Buzz : M-Audio

WIRED’s Michael Calore calls Keystation Mini 32 “a standout in the large crop of keyboard controllers”

Mark Williams — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:32:00 GMT

The iPad has turned into a platform for music makers everywhere to hone their craft. As a result, some pretty cool iPad compatible music gear hit the market in 2011. WIRED’s Michael Calore only included a select few, however, in his recent “Musical Hardware for iPad Songsmiths” feature online. So you can imagine our smiles when we saw that Michael found the Keystation Mini 32 a worthwhile addition, calling it a “standout from the latest crop of [keyboard] controllers.”

Michael got a chance to check out the Keystation Mini 32 and it seems he was convinced that good things can come in small packages. Michael points to the Keystation’s portability, mentioning its capacity to draw all the power it needs from the iPad. He ensures readers, however, that just because it can fit in a backpack does not mean the Keystation lacks features. “Most controllers have one or two octaves, but this one has two and a half, for a total of 32 keys. And yet it's still very compact.”

Michael also highlights that users of the Keystation can extend beyond your fervent pianist. “The knob and three of the buttons on the left edge are programmable, as is the key velocity, so the Keystation Mini can double as a surprisingly accurate drum machine controller.”

Thanks so much for the review, Michael. We here at Avid know iPads are the future and we are psyched to offer products like this for musicians on-the-go.

If you’re a music maker and iPad junkie don’t miss Michael’s full buyer's guide on WIRED.com here.

AIR Users Blog Picks Best Product of 2011. And it's...

Mark Williams — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:32:00 GMT

Blogger and socialite Russ Hughes has posted "My Product of 2011... What is Your's?" over on the AIR Users Blog. Looking back over a year in which music fans have been "bombarded with thousands of products," he asks, "what one thing significantly improved my workflow or the quality of my work?"

Would it be Pro Tools 10 with all it's new workflow-specific features, or something entirely different from a "host of new interfaces, plug-ins, outboard and hardware synths and drum machines"?

Lo and behold, Russ chose the M-Audio Keystation Mini 32. "I have to ask myself, what one thing has made the most difference to me? You may be surprised to know, it’s also one of the least expensive things in my studio, but now it’s the one thing I reach for all the time and I wouldn’t be without."

I find it personally interesting to note that I keep my Keystation Mini 32 about two feet from me in my studio at all times. I think Russ might be onto something here. Glad you're enjoying yours as much as I'm enjoying mine Russ. You can check out the entire post here.

Spin deems Avid’s Keystation Mini 32 a go-to holiday gift for the rockstar on your list

Mark Williams — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:07:00 GMT

Front and cetner, the Keystation Mini 32 in Spin's December Gift Guide.

David Marchese gave Avid’s Keystation Mini 32 some love in Spin’s December holiday gift guide (see #9 in the picture above). David suggests our iPad-compatible, lightweight keyboard for the future rockstar on your list. He cites how the Keystation Mini fits easily into a messenger bag, ensuring that no musician will never be left empty handed should inspiration strike. The guide did not forget to mention the functionality of the Keystation Mini pointing to its USB bus power equipment and plug-and-play functionality.

The Keystation Mini was featured front and center, atop a sidewalk-warping subwoofer and eloquently holding up what we assume to be a healthy pour of Maker’s 46 – a cinnamon-spicy bourbon that Spin also included in the guide. The guide does a great job at identifying all kinds of gifts for your music lover. David called out everything from a Def Jam Recording rap scrapbook to some Johnny Marr special-edition Ray-Ban sunglasses and we are super pumped our very own Keystation Mini made the cut.

Everyone has that music lover on their holiday gift list and finding the perfect present may be easier than you thought. Be sure to check out this awesome gift guide in the December issue of Spin along with the latest industry news on their website http://www.spin.com.

Thanks for including us David. We look forward to the Keystation Mini making its way to everyone from guitar-gods to hip-hop head-nodders this holiday season – hopefully alongside a nice glass of bourbon.

Mix Magazine reviews Avid’s Fast Track C600 Audio Interface

Mark Williams — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:25:00 GMT

“The company has taken its time and gotten it right.”

Brandon Hickey at Mix Magazine checked out Avid’s new Fast Track C600 and gave it a detailed and glowing review. He was impressed with the makeover and took his time savoring the new look – and was pleasantly surprised by the complex workflows the new interface and monitor controller could handle with ease.

