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Best MIDI keyboard for Studio One
- Thread starter Bumlehri
- Start date
Welcome to the Forum!
There's no one answer to this question so other members here will provide responses to which one they think provides best control and Studio One 7 DAW integration.
I use the Nektar LX61+ (it's 61 keys but they also make a 49 keys version) which works great with Studio One 7...
Nektar Impact LX61+ Keyboard Controller
There's no one answer to this question so other members here will provide responses to which one they think provides best control and Studio One 7 DAW integration.
I use the Nektar LX61+ (it's 61 keys but they also make a 49 keys version) which works great with Studio One 7...
Nektar Impact LX61+ Keyboard Controller
Gary Shepherd
Member
Nektar Panorama T4 - has special software which Nektar partnered with Presonus - so the controls all work superbly with Studio One. Nice keyboard action too.
Randall Rothenberg
New member
I’m planning to upgrade from my Nektar LX25+, so I’m interested in exactly this. What makes it better than others you’ve tried, and what are the main differences with the LX series?
The two big hardware differences between LX+ and Panorama T are that the knobs are endless encoders instead of potentiometers and there is a 64 x 128 pixel LCD screen instead of a three character led display. These both make a huge difference in ease of use.
The big software difference that comes to mind is that up to eight pages of eight parameters are allowed to be configured to control every plugin or instrument, whether native PreSonus or third party. Nektar and PreSonus worked together to come up with the overall integration, I have to believe it is one of the most comprehensive integrations in the industry. Pretty much everything that is native PreSonus is automatically preconfigured.
This is without using the optional Nektar proprietary Nektarine instrument shell (similar to Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol but more powerful and flexible). This makes configuration almost limitless, but it is a big commitment as far as workflow is concerned and adds some overhead. I decided to keep things more streamlined and just use the controller directly with Studio One. For the same reasons, I also abandoned Komplete Kontrol and use Kontakt directly in Studio One.
The other controller I have is the Native Instruments M32, which is functionally the same as their A series controllers. It also has endless encoders and a (very small) LCD screen. But it has no faders or pads, and relatively few buttons. The integration with Studio One isn't bad considering the hardware limitations, but nowhere near as comprehensive as the Panorama T or even the LX+.
The big software difference that comes to mind is that up to eight pages of eight parameters are allowed to be configured to control every plugin or instrument, whether native PreSonus or third party. Nektar and PreSonus worked together to come up with the overall integration, I have to believe it is one of the most comprehensive integrations in the industry. Pretty much everything that is native PreSonus is automatically preconfigured.
This is without using the optional Nektar proprietary Nektarine instrument shell (similar to Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol but more powerful and flexible). This makes configuration almost limitless, but it is a big commitment as far as workflow is concerned and adds some overhead. I decided to keep things more streamlined and just use the controller directly with Studio One. For the same reasons, I also abandoned Komplete Kontrol and use Kontakt directly in Studio One.
The other controller I have is the Native Instruments M32, which is functionally the same as their A series controllers. It also has endless encoders and a (very small) LCD screen. But it has no faders or pads, and relatively few buttons. The integration with Studio One isn't bad considering the hardware limitations, but nowhere near as comprehensive as the Panorama T or even the LX+.
Randall Rothenberg
New member
You’re the best! That’s kinda exactly what I was wondering. Specifically, I use a lot of NI instruments, but I use others as well, so I was wondering about the Nektar vs NI’s keyboards. I can’t thank you enough for this explanation.
I have a LaunchKey 37 MK4 and I love it as a small desktop keyboard (though I wish it had aftertouch). It integrates really well with Logic, Bitwig, etc., but there is no out-of-the-box integration with Studio One. There is a feature request, but hardly any upvotes:
Studio One and Launchkey MK4 integration
-Dan
Studio One and Launchkey MK4 integration
-Dan
I do wish they would publish details of the device support and the related Javascript stuff so the community could add and share new devices. There are some clever folks out there and a few GitHub projects attempting to do so but they are held back by having to guess/deduce/fumble their way through the process. With just a little bit of info from Presonus there could be a vibrant and extensive controller add-on scene, to the benefit of Presonus and Studio One.
