M-Audio Axiom 49

M-Audio Axiom 49 | Reviews
109
Y
our controller keyboard is
your main connection with
your DAW. It’s usually the
one piece of gear you use
most after your mouse so choosing a
new one is a decision not to be taken
lightly. Many have tried to elevate their
humble USB MIDI ’boards into
something more essential but the
balance between speed, usability and
flexibility has proved pretty elusive.
Our favourite example has been
M-Audio’s Axiom Pro which used their
HyperControl system to map knobs and
sliders to their on-screen counterparts
with the minimum of thought on the
users part. Now many of the
breakthroughs of the Pro have filtered
down to the new ‘basic’ Axiom and the
result is a keyboard that’s impossible
not to be impressed by.
There are plenty of cheaper USB
units and the majority of those feature
some kind of knob and slider action for
assigning to parameters in your
plug-ins. Likewise if you’re a power
user and perfectly happy with your
combo of USB ’board, Behringer BCF
and Novation Nocturn then the Axiom
offers far less. Finally if you’re already
using a similar system such as
Novation’s popular SL keyboards then
spotting the difference between it and
the Axiom will prove sufficiently hard
as to make a switch pointless.
However, where the Axiom does
become interesting is for those that
currently don’t have hardware control
of DAW parameters and want
something that’s going work. Quickly.
In fact, if you’ve been languishing with
a basic sub-£200 USB keyboard then
the features of the Axiom will be
nothing short of a revelation.
Worth the extra
First there’s the ease of set up, the
trickiest part of which is negotiating
M-Audio’s website to double check
you’re using the latest driver. From
there you tell your DAW that you want
it to use the Axiom (via menu options
that it adds), you connect with USB
(which also provides power), start your
DAW and Axiom maps all of your mixer
controls in a sensible and predictable
fashion to the surface sliders and
buttons. Don’t want that? Toggle the
Instrument button and Axiom’s controls
instead tweak parameters in the
currently highlighted plug-in instead. It
works exactly as you would want it to.
And it does work. Sure,
remembering that knob eight is cutoff
in Logic’s ES2 does require some
active committing to memory on the
users part but once that’s locked
DirectLink is an amazingly invisible
connection to your DAW’s heart.
We love the simple toggling of the
buttons beneath the sliders (the ninth
button flips these between Mute, Solo
and Record Arm) and hats-off to the
chunky display for at least having a go
at naming parameters and track names
being tweaked.
DirectLink lacks some of the depth
and learning skills of the Pro’s
HyperControl but if all you need is
basic transport, mixer and plug-in
tweakery then why pay more? And the
option is always there to lock horns
with complex third-party plugs and
deeper DAW elements via CCs later.
Firm but fair
The keyboard action is firm enough to
trick you into thinking it’s a more
expensive rig and the rubbery controls
neatly side-step the cheapness you
connect with hard plastic. Likewise,
the new flat faders: not as nice as the
Pro’s proud nubbins but impossible to
truly gripe about. We even like the
Axiom’s curved profile making it easy
to tuck under your arm and generally
shove around.
It therefore comes highly
recommended. You don’t change
keyboards very often but if you’re still
languishing without hardware control of
you’re DAW, then it’s time you did.
WHAT is iT?
USB keyboard controller
ConTACT
Who: M-Audio
Tel: [phone]
Web: maudio.co.uk
HiGHLiGHTs
1 Ease of use and speed
of set up
2 Solid, dependable build
3 Laden with useful pads,
knobs, sliders and more
speCs
49-keys
DirectLink integration with
all major music software
Large LCD
Assignable sliders: 9
Assignable buttons with
LED feedback: 9
Assignable knobs: 8
Assignable drum pads: 8
Transport controls: 6
Class compliant with OS X
Dimensions:
820 x 270 x 75mm
Weight:
5kg
priCinG
Axiom 25
£195
Axiom 49
£270
Axiom 61
£305
M-Audio
Axiom 49 | £270
Cheaper than the Pro and so much better than your
battered old ’board, reckons Daniel Griffiths
VerDiCT
BUILD
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VALUE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
EASE OF USE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VERSATILITY
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
RESULTS
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
If you’re upgrading this is the one
to go for. It may be a little pricier
but you get what you pay for.
FMU232.rev_maudio 109 9/14/10 10:09:06 AM