The revamped design of the unit was the first thing to catch Brandon's eye, as he pointed out the its large volume control, generous space between knobs and buttons, innovative monitoring controls, and large 8-segment LED input meters. With its new desktop-style orientation and it's simple, uncluttered layout, he found the new design to incorporate an incredible amount of functionality in a small, compact, refined format.

Brandon was also quick to point out the improved software mixer ("where the C600 really raises the bar,") quality mic-pre's ("impressive amount of detail and clarity for a product in the this class,") and a monitor management system capable of delivering three separate monitor mixes or providing full 5.1 control ("most exciting, in my opinion.") He gave Avid their dues on the new product, suggesting their focus on customer feedback was the catalyst in creating a fantastic solution.

Overall, Brandon had some pretty great things to say about Avid’s latest audio interface:

“The Fast Track series’ overall cosmetic design has gotten a complete overhaul…ergonomically this is a refreshing alternative.”

“…with all the flexible routing options, a greater variety of professional workflows can be managed in a very comfortable way.”

“Great design, good amount of I/O, pleasing sonic quality and a useful new monitoring section.”

“Playing the features-per-price game is always a balance of tradeoffs, and it seems like M-Audio is at it again, finding the perfect recipe of bang for the buck.”

So after all the anticipation surrounding the possibility of a new fleet of M Audio USB interface, did Avid stand up to the hype? As far as Brandon is concerned, “…the company has taken its time and gotten it right.”

A shout out to Brandon for taking the time to review the product and for all the kind words. Check out the full review here and keep up on the latest professional audio and music production news on Mix Online.

Avid’s M-Audio Venom wins MacLife Editor’s Choice

Mark Williams — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:21:00 GMT

“Warm fuzzy sounds at warm fuzzy prices” – that’s how MacLife’s Roberto Baldwin describes the Venom – warm and fuzzy enough to receive a five star MacLife rating and the prestigious Editor’s Choice award.

After spending some time reviewing Avid’s M-Audio Venom, Roberto found its size, price and functionality to hit the mark. “The M-Audio Venom is an awesome piece of machinery,” he said, “[it] brings all the sounds and control of the analog world into our digital future without sacrificing sound quality.”

Roberto was keen on the Venom’s audio range that takes users from a light, barely audible sound to deep, crunchy lows all with the turn of a knob. He was also impressed by the compatibility and user friendliness of the product and its software, which allows users to quickly locate patches and attach the synthesizer to their Macs. “For anyone who’s ever played an analog synth, the Venom is instantly understandable,” says Roberto, “[and] buttons make navigation a snap.”

So how did the Venom get a MacLife rating of “awesome”? Most likely due to its ability to provide a professional analog-synthesizer sound at a fraction of the price. Well that’s what Roberto tells us anyway – and we think that’s awesome too.

You can read the full review here and follow Roberto on twitter at @strngwys.

Play Music Nails the Secret Behind M-Audio GSR Speakers: "Depth, Warmth, and Clarity."

Mark Williams — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:12:00 GMT

The UK’s Play Music magazine have had a good look at our M-Audio GSR PA speakers, putting the GSR12 and GSR18 models through their paces in both studio and stage tests. Reviewer Lars Mullen gets into all the nitty gritty details, covering everything from multiple mounting points and interlocking stacking fixtures to the GSR’s EQ presets and daisy-chain capability, but saves his most enthusiastic words for the GSR’s sound quality and portability:

“While there’s no doubt the top cabs held up considerably in our live situation, it was smiles all around when the earth moving sub frequencies kicked in as we gently upped the GSR18’s volume to about a third, for a reassuringly tight, sub bass.”

"With three vocals, two acoustic guitars plus effects, kick drum, snare and bass guitar in the mix, the overall sound of the band through the PA had depth, warmth and clarity right to the back of the 120 strong audience." Good times were reported to be had by all.

Check out the rest of the review over at PlayMusic.com, and find out more about the incredible GSR series here.

Keystation Mini 32 Review: "Size Isn't Everything"

Mark Williams — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:14:00 GMT

Russ Hughes at the AIR Users Blog had the opportunity to check out the new M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 and his review has just been posted on the blog. So what did Russ think?

"I think it's a great keyboard, at a great price. It proves that size isn't everything."

Russ looked at the functionality, playability, and the command and control options of the Keystation Mini 32 and he definitely came away impressed. "All in all, the build and functionality is great. It's an ideal keyboard for having on your console or for using with your iPad, it would even fit in your bag if you want to make music on the road."

