pm'd JDaniels about this but has replied back so i'm asking here. looking to purchase a affordable but good keyboard MIDi controller for my Akai S900. i basically want to map out samples & lay them out on the keys so i can play them out in different pitches or chords whichh ever is the correct term. i was checking out them m-audio joints, like the Oxygen 8 V2, but do i need all those extra bells & whistles? there's a Axiom 25 on craigslist going for $100. or would this be good enough? http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOKEYRIG25

& i would also trigger virtual instruments off of ableton live 5 off my laptop...

any suggestions? peace...

I've been researching this - I've narrowed it down to:

Novation SL Compact
Akai MPK49
Edirol PCR-300

For Abelton I'd go the Edirol because of the crossfader

[quote="606man"]I've been researching this - I've narrowed it down to:

Novation SL Compact
Akai MPK49
Edirol PCR-300

For Abelton I'd go the Edirol because of the crossfader [/quote]

thanks 606man... the automap universal function on the novation sl is dope, would this work for hardware as well or just software? it seems like it can only control parameters on software... i don't think it can control parameters on the s900?

Yeah I'd also guess that the automap is for software only. The Akai and the Edirol have editing functions that would make it (fairly) painless to use with the S900 though... Don't quote me on that though - I'm only reading the same info as everyone else

[quote="606man"]Yeah I'd also guess that the automap is for software only. The Akai and the Edirol have editing functions that would make it (fairly) painless to use with the S900 though... Don't quote me on that though - I'm only reading the same info as everyone else [/quote]

thanks again 606man... i just wanted to see what my other options were before i buy... this is my first time doin something MIDI... most likely i'm just gonna kop the m-audio keyrig 25, only $99... don't need anything fansy... just as long that i can play samples at different pitches, chords... i'm just gonna sample & sequence it backl into the 404... peace

Let us know how it all goes man - I'm interested in getting either an akai S or a Yamaha A myself..

here's an interesting docco about those Akai rack samplers:

http://video.google.com/url?docid=-3403 ... 2b-nnXmbaQ

the interface looks pretty minimal

Thanks man

drewzle thanks.
check the pete rock/mpc2000xl vid. at the end he is remixing "love is a battlefield." i digg that song.

yeah, i'm curious about it too - this MIDI controllers are just control boxes ? i mean their knobs/sliders, pads/keys can be assigned to some software functions and control them but while using with hardware (like 404) i won't be able to play samples in different pitches, right ?

[quote="lobuz"]yeah, i'm curious about it too - this MIDI controllers are just control boxes ? i mean their knobs/sliders, pads/keys can be assigned to some software functions and control them but while using with hardware (like 404) i won't be able to play samples in different pitches, right ?[/quote]

yeah, it will only respond to velocity...