Four + Controller...or Keys?

swinborne · 2015-05-21T19:00:04.000Z

Hello, I would like to get an analog friend for my Octatrack, and wondering what the A4/AK crowd would suggest as far as choosing between the Analog Four + a decent controller (eg, Akai MPK249) vs getting the Analog Keys. Price is not an issue (both of these options are about the same $) and neither is portability as this is studio-only equipment.

Any experience and pro/con suggestions welcome…thanks!

klerc · 2015-05-21T19:18:18.000Z

Get an AK: separate outputs, joystick fun and better key integration!

sucik · 2015-05-21T19:25:14.000Z

Hi,

I have AK and I wouldn’t trade for A4 + controller even if I’d get extra money. I think nice benefit is that you have diodes that indicates midi messages. It’s really helpful in my opinion. There’s also a feature that when you press trig on the seq you can see which keys corresponds to it. The other thing is that I like to use the joystick. Plus you would have additional outputs in AK!

Mies_van_der_Robot · 2015-05-21T20:54:04.000Z

As a general recommendation I second all of the above. I have the Keys and I wouldn’t trade it for the Four and any controller.

(Well, OK, actually I might for the Analogue Systems French Connection, but I have a weird obsession with the Ondes Martenot)

The ability to see the note(s) light up when inspecting a trig is immensely useful. The multiple outs enable individual processing of each track, which is helpful both live and in the studio… The joystick is fun. And this is a small thing, but for me having the track buttons on the left side feels more intuitive and ergonomic.

If you hadn’t made the studio-only stipulation, I wouldn’t entirely dissuade you from considering the A4 + controller instead. I could see that being a better solution for someone who only uses the keys when composing, never in performance. Then you have a much smaller box to take with you to the gig and the keyboard can stay in the studio.

But in your situation, it’s no contest. Get the Keys.

AdamJay · 2015-05-21T21:05:26.000Z

Do you plan to use air travel for transportation to any gigs?
Do you feel uneasy about checking your instrument in as undercarriage baggage?
Are you paranoid that an airline will lose your checked baggage on your way to a gig?

If your answer to all of three of these questions is yes, then get the A4.

Otherwise, Keys all the way.

I realize you said studio-only. I’m just bringing up the only real points I have against the Keys. And it looks like none apply to you.

De_wouzer · 2015-05-22T04:26:25.000Z

sold my keys, now I have a A4

don’t know if it is a good idea, I love the keys
but I also love my equipment to be small and easy to use everywhere.
and i don’t like big gear.

I just accept not to have the benefits of the keys, although I miss it every day.
The A4 is amazing as well.

trashdinner · 2015-05-22T04:49:42.000Z

I was about to buy a A4 and bought a keys instead and even for 800$ more, I’m so glad I did

dragon · 2015-05-22T05:17:55.000Z

The Keys…

There are a number of small but significant things… A4 you need two hands to mute tracks. On the Keys you have the function button right by the tracks so it is easy one handed.

The Keys also has the big sound selection knob.

The Keys also gives you handy octave up and down buttons, a hold button and a midi external button so you can use the keys as a controller while the tracks are playing. There is also the multi mode button.

And as people have mentioned, you get the joystick, individual outs, and the LED’s per key which are surprisingly useful.

I went back and forth on this same question and am very happy I chose the Analog Keys.

And one more reason… I can take it out to my front porch (or friends house), plug in my headphones and create/play music. It is a self contained expressive musical instrument by itself.

ghostly606 · 2015-05-22T11:47:50.000Z

I was just wondering the exact same thing, the Keys it is!

udenjoe · 2015-05-22T13:28:11.000Z

I have an A4, good choice.

I have been considering selling the A4 and my Indigo 2 and replace them with an AK. But in reality, I don’t need to.

AdamJay · 2015-05-22T13:33:32.000Z

""dragon"":

The Keys…

There are a number of small but significant things… A4 you need two hands to mute tracks.

Only one hand needed for mutes while in A4 performance mode, which is where I do most of my muting anyway.

krusty4president · 2015-05-24T17:39:59.000Z

Which MIDIkeyboard/synth with keyboard do you prefer or would go for for the A4? I Guess it would need DIN MIDI so a computer or USB MIDI Host would be needed.

AdamJay · 2015-05-24T18:40:12.000Z

""krusty4president"":

Which MIDIkeyboard/synth with keyboard do you prefer or would go for for the A4? I Guess it would need DIN MIDI so a computer or USB MIDI Host would be needed.

Haven’t received it yet, but I just bought a Samson Graphite 25.
2 octaves, 8 midi knobs, pitch/mod, velocity+aftertouch, and a few midi drum pads.
It’s been difficult to find a currently offered small midi keyboard product with a true midi output jack, and not just USB.
Alesis QX25 is a similar product.

At minimum, I just wanted more than a single octave for entering notes into the sequencer, and velocity. Things like aftertouch, and midi encoders are a bonus.

My plan is to assign the 8 midi encoders to various filters and breath, as to have access to all of those parameters while still in Performance mode.
Maybe even set the 4 pads up as a single parameter “scene” of sorts, in the vein of the Analog Rytm.

Ultimately, I’m hoping to get more control (from a programmer’s performance perspective, and not of a keyboard player) as well as more portability than I would out of an AK-37.
I think either the QX25 or Graphite 25 can grant that, so long as you’re okay with 25 keys instead of 37+.
I can cope with the lack of individual outs. It will just take a little more time to program things to get the mix right. Fortunately there are 2 filters per voice, and I often use the multimode filter as an EQ of sorts.

Caelestis · 2015-05-24T20:45:07.000Z

At one point in time I should try and make an analog four preset for my Panorama P4.

Johnnyaardvark · 2016-12-19T03:44:59.633Z

AdamJay:

Samson Graphite 25.

Hi. It’s an old post this but I was wondering how you got on with your Samson Graphite 25 and the A4? Are you still using it? Did you manage to program the pots to control parameters in the A4?

Thanks

Steve

fingerwolf · 2016-12-19T14:37:56.789Z

Keys all the way - feels like much more of an instrument, and I’m studio-only so no travel precautions. If I was playing out I’d probably have OT or MD alongside, so would probably justify getting an A4, a nice case, and a keyboard controller I could stand getting drink spilled on. I couldn’t handle someone spilling beer on my AK. It would make me cry.