![]() M Audio Keystation 88 SoftwarePhoto: Mike Cameron The price of compact MIDI controller keyboards has come tumbling down in the past few years, but weighted-action full-length keyboards have remained relatively expensive — until now. We investigate the 88-note keyboard that runs off USB power. In recent years, the main focus for makers of master keyboards has been on smaller controllers with between 1.5 and three octaves. Perhaps the number of classically trained piano players out there is diminishing, or perhaps there are more younger musicians who have not trained on acoustic pianos, but whatever the cause, the small MIDI keyboard with a host of assignable knobs which allow you to twiddle and edit your synth parameters has become one of the strongest-selling items in most music stores over the last 10 years. Manufacturers like Midiman, Edirol and Evolution have built much of their recent success on the back of products like the Oxygen 8 and the MK249C, which combine a limited-size non-weighted keyboard with octave-transpose buttons and a bunch of assignable knobs, sliders and buttons. In contrast, the majority of manufacturers seem to be steering away from larger, weighted-action master keyboards. M-audio Keystation Pro 88 DriversHowever, I am happy to report that M‑Audio, the US outfit which recently acquired UK company Evolution, is bucking this trend by releasing the Keystation Pro 88, a fully weighted 88-note master keyboard with USB MIDI class-compliance as well as traditional MIDI hardware connectivity. Kx fm386 drivers for mac. Housed in a smart silver casing, with a large blue LCD screen to keep you informed of everything that is going on as well as a forest of knobs, buttons and faders, it really looks the part, too. In the past, many keyboards designed for use with a computer have had a rather cheap plastic look which belies their excellent feature set. The same cannot be said for the Keystation Pro 88, which has a very sturdy construction and looks as though it should stand up well to the rigours of life on the road. It has five rubber feet (two at each end and one in the centre of the base), so if you don't have a keyboard stand available, you can still put the Keystation on a table without fear of the screw heads in its base causing damage to the tabletop. The Keystation's 10 programs (see the 'Factory Presets' box at the end of this article) may seem a little limited for a keyboard of this size and flexibility, but if you have a computer, you can use it to increase the number of sets you have available.
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