Can I get a decent midi keyboard for approx. $150?

I want a midi controller keyboard to use with my 4k. Are there some good ones for around maybe $150?

I'm not exactly sure what to look for though in selecting a good one.

I've seen an Oxygen 8 (I think) at a local music store a while back. Since I wasn't looking into that sort of thing at the time I didn't look into it further, but I hear a lot of people talking about them and whatnot. Are they that good?

All I really want to do is to be able to play my samples on keys with autochrome and do pitchbends and whatnot.

Any suggestions would be great!

i have the oxygen8. i like it a lot. i mostly use it for basslines & multisamples. i dont think it can do pitch bends tho. sometimes i wish i had more keys in front of me but i make due.

get the m-audio midiman radium 61 list $199 but got mines for $150 at guitar center.

mwalker wrote:get the m-audio midiman radium 61 list $199 but got mines for $150 at guitar center.

Yeah that's what I was looking for. I want a full sized keyboard as well. That one's good because it also has sliders and knobs to adjust other parameters. I booked marked that one, and I'm going to call a local music store to see how much they go for here.

I picked up the Edirol PCR30 for about $155 online. Great little controller, particularly if you are using it with software as well (there are a load of templates for everything from Logic to Cubase to Reason to Live). There is a 49 key version (PCR50) for a few more $$, but the 32 key setup with octave shift does the job pretty nicely.

mwalker wrote:get the m-audio midiman radium 61 list $199 but got mines for $150 at guitar center.

No!!! I own it. yea the sliders and nobs are legit but the FEEL of the keys suck a fatty. Save up, get somthing that is weighted or semi because this thing feels like a toy to me. I feel like its gonna fall apart. If your interested hit me up. 100 bones. practicaly bran new. Il send you a photo if ya want. Im just saying ask to feel the key befor you buy. It might just me because I like to play some crazy classical shit so thats why I dont like it. I just use my triton cuz the keys are gellin. want some mellon. playin devils advacate here. but seriouly If your gonna play some complecated shit dont get it. If you wana control a sound mod or virtual do hicky for simple melodies, basslines then your cool. If your going crazy like me, playin a five page peice, f it, get somthing that feels good to you.

Yeah I'm just going to be doing simple melodies and basslines. I just want some ideas. I don't want to get something like this without seeing it and checking it out first. If I find something that interests me I'll just call some local stores and see if they got them in stock and I'll go down and play with it.

what weighted or semi weighted keyboard cost less than $150? m-audio also has a 88 weighted keys keyboard (portable) for $500. i just like m-audio because they make the best audio and midi drivers.

mwalker wrote:what weighted or semi weighted keyboard cost less than $150? m-audio also has a 88 weighted keys keyboard (portable) for $500. i just like m-audio because they make the best audio and midi drivers.

Sometimes I forget minor details, like budgets. I meant to add this. save up more for a weighted, youl be more happy. Not that the radium is all that bad. its not. like I said, devils advicate. my bad.

M audio is good shit. I have a duo that I use as a standalone b*tch ever since I upgraded to pro tools.

i got a radium and its dope. I use it to control mpc and the korg ms2000r. Its got 16 control change knobs and sliders and can hold like 6 differnet configes. Its a tight board for bass and melodys. I use it daily [/url]

Ok! Thanks ya'll! I think i'm going to check out that radium. I don't have the budget for weighted keys, and I want something relatively simple, but that has some extra feat. That might be my best bet!

get an casio...use it as an controller, and if you wasnt to you can dirty up the sounds from it, and use em.

lou the radium is ideal. I wont buy another keyboard controller till the keys fall of this one. And also it can USB = MIDI. So you can youse it without a midi device for your computer. I have mine midi'd into the mpc. Weighted keys are for the seasoned player. For what Im doin this is the hot shit.
Click here to see it

100 bucks if you want mine. pm if interested, Ill post a pic if ya want.