Waterfall keybed controller for Stage2

[chuckiep]

Can anyone suggest a light inexpensive ($100-$400) midi controller to allow playing the S2 organ via midi? It must have waterfall organ keys for me. Studiologic has a 61 key waterfall solution ($600 - 23 Pounds) but before I leap, I would like to know if anyone has found any other alternatives to this.

Thanks

[chuckiep]

I use the StudioLogic VMK161 Organ controller and I love the action. The sliders can all be programmed to control the drawbars - although I found the process for programming a bit non-intuitive. This isn't really a huge problem though as you will only really need to program it once.

[anotherscott]

Can anyone suggest a light inexpensive ($100-$400) midi controller to allow playing the S2 organ via midi? It must have waterfall organ keys for me. Studiologic has a 61 key waterfall solution ($600 - 23 Pounds)

I think that's the cheapest you'll find. I can't even think of another waterfall controller. And even most used clonewheels will cost at least that much, and most will be heavier. That said, I think organ can play pretty well from non-waterfall keyboards, if they are suitably responsive and have no hard edges to the keys. The Samson Graphite 49 looks pretty nice for the money, if you can get by with 49 keys... it has 9 sliders which should be usable as drawbars as well. The Novation SL Mk II feels nice, though more expensive and only 8 sliders. Casio XW-P1 could be a possibility, 9 sliders that can function as drawbars over MIDI, light, well priced, and also capable of some cool sounds of its own.

[chuckiep]

Note that the Studiologic is Fatar's house brand -- those are the same waterfall keys found on Nords, which are semi-weighted BTW.

Bless,

Pablo

[chuckiep]

Thanks to all for outstanding suggestions. Sounds like the ideal choice would be the Studiologic VMK 161 Organ. Although at $699, I will check some of the cheaper, although non waterfall, options on the market for grins and giggles.

[mjbrands]

If you want a cheaper solution, the Novation Impulse 61 might be an option; it has 9 programmable sliders (for the drawbars), but the keybed is of a lower quality than the Novation Remote SL mk2 (or the mentioned Studiologic controller for that matter). It should be fairly light and fits within the mentioned budget.

Personally I would save a bit longer and go with the VMK161, but that's just me.

[michael_C1]

The M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 has waterfall keys and a nice feel to the keys, I have one.. That model has now been replaced by the Axiom Air, but both have the same keybed. In years past I never would have recommended M-Audio stuff for their keyboard actions, but some of their products now are quite good.

[anotherscott]

Axiom Pro is not waterfall, it has a lip to the front edges. As I recall, all the edges were kind of sharp, so it was not amenable to organ playing (swipes and such). Waterfall keyboards are ideal for that, but some non-waterfall keyboards still work very well... but some non-wf have sharper edges that can make those techniques painful.

[michael_C1]

I stand ( or sit) corrected. The Axiom does have a lip along with a full front, like on a piano. I didn't realize a 'waterfall' keyboard meant no lip. Way back when I played a console Hammond I never heard the term used, nor did I hear 'crosstalk' used, or some other terms that are now commonplace.

I find it quite easy to do glissandos on the Axiom. In fact, it's much easier than it used to be on my old Hammond CV which had sharp edges on the sides of the keys. That could get painful.

[tomzi]

I would suggest this:http://www.thomann.de/de/doepfer_d3m_or ... chwarz.htm
But i don´t know if it´s available in the USA.