M-Audio Keystation 88 II MIDI Keyboard - 88 Key USB Controller with Semi-Weighted Keys for Music Production

I use this for all of my composition work now, and I can't imagine trying to make music any other way. One very important requirement I will note here: this keyboard REQUIRES a PC with full MIDI support in order to get any sort of sound.On the topic of PC compatibility, no special driver installation was needed to get the keyboard to be detected. With this said, I would highly recommend getting a software synthesizer to pair with the device, so you can visually pick and choose instruments, and adjust settings on-screen rather than the clunky key macro modes on the device itself. I personally use my home-built MIDI Synthesizer software and a few virtual midi drivers.- Pros - • Full range • Compatibility with a wide range of software • GREAT for compositions and writing music • No external power required- CONS - • Included cable is slightly short. Get a longer one if you plan on setting up at an L Desk with the PC at the corner of the L. • Note Velocity detection is not perfect and requires tuning and adjustment. I noticed that some keys have varying sensitivity. IE I can lightly tap one note and it would be (albeit, slightly) louder than the note next to it. • Clunky on-device advance controlsI just got mine, and overall I like it so far. It's a little heavier than I thought it would be, but it isn't so heavy that it'll be a problem to move around (unlike my main keyboard which weighs around 60lbs). The key action is ok. It isn't piano like, but I'd say it's a step up from the usual that you'd get on keyboards in this price range. For straight up playing/ recording on my computer (which is what this thing is intended for) it should do very well. I'm using FL Studio, and it reads it just fine. That's the big thing. I needed something where I could input notes faster than clicking with the mouse, and this should revolutionize my recording experience. FL Studio doesn't read the pitch wheel, mod wheel, or volume slider for all instrument patches which I find a little disappointing.... It registers that there is something happening, it just doesn't know what to do with it unless the instrument plugin itself has a midi options menu where I can enable pitch bending or mod wheel. But that's probably just an FL Studio thing and there may be a setting I'm missing somewhere.There is one thing people need to know before buying it, though. It comes with SoNiVox 88 Ensemble and Xpand!. Unfortunately, they are Windows 7 and above (don't know about the Mac version) (the keyboard itself requires XP or above according to M-Audio). It doesn't say that anywhere in the product description, or on the M-Audio page for the Keystation 88. If you're like me and are running an older version of Windows, you are SOL on the software. When you try to install the programs it'll give you an error message stating that it doesn't support that version of Windows. Just wish I'd known that *before* I went through the trouble of setting up an account with M-Audio and downloaded the 6Gb+ files.I am - well, WAS (thanks, Covid) - a touring artist with intermediate skill. I have thus far used this for 4 live shows and it connected seamlessly with my laptop, and responds well for live/pre-programmed hybrid shows - HOWEVER I cannot recommend this for professional use, at least, not for long. I officially began learning piano (scales, modes, theory) 6 months ago, and in that time, my skill has progressed. Unfortunately, this piano cannot keep up. The keys feel great, but there are missed note strikes, and random 1st octave triggers (A1, B1) that really annoy (and ruin) good recording takes. It seems to be able to handle ostinato and lively percussive playing at 100 bpm, but beyond that, it will being to "miss" notes, or have wonky velocities (my left pinky finger is NOT that strong, but holy damn, this keyboard LOVES to showcase that finger's keystrokes with full velocity impact).I like it - really, I love it, but I must warn you that just like attorneys and electronics: YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. If you are a quick learner, or wanting to take your show on the road, you may want to save up for a better quality model. however, money is always the issue, so if you do settle for this, it is a good model, great for recording at home, and for certain live situations, it can be beneficial. 88 key controllers are stupidly expensive, and M-Audio knows they have the "budget" friendly lines. It is the Walmart, eMachine/Dell version of a keyboard controller... for better and worse.Well built, full velocity sensitivity, a little bit heavy, but still portable.I am not exactly the greatest pianist, but after having my first full 88k keyboard, I cannot go back to anything less.Note! If you do hook this up to FL Studio, the media buttons at the top do not work, and instead send out midi signals. I still cannot figure out why this is the case, and I can't seem to find anything in the manual for either this keyboard, or FL on how to fix that. It's not an issue, just a mild inconvenience.Some YouTube reviews show that some keys lose sensitivity over time, so if that's the case, I will update this review.Pros:Good value for money.Capable of DAW control via MIDI CC.Very lightCons:Action feels awful (especially black keys)Pedal and PSU sold separatelyBuild quality - doesn't feel sturdy... I wouldn't chuck it in the back of a van.There are so many sounds available ,its staggering, you are never lost for new sounds , midi is a great thing, there is a lot of midi software out there. This keyboard has a lovely 88 keys. A Pitch shifter, it plugs into a computer with USB ,you will have to find a midi software program to enable you to use it. This does come with the serial number for ambleton lite to download and use which is very good software, This midi keyboard is sturdy and strong but easy to carry and doesn't weigh a ton like a Piano, That's what's good about this Keyboard ,its light and portable and fits on the computer desk nicely.The Piano is good for using with Sibelius or Logic to compose. HOWEVER, as a pianist, I find that the keys are not very responsive and you cannot play anything fast on this midi controller.But... There is one thing that makes this product worth much more... It comes with a VST plugin called Eighty Eight Ensemble - And oh my!... it is seriously the best piano sampler I have ever seen!Now... Think of the figures.... the VST plugin is £105.96 if you buy it directly off there website which means the piano is £30 extra. So This is a bargain! If you are looking for great piano samples, then buy this!I'm a total beginner but took the plunge recently to learn.I wanted a full-sized keyboard at a budget price. For that, this is mission accomplished! It feels good to my un-trained hands and worked instantly after plugging it in to my computer.Garage Band and various other software instantly recognised it. I even bought a sustain pedal which worked flawlessly.The keys respond well and I'm already taking my first steps to playing a song!