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We like these particular wheels because they are a perfect size and have a smooth action, making them very easy to use. Production tools 4.9 The Hammer 88 Pro is a versatile USB MIDI controller with 88-keys, auto-mapping and a range of smart control options. Perfect for both live performance, and as a reliable studio workhorse, this instrument is a well-rounded tool that's bound to enhance your creativity no-end! Key Features I have owned too many weighted stage pianos over the last 25 years, Kurzweil PC/SP's, Roland RD's, Korg SV1/GrandStage/Kronos, Yamaha CP/Motif. Several years ago I decided to try the controller + VST instrument route. I owned 88 key controllers from Arturia, Nektar, and Novation before trying the Hammer 88. Bingo! I have been using the Hammer 88 for the last several years (a record for me) and here is what I like about it:
Hammer 88 is USB-powered, class-compliant, and supports USB-MIDI connectivity. Plus, Hammer 88 supports iOS connectivity with the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (sold separately), enabling you to perform and compose with audio apps on your iPad and other iOS devices. Don’t limit yourself to your computer-based virtual instruments! Take control of your studio equipment with Hammer 88. With its conveniently-located 5-pin MIDI Output, you can send all MIDI information to any compatible peripheral device, including hardware synthesisers, sound modules and drum machines. With Hammer 88, it’s easy get the most out of your external sound generators. This is a controller designed from the ground up to place you firmly in the driver’s seat. Seamless Integration Thanks to the OLED screen that sits front and centre, it’s easier than ever to search for and test sounds, map controls, and mix & edit your sessions. Hammer 88 Pro can control any DAW and automatically map commonly used functions such as Transport, Faders, Pan controls and much more! Whether you use Pro Tools, MPC Beats, Cubase, Logic, Studio One or any other major DAW, just select the map and Auto-Mapping will take care of the rest! It also instantly maps to all the virtual instruments included in the Hammer 88 Pro software bundle (Hybrid, Velvet, Mini Grand, Xpand!2, Vacuum, Boom, and DB-33). These world-class AIR Music Tech plugins can be fully controlled by the Hammer 88 Pro and used in real-time as you create and mix your music. Smart Controls The Hammer 88 Pro has all the ingredients for a speedy workflow; the layout doesn’t totally convince us, but others might love it. Connectivity 4.6 Hammer 88 Pro features M-Audio’s brand-new Smart Chord and Smart Scale technology. These functions open up your imagination and help blend your hardware seamlessly with your ideas across all 88 keys. Creating music on your computer has never been this intuitive and inspiring thanks to these workflow-centric features. With Smart Chord activated, pressing a single key or pad will play a full chord rather than just one note. The key or pad you press will determine the root note in the chord. The rest of the chord’s properties (major, minor, etc) are determined by the settings you choose. Smart Chord also has a Custom Mode that lets you determine the chord structure that will be assigned to each key by manually playing it. For example, if you select Custom Mode, and play a 1-b3-5-b7 chord, every key will then be assigned to play this chord structure. The note of the key you press will serve as the root of the chord and all of the parameters can be edited right on the Hammer 88 Pro!The Hammer 88 Pro has plenty of assignable controls, so there are no issues there, but we feel it could have a better layout.
M-Audio is one of the top manufacturers when it comes to budget MIDI keyboard controllers. If we ever had a complaint about older M-Audio units, it’s that the build quality wasn’t exceptional. We, and many other users, could accept it because the overall value for money was so good. This license agreement shall be construed , interpreted and governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflict of laws rules and law pertaining thereto. Any civil action, lawsuit and/or arbitration resolution shall be conducted only in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and you agree to submit yourself to the jurisdiction thereof for purposes of such action, suit or resolution. This license agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement between the parties hereto, and any modification of the terms and/or conditions shall only be effective if in writing and signed by the parties hereto. If any part of this license agreement if found or determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this license agreement shall be interpreted and enforced to the extent possible to achieve substantially the effect of this license agreement as set forth herein. As well as playing a single instrument across the full key range, the keyboard can be split into up to four Zones, each of which can transmit on separate MIDI channels, with its own octave and transpose settings. Zones can of course overlap each other to create layered sounds. The settings you make can be saved to file, thus a library of presets for different applications can be stored for future recall. Keyboard ActionThe Hammer 88 Pro has massively expanded on its predecessor’s feature set in both number and variety of performance controls on offer. The Hammer 88 had only basic MIDI functions. The Hammer 88 Pro adds a wide range of easily auto-mapped MIDI tools, making it ideally suited for experienced keyboardists who also want maximum control over their software instruments during performance or production. We were pretty surprised to see pitch and modulation wheels on the original Hammer 88, but we’re pleased to see the Pro still has them. As we mentioned above, the rotary knobs are not being by the faders, and that’s an issue because it’s easier to use them in tandem when they are closer. It comes up when automating expression or other parameters in synth or strings VSTs. For those familiar with M-Audio products, the design and function of the hardware interface have been mainly migrated over from the Oxygen Pro series, including the Chord and Scale technology.
Smart Chord is a function that lets you trigger complex chords from a single root note. The notes added to your root are determined by the settings you choose using the OLED screen. Smart Scale Utilise 8 assignable buttons and knobs for precise control over mix plugins, DAW parameters and virtual instruments.M-Audio’s new Hammer 88 is an affordable, fully-weighted, hammer-action keyboard for professional and semi-pro players or students looking for a realistic grand piano feel to use with virtual instruments or sound modules. The Editor - The software editor for adjusting the settings is plain and simple to use, but also gives the options to adjust the velocity curve (although better done in your VST settings), functions, and zones of the controller. The Hammer 88 Pro offers aftertouch and assignable zones in a step up from the original. Assignable controls 4.8 The Pro 88 offers a choice of Low, Medium, High and Linear velocity response curves (plus a variety of fixed values). Tests revealed the Linear setting to be the best response curve for reliably achieving a MIDI value of 127. On a critical note, the resolution in the very lowest velocity range is fairly coarse for all four settings, so fine control in that area can be rather hit and miss.
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