Electric Guitar Midi Controller For Sale (2024 Update)

I had great expectations of this and was very happy with the sounds (and excellent tracking) I initially got with the software. The latency was horrible though, and eventually I upgraded my computer (even changed to Mac platform as it did not work out at all on my Surface Pro). By the time I did this, the "legacy sounds" that were provided with the unit were phased out of support. Although I bought the unit early enough to still have the right to use them, they will no longer work and are completely unsupported. This makes the unit nearly worthless. The software they provide now is very poor, and to add to that it is very difficult to install and you have to jump through endless hoops to authorize it through third parties, having to load software package upon software package to authorize. There is no guarantee that those third parties will continue to support the software, either. The unit does not even come with basic GM sounds. The support from Fishman is hit or miss. Sometimes they will pick up the phone and sometimes they are inexplicably absent for weeks at a time. Email support is perhaps worse. I would recommend you avoid this product unless or until the company gets its act together and provides their own software (in addition to the basic FTP interface, which, BTW, does not support VSTs). Note: the FC-1 controller is not necessary. If you get a USB to MIDI adapter you will be all set, and you can control the patches with the switches on the unit or some other type of MIDI controller which really is the thing to do. Flipping through scores of sounds one by one by one is impractical. If you are already MIDI-literate and are willing to spend considerable additional sums on hardware and/or software to make this work, I'd say give it a try. But don't expect to jump into this from being an effects-literate guitar player without setting aside substantial time and money to make this in any way a practical part of your rig.Nicky T

This was easy to setup, and is well designed. It fit my guitar well, and wasn't hard to get working. The software on the other hand, was a huge hassle. The USB stick installer did NOT work, and I had to find all the software online, which was tricky. The website requires you to download all the software from the manufacturers website, which left me running around dozens of different websites, trying to find all the installers. I still don't know if I got them all, there was no way to tell what came with the dumb thing! Despite what they'd like you to believe, the midi packs included are very minor. It's just the typical assortment of synth sounds, like you'd get from any cheap keyboard or software synth. Mostly cartoonish and not useful. I thought it was going to come with a bunch of cool sounds. Nope. Once I got the software working, I gave it a try. While it was able to translate my playing to midi, relatively well, the tracking wasn't the best. If the pickup wasn't right near the strings, it would glitch out. Also, the velocity was way off, and varied widely. Furthermore, the fret position it detected was not accurate to what I was playing. Also, the pickup is curved slightly. My strings are flat, and not curved, so that didn't help. None of my guitars have curved strings, not sure why this is curved. This worked decently. I'd say it's worth a quarter of what they're selling it for. That's how much I'd say it's worth. The price is just too much for something that doesn't work well, and has poor quality software. You're better off buying a cheap tabletop keyboard controller that works than this half-functional toy.Alex C

I played cello in highschool and years later I decided to take it back up for fun. I found this and thought "oh hey, I can play it like a cello, but get other instrument notes to come out instead!" This instrument delivers on that. The Instrument 1 has delivered on that wonderfully. A friend of mine who plays guitar picked it up and got into the swing of it in seconds. It's a wonderful piece of technology and I think it's going to be great for amateurs who maybe know how to play one instrument but want to do more with that knowledge. That is, IF they have an Apple device. I don't. I downloaded the trial versions of five popular PC MIDI sound programs, and after struggling for hours, got varying degrees of success out of three of them and outright failure to get two working. Later, we plugged it into the ipad owned by my guitar-playing friend, downloaded the Artiphon preset editor, opened up Garageband, and BOOM, fully functional, beautiful sound, right off the bat. Again, I am not a music or music program expert. Maybe the PC programs I have can work fully if I better knew what I was doing. But clearly, Apple products are where all the easy-to-use programs of equal if not superior quality have flocked (which makes sense, given the stereotypes). I can't blame Artiphon themselves for this (though it did immediately become clear that the iOS Artiphon App was VASTLY superior to the PC Artiphon app, much to my annoyance), just please note that (at least if you are an armature / hobbyist) that you'll have a easier, and possibly superior experience if you own an Apple device to couple the Instrument 1 with.Darin

