I’m thinking of upgrading to a MIDI controller from my electric piano/USB interface havk. Someone is selling the M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro – 88 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller. Anyone own one of these? If so, how do you feel about it?
Thanks!
@christal.stroup I have one and was pleasantly surprised with its feel of quality and ‘realness.’ That said, I use Linux and was quite a bit overwhelmed getting it to work. Unfortunately, it sits until I get back into setting it up. Sometimes I really wish I had bought one with sounds already loaded. But, that’s just me wanting it to be simple for my needs. My main instrument is guitar, and they just work - until you need to plug them in. :^/
The simple but non-free solution on Linux (and everywhere else) is just to buy Pianoteq. Plug a USB MIDI keyboard in, start Pianoteq, press keys, make sound.
Pianoteq is not cheap, however, and I appreciate that the gratis solutions take a bit more thought (though not a lot if you pick the right ones).
Yeah, @paul , ‘free’ is not so ‘free.’ I get your point. It was me mostly whining because I had this amazing keyboard AND THEN I had to figure out the things I always have taken for granted. That said, once I did get it figured out it was well worth the extra effort. Losing my setup notes was part of the reason the dust just keeps collecting.
Revised: I’m going to give Pianoteq a try. Thanks for the recommendation!
Thank you! If I understand what you are saying, the controller works fine
as a MIDI controller, but might be more challenging to use the more
specialized features?
No, that’s not correct. The unit works fine as a MIDI controller, but choosing and configuring whatever you’re going to use to actually make some sound (i.e. a synthesizer of some sort) may be more challenging (or it may not). There are lots of choices; if you want an incredible acoustic piano, then Pianoteq is probably the best possible choice, but you may want something entirely (or just a bit) different.
1 Like
FWIW, I use and like Pianoteq, which is well worth the money from my perspective, and having the native Linux client manages to overcome my knee-jerk reaction to a non-FLOSS solution.
I can also recommend Konfyt for use-cases which go beyond the low-friction “plug-and-play” Pianoteq experience. I’m using it to keep multiple synth-like things (e.g., setBfree, SFZ-based instruments, yoshimi, etc.) on tap for use at the drop of a hat.
My need to manage the routing among all those bits is one reason I still run Ardour over JACK rather than ALSA. 
2 Likes
I took the advice and installed Pianoteq. Wow! My Hammer88 was up-and-running in <5 minutes. Thanks for the recommendation, @paul!
Back to the topic, @christal.stroup: I cannot speak to the ‘pro’ version of the keyboard (I misspoke), but I can say that the regular version does exactly what I feel a MIDI keyboard controller should do, for me. It is just a matter of connecting it up to the software that knows what to do with it. Perhaps you could try before you buy?
I’m glad you found using Pianoteq as pleasant as I did!
1 Like
Out of interest, what are the Pianoteq models you are using.
I’m interested in getting the standard version, but I’m a bit overwhelmed with choice and not sure which 3 to get.
Cheers,
Keith
1 Like
Chiming in with my 2c because I love Pianoteq (and of course use it in Linux, standalone and with Ardour)
Personally, the Steingraeber is my favourite, followed by the HB Steinway D. After that I’m not certain, though the new Shigeru Kawai sounds nice. It’s really up to personal preference, and at least Pianoteq in demo mode lets you try everything out.
I’ve seen others who have purchased a Pianoteq license recommend one piano, then if interested, trying out some of the other non-acoustic piano instruments (electric pianos, Classical guitar, steel pans, harp, etc… there are a few).
Remember too there are a couple of free instruments on Modartt’s site which may appeal (love the oldschool sound of the D. Schoffstoss as an example) : Modartt: Pianoteq free
1 Like
Thanks for that.
I did try Pianoteq a few years ago and have downloaded the trial and will try some of them out.
As a bell ringer, I found the fact they have simulated church bells to be amusing and interesting. I actually have field recordings of my local tower bells that I turned into a Soundfont for a project.
@seablade sorry, but I’ve pulled this quite off topic. It may benefit from being split off.
Cheers,
Keith
Keith, as the topic originator, I appreciate your consideration. However, I am finding this conversation interesting, so feel free to continue in this thread, unless a moderator needs to change it.
2 Likes
The guy who is selling his Hammer 88 Pro just told me he doesn’t have the card that has the software download information. I’m wondering if this is important for me since I am running on Linux.
At this point in time there are almost no USB MIDI devices that are not just plug-n-play for Linux. The Hammer 88 is new enough that I’d be more or less certain that this is true for this device also.
That is probably the trial software that came with the keyboard, i.e. a limited version of a DAW or Kontakt or perhaps a MIDI settings application for Mac/Windows. None of it would be Linux-compatible software, so I wouldn’t worry about it. I have a M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI keyboard and a M-Audio USB audio interface that are pretty old at this point, and both are fully-functional on Linux without needing the software that originally came with them.
Hello,
I had the M Audio 88 weighted keyboard, it was fine, but quite a big thing «in the first meaning », I did not have enough space to find it a place.
Now, I am happy with a Studiologic stuff.
I tried Pianotek and it felt great, but quite expensive with the « tentacular » process: you buy one piano, then another, and so on…
I am happy with Garritan piano, wich is différent, because it is a sample bank, but it works well with Ardour.
… Just in case it might add information in the range of piano simulations.
@christal.stroup I feel you are correct. I have always been on Linux with my keyboard, and now that I’m using Pianoteq it just works for me. I fire up Jack and connect the keyboard to Pianoteq - and away it goes! It was just as easy to get it to work with Ardour - MIDI and audio! (Onyx Producer is my USB interface, FWiW)
That said, now that I can see how easily it works, I might explore other options that came with Ubuntu Studio.
Thanks for all the input! I decided not to get it after all. I’m realizing that I want a keyboard more specifically tailored to recording and not trying to be a hybrid between and electric piano and a MIDI keyboard. So, I’m going to keep looking. Thanks again!
1 Like