Customer Reviews

M-Audio Keystation 61ES 61-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I was surprised at the low price of this keyboard considering it has 61 semi-weighted keys. I thought maybe it wouldn't be such great quality but I was pleasantly surprised.

I thought at first that the keys were a little bit "springy", but I soon got used to them. So much so that when I went back to my old Yamaha keyboard (not weighted), the Yamaha felt terrible. This M-Audio lets you play nice and subtle.

There's not much to this keyboard, just a couple of very smooth acting wheels (pitch and modulation), a volume slider and a couple of function buttons. It all seems well-made and the keyboard is heavier than I expected.

I was pleased to find that when I took it out of its box, plugged in the USB cable and opened GarageBand, everything worked perfectly, immediately. No messing about.

It works well with GarageBand (not tried it with anything else), and being powered by the USB cable means it's dead easy to plug in and start playing.

At this price, I can't see how you can go wrong.

While 170 bucks might not sound "budget priced", for the quality of this keyboard, you're definitely getting what you pay for. The affordable Keystation 61es can hold a candle to keyboards twice its price. The "plug and play" feature works exactly as advertised. Plugged in to the 'ol iBook, and GarageBand worked just fine. On a more professional note, the keyboard also works well with Reason 3 (although the lack of extra control surfaces, i.e. programmable knobs and sliders, was a bit annoying). And for a more do-it-yourself approach, the Keystation is also equipped with a MIDI out port. All in all, I was very impressed with M-Audio on this one. Whether you're a musician who needs a keyboard lying around, a student working with music and audio, or just an everyday joe who wants to mess around with music and synthesis, you could opt for the cheaper 41 key version, but I highly recommend you spend the few extra dollars and get the 61es. You definitely won't regret spending a little more money for a lot more quality.

I use this keyboard with GarageBand for which it is well suited. Setup was dead easy, and the keys are very comfortable.

I've sold my Yamaha P120 to buy this thing...(and plus to buy Firepod and some other stuff :) )

Pros:
Cheap
Light weight and compact
No hassels setup
Does exactly what it suppose to.

Cons:
Keys can get scratched easily (but you can clean it and buff it out).
No Knobs.
Springy action.
You will get used the Springy action and it becomes more natural with extended time of use though.

Overall, acceptable midi controller for the money...

I take piano playing very seriously, and if you want to bring out your true magic the 61es is the most affordable, efficient, brilliant semi weighted piano out there right now. Loved it since the day i got it, built well, it can take a beating.
Get an sp-2 pedal and lock on a steinway software instrument setting on your garageband or logic and boom! Your will play god's whispers.

I am actually Sarah's Son...

This keyboard had a great feel to it, once you get used to the slight springyness of the keys (as compared to a piano). Setup was incredibly easy, just plug it in and turn it on, USB powered. Works with Garage Band and Logic Pro.

I use the music program Logic Pro 9 on my Mac, and it works wonderfully with this keyboard. You can play so many different instruments. I prefer the simplicity of this product compared to other keyboards; the pitch bend and modulation wheels are easy and fun to use, and the octave change buttons extend the notes, as if you have more keys.

If you buy this keyboard, I would recommend the M-Audio SP-2 US65010 Sustain Pedal Piano Style Sustain for Keyboards for another great effect. It adds a whole other layer to your music. Just plug it in the back of the keyboard, and it has the perfect resistance for different sustain levels.

Enjoy!

Today the M-Audio Keystation 61es arrived (22 August 2007). The Keystation is a 61 key Midi keyboard controller that plugs into the USB port of a computer. So, it's like an electric keyboard except the "brains" of the keyboard are inside of a computer. By itself, the keyboard can not make any sound at all. Once connected to a computer, the keyboard can control a wide variety of generated instrument sounds. Because it is a low powered device, it can run entirely from the USB port of a notebook computer on battery power. This is a great advantage because batteries or a power supply are not needed. Since it is just a keyboard controller, it costs much less than an actual musical keyboard.

My only complaint about the keyboard is that the keys have a spring action that is supposed to mimic the feel of a piano. However, it doesn't feel like a piano and the spring action of the keys requires a considerable amount of pressure. However, the alternative to weighted keys would be a keyboard without any weighted action and those can feel even worse.

Other than this one issue, I find the keyboard to be quite usable. I also ordered the sustain pedal.

The only thing I wish this keyboard had was a headphone jack so that I could use it without being connected to the computer. Other than that, it works great. I use it with Garage Band and eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method. The sensitivity of the keyboard works just like most high-end devices.

I've previously used the 49 key version of this keyboard as I now own the 61 key. I must say, though these are the only two MIDI keyboards I've ever used, in comparison to regular synths, these keysboards rock! Aside from all the bells and whistles, the fact that the keys are semi-weighted has to be my favorite. You'll love this product. I've never had any problems at all. Give it a try!!!

-This keyboard is great for electronic music. once you figure out how to assign all its "bell and whistles" to different commands, it opens up a huge array of ways to make midi instruments the way you want them create very interesting music.
-The weighted keys feel great and offer more opportunity for a more natural sounding dynamic contrast than unweighted keys.
-Although when it comes to the amount of keys i would always say the more, the merrier, 61 keys is definitely sufficient for the electronic music work i do with my key-station.
-Lastly, Ableton live Lite (which came with my keyboard) is a great start for anyone interested in creating electronically generated music, however if you are serious about the matter, i would strongly suggest that you not rely on the program enclosed in the keystation box. It would certainly behoove you to buy (or "buy") a more extended audio editing program (the latest version of Ableton Live is always good).

Over all im extremely happy that i am now in the possession of a keystation 61es. I hope this review helps some fellow musicians in their pursuit of an adequate instrument (such as the described above).