Audio Prokeys
Audio Prokeys
Is the M-Audio Prokeys 88sx worth the money?
i don't know this model but like m-audio alot - they do nice, sometimes really innovative gear though i have used their processor stuff more than their control devices...stilll - i found this review and print it here in full(keyboard magazine) - maybe this is what you are looking for?
M-Audio ProKeys 88SX
By Scott Healy | May 2006
It’s the musical version of Moore’s law: Keyboards keep getting smaller, less expensive, and better-sounding. Is it possible, perhaps, that we’re finally being rewarded for years of suffering with sub-standard piano simulations inside of bulky and burdensome boxes designed by guys who never had to snake one down a basement stairway to a crowded stage? M-Audio’s ProKeys 88sx Performance Piano is part of a new breed we’ll call “ultra-light.” It’s pared-down yet full-size, pro-equipped yet built so as to keep cost down. Ten years ago, an 88-key digital piano weighing less than 20 lbs. was a pipe dream at any price. Now it’s a reality. But how professional an instrument do you really get? Let’s find out.
Sounds
To put it simply, the ProKeys’ sampled pianos sound great. Neither too hot nor too mellow, they’re just right for the average bear, and good for most any gigging band situation. “Piano 1” is the go-to guy, a rich, multi-layer stereo sample of a Yamaha C7 concert grand. It’s nice and full, perhaps a bit bright in the upper register, but rich and deep in the lows. The midrange sounds a tad thin, especially from F3 to G4, but you’re not going to notice on the gig, unless that gig is playing solo at Carnegie Hall. While the samples are dry for the most part, without any inherent ambience, notes above A4 have a small hiss in their tails when hit hard, and I sometimes found the dynamics difficult to control. The transition between f and ff, for example, could be smoother, and the harder velocity samples in the middle of the 88sx’s range tend to jump out when you start to play loud. No doubt all this could be addressed with yet more layers, but really, what do you want for the price of a good sushi blowout for four? I especially loved the stereo imaging, with notes that move from left to right as you ascend the keyboard.
Piano 2 is brighter, with a more pronounced attack. “E. Pianos” 1 and 2 are a Rhodes and Wurli. I found the former meaty and fat, especially enjoyable with a little chorus, and the later very authentic. “E. Piano 3” is a DX7-type digital sound. The Clavinet is outstanding: funky, not too bright, and with easy-to-control dynamics. Then there’s the “Perc. Organ,” a ho-hum attempt at the jazz B-3 sound. Six out of seven ain’t bad, and I don’t think M-Audio meant the 88sx for playing organ in any case.
Buttons, Effects, and Velocity
The button layout is simple and efficient. On top are seven instrument buttons that change sounds, directly to the left are buttons for reverb and chorus, velocity curves, and playing the onboard demo. Sweeten sounds on the fly with reverb and chorus, each of which has three levels of intensity and an “off” option. A lit LED above the button indicates an active effect. Effects settings are global, and do not change when you choose a new sound. The velocity control steps through four curves, and you can transpose up or down up to 12 semitones with two dedicated buttons — a great gig feature. Note that everything resets to defaults on power-up, and it’s kind of a drag that there’s no user memory in which to save your preferred effects and velocity curves as presets. Re-establishing them is simple enough, but even one or two user slots would be very practical.
MIDI Controller Functions
The Advanced Function button is used to access MIDI control functions, and this aspect of the ProKeys 88sx is well thought-out enough to deserve a closer look. Suppose you wanted to change the MIDI channel you’re transmitting on. Press the Advanced Function button, then one of the white keys from D1 to E3, which are clearly labeled Ch 1 – 16 just above the keys. The keyboard momentarily mutes the sound, jumping back to playing mode once you’ve made your selection. All other MIDI functions — including program change, bank select, octave shift, slider controller assignments, mod wheel, expression pedal, data entry, and panic are clearly labeled just above the keys, and explained in the brief and informative manual.
In Use
I really took to the layout of the buttons and the overall pro feel of the keys and controls. All of the 88sx’s functions are very intuitive, and it was quite a while before I had to open the manual. I also liked the simple, stepped method for setting effect intensity: It’s nice to just keep hitting one button to change the reverb setting, instead of having to page though a number of parameters on a little screen. Practicing on the ProKeys 88sx in my studio, the hardest of the four velocity curves was my favorite — it compensated for the semi-weighted keys somewhat, and more importantly, smoothed the transition to the loudest velocity layer that I complained about above.
Although you can assign the volume slider to transmit MIDI continuous controllers, I do miss having a dedicated data slider for MIDI control, as you lose local volume control of the internal sounds. A workaround is to set the keyboard to “local off” and pass all MIDI info, including volume, through your computer and back to the 88sx.
The labeling of jacks, which is only on the rear panel and not the top, is the embossed sort that’s the same color as the rest of the keyboard body, making it challenging to read onstage. I’d also prefer to have even a small LCD to work with in addition to the LEDs and multi-function keyboard, but that would likely add cost.
The ProKeys 88sx is way more solid and durable than other ultra-lights I’ve used, some of which have kept me up at night thinking about knobs that feel as if they could be broken off by a strong breeze. Also don’t forget that less “software” in the keyboard — no storage, no menus, no display, and a limited number of controls — means zippier electronics. The ProKeys 88sx changes programs instantly.
Conclusions
If you only used the piano sound and played it on gigs, the ProKeys 88sx would be a worthy purchase. Conversely, if you and your 88sx never left the house, it would be right at home hooked into your computer rig all winter. Bear in mind that this is principally a performance piano with very basic keyboard controller abilities; many standard “big rig” performance and programming features such as splits, zones, and savable presets are absent. If realtime control of software such as Ableton Live is your gig, you might want something with more knobs and sliders. Yet lots of players need something that works both sides simply, and this is it. The ProKeys 88sx is a great go-to axe; keep it around for those gigs in town, rehearsals, practicing, and writing. Put it on your desk in the studio, throw it over your shoulder with your laptop and take it on your boat, or carry it onstage with one hand and your drink in the other.
For a long time, real-world gigsters and geeksters have all needed a digital piano with some controller capability that’s cheap, great-sounding, reliable, and ultra-lightweight. Now we have one, and its sheer bang-for-the-buck makes giving it our Key Buy award a no-brainer.
Claim Check
Claim Check
M-Audio says: “Keyboardists shouldn’t have to sacrifice their backs for superb sound quality and playability. Designed specifically for the gigging musician, the ProKeys 88sx provides the essential sounds that performing keyboardists rely on most — a multi-velocity Grand Piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Clavinet and three others — in a lightweight 17lb. form factor that can be carried under one arm. In addition, the ProKeys 88sx boasts musical semi-weighted action and other professional features including inputs for assignable sustain, sostenuto, and expression pedals, plus built-in chorus and reverb effects. It can also be used as a USB-MIDI interface and controller, and two headphone jacks make it perfect for teaching. The combination of this feature set and affordable price point allows even an entry-level user to experience professional-grade sounds and touch.
Overview
Pros
Great piano and electric piano sounds. Incredibly lightweight. It doesn’t get much more affordable.
Cons
No 5-pin MIDI input.
M-Audio
www.m-audio.com
$449.95
i guess it depends how you're gonna use it - i like a 5-pin midi but that's me - if you don't need it then who cares?
if you have a friend in the uk who can get this for you , you'll benefit from the current £/$ strength, too!
hope this is some help? ooo - nearly forgot - if you find the sound too digital you can use a lil tube buffer on the analogue output(wherever that is in your system!!!) look at the china-made omg cheap tube buffers you can get on ebay!!!
=P
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