M-Audio AXIOM 61 Advanced 61-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller 9900-51413-10

by M-Audio

Product Features

• 61-key velocity-sensitive semiweighted action keyboard with assignable aftertouch
• 8 MIDI-assignable trigger pads
• 15 assignable buttons, including 6 transport buttons
• Compatible with free Enigma librarian/editor for storing and organizing setups
• Includes Ableton Live Lite 4 music production softwareso you can make music right away

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 38.4 x 2.6 inches ; 11.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 17 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000EMB3HS
• Item model number: 9900-51413-10
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,166 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Axiom 61 is an advanced 61-key USB mobile MIDI controller with semi-weighted action and assignable aftertouch. Eight rubberized trigger pads are ideal for creating drum tracks and firing samples. Nine sliders and eight endless rotary encoder knobs put you in total control of your software studio. There are also 15 MIDI-assignable buttons—including six transport controls—assignable wheels, foot pedals and more. Programming is a breeze with dedicated front-panel keypad and backlit LCD screen. 20 memory locations store your setups and the free Enigma editor/librarian software lets you manage an unlimited number on your computer.

Total MIDI Control and Playability

Eight rubberized trigger pads let you program with feel or easily trigger samples or visual effects.

Assign the eight rotary encoders to mixer controls like panning and effects sends, or to any synth parameters you want to control.

Large backlit LCD screen for visual feedback.

Six reassignable transport buttons.

Get Into the Action
The Axiom series of mobile USB MIDI controllers has everything it takes to get the most from your MIDI software and hardware. Semi-weighted action complete with aftertouch gives you great feel and expression for both synth parts and pianistic passages. Eight rubberized trigger pads put your drums at your fingertips for programming with feel--or easy fire samples or visual effects.

Total MIDI Control
Assign the eight rotary encoders to mixer controls like panning and effects sends, or to any synth parameters you want to control. Map the nine sliders to software mixer faders or drawbars on your virtual organ. 15 buttons, pitch and mod wheels, and sustain and expression pedal jacks round out a tour de force of MIDI domination. Assigning controllers is simple, yet has the power to let you delve as deep as you want. Each controller can map to just about any applicable parameter in the MIDI spec, including independent channel addressing for each. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Intuitive Front-Panel Programming
M-Audio Axiom MIDI controllers all feature a large backlit LCD screen for visual feedback--and the 61-key and 49-key models also place a 10-key pad right on the front panel for direct, intuitive programming. You'll also find 9 dedicated front-panel function buttons to easily access common operations like preset / program change or MIDI channel +/-, octave +/-, and transpose +/-. Use the Controller Mute button to prevent parameters from jumping when you change them, for example, then press Snapshot to transmit all current settings. 20 non-volatile memory locations instantly save and recall your favorite presets--and you can manage an entire preset library on your computer via SysEx dumps and our free Enigma software editor/librarian for PC and Mac.

Mobile Operation
The Axiom series is extremely compact and lightweight and all models are powered directly from your computer's USB bus. Choose the size that's best for your needs, then take your music anywhere you want to go.

Axiom 61 Specs

MIDI Data from variable controllers:

• MIDI Controller Number
• RPN/NRPN
• Program, Bank LSB, Bank MSB
• Pitch Bend
• GM/GM2/XG SysEx Messages

MIDI Data from buttons/switches:

• MIDI Controller Number
• Note On
• Note On/Off toggle
• RPN/NRPN
• MIDI CC On/Off toggle
• Program, Bank LSB, Bank MSB presets
• MIDI Machine Control
• GM/GM2/XG SysEx messages

Size: 38.4 x 11.2 x 2.6 inches; 97.6 x 28.5 x 6.6 (cm)

Weight: 11.7 pounds; 5.3kg

What's in the Box

Axiom 61 Advanced 61-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller, User's Manual, Ableton Live Lite Software

Product Description

The Axiom 61 is an advanced 61-key USB mobile MIDI controller with semi-weighted action and assignable aftertouch. Eight rubberized trigger pads are ideal for creating drum tracks and firing samples. Nine sliders and eight endless rotary encoder knobs put you in total control of your software studio. There are also 15 MIDI-assignable buttons--including six transport controls--assignable wheels, foot pedals and more. Programming is a breeze with dedicated front-panel keypad and backlit LCD screen. 20 memory locations store your setups and the free Enigma editor/librarian software lets you manage an unlimited number on your computer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good MIDI controller with a couple of nitpicks, August 5, 2008

By 

Greg A. Tirevold (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio AXIOM 61 Advanced 61-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller 9900-51413-10 (Electronics)

MIDI controllers are often a subjective choice because not everyone uses them for the same purpose or has the experience of playing on weighted keys such as your normal piano.

