M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3 - 32-Key Portable USB Midi Keyboard Controller

M-Audio is underrated.Some of the best products have been refined under their brand. Trigger Finger is one that comes to mind. Take a format and give it what the other brands are lacking.This isn’t the case here and nor did I go looking for a keyboard that reinvents the wheel.Son wanted something bigger than the 25 key Behringer I had on but my desk space permitted 49 keys.Search by cheapest, 49 key midi keyboard and BAMN! M-Audio Keystation 49.nuff said!

I purchased the M-Audio Hammer 88 Controller 7 months ago to replace a older M-Audio-Pro 88 controller that was used for over 10 years since windows XP. I started having issues due to updates in Windows 7 Pro. Since I knew that Windows 7 end of life was in 2020, I began my quest for a new Midi Controller back in 2018 that would work with my new windows 10 pro computer I was building. Many months of research and reviews led me to the M-Audio Hammer 88 because of the cost (399.00)at the time and it being a full size (88 keys) Hammer weighted keyboard. I can say that this was one of the best decisions I made. It has that great hammer weight feel and is light weight to go on the road with gigs and perfect for the studio. I have always had a weighted keyboard in the ... MoreI purchased the M-Audio Hammer 88 Controller 7 months ago to replace a older M-Audio-Pro 88 controller that was used for over 10 years since windows XP. I started having issues due to updates in Windows 7 Pro. Since I knew that Windows 7 end of life was in 2020, I began my quest for a new Midi Controller back in 2018 that would work with my new windows 10 pro computer I was building. Many months of research and reviews led me to the M-Audio Hammer 88 because of the cost (399.00)at the time and it being a full size (88 keys) Hammer weighted keyboard. I can say that this was one of the best decisions I made. It has that great hammer weight feel and is light weight to go on the road with gigs and perfect for the studio. I have always had a weighted keyboard in the studio and it is very hard to re-adjust without one if you have played one, if you have never played with one, The M-Audio Hammer 88 will make you really express your playing and give you dynamic control and piano feel which you can adjust to your playing style, the only thing that I wish it had was the controller sliders and pan pots, but I get around this with another controller for that in the studio and by using the midi out (5 pin) to send controller changes to my DAW and Sequencer.. You will truly love the way it feels and the fact that it only weighs about 40 lbs and is not bulky. I really did not know what to expect when I received it, but I was blown away when all I had to do was just plug it in and all my DAWs (6) immediately recognized it with no configuration issues period. I have a ton of soft soft synths and an very large collection of midi hardware from drum machines, samplers and external keyboards and non of them have had any issues working with the M-Audio Hammer 88. I can say with confidence that I spend my time writing music and not trouble shooting controller issues and killing my creative process which is the most important thing I was worried about. All Host applications and external midi devices communicate exactly like they are suppose to do, keyboard expression is perfect down to the slightest touch. You cannot go wrong by choosing this product to be the center piece of your music production. The other reason I chose this product is because of American Musical Supply's payment options, If it was not for them offering flexible payment plans, I would not have half the quality gear I have right now. I have been purchasing products though them since 2000. So what are you waiting for? Purchase the M-Audio Hammer 88 and start writing great music with confidence that the device will work as advertised.

Excellent keyboard. Excellent price.

The price of the unit was discounted due to some damage to the metal housing on the back of the keyboard and for whatever reason it was caused. But, everything seems to work perfectly. I could not be more happy that a found this Hammer88 at the price I got it for. Thank you very much Sam Ash!The Hammer 88 has an amazing feel and build quality.Excellent buy at the price!Though, it doesn't have but a mod wheel and pitch bend, there is plenty of space on the unit body to add your own extra devices, should you choose, as I have.

Fun to play, perfect for production, space efficient

This keyboard is exactly what I wanted. I connected it by USB to my computer, and it paired seamlessly with my DAW (Cakewalk). There is 0 latency, so it is a joy to play and the sustain pedal also works perfectly. I'm using it with a trial of the synth Xpand!2, which has really nice piano options. 90% of the time I'm using the keyboard to play for fun, and 10% for music production. The keyboard is also very space efficient. When not in use, it's in "storage" next to my work desk. And when I want to play, I lay it down on my desk and connect the two cables (midi and sustain pedal). The only con (if I had to name one) would be the lack of sensitivity from the semi-weighted action. I have enough control of dynamics to have fun playing, but it wouldn't be enough for a ... MoreThis keyboard is exactly what I wanted. I connected it by USB to my computer, and it paired seamlessly with my DAW (Cakewalk). There is 0 latency, so it is a joy to play and the sustain pedal also works perfectly. I'm using it with a trial of the synth Xpand!2, which has really nice piano options. 90% of the time I'm using the keyboard to play for fun, and 10% for music production. The keyboard is also very space efficient. When not in use, it's in "storage" next to my work desk. And when I want to play, I lay it down on my desk and connect the two cables (midi and sustain pedal). The only con (if I had to name one) would be the lack of sensitivity from the semi-weighted action. I have enough control of dynamics to have fun playing, but it wouldn't be enough for a professional live performance. But if I cared about that, I would have spent A LOT more money for a fully-weighted keyboard :)

