Keystation Pro: is it worth upgrading?

[SoulFire]

Hi again,

I know I'm constantly on about how awesome it is to use a VST + MIDI controller combo, and its probably getting annoying me asking all these noob questions so I'll try and make this the last one lol.

I use a standard M-Audio Keystation and I like it, but frankly I would prefer the Keystation Pro for a few reasons:

1) Fully weighted keys
2) MIDI In
3) Two pedal inputs
4) Assignable buttons/sliders etc.

I recently saw a few on Ebay going for under $100 US, which is a bargain. Now I only just got my Keystation standard about 2 months ago, and at the time the place I got it from was selling the Pro for $500 ish AUD. The only reason I got the standard was because I couldn't afford the pro.

My main question I have to you now is, is it worth me upgrading to the pro?

Keep in mind that my host is Mixcraft, which does NOT have MIDI learn function, however has far as I know most VST plugins do, and MIDI learn should be supported in Mixcraft 6 when they get round to releasing it. Another point is that I'm not sure how well my parents would take it, having me just bought one enormous lump of electronics, only to decide i don't like it and decide to buy another even bigger one. Obviously if I do decide to get it I'll sell the original keystation, but I'm not even sure how much I'll get for it... It's a lot to think about.

So what do you guys think, should I upgrade?

Regards,

Soulfire.

[Tiko]

Save your money and buy something better when you have the cash, for example a fatar keyboard. M-Audio's keybed isn't very good...

- Tiko

[SoulFire]

I understand what you're saying, and eventually I will save up and get a niiice board (i'm liking the PC3x), but I do love working with VST and if I can get one of these controllers cheap, I would much prefer it over the one I already have. Do you think the features of the pro are worth upgrading over the standard, if I can sell my old one and get this one at a reasonable price?

And sorry for the noob question, but when you say keybed, do you mean the weight of the keys? :s

[mmichaelc]

I bought the pro last autumn and for the price it's a decent 88 key weighted controller as I think the next up is CME which are quite expensive and I've heard of people having problems with them.

As for the features the amount of knobs, sliders and buttons is ridiculous, I've yet to try and use them all as there's just so many.
I believe the MIDI in doesn't work like a normal one, it only passes the data to the USB so it acts like a MIDI to USB adaptor. Data at the MIDI in won't go out the MIDI out (If someone knows otherwise then correct me).

It actually has 3 pedal inputs, one's continuous and the other two are on/off.

As mentioned the keybed isn't great but I manage fine and Fatar's are expensive.


p.s. Just noticed the Fatar Studiologic aren't that expensive so you'd be better off saving for one. And the keystation pro's discontinued now.

[Tiko]

Yeah you can get fatar's around 400e new. I paid 150 euros for my second hand studiologic...

e: fatar & studiologic = the same thing