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M-Audio Keystation 88 Pro 88-Key Controller

Written by TParker
Wednesday, 20 July 2005
9 assignable faders. 24 assignable rotary dials. USB port. Man, do I want one of these babies... A MIDI controller AND a control surface for your DAW. The new Keystation Pro 88 is the first USB master MIDI controller designed specifically to let you perform, program and mix music directly with your computer. Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned pro or just ready to take your music to the next level, our 88-key hammer action is so expressive that you simply won’t want to stop playing it. And the complement of 59 (yes, 59) assignable controls delivers more than enough tactile command over your favorite soft synths and digital audio sequencers like Reason and Live. This bus-powered master controller unifies everything you need to experience the full potential today’s virtual studios—and at a price and weight lighter than you’d expect. Features 88-key hammer-action, velocity-sensitive keyboard 24 MIDI-assignable rotary controllers 22 MIDI-assignable buttons 9 MIDI-assignable Alps faders MIDI-assignable pitch bend and modulation wheels MIDI-assignable foot switch and foot pedal inputs Controllers assignable to MIDI controllers, notes, transport controls, program changes (including LSB and MSB), sys-ex, and RPN/NRPN Independent MIDI channel assign for all controllers Four keyboard zones for layers and splits Multiple dyna mic velocity curves Large custom LCD displays controller number, assigned controller, edit icons and edit values 10 memory locations for saving all controller assignments Sys-ex memory dump transmits the complete memory contents for backup purposes Free Enigma editor software for unlimited storage +/- 11 semi-tone transposition Dedicated buttons allow program and bank changes on the fly Control Mute function mutes the output of all controllers so you can position them to the desired value before tweaking Snap Shot button transmits all current controller settings Fader Drawbar mode reverses the faders for realistic operation of organ emulators such as NI B4 MIDI In port MIDI Out port can drive external MIDI gear or be used as USB to MIDI Out interface General MIDI 1 and 2 compatible USB class compliant—no drivers required for Windows XP or Mac OS X Drivers also included for Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP and Mac OS 9 Powered via USB bus ( cable included) or optional 9V power supply Lightweight for its features—only 47 lbs. Want one? Get one!
Last Updated ( Monday, 25 July 2005 )

Studio Jargon

Equal Temperament

A system for dividing an octave into 12 pitch steps, each of 100 cents. This has the effect of making all semitones equal in size. This became necessary once keyboard and fretted instruments became popular. It should be understood that the note A which appears in F# minor should have a slightly different frequency from the note A which appears in C major (this fine distinction is one of the reasons that pitch and frequency are not quite synonymous). This would normally be dealt with automatically by a proficient player on an instrument with continuous pitching such as a violin. A keyboard instrument would properly have to be tuned to a particular key, if music was then played in a different key, some or many of the intervals sounded would be flat or sharp. However since it was not convenient to retune these types of instruments correctly whenever a new key was required, various compromises were attempted. Equal temperament was one such compromise whereby the error was distributed equally between all the notes. This made the performance of music in different keys possible on the same instrument without retuning, in celebration of which J. S. Bach wrote not one, but two books, each of 24 preludes and fugues (a prelude and fugue in both the major and minor forms of 12 keys).

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