studio (latest version) for Mac, and it's awesome! You can easily compose with this device and perform as well.
I highly recommend this keyboard because it's cheap for 88-keys, it's semi-weighted, and it's more portable than any other 88-keyboard you'll find on the market. Cheers.
SEE PEDAL HERE:
M-Audio SP-2 US65010 Sustain Pedal Piano Style Sustain Pedal for Keyboards
0 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 Ugh no idea how to get it to work Feb 19, 2010
Very beautiful keyboard but HOW does it work?! Got the thing, downloaded the software for sound, plugged keyboard in and...nothing. The instruction manuel was a joke, had my dad help me try to figure it out...still didn't work. It didn't help at all, so then we tried searching on the Internet. Nothing. Called the help number written on the back of the instruction manuel and spent forever waiting on hold then after following the guy on the line's instructions to set up the midi the darn thing still wouldn't play a darn note. Eventually we just gave up and sent the thing back and got a refund. Instead we bought the CasioCDP100 love it and wished we'd done that earlier. If you'd had a midi controller before and know how to work them, buy this. If not and you're a beginner like I was don't too much stress.
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