Great keyboard for a home studio

I'm not a music pro, just a hobbyist. I'm also not a great keyboardist; I play mostly stringed instruments. What I'm really saying is I don't know that much about keyboards and synths. I have a Yamaha YPG-635 with USB capabilities, but it's hard to operate a DAW on my computer while sitting a distance at the piano. I wanted a keyboard that would fit on my workstation desk. The M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3 fulfils my needs nicely. I use it for recording, just to add different sounds to the mix. It comes packed with Lite versions of Ableton, Reason and Pro-tools. I've been using Mixcraft Pro, and the keyboard works fine with it. Mine isn't the full sized model, but 61 weighted keys are enough for me. The optional M-Audio sustain pedal has a squishy feel, so I would ... MoreI'm not a music pro, just a hobbyist. I'm also not a great keyboardist; I play mostly stringed instruments. What I'm really saying is I don't know that much about keyboards and synths. I have a Yamaha YPG-635 with USB capabilities, but it's hard to operate a DAW on my computer while sitting a distance at the piano. I wanted a keyboard that would fit on my workstation desk. The M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3 fulfils my needs nicely. I use it for recording, just to add different sounds to the mix. It comes packed with Lite versions of Ableton, Reason and Pro-tools. I've been using Mixcraft Pro, and the keyboard works fine with it. Mine isn't the full sized model, but 61 weighted keys are enough for me. The optional M-Audio sustain pedal has a squishy feel, so I would recommend the KSP-100 pedal, which responds much more naturally. I have one with my Yamaha and much prefer it. Connecting to a computer is super easy. Just plug into a USB slot and wait for your OS to recognize it. No special drivers to download. The bundled software may require a learning curve if you are new to DAWs, but they also include plenty of useful tutorials. I took some piano as a kid, and I can mess with chords and simple arpeggios, but I don't sight read. Buying this keyboard has inspired me to start online keyboard lessons!

Great size and value for money

Just slightly smaller than my PC keyboard. Fits nicely into my bag. Works immediately without issues on Ubuntu Linux with MuseScore, Nted etc. Had problems getting the software (AbletonLite) to work on Win7! Good weight with rubber feet to prevent slipping on my desk. Small enough to use on my lap when relaxing in my chair too. Nice silent operation so won't distract others when using headphones. USB cable needs extension for my main PC but totally OK for laptops. Control buttons feel a bit rubbery and dead, volume knob just feels small. All perfectly functional though. Very slightly misaligned keys spoil an otherwise great product. Overall ideal for composing on-the-go. Not as good for live performing as the keys are a bit too small to play both hands ... MoreJust slightly smaller than my PC keyboard. Fits nicely into my bag. Works immediately without issues on Ubuntu Linux with MuseScore, Nted etc. Had problems getting the software (AbletonLite) to work on Win7! Good weight with rubber feet to prevent slipping on my desk. Small enough to use on my lap when relaxing in my chair too. Nice silent operation so won't distract others when using headphones. USB cable needs extension for my main PC but totally OK for laptops. Control buttons feel a bit rubbery and dead, volume knob just feels small. All perfectly functional though. Very slightly misaligned keys spoil an otherwise great product. Overall ideal for composing on-the-go. Not as good for live performing as the keys are a bit too small to play both hands simultaneously. But portability is clearly the top priority and at a fraction of the cost of a decent piano/keyboard. Highly recommended.

Heavy with a heavy touch

A huge step up from the semi-weighted and spring-action keyboards I'm used to. Built solid, with a metal top and some sort of heavy-density material on the bottom, very rigid and hefty. Plastic but not hollow-feeling keys. The action is definitely on the heavy side which I like. The keys don't make a clicky racket like the Keystation 88. Wheels and buttons are good quality, slider is just OK. Mine came with a slight dent in the metal top, apparently a manufacturing defect because the packaging was undamaged and there's no sign of impact. Not a deal breaker in my case and virtually invisible. Firmware update is available and installed easily. Preset editor utility is handy and intuitive. As I knew going in, no pedals or AC adapter are included. Didn't try the ... MoreA huge step up from the semi-weighted and spring-action keyboards I'm used to. Built solid, with a metal top and some sort of heavy-density material on the bottom, very rigid and hefty. Plastic but not hollow-feeling keys. The action is definitely on the heavy side which I like. The keys don't make a clicky racket like the Keystation 88. Wheels and buttons are good quality, slider is just OK. Mine came with a slight dent in the metal top, apparently a manufacturing defect because the packaging was undamaged and there's no sign of impact. Not a deal breaker in my case and virtually invisible. Firmware update is available and installed easily. Preset editor utility is handy and intuitive. As I knew going in, no pedals or AC adapter are included. Didn't try the software because I have my own. Heavy, 38lbs., and given its weight and lack of onboard sounds, it wouldn't be my first choice for a gigging keyboard. It's more like a digital piano, and if I could make a suggestion to M-Audio, I would like a dedicated digital piano-style stand with integrated pedal option.