I'm surprised there aren't more boards like this, but thankfully it does everything I need 🙂 The manual is a joke but there are plenty of great online guides, videos, and even third party software to help program it. You'll need to learn about the different types of MIDI signals, and you'll probably need to change the settings for if to be useful for your particular software. This can be daunting: but the great thing is that every foot switch can be programmed to send up to ten MIDI signals at once (including two CC settings for the two expression pedals). So even though there are two exp pedals: there's kinda 200! (10 switches and 10 banks). The switches all default to "program change" MIDI signals, which I found pretty unuseful, but they can all be changed to CC signals (eg 0/127 toggle or any value you like, on any CC# you like) or even "note" signals if you want to say control a synth bass line as you play!opium32

THIS IS MY FIRST "MIDI" CONTROLLER OTHER THAN FOOT CONTROLLERS THAT COME WITH UNITS. I WAS UNSURE HOW IT WOULD WORK BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MADE BY THE PROCESSOR UNIT I HAD. BEHRENGER MAKES EXCELLENT PRODUCTS AND THIS IS NO EXCEPTION. HEAVY DUTY CHASIS AND SWITCHES ARE JUST THE OBVIOUS WHEN I OPENED THE BOX. I'M USING IT WITH AN AVID ELEVEN RACK BECAUSE THE AVID FOOT CONTROLLER WAS $400 OPPOSED TO THE $100 FOR THE BEHRENGER UNIT. IT DOES EVERYTHING I NEED IT TO DO AND MORE. IT CONTROLS EVERY PATCH CHANGE I CREATED AND EVEN THE PARAMETERS IN THE PATCHES SO I CAN CHANGE THE TONES INSIDE OF EACH ONE. I HAVEN'T EVEN SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF WHAT THIS UNIT IS CAPABLE OF YET. THE EXPRESSION PEDALS FEEL AND WORK GREAT UNDER FOOT AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF UNITS ON THE FLOOR. THEY'RE NOT AS GOOD AS SOME STAND ALONE WAHS OR VOLUME CONTROLS BUT ARE GOOD ENOUGH FOR MOST GIGS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE UNIT FROM A FINACIAL AND PLAYERS VIEW.rusty7227

I bought a black Korg nanoKONTROL2. It fits perfectly in every different set. Mapping and controlling parameters on Mainstage 3 are easy and I was able to do that at a glance.� The faders and knobs are smooth. The buttons, faders, and knobs are small, but after working a while, you become familiar with their size. There is no buttons backlight, which makes hard to figure out if the parameter controlled by that specific button is on or off. You have to check on Mainstage 3 Perform view to check the parameter status. While playing alive, it is hard to find which specific controller I have to press or to slide. The contrast between buttons, faders, and knobs with the background is low, for all have the same color. The low contrast requires me extra energy and attention during live performances.Alexei

The unit itself is fine – just as described. But the 'user manual' – despite being in almost every language spoken by human beings! – is both misleading and missing almost every bit of needed information. And an online search of the Korg website produced another document about the controller which was even more puzzling and useless! But the price for the controller was quite reasonable. So – after much experimenting – you have a satisfied customer.Geoffrey H.

Purchased as an open box special. Wanted a midi controller versus a regular keyboard due to a midi's versatility. I think, for the price, it is well-built with the features you would want in a keyboard midi controller. The included software is worth, by itself, about two-thirds the price of the Samson Carbon. I got the iPad adapter and it works flawlessly with my Samson Carbon and the iOS midi software. My pre-purchase research found the manufacturer's online support to be rather weak. This was confirmed by their response to my email asking for support in getting the included Native Instruments midi software to work with my Samson Carbon in Windows 8. I WAS able to get it to work via a web search into the problem (bottom line: it was, as suspected, a driver issue that was fixed by changing the driver to another one which was already included with Windows 8). In short, I am very pleased. I knew what I wanted after doing my research. My Samson Carbon fulfills my needs and it is a wonderful musical instrument.diop06