I purchased this after having started with a 49 key M-Audio Key Studio which was an entry level controller with plain, non weighted keys and no extra control beyond the standard pitch & mod wheels and octave buttons. I wanted something that would allow comfortable "piano style" two handed play without getting into actual 88 key units. If you are not experienced with actual keyboards/workstations (the ones that have sound and sequencers on-board like the Fantom, Motif, Triton) then you will likely be surprised with the weight of the unit. It is not heavy per se, but if your prior experience is with a small drum pad or controller with non-weighted keys the 11 pounds will be something of a shock.

The key action is exactly what I was looking for. It gives you enough resistance to feel the play style without actually being heavy enough to wear out your hands like a piano can do. The adjustable velocity curves let you pick how hard you want to have to press a key to achieve set input level which is a nice way to customize the board to how strong your fingers and hands are. I found the action to be smooth and not as sloppy as the thin non-weighted keys I was used to.

The sliders feel slightly flimsy, think hollow plastic, but they ride on a slider bed that offers some resistance so they don't flop around. Not a big deal unless you are used to working with metal sliders. The endless rotary knobs have a good feel to them and look to be very useful.

The drum pads have a soft feel to them but they use switches under them that require fairly centered strikes to trigger the pad. I also own a KORG padKontrol that I use for my pad needs and it is a much better unit, with pads that don't require a direct center hit to trigger and also have a surface which is not as prone to letting your fingers slide. The KORG though is a $200 unit that has only pads and is focused around their use. The Axiom 61 has pads as more of an afterthought or convenience, they are not either numerous enough nor of sufficient quality to be a feature for this unit. They are handy to trigger things while playing the keyboard but not as a drum pad, which is what some folks believe they are getting.

The LCD display is very clear and bright making reading it no problem. I'd prefer if they would have inclined the face of it about 10 degrees towards the user though for even better reading ease.

The included software was of no use to me, I use Logic Studio 8. The lack of a printed manual was disappointing considering that you really need to read through it to understand how to use the various functions. It will typically be plug and play for the keyboard, pitch and mod wheels but the sliders, knobs and pads will require some assignment in almost all software.

Overall I am pleased with the Axiom 61. The keys are very nice as long as you understand they are not hammer-action piano keys. Between the sliders, knobs and pads I would say the knobs are the best implemented "accessory" feature with the sliders and pads coming off as usable but not anything to brag about. If you are getting started and want a good all-in-one solution wither this model or the 49 key Axiom will fill the bill nicely. The controls function properly but as mentioned above if you are into drum pads I'd only use these until you can get a stand alone unit.

I can see how someone who is not really sure what they are getting, could give it a 3 for the lack of a manual and the so-so accessory MIDI knobs/sliders/pads. I only wanted the 61 semi-weighted keys so everything else was not a deal breaker for me. If the knobs/sliders/pads had blown me away with their quality and there was a printed manual I'd have given it a 5 but I'm going to stick with a 4. It does what I bought it for very well and the extras work and do not detract from it.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Hardware; No Printed Manual, July 24, 2006

By 

K. Macleod (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: M-Audio AXIOM 61 Advanced 61-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller 9900-51413-10 (Electronics)

The Axiom line is the only M-Audio line with aftertouch - which is required for a serious MIDI controller. Another bonus over the Oxygen line is the display - which is actually usable in this model.

The transpose and octave shift buttons are well-placed and are easily accessible in real-time performances.

Key action on this controller is very nice. It is reasonably firm without being tough, and the aftertouch is readily available without tripping it accidentally too much. If you're doing a lot of piano recordings; I would recommend a fully-weighted action keyboard (with 88 keys) - but for everything else, this works very well.

The programmable sliders are highly useful for working with complicated sample sets. After a bit of experimentation, I have them set to control vibrato rate, note effects, breath noise, attack variation, panning, and volume levels. Once you get them set where you want them - just start recording, push the SnapShot, and all of your settings will get recorded in your MIDI file. (same for rotary controllers)

The only real problem I have is the lack of a printed manual.

---

18 month update. Well, my first Axiom 61 is now broken after months and months of use. It was never moved, just sat on the desk... yesterday, 41 of the keys stopped working.

I ordered a new one.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars note to K. Macleod and everyone else, October 3, 2006

By 

Genevieve Dietz "josh dietz" (chico, ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio AXIOM 61 Advanced 61-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller 9900-51413-10 (Electronics)

Just wanted to let you and everyone reading these know that the Axiom series is not actually the only aftertouch-capable m-audio keyboard, but I will also add that the other cheaper m-audio controllers, such as the keystation (not pro)and ozone series, have a very poor aftertouch, sometimes not even responding consistently (!). Bottomline is I wouldn't expect to get a decent controller under $200 in my experience; the Axioms feel great to me and would recommend them to anyone looking for a capable controller on a budget.