M-Audio Axiom 25 Keyboard

The M-Audio Axiom 25 USB/MIDI controller is an ideal keyboard for a home studio. It's very affordable and with a compact footprint of only about 11" x 19" it takes up very little space on your desktop. The construction of the keys, controls, and case give the Axiom 25 a very professional look and feel. I use it with GarageBand on my MacBook Pro running OS 10.5.6 and it really is plug-and-play; no installation of drivers is necessary and it derives it's power from the USB port, eliminating the need for a separate (optional) 12 VDC power supply. For those who require MIDI drivers they are a free download from the M-Audio website as is a comprehensive user's manual.

The Axiom 25 has two "big brothers" which have 49 and 61 keys respectively. But if you don't mind using the semi-weighted piano keys to select functions, then the Axiom 25 will do almost anything its bigger, and more expensive, siblings will do.

I got this for $120 total. When I first got this I thought it was broken.USB worked but not MIDI. I downloaded the manual and after reading it carefully was able to reset it so it, and it worked fine. I already had a Axiom 49 that I really liked but I wanted something more compact to use with computer and well,to access bass sounds and swells while playing leads.I like the solid feel of the keys and the pads are very responsive.My other midi keyboard is a Behringer that feels cheep and springy. Granted the Behringer is much less expensive new.This is kind of silly but the Axiom just looks cool. All black and sinister. The readout is cool also,big with a blue glow that is easy to read in the dark. Also the unit has some weight and feels solid.If you need a great little midi controller I would recommend this to anyone. If you are planning on using this with recording software you might be better off with the 49 key version if you have the space. The sliders might come in handy and are absent on the 25 key version.

The Axiom 25 instantly worked upon pulling it out of the packaging. I plugged it into my Mac and voila I was playing keyboards, drums, sax, blah blah blah. and working seemlessly with garageband. I made tracks and songs in the first hour.

However once I tried to start programming buttons etc... it was a struggle. I think its probably pretty easy but the manuals are somewhat useless for a newbie. They were either just the bare essentials or so complicated that I couldn't even understand what they were talking about. The transition between plug and play and more advanced uses is a tough one. I would call this customer support failure more than gear failure because the keyboard is smooth, easy, and simple to get started but the info to go further is hard to find.

I love it but advanced stuff is hard for this beginner.
I am figuring it out but its taking time.

I purchased this item from ebay and recieved it in the mail about a week ago. This is a very capable midi controller. works like a charm with just the usb-midi connector. no latency problems on my laptop running an intel i3 processor. The learning curve is a bit steep, expecially for newbies, but not impossible. It has a very solid build , the semi-weighted keys and the pads have a nice response to them. This thing has already stremalined my work flow tremendously. Only gripe that i have is there is no direct link driver software on their website for older versions of reason (I have reason 3.0), nor is there direct link for FL studio at all. small gripes, but eh, I'll get over it. Great keyboard for the money!

Setup was easy, just install the drivers and go. Pads are nice, have a bounce back feel. Keys are semi-weighted..not too hard to press, they don't feel cheap. The octave buttons are pretty easy to get used to. I can transition octaves really easily and quickly. Modulation and pitch bend wheels are a breeze as well. The keyboard as a whole is relatively light in weight. It feels secure and compact. The midi in and midi outs are a nice addition compared to other midi controllers. Allowing for additional sounds. I decided to buy this product to easily create loops and tracks on the fly.