The Samson Carbon 49 USB MIDI controller does not rely on batteries, nor does it require to be plugged into a power outlet; all power is driven from the USB connection. This means it can be powered by the iPad by using the USB to 30 pin adapter found in the iPad Camera Connection Kit for the older iPads and in the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter for later generation iPads and the iPad mini. You will need an app such as Garage Band running on your iPad to accept the input from the controller to drive the sound. There are a total of 49 full sized keys that are velocity sensitive. There are buttons to change the octave if you need a higher or lower range, found above the pitch and modulation wheels. This allows for the full octave range found in a full sized keyboard or piano. Overall, the Carbon 49 USB MIDI controller from Samson Technologies delivers a simple solution for those looking to turn their iPad or iPad mini into a self powered musical instrument for home use, studio use, and on-the-go use. This will work well for beginners up to professionals, with a price that makes it very compellingJeremy the entertainer

This is a great USB or MIDI controller for anyone looking for a compact 49 note keyboard with a lot of extra features. The drum pads feel good and respond well for drumming or sample launching. Having 8 faders and knobs also opens up a lot of possibilities for any producer or performer. They keys themselves have a nice response, and it is also adjustable within the software you are recording with. You can even use this board with your iPad, making it even more portable. Finally, with the Komplete Elements included, you get a lot of great quality sounds right out of the box, and lets you see a little of what the full version of the Komplete software has to offer. This is a real hands on product review by Steve at Sam Ash Music in Lyndhurst, OH.Steve

Installation worked as advertised – not difficult and worked first time without further adjustments. Could use some high-quality instrument patches – had to buy them from Big Fish. Can do a fine quality impression of horn or string section for us keyboard non-experts, but need the sounds. I do not use the iPad app, just use it in DAW.Jamie

Im not crazy about it..It does track quickly. Secondly you dont have to bolt it in.. Thats the good, Im not to crazy about the sound libraries that come with it. Ive not found much that I can use. I can use it with my other midi packs…thats good. You do have to go into your DAW and clean up transients after recording.. I give it a C…Better than nothing! Fishman could do a little better, considering this thing costs over two hundred bucks..crairiver0

I bought this for recording because I don't play keys very well. I reached out to Fishman about a couple of questions to help set it up and they were really helpful. I wouldn't use this for live because it's very sensitive and the MIDI usually needs a little editing to do exactly what I wanted it to, but it really saves me a lot of work. I run Omnisphere from my guitar, mind blownMatt

The Jamstik Studio guitar is a quality built 3/4 scale electric guitar with a midi bluetooth interface. It works well with jamstiks creator software and with third party IOS apps for midi.jehi_117022

MIDI outputs on 3 strings after 4 hours of adjustment and new strings. Bluetooth connectivity is non-existent. Doesnt work at all. The bridge is something youve never seen before and you get to learn setup and tuning all over again- and it doesnt even work that well. Good luck pulling out a tool to tune your strings. This instrument is trash.boundbyonly6strings

I bought this to break in my first MIDI purchase and I was not disappointed. Once I fixed the latency issues in my DAW, everything flowed smooth like butter. I definitely recommend this product.jesdan67

I want to warn people that there are people posting the MKII when they are actually selling the previous version. I ordered the Akai MPK Mini MKII and got the Akai MPK Mini instead. The MKII has a joystick in the upper left corner the one I got doesnt have that control. It works fine but its disappointing that its not the correct one. The picture in the eBay post is so tiny you cant tell that the joystick is missing, so be weary of posts with just a small picture. A question I got is if it sounds realistic, this is a midi controller it sounds like whatever you sounds your DAWs software instruments has available. It has pressure sensitivity so I guess in that sense its can be more realistic sounding than your regular computer keyboard. Its portable, fits in a backpack. With the knobs I am able to control automation on effects and volume knobs in Logic Pro. I cant speak of the joystick since my unit didnt come with one as seen in the pictures I included.asmereir

