M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 MIDI Keyboard Controller

Overview

A highly sophisticated MIDI keyboard controller that builds on features found in M-Audio’s Axiom 61. The Axion Pro 61 introduces HyperControl Technology, which is essentially interactive and pre set-up communication between the keyboard and the majority of the world’s popular software environments.

A feature-rich, solid, and compact MIDI keyboard controller, the Axiom Pro 61 comes bundled with some exciting software (Ableton lite, plus Enigma software editor/librarian) and is a popular and cost-effective controller for rigs and gigs where space is tight.

HyperControl takes the Axiom Pro 61's 65 MIDI controls (knobs, buttons, switches, sliders, and pads, and maps them to the most common destinations in a variety of applications including ProTools, Cubase, Logic, and Reason, plus several plug-in instruments.

Hardware

Smoothly designed and extremely well laid out, this mobile USB MIDI controller has everything it takes to get the most from your MIDI software and hardware: 8 assignable rotary encoders, 9 sliders, pitch and mod wheels, DAW transport controls, and a decent backlit LCD screen. The semi-weighted, 61-key action complete with aftertouch gives you great feel and expression while 8 rubberized trigger pads put your drums at your fingertips for programming with feel - or easy-to-fire samples or visual effects.

MIDI Control

There are no less than 65 MIDI assignable controls in all. These include 8 rotary encoders, which can be assigned to mixer controls like panning and effects sends, or to any synth parameter you want to control. There are also the touch sensitive pads, nine sliders - that can be used either for mixing, or can be used as ‘drawbars’ if you’re a Hammond organ plug-in user - and a variety of switches and controllers for pitch bend, mod etc. 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.

Programming

Nine dedicated front-panel function buttons 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. 50 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 to the bundled Enigma software editor/librarian for PC and Mac. An interesting featured only offered here on the 'Pro' range is the ability for a button to also send ASCII messages, in other words replicating the shortcuts on a QWERTY keyboard.

In Use

Armed with a more than decent TruTouch keyboard, tuff rubber drum/sample trigger pads, assignable knobs, performance controls, and no less than 50 preset memories to house your HyperControl set-ups, the Axiom 61 Pro offers a monster package in a very cost-effective and relatively slimline setting.

The constant two-way link with your host DAW means the keyboard’s controls are always in sync with your software's active parameters. The intuitive graphic LCD constantly updates the current values, which ensures seamless editing and prevents parameter jumps - even when plug-ins are closed. Toggle instantly between Mixer and Instrument control modes.

Bundles

Ableton Live Lite delivers much of the functionality of Ableton Live - the revolutionary, multi-award winning music production solution that allows you to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit your musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. Live brings your acoustic, electronic and virtual instruments - as well as your digital audio recordings and MIDI sequences - together in a single interface with unparalleled ease of use.

Enigma is a powerful software editor/librarian for Mac and PC that lets you easily program, store and load setups for M-Audio and Evolution USB MIDI controllers. Enigma includes a huge library of files for your favorite VST plug-ins, instruments and host apps. Programming is as simple as dragging the software parameter you want to control onto the graphic representation of the controller on your screen. With Enigma, your library of controller presets is virtually unlimited.