M-Audio Radium 61-Key USB MIDI Controller

by M-Audio

List price:	$259.95
Your price:	$199.95
Save:	$60.00 (23.08%)

Features

61-note keyboard
8 knobs and 8 sliders assignable to any MIDI parameters
Pitch and modulation wheels
USB port routes 16 channels of MIDI I/O directly to and from your computer
MIDI Out jack routes MIDI signals from Radium to control external gear

Product Description

Radium is a new breed of controller with 8 MIDI-assignable knobs and 8 MIDI-assignable sliders augmenting its 61-note keyboard. Designed to meet the needs of today?s electronic musicians, Radium offers users real-time control of any 16 MIDI parameters within their favorite software programs. Five user-definable preset banks extend this control to 80 MIDI parameters of the user?s choice at the touch of a button.Radium also has a built-in USB MIDI interface that communicates 16-channels of MIDI data directly with the computer without the need for a separate MIDI interface. Two separate MIDI Outs send data to external gear?one from the keyboard and one from the computer. Additional controls include pitch wheel, modulation wheel and octave up/down keys that extend the range of the 5-octave keyboard. The unit can be powered via the USB port or via a 9V DC power supply for standalone operation.Radium?s 16 real-time controllers allow the unit to serve in a variety of capacities, with or without a computer. Performers benefit from greater freedom of expression. Synthesists can easily access parameters buried deep within their hardware without having to navigate arcane nested menus. Songwriters and producers can enter drum patterns from the keyboard and use the controllers to adjust the dynamics, feel and effects. Radium also brings tactile control to today?s virtual studios, with its sliders mapped to virtual faders and the knobs controlling pan, effects sends and more. We...

Reviews

Great for Starters. Not so Great for Pros.
For the beginning to intermetiate musician wishing to tap into the full benifits of Propellerhead's Reason., the Radium 61 keyboard is a good companion for the money. It is easily recognized by Reason 3.0's "Remote" feature and is a snap to set up. The generous number of faders and knobs also give great tactile control of today's music production software like Reason, Logic, Digital Performer, etc. However I'm giving only 3 stars because of the quality of the keys. They feel muddy making it a bit of a task when playing soft, delecate, musical passages. Also I had to return my Radium because two of the keys had bad contacts. Thus quality may be an issue. In a nut shell Reason freaks looking to get better control, this controler will do the job very nicely. But for seasoned professionals that play music with both loud and soft passages like jazz or classical and need a high quality controler, steping up to a hammer action keyboard like the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 would be a better bet.

Just OK
The M-Audio Radium61 is an OK starter controller. If you are used to 80's keyboards with no weighted or semi-weighted action, this controller, though a bit "springy", will feel fimiliar. The "springy-ness" doesn't lend it's self to subtle, delicate playing - at all. I bought the Raduim61 at the same time I bought Propellerheads Reason, and cost was a slight factor in that decision. I was looking at this and the more expensive Navation ReMOTE 61 (semi-weighted, 64 user & 50 factory presets [many of which are specificaly for Reason] - not 16 like this model) In Reason I was using the Rhodes, Hammond and Wurlitzer models. The Radium61 just wasn't cutting it. After a month I went back and bought the Navation. For synth pop and pads this would be a good unit, but for just about anything else, get a weighted or semi-weighted controller like the M-Audio Keystation 61 (cheaper than the Radium61 and without the knobs and sliders) or the Navation ReMOTE 61 (which I highly recommend).

XP users beware
Solidly built keyboard at a good price, ($150 new) but I was unable to get Windows XP to recognize it, even after much effort, and so took it back to store for refund.
I did get it working on my Mac, but there, only after installation of rather quirky driver software.
I agree that the keys are "springy" and it might be hard to play this keyboard with much delicacy.
Got hardly any response from M-Audo when I e-mailed them for help.