The Akai MPC Mini is a great little keyboard controller. It works well with Akai software (of course) as well with NI Maschine, Ableton Live and Studio One. Now it is is mini keyboard, so the action is not like a higher keyboard. But for the price, and size, it is well made. It does not sound realistic as it is a controller, and has no sounds. It is Very, Very Portable. Great Keyboard!kawokabiosile

For the keyboardist, keytar is a novelty item. Vortex II has a quality feel and the wireless was easily plugged into a M-audio sound module and worked with no communication issues. Not sure about range for live performances but this has replaced my previous 49 key controller. If you want to step in keytar waters but dont want to spend $1000 I recommend this as a great first step. I had a AX-1 for over double the cost and Vortex II more versatile for a fraction of the cost.josephearlthepearl8166

I bought this as an open box item, and it was just as described. After two weeks I'm still trying to learn the ins and outs of this controller, but for the money I am really impressed. The ribbon and pitch bend wheels are well placed, the keybed feels solid and even, and so far it has done everything I ask it to do. I am using it with the included Ableton Live Lite and included Xpand 2, etc., on an older Mac Mini, and it is an amazing combination. The controller is very lightweight but seems solidly built. The software for editing the controls is a little weak, but it is a great value despite that — I find that the default mapping within the supplied tools is pretty good. I was concerned that 37 keys was too few, but haven't found that to be the case with the nicely placed octave and sustain buttons. And wireless out of the box, with included USB receiver dongle? What's not to like? I couldn't be happier!Anthony

Considering the price this is a sturdy and extremely capable device. I purchased it to give me a practise keyboard but find it so useful when just doodling on the DAW (Cubase or Studio One). DAW settings took a bit of setting up as there are no pre-set configs for this device, however once the principle is understood it was easy to configure the 8 buttons as controller inputs. Keybed feels sort of OK, if you are used to a piano or weighted Synth it feels pretty light on but honestly it has enough feel, keys are a little slippery especially the whites which are super smooth. The Blacks have a small amount of texture. Overall, I'm super happy!CGTS P. L.

The price of the unit was discounted due to some damage to the metal housing on the back of the keyboard and for whatever reason it was caused. But, everything seems to work perfectly. I could not be more happy that a found this Hammer88 at the price I got it for. Thank you very much Sam Ash! The Hammer 88 has an amazing feel and build quality. Excellent buy at the price! Though, it doesn't have but a mod wheel and pitch bend, there is plenty of space on the unit body to add your own extra devices, should you choose, as I have.P

Helix is fantastic for all studio musicians. You can construct so many different sounds with it. Since 3.0, the Helix is a complete package as far as guitar processors go: you have all different amps, cabs, effects, acoustic sim, synths, polyphonic transposition, harmonization, oversampling. Lots of in/outs, lots of ways to route it. The workflow is great: you have the computer editor. You can back up/restore your Helix, email the backup to yourself, etc. The Helix can absolutely replace your entire signal chain and be used as the only piece of gear to process your guitar sounds. The same could not be said about the Helix when it was on earlier firmware versions. Now, the Helix itself is very cheaply made. I thought I'd purchase one and never need to use anything ever again– wrong! After about a year of light use, the buttons stopped working reliably, then an LED stopped working. Helix is assembled using cheap Chinese parts that are tiny! For example, the footswitches are not what they appear to be–there are tiny tactile microswitches underneath. The Helix will not withstand nonstop gigging for more than a year, unless it's regularly serviced/cleaned, etc. It's a real shame because it can sound great, but something is always failing, or about to fail.Dimitri

