Whatever else they do, M-Audio makes straightfoward MIDI keyboards that work. As a happy owner of their Keystation 49e, I am intrigued by the newly-offered replacement model, the KeyRig 49, and would like to sign up for its newsletter.
Apart from looking somewhat sexier, with a glossy paint job and sleeker body, the new 49-key entry-level model offers the same plug-in-and-go simplicity of the original, requiring no drivers or power source other than the USB bus itself. The keys are full-sized and pressure-sensitive (for those thinking about buying a keyboard to mess around with, this is the single most important feature often lacking in cheap models), and modulation and pitch wheels are built-in. A couple of rubber buttons allow the player to shift the entire keyboard up and down octaves, and the keyboard also comes with a master volume control and a bunch of other functions you'll never bother with.
The KeyRig 49 retails for $130 (same as the Keystation 49e: you'll find them a lot cheaper by shopping around) and also comes with a packaged composing package, also called KeyRig, offering the standard Garage Band-like complement of virtual instruments and sequencers.
Product Page [M-Audio via Tech Digest]
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