Perfect in every way!!!

I've been playing piano for over 50 years now. And all types of keyboards over the last half century as they've evolved (Farfisa Compact, Hammond B3, Ensoniq, Fatar, Korg, etc.) But, I've always loved the piano the most. I owned a beautiful 6' Yamaha Grand for 25 years but had to get rid of it 10 years ago due to our downsizing to a smaller place; it took up a LOT of room. Since then, I've bought and subsequently donated a dozen or so other keyboards, which sounded good, but didn't have that true piano feel. Any pianist can close their eyes and tell you if it's a real piano, just by that feel. But, not with this baby! With the right software (True Pianos, Kontakt, Ominsphere, etc.) you can sound as good as ANY piano on this planet, AND you can do it with headphones ... MoreI've been playing piano for over 50 years now. And all types of keyboards over the last half century as they've evolved (Farfisa Compact, Hammond B3, Ensoniq, Fatar, Korg, etc.) But, I've always loved the piano the most. I owned a beautiful 6' Yamaha Grand for 25 years but had to get rid of it 10 years ago due to our downsizing to a smaller place; it took up a LOT of room. Since then, I've bought and subsequently donated a dozen or so other keyboards, which sounded good, but didn't have that true piano feel. Any pianist can close their eyes and tell you if it's a real piano, just by that feel. But, not with this baby! With the right software (True Pianos, Kontakt, Ominsphere, etc.) you can sound as good as ANY piano on this planet, AND you can do it with headphones if you want! But, the feel, the expression, is pure piano! Why is it perfect?; Price, Quality, Weight (it's very heavy!), Appearance (it's beautiful!), Simplicity (it's just a keyboard with no screen, and no internal sounds; my PC monitor and keyboard is in front of it), and most importantly - FEEL. It IS a real piano. Just close your eyes and play....... It's perfect in every way. The last keyboard I will ever need and own!!!

Review of M-Audio Keystation 61 Mk3 USB Keyboard Controller

Nice semi weighted action, very solid feel to it. I'm using it as a second keyboard on a Roland VR 09 so that I can play two sounds at once from the Roland (or have a lower Organ keyboard etc) and it works fine. I am powering it via the USB port. Tried a few DC power adapters and they didn't seem to work, but not an issue for me. My issue now is trying to find a bag or case that is a good fit!

Very nice piano controller

Overall:I used to have a Yamaha KX-8. This is quite close in action to that controller, and much more road worthy. Since I will be touring soon, I needed something robust to bring on the road. However, I am quite impressed with the features of this controller. The action is quite good, and much better than I expected for the price. The "preset editor" does a good job of letting you adjust the keyboard for your tastes, and requirements, and I've already made significant changes after only a day of ownership. There are three controller inputs: two latch type controller inputs: one for a sustain pedal, and one for a soft pedal, but you can assign any MIDI CC controller to either input, as well as an expression pedal input, which can also be assigned any MIDI CC ... MoreOverall:I used to have a Yamaha KX-8. This is quite close in action to that controller, and much more road worthy. Since I will be touring soon, I needed something robust to bring on the road. However, I am quite impressed with the features of this controller. The action is quite good, and much better than I expected for the price. The "preset editor" does a good job of letting you adjust the keyboard for your tastes, and requirements, and I've already made significant changes after only a day of ownership. There are three controller inputs: two latch type controller inputs: one for a sustain pedal, and one for a soft pedal, but you can assign any MIDI CC controller to either input, as well as an expression pedal input, which can also be assigned any MIDI CC controller. There is a "master volume" fader on my front of the keyboard, which you can also assign to any MIDI continuous controller. You also have the ability to move up and down octaves, directly from the front panel. There is a pitch bend wheel, which most of the other piano controller do NOT have, and an assignable continuous controller right next to it. Again, most piano-type keyboard controllers do NOT have these, so they are a very nice added bonus, and let's me keep this on my studio desk as my only controller. I'll probably sell my Nektar LX88+ plus controller now, but may keep it as an extra for touring purposes. There is a MIDI out port, for any older gear you might have, as well.It also has up to four zones you can use to trigger different sounds in a live setting, which is required for many of my compositions to be played live. The transposition features are wide, and should satisfy almost anyone.The one thing I wish you could do is draw your own velocity curves. Perhaps M-Audio will include that ability in a future update. Otherwise, I'm very happy with this purchase.