Overall: I just received the Helix Rack yesterday so I only have a few hours in the drivers seat but that's enough to learn how truly awesome this thing is. I've owned a lot of Line 6 products over the last 20 years, in fact I still have a spider V240 and a POD HD Pro X but the Helix is so far out of their league they will probably never get used again in my studio. The design is sleek, easy to navigate, user friendly and just all around beautifully designed. The large full color screen is not only eye catching but makes navigating the menus effortless. Even though I'm modeler savvy, I've had no previous experience with Impulse Responses, in fact, I hadn't even heard of them until I started researching the Helix Rack and quite honestly I didn't think that I would care to use them… Well… I was wrong. It's amazing what these things do for the quality and authenticity of my tones when recording. As I mentioned earlier I only have 2 days under my belt at this point but most of that has been recording scratch tracks just to hear the result of these I.R's. I also love the fact that Line 6 still adds all of the necessary physical knobs and controls to their equipment in the days of everything being digital. The idea that I can play almost uninterrupted while tweaking many different parameters on the unit itself without a pedal is always a selling point for me. Not taking anything away from the foot controller but when I'm seated in front of my rack, using my hands to adjust the unit itself is just somewhat more convenient at times. Next, the user space… I thought that my POD HD Pro X had a lot of space for user presets but It has nothing on the Helix. I will probably never fill all of the user List's or even come close to it but It's always better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it. Also, let me jump back to the large screen again, I have a laptop on which I keep all of my editing software for my studio equipment. I always plug in my Spider V240 and POD and use the Spider V Remote and POD HD Pro X edit software respectfully because in most cases sitting behind my recording console and tweaking my sound is just much easier to do with the computer apps than the equipment. The Helix is the first and only piece of equipment I've owned where the display is laid out and organized in a way that is very similar to a computer or tablet app and so even though I have the Helix Edit app running on my computer right next to me, making adjustments on the front of the Helix Rack in many cases is actually easier and faster than grabbing a mouse and using the comp app. I could write much more describing my total satisfaction thus far but I will wait 'till I have used it for another month or so and update my review at that time. I will leave you with this thought. While conveying my total happiness to my brother last night regarding the Helix Rack, I went so far as to say that I feel that this could be the last guitar processer I ever buy and if not it's pretty close.Fred

Like others who have bought this, I'm a guitar player and was looking for something inexpensive for programming VST instruments in my DAW. If you don't happen to know what that means it's basically creating tracks in the recording process. It makes no sound whatsoever on its own. It only controls external synth modules or software instruments. This unit is perfect for that. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was designed and built precisely for this application. It's basic keyboard function and also it's extra control buttons work plug and play with no need to load a driver. No muss, no fuss, it just works. It's USB powered so you don't need to plug it in to power or use batteries. However, if you are a keyboard player I think you would want something more substantial. Also be advised that this unit uses midi through USB only, there are no old-school five pin DIN midi ports. I got the 49 key model. Perfect for what I need (you can access all the octaves using the shift up/down buttons – obviously not practical for live performance) Also be aware that there are step-up models from this company with 88 keys, and/or more buttons, knobs, and pads for DAW control. But for a compact, basic unit that does the job well for the absolute cheapest price, this is a great choice. I'm excited to have one.Dan

Sound: No sound – it’s a midi controller. You have to hook it up to a DAW to get sound. Features: Best features – Semi weighted keys and Backlit pads + 9 smooth faders. About the Semi weighted keys: If you’re a keyboard player get a digital piano. Simple. Semi weighted keys suck. Hammer action is more expensive and heavier to carry so this is a happy medium. My F2-C2 keys started giving higher velocities after 5 months of light – to – moderate use. Had to contact Nektar support to get a new one – grateful for that warranty! Ease of Use: Very easy to get going! Literally a plug and play in Logic. If you’re in Reason and you set it up initially, you may never have to reach for a mouse for a loooong time. Transport controls are excellent. Quality: Solid build. Feels heavy when lifted. Unfortunately the keys – esp lower end keys – could be stronger/have more resistance. Value: The product doesn’t hold its value well, wish it did. Folks don’t want to buy it at around the same price point it was bought – more like 50% off the price it was bought. Manufacturer Support: Support is excellent. Don’t try calling – you’ll get nowhere. Go through the website/email and you will be fine. You will get a response in 36 hrs guaranteed. The Wow Factor: This product is great honestly. Wish I didn’t have to return it but the F2-C2 keys misbehaved so I had to get a new unit. The drum pads are awesome. If you assign the faders , your mixing process will be streamlined to the T. Overall: Honestly I loved this product and I didn’t want to get rid of it until the F2-C2 keys started malfunctioning. I reached out to Nektar support via the website and I have a new one being shipped out to me after 3 days. Hopefully the new one does well.John

