Customer Reviews

M Audio KeyRig 49 49 Key USB Keyboard Controller

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This is exactly the keyboard you need if have a computer that does it all. This keyboad is compact, well made, and has all the features you need for simple MIDI entry. I don't recommend it for performance, though - not at all rugged. Great for Apple-based studio (or Wintel).

This keyboard + a Mac+ Garage Band = a lot of fun. If my four year old son can't break it, then it must be well built.

All you have to do is plug it in to your computer's USB port, turn it on, and run SimplePiano, or any other similar free Windows program that takes input from a MIDI device and outputs it to the MIDI sound output that comes with Windows, and start playing. It's perfect on my lap, with my laptop computer on the table. You can play 4 octaves on it without having to use the octave-shift buttons. This has been perfectly adequate for me to learn piano and just fool around with melodies and chords.

It doesn't matter so much to me, but it's important you know that the keyboard has no speakers to play by itself. It can only be played through your computer. But for GarageBand on Mac, you just plug it in and it works. Great for producing/arranging music.

You get what you pay for. The M-Audio Keyrig feels as cheap as a Casio keyboard. The pitch bend and mod wheel are kind of nice,sturdy rubber, but the keys are light and feel like they could break under your fingers if you really whaled on them. There are no other controls on it other than a volume control. If you want a control surface with some knobs and sliders you may want to look at this model's big brother. I used to have an old version of the Oxygen 8. That controller was pretty solid, yet still inexpensive. You get what you pay for.

This keyboard is perfect for basic MIDI entry, which is all I need - it's compact, light, portable, and USB powered. The only problem is, there is no gig bag that I can find that fits a keyboard like this. All gig bags are 14 to 15 inches deep and 5 inches high, while the keyboard is only 8 inches deep and 3 inches high. The box that it came in has a plastic handle, but who wants to use a cardboard box as the carrying case? I ended up getting the Musicians Gear 49-Key Keyboard Gig Bag, but the keyboard swims in it. I would love to know if there were a compact gig bag that fit this keyboard.

I had the same exact issue as another reviewer. Very bad product and customer service. My advice is to never buy an M-Audio product. They will rip you off and offer bad customer service that gives you the run around with no solution. Here is the other reviewer's post on this M-Audio product:

Warning for Windows 7 users, especially 64-bit versions: Do not purchase! M-Audio advertises that the product is Windows 7 compatible, both on website product description and a sticker on the box.

The reality is that if you try to install from the included CD, it will not work at all. Then you go to the M-Audio web site, and there is a Win7 driver, both for 32 & 64 bit. Fine. However, the KeyRig 49 software player DOES NOT FUNCTION with Win7 of any flavor, and M-Audio has no intention of supporting Win7 at all. This is really deceptive advertising.

Note that this USB MIDI interface does work with third-party software like the NI KONTAKT4 player, but the point of the product for our use was a low-cost "mini-piano" for his keyboarding class. Unfortunately, this sort of SW costs at least $100. All of the freeware and shareware virtual instrument players are ancient, supporting only XP at best. Most are Win98!

I looked around at other M-Audio products, and it appears their software development staff are either Mac-only types, or are newer Windows version ignorant. I'd suggest going elsewhere for modern Windows supported solutions for music HW & SW.

Very versatile when hooked up to Reason4. Had to reload the drivers a couple of times, but seems to be stable. Would buy again. Have fun and be creative. My 3 year old has tons of fun with it, yet I could see how an aspiring producer could use this with the appropriate software. This keyboard is only limited by the software you choose to utilize.

The M-Audio KeyRig 49 is a great tool for the musician looking to add a midi controller through the usb port. I am using a 3 year old MacBook Pro and have done lots of recording of guitars and vocals in Logic. This year I decided this old dog should learn a few new tricks, so I picked up the KeyRig 49 and plugged it in. If you have GarageBand or any of the Logic products, this is a great learning tool.

Logic recognized the keyboard immediately (I am not running multiple midi instruments). The product does exactly what I need it to do. I am also learning how to play the keyboard now. This is a low cost product designed to help with basic song writing and midi familiarity. The ability to use the keyboard as a synth, piano, drum pad, or any other electronic instrument has been invaluable. As my proficiency improves, I will look to get a more performance oriented keyboard, but in the meantime I am learning more everyday. Remember, this is only a midi controller for electronic instruments in digital audio workstations (DAW) of one sort or another.

I have read that some users were frustrated because of software issues. There are free DAWs on the web. Access those if you do not have a Mac product.

Warning for Windows 7 users, especially 64-bit versions: Do not purchase! M-Audio advertises that the product is Windows 7 compatible, both on website product description and a sticker on the box. I bought mine from Guitar Center for my son in college, and he could not install it at school. I came to his dorm and tried with no luck, so I took it home to get it going.

The reality is that if you try to install from the included CD, it will not work at all. Then you go to the M-Audio web site, and there is a Win7 driver, both for 32 & 64 bit. Fine. However, the KeyRig 49 software player DOES NOT FUNCTION with Win7 of any flavor, and M-Audio has no intention of supporting Win7 at all. This is really deceptive advertising. Unfortunately, I can't take it back to GC, as his dorm-mate pitched the box, and it's after the 30-day limit.

Note that this USB MIDI interface does work with third-party software like the NI KONTAKT4 player, but the point of the product for our use was a low-cost "mini-piano" for his keyboarding class. Unfortunately, this sort of SW costs at least $100. All of the freeware and shareware virtual instrument players are ancient, supporting only XP at best. Most are Win98!

I looked around at other M-Audio products, and it appears their software development staff are either Mac-only types, or are newer Windows version ignorant. I'd suggest going elsewhere for modern Windows supported solutions for music HW & SW.