BTW, I was surprised to see the feature request site still active. I thought they killed it off at the same time as the forums. I tried to upvote but it said I needed to login with my + account, which I don't have. Strange decision to restrict feature requests to just your subs customers!
@Davey - Even though it says that I was told you could log in and access the Feature Request site with your standard My.PreSonus account.
Let us know if that doesn't work for you.
Studio One Feature Requests
That's what I was able to do. I no longer have a subscription, just perpetual, but I was able to login to MyPresonus and then get to the enhancement request page.
lokeyfly
Well-known member
The Novation Launchkey are a rather affordable series, and are not even the best keyboard from Novation. That said, your $180 USD you put down on the 49 key Launchkey will give you a fair amount of good keyboard for the money. The keybed will be a little spongy, compared to some of the pricier offerings. I'm not going to get into "best" here, because first off, there is no best. Not what's mentioned so far, and not what hasn't been mentioned. Pick your keyboard that works for you. If possible, really try to make an attempt at going to a music store, and get a feeling for the Launchkey and others. There are plenty of competing brands that offer so much in variety and work seamlessly with Studio One. Some people prefer weighted keys. Some snapper Fatar keybed keys. Some are cheap and very plastiky, but maybe you're not an advanced keyboardist yet (in truth). They all offer something on their own. Just have fun, and consider what works for you.
Cheers.
To address your question about which keyboard controller will give you best control of the DAW and VSTs specifically , it would be hard to argue against the Nektar offerings since their spokespeople spent time on the defunct forum emphasizing how much effort they put into Studio One integration. However, many people are put off by the Panorama big white plastic object thing that also has shiny black dust collecting sections and less than sterling keybeds. If you won't be playing the Moonlight Sonata on it, you might not care, cause it answers your question.
Nektar have good integration but the two I have played both had very noisy keys. For want of a better word they were very clackity. I've not tried their top-end stuff so maybe they are better.
Also, beware of thinking that weighted keys are always best. If you are a proper pianist then maybe that's what you want but for synth stuff sprung keys with a "synth action" are probably best for most people. They have a little less travel, you can play quicker runs and you need less finger strength.
(And going back to the earlier post, yes, I was able to log in on the request site despite that message).
Also, beware of thinking that weighted keys are always best. If you are a proper pianist then maybe that's what you want but for synth stuff sprung keys with a "synth action" are probably best for most people. They have a little less travel, you can play quicker runs and you need less finger strength.
(And going back to the earlier post, yes, I was able to log in on the request site despite that message).
Gary Shepherd
Member
I am not sure what your information is here - the Panorama T4 keys are no noisier or clackity than any other keyboard I have, going back to a DX7 and Wavestation and later controller keyboards. I would urge people not to be put off by the comments from Davey - the action is good. But all depends what you want......
Not so much information as direct experience. I owned one but only briefly because I sent it back due to that noise. I also played another in a music shop, along with the other keyboards they had. It wasn't a particularly large selection but the Nektar was easily the noisiest. I agree that the action was nice, it was just the mechanical noise that was the problem. Maybe they vary or maybe they have sorted it but I would not have another.
Gary Shepherd
Member
I hear little keyboard noise on mine - and when I have a sound like a piano, I really notice no sound. You sound like you were unlucky. Very pleased with mine and the software integration between the Nektar control surface, and Presonus, is flawless and smooth. I don't work for them! Just trying to steer Studio One users in the direction of something really good.
About 10 years ago I go the Px-5s (Casio Stage). It has enough sliders and knobs (and software to program the CC) that I can live with a Minilab (Arturia). Weighted keys if have or play a piano seem better for me because you can nuance the playing so much easier. For me something about the full 88 key range (which you can split if you want) just gives you more options (as well as programing for each of your vst's that can switched in an instant. Of curse size in an issue also.