Good full sized keyboard – so plenty of desk space is needed, it has features that rival much more expensive items. Data and power flows through the supplied USB cable with an option to also use a seperate power adapter (not included). The keys are a good size and semi-weighted. PC software is included and instructions are available to enable the keyboard to interface with almost all other pc recording software. Overall an excellent well made item that will see a lot of use especially in a home recording studio.eyreri

A very good controller. I am using it with Cubase. I needed to register with nektar to get the Cubase interface code. It was easy to get and install. I have had a problem with controlling one vst though and have not sussed this out yet or I would have given 5 stars. It could be the plugins fault as when I remove it from Cubase the problem goes away. The action was a bit heavy for me at first but I am now getting used to it. I love the ability to be able to control elements of Cubase from the keyboard. If you get one yourself watch some of the instruction videos as they make more sense than the manual.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I really feel good about this purchase. 🙂 I did tonnes of research for the best controller (with price in mind) and I believe this one is perfect for me. I'm glad I didn't get a 25 or 37 key keyboard because I would have found hand positioning too cramped and awkward, whereas 49 keys is just perfect for my desk and provides plenty of range for two-handed playing. I use mine with Reaper and the integration software was a breeze to setup. I haven't explored anywhere near all of the ways to control Reaper with the keyboard, but the obvious buttons for start/stop, etc. work as expected. I'd like to work out how to get it to select plugin patches soon. Having actual pitch and modulation wheels was a good choice too as they're solid and accurate – I didn't want the unintuitive slider alternatives. The other really pleasing factor is the key weighting/spring. It feels much more like a real piano than the synthesizers I have which makes me want to play more piano sounds. You can't get the level of subtlety with the average synth type keys as you can here. It just feels much more expensive than it is! Hats off to Nektar for producing a stunning product in this price range.Colin S.

I bought this as I needed to downsize and create some more space. This is nicely compact, but doesn’t feel small. The build quality is fantastic and it looks great! I won’t be playing this in a traditional piano sense and some people may be put off by the smaller keys, but for triggering notes it’s great. As for the drum pads they’re very strong and feel nice to the touch. Connectivity wise it’s a dream. I just plugged it in and installed the software and away I went. Overall I’m very happy. I’d recommend this to someone who needs something compact or will be using it on the go.Ryan W.

In reference to Akai MPK mini 2, this unit is better build quality, much sturdier and heavier mostly because of metal plate at the bottom. Keys are great quality but they are not as expressive as MPK mini. I find the pitch bend and touch mod strip feature very unusable, very hard to have smooth bends especially while writing automation. The knobs are only preprogrammed to Analog Lab, so for everything else you have to manually program them, which was not the case with MPK mini. If mod/pitch bend feature is important to you, I recommend a midi keyboard with the classic wheel design. Just a side note, in MPK mini after two years of usage pitch bend/mod toggle started glitching, then the USB port broke, which would have been replaceable if there wasnt an IC chip right behind it that got broken with it as well. With that said I recommend trying out diferent products aside from popular ones.igor-k