Above all else, Russ was keen on the simple, plug-and-play functionality. "It works. Plug it in and it controls anything connected to it. I threw Pro Tools, Garageband, Maschine, Massive and a few others and straight away it just worked. I like that." Russ shares the fact that while his regular studio remains packed up do to a nasty flood, the Keystation Mini 32 has become his main controller is his mobile studio set up.

"it may be small but it still kicks ass," Russ concludes. "For this reason it's get an Editors Choice Award."

We couldn't be happier that Russ loves his Keystation Mini 32 as much as we do. Check out the full review here, and follow @airusersblog on Twitter to keep up with Russ' non-stop stream of tutorials, features, and often insightful commentary.

Avid introduces new ultra-portable M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 Keyboard Controller

Mark Williams — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:13:00 GMT

Avid is extremely proud to annouce the launch of the M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 - an ultra-portable 32-note, USB bus-powered keyboard controller designed for musicians on the go. Small enough to fit in a backpack, the Keystation Mini 32 delivers unmatched playability in its class, with features including:

- 32 low-profile mini-keys, enabling musicians to play two-handed parts

- Highly musical velocity curves, including one specifically for drum programming, allowing keyboard sensitivity customization to individual playing styles

- 4 assignable controls, including a knob, providing real-time control of DAW and virtual instrument functions

- USB bus-powered, plug-and-play connectivity including iPad compatibility (iPad Camera Connection Kit required; check specific apps to verify MIDI support)

In the video below, Avid's Brian Carter takes us on a tour of the unit's features and shows how easy it is to create music on the go with just the Keystation Mini 32, an iPad, and Garageband. With best-in-class feel, pitch bend controls, and selectable velocity curves, the new Keystation Mini 32 takes mobile music production to a whole new level.

Find out more about the Keystation Mini 32, and find a local dealer here.

High School Students Talk Pro Tools at Seventh Annual GRAMMY Camp®

Mark Williams — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:30:00 GMT

Producer Mike Elizondo and recording artists Nick Jonas and Greyson Chance speak at the 2011 GRAMMY Camp in Los Angeles

At this year’s seventh annual GRAMMY Camp®—the GRAMMY Foundation’s signature music industry camp for high school students—Avid had the chance to catch up with students participating in the audio engineering and electronic music production courses. Campers Giovanni Quattrochi and Kyleel Rolle weighed in on their use of Pro Tools, and how the DAW enables them to mix and record new projects. “We’re working with Pro Tools 9 and it’s been an awesome experience, as we get to collaborate with other teens who love music,” said Rolle. “I’ve always known Pro Tools is the standard professional program used in big-time studios, and having the chance to learn the same software that pros work with has been great.”

GRAMMY Camp students (left to right) Giovanni Quattrochi and Kyleel Rolle

During the camp’s Guest Professional Day, GRAMMY®-winning and –nominated professionals taught in classrooms— which are outfitted with Pro Tools 9, Axiom keyboards and Mbox interfaces— and spoke about their personal experiences, as well as best practices for landing a job in the music industry. “Stay true to your music and keep an open mind to all opportunities that come your way,” said multi-platinum Producer Mike Elizondo. “You might not know where your songs will go when you first get started on a project, but stay creative and always be proud of your final track,” added Artist Nick Jonas.

Based on our experiences at GRAMMY Camp, it’s become clear to us that the future of the music industry is no doubt on the right track. Interested in attending GRAMMY Camp 2012 or know a high school student who might be? Applications for can be accessed at grammyintheschools.com.

Steve Ferlazzo Rocks With Axiom Pro and Avril Lavigne on America's Got Talent

Mark Williams — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:44:00 GMT

Steve Ferlazzo, keyboard player and programming wizard, rocked NBC's America's Got Talent last night with Avril Lavigne's band, holding down the groove with his M-Audio Axiom Pro.

"I love the Axiom Pro's feel, plug and play operation and it's road-worthy construction. It's the perfect choice for me whether on TV or on the road with Avril Lavigne. I do a lot of extensive MIDI-mappings and real-time controls, with Axiom Pro's numerous knobs and sliders, I'm always able to tweak my sounds on stage in real-time. I also love the fact that I can assign computer keyboard commands to the numeric keypad. A real time saver!"

Check out Steve jaming out with Avril's band in the video above or here.