M-Audio Radium 49

Once I got past my firewall problems, it worked great. Using the latest software. Editing patches is pretty easy, but the presets do most of what I need it to do in Reason.

Action kinda sucks, but it works for what I need it for.

The velocity curve kinda sucks, but it's still a good keyboard for the price.

I probably won't be using this on a gig, but it works for my home studio.

I contacted tech support to help with driver installation, but I figured out my own problems, so I'd say they were of no real help.

Honestly, I'd probably buy a higher quality Alesis or Korg model of a similar type. I can see where people say that there is a lack of resolution in the knobs & sliders, but it works for what I use it for, so I'll stick with it for awhile. Good keyboard for the price, but if you can spring for something a little more expensive, do it.

the manual sorta sucks but it installed perfectly, i dont see why everyone is having such a problem with this. maybe it is because i am getting it so late and the installs have been perfected.

If your key does happen to stick, there is a reset button.......it does what it says it will do. The keys have to be broke in sort of and the semi weighted keys (or is it weighted?) take some getting use to. they are very plastic and ..... yuck, but it gets better..., all the knobs and fades pitch and everything seems to work fine for me

everything is acceptable

i use this in fl studio, and it is hooked up usb with power cord..... using my asio drivers for my mackie spike, i get 1-2 ms latency........ i recommend it

havent used it

overall i wouldnt get anything else for this price, (i paid 110 after looking around forever) i was looking into the oxygen 8 but i need the octaves, and i looked at the microkontrol too expensive and i cant deal with mini keys...... so this worked perfectly...... if your having a problem, maybe i can help. let me know

Took me a few hours to set this up,
and once it got up and going, it`s been doing all it`s supposed to.

I can`t get it to change from the 1st channel either.... whats up with that???

i can set it to ``echo`` to a different channel within my software, but that is not good when you need to change sounds quickly...

the manual won`t help you very much either...

the polyphony and sounds are in my software... this is only the controller. if you have a good machine to work it on, it`ll be exactly that...
keys are, yes, cheaply built, action is very ``plasticy`` and springy, but if you get used to it it`ll be fine.
8 assignable knobs, 8 assignable sliders, 1 mod n 1 pitch wheel. plenty.

it is great for using it to manipulate the sounds with the sliders and such, but for doing actual `piano` performing, it isn`t very good. it feels like a toy.

ever since i got it going, its been perfect.


i would use this live,
it depends what you want to get out of it...
but i`d hope for my computer not to crash !!

m-audio customer support is no good.

This is an inexpensive and practical little keyboard that works very well ONCE you get it installed. the touch and action limit its performance capabilities, but for use with the knobs and sliders, nothing too critical from an `interpreter`s` point of view, it`s been great for me.

very lightweight, but made of seemingly cheap plastic...

This is an update to my previous review of the Radium49. I tried installing the software for the Radium, and if I hated this thing before, NOW I will NEVER buy an Maudio product again. The drivers WON'T INSTALL, and I'm following the instructions to a tee. In fact, this product is so shoddy that Maudio's instructions actually tell you to repeat the driver installation 2 or 3 times. NOT GOOD. I should probably call their tech support, but at this point, I just want to sell this P.O.C. and get something that doesn't waste my time, like the Korg MicroKontrol or an Edirol.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME! 9/10 people I know who've had this thing returned it in disgust. That says it all.

It's fairly easy to use....I haven't used the software to set up drivers yet, but programming directly from the Radium wouldn't be that painful.

The action is TERRIBLE. I guess you get what you pay for, but I never would've thought the Yamaha Cs1x's cheapo keys would be better than this...I can describe it, klack klack klack, rickety.

Velocity and Aftertouch are seriously inhibited by the so, so sh**ty keys.

I haven't had it very long, it's brand new, but the build quality is pure cheap crap. Some of the sliders have to be forced to reach maximum capacity...the octave switch keys are almost stuck under the chassis because the assembly was done so carelessly. The Select key needs to be pressed really hard half the time.

Not dealt with them yet. I used to have a Midisport 2x2 which worked well, and was made WAY better than this.

If stolen or -ahem- "lost", I would NOT buy another one. I would spend a bit extra and get something of slightly better quality, perhaps an Edirol PCR50. You get what you pay for...sometimes not even that.

Using OSX Panther and Reason 2.5 Setup was plug and play although I could never get the MIDI channel changed no matter what I tried. Manual is terse and comes with one CD.

Although I think it's important to have keyboard controllers at this price, the build quality isn't very good. There were no obvious blemishes, the plastics are a bit cheap, and the keyboard action is not very good. The knobs and sliders work but they are basic, no oil damping or anything like that. It works as advertised but don't expect to be blown away. Comes with an AC adapter and the packaging is very good.

No build-in sounds. You'll need a softsynth.

Keyboard would exhibit random stuck notes with very light velocity every once in a while. You had to go back through and hit every key to turn the stuck note off.

Didn't use.

I took it back and ordered an Edirol PCR-50. Too bad the Novation Remote 49 is so expensive. For an inexpensive MIDI keyboard attached to the computer, the Radium 49 isn't bad but feel is important to me.