The Arturia Minilab MK2 is a great little midi keyboard. It serves it's purpose as a staple in small studios with less room. It's compact and quality design assures that it's not a cheap controller and is also made by a well respected company. I like the Minilab because it feels more like a real keyboard when playing the keys. Some midi controllers are more plastic and light almost toy like feel. It comes with some great software options such as Analog Lab Lite and Ableton Lite. For a small fee you can upgrade to the full version of Analog Lab which is well worth the price with over 6,000 presets from several different synths and pianos. The minilab is mapped to the Analog Lab and any other Arturia software which makes it even better. It also works with other daws as long as it's mapped correctly but will work best with anything from Arturia line. Overall for the price it's well worth it for what you get. I mean for $100 it's a steal. I think it's a great addition and any studio wether your a hobbyist or a full time musician.leppus2015

Not going to lie, I saw the video with Mr. Bill using these things and I was like GOT DAYUM I need that in my life. I am a producer and a live performer focusing on progressive rock and idm glitch ********. I also enjoy birdwatching. Except for bluejays; quite possibly the most obnoxious bird ever despite their high intelligence compared to other avian creatures. Anyways, I find that the Twister makes the sound design process much more immersive and enjoyable. Being able to assign knobs to various parameters allows you to fine tune in a way that you can't with a mouse. Feeling out little nooks in the sound with your hands is much like finding the right chords on a piano. You're playing the synths and not just clicking through the GUI. For live, it just makes you look less like a **** pressing buttons (which is always a plus). The spot underneath the unit for storing the cable is the best idea that humanity has ever conceived. Who would have thought it would have taken us THOUSANDS of years before someone thought 'hey…maybe we should compartmentalize this little controller so that the cable isn't a pretzel when we load in'. But alas, you guys have done it. Thank you for your ingenuity. I'm going to be getting the 16 button fighter here soon for chopping and general midi triggering live. It's cool to have things like this around in the studio for various midi flexibility and flashy lights so that clients are mesmerized by something while you **** around in Serum or pretend to know how Zebra 2 works. You guys make great stuff and you have earned a repeat customer. Cheers.Jesse B.

I have been in search of a small, yet powerful DAW control surface that didn't break the bank and never really found what I was looking for. Enter the Midi Fighter Twister. I have been able to map all my common, most used DAW functions on bank 1, now which the locations of each function have started to become muscle memory. Bank 2 is set up as a 4 channel mixer with fader, pan, gain, phase, solo, mute and track selection controls. Bank 3 I have mapped to my most used plugin that I use on about 70% of my audio tracks. All of this in very small space, with lots of visual, colored feedback and I still have one bank left to play around with. If this thing had one, nice, detailed fader on one side of the unit with one extra knob above the fader, it would be absolutely perfect for me. As it is, its a well built, versatile and compact device. I am loving it!Dean W.

I use Midi Fighter Twister for Lightroom photo editing. Actually, I use two of them. This setup speeds up my color adjustments, sharpness settings, and other settings. This way I do not have to use my mouse and search for/opens the settings in Adobe Lightroom and take my eyes from the photo. I am considering of using it for Davinci Resolve video editing, and might try some sound mixing int the future. On the negative side, there are many ways for its improvement. The controller does no have any mounting points (like standard 1/4'' or 3/8'' threads used in photography) – like when I want to combine many of the controllers in one setup, and adjust the angle to the table. The bank switch knobs are hard to press, so I have to use my other arm to hold the box. They are on the left and right sides, so I cannot put two boxes close together – they will cover the buttons. There is no dedicated indicator of which bank is chosen, so some guess work needs to be done. There is no alternative connection point to USB cable, in case I need to mount in elsewhere. The box is pretty thick, so it takes a lot of height on the table – less convenient to use while sitting at the table, have to twist my hands up (this maybe not an issue while standing). It could be done twice thinner, as its middle part is twice thinner than the outside. The application is quite old – its last update was in 2019. There are always opportunities for improvements and implementing new features. Otherwise, it looks like abandoned.Vitali L.

This was an answer to prayers. I absolutely love this keyboard. I was looking at some of the reviews and pondered on one of the comments of the responsiveness of the product. It is actually REALLY responsive. Funny thing is, it may depend on the program your using with the midi keyboard a well; it my not entirely be depended on this, but it does have some effect. The first program I used was Studio One, and each time I played, no settings changed on the keyboard or within the system, it had some effect of delay. That was a little frustrating, in all honesty but with knowing that there was a problem with the delay, there must be something to control it right? Eventually, it can be monitored and delt with in the system settings of program you are using to interact with the midi Keyboard. I recently changed to Ableton Live (A lot easier to understand) and was able to see exactly which effect were causing the delays. That may answer some of the worries a customer may have about the ratings of this product. Overall, this is an amazing keyboard for an amazing price and it is high-quality-built in my opinion.jea.jessi

My experience with this product has been frustrating and very disappointing. When I first plugged it in I had to poke the keys very forcefully to get any response from this device. I downloaded the V49 editor software hoping that would help me fix the problem, but my Norton Antivirus kept rejecting the exe file. I posted a request for help on the Alesis support website last week – no response. So, I called them on the phone, waited 45 minutes on hold, and a technician told me there was nothing wrong with the V49 Editor software, and that I should try again to load the software and reset the velocity on the keys to "1". When I finally got the V49 Editor installed, I reset the velocity for the keys from 4 to 1 – and this made a marginal improvement – but the keyboard sensitivity at 1 is still unacceptably unresponsive. I also have discovered that the V49 seems to default the velocity on the keys back to 4. So I have to keep resetting the velocity. I really tried to make this work out of customer loyalty to Alesis because I have one of their other products – which I am very happy with – their SR-16 drum machine. However, I am throwing in the towel on this V49 – I am going to return it.MICHEAL

I wanted a MIDI controller with enough good features for the price, this one was the best one. I have played MOTIF and high end AKAI keyboards before even though it doesn't compare, for the price its amazing. Out of the box I noticed while I was going into Logic the keys were touchy, the curve of the sensitivity of they keys were way off for me. I tried to see if the software could fix it and there is a curve setting for the keys. I tried changing it from 1-8 which are all the curve settings and it didn't do anything having to find out you have to send the setting to the device(V49) so it will save it. It works great now! The keys feel fine and all the settable knobs and drum pads feel great! They light up too! I highly recommend this one for a home recording studio or a secondary controller for a live set up. Thats exactly what I use it for! Just make sure you have the curve setting that you like and send the setting to the hardware device to change it on the keyboard.Michael Panda

Overall, very good for my needs as a bedroom guitarist. I chose this multi effects units over the more expensive brands simply because it had built-in drums and looper which the other brands didn't have.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Quite simply the best in it's price range for a looper with midi switching capabilities. It is easier to program than most and is quite cheap for all that it doesReally impressed with the quality etc,I don't really know what else to say except if you are in the market for one of these things this is a very easy to use and simple unit that will get any job done quietly and of course awesomelythnaks!neh, that's what she said!

Works well but complicated and is manual hard to understand. Questions submitted to customer support were answered well and promptly. Having an in and out on each loop (in addition to a send and return) allows for support of stereo effects — but be aware that you will consume two loops for each stereo effect. It's midi implementation is better than the other brand's product that is very similar (but you may want to consult their website for better hookup example diagrams). Works well with Roland FC-300 footswitch. Requires LOTS of patch cables — would be better if a loop's "out" connected by default to the next loops "in", but this would have to be override-able.goSteelers

Overall: Earlier review was spot on, until about a week later. I don't know if it was the humidity in the region, and all the rain, but I had to return this product unfortunately. It kept deactivating itself. Also the Nektarine plugin would not load. Very disappointed at this behavior, as I wasted my entire summer waiting for this, only to have my experience.Kc

Highly recommended for Logic Pro users. Controls auto map to Logic instruments and can easily map 3rd party instruments. Mixer mode, drum pads, also has midi din connection, keyboard feels good.yahut