M-Audio Trigger Finger

There is a patch editor called "enigma" for the Trigger Finger. The enigma for me was that the Windows version wasn't on the CDs provided - I had to download it (and there's no Linux version). I got Enigma working, but soon decided it's actually easier to program the TF directly via the klunky 80's style modal interface. Awful. Once programmed it works fine - though you have to be careful not to hit the edit buttons while playing. I saved the same patch in every pad just in case. The documentation is barely adequate.

There was no power supply provided, let alone a MIDI cable. It has enough knobs and sliders to keep me busy. I like that you can assign just about anything to anything, and I like that you can program it independently (without a computer). There's no MIDI in/through, so it's not MIDI chain friendly. Aftertouch per pad is it's best feature.

I find the pads are not nearly sensitive enough. Forget delicacy - at a normal typing force you're nowhere near the triggering threshold. The arrangement of knobs is a little cramped, and the feel of the knobs is not consistent - some are stickier than others. What I really like about this unit is the aftertouch on each pad. You can turn this into a really squooshy gummyrubbery interface - lots of fun - although again, too much force on the pads is required.

The TF looks cheap and tacky. The sliders feel loose (as opposed to just light), and the knobs feel somehow cheap. I'm not sure I'd trust the knobs and sliders once this thing ages a little - it might become just a pad box. The display is 80's technology - I'm sure that will keep working.

The web site is fairly average. I had to fill in a long form before I got to download the software.

I'm not sure I could have done any better with the Korg or Akai equivalents - the Akai seems much better value overall, but is it more computer-bound? - my TF is for controlling my Nord G2 engine with no laptop. I expected the TF to be a nice percussion interface, and it's not because of the lack of pad sensitivity, but it's a great fun squishy interface, and in a way that's better.

The trigger finger is the worst product I have ever bought. I am running windows xp and I was never able to get the driver working for this unit. I even re-configured my OS and called the company with no results...all they could tell me is they were not sure if it was completely compatible with windows xp pro

Impossible to determine because I could not get my computer to recognize the trigger finger.

i think I heard a pop one time when I plugged it in my usb port...thats the only sound it made so I would say its terrible.

As a giant coaster for my coffee cup this would have been a great addition to my home studio but as a controller I would say that a piece of wood would have been more reliable.

they blamed my system and told me that I would have to resolve my issues before it would work...What does class compliant mean anyway...They put it on the box...that is a load of S$#T...

If you want something that works buy the AKAI MPD24 I had this bad boy up and running within 15 minutes. The BFD software is easy to use and sounds great. I would never wish the hell the trigger finger put me through on anyone!!!!!!!!!!

Ease of use is a mixed bag, because the initial setup was a bit of a headache -- I've used several other USB MIDI controllers in the past which always set up without a hitch, but the TF took some serious poking and experimentation to get up and running.

I mostly use it with Ableton Live 6, and once I got over that initial hump, it's worked flawlessly -- I use it almost daily and have used it in live sets -- the TF + laptop w/Ableton makes a great mobile DJ/performance setup.

I've also briefly tried using it with Reason 3 (where I couldn't get it to quite work the way I wanted, but I'll chalk that up to the fact that I don't really know Reason) and Sonar 5 (where I had some annoying latency issues with the pads). So the drivers DO seem to be pretty hit or miss overall, but for Ableton it's been perfectly solid.

In other aspects, ease of use is first rate: setting up new patches is straightforward and pretty intuitive either from the device itself or via the Enimga patch librarian. Careful reading of the manual is recommended to take full advantage of all of the TF's potential, but the manual is well written, and I especially appreciate that it includes a full table of the presets in the appendix.

So overall I'm going to give this category something like a 4 for installation, a 9 for day-to-day use.

Very nice feature set. I bought this expecting to use it primarily as an MPC-workalike for drum pads, but with the sliders and knobs it makes for a very nice allaround controller for a lot of situations where a piano-type keyboard is not required.

The pads are decent quality, with aftertouch and a programmable response curve. I also like that the pads can double as toggle buttons. The faders have a nice long range which I really like.

It'd be really nice if there were a couple more knobs or faders, and a couple of programmable buttons with status lights, but that's all much more in wish list territory rather than any design deficiency.

I also really like that it runs entirely off of USB power (unlike some other controllers I've seen which require separate wall power). Some other folks here have complained that there's no included DC power supply, but this doesn't bother me -- they're easy enough to find, and I imagine most people are going to be using it primarily via USB that it's a nice way to keep costs down.

Not much to say here; the action and feel of the pads maybe isn't equal to what I've seen on more expensive devices, but for the price it's definitely satisfactory.

It's been very reliable for me, though if I played out with it on a very regular basis, all that plastic would make me very nervous, and it'd just take one fall of a couple of feet onto a concrete floor to spell real trouble.

But all of this is exactly what I expect from the price range, and for someone is just going to be using it in a home studio (with occassional outside forays) it's a solid performer.

n/a

I've been making electronic music for 15+ years as a producer, performer, and DJ. I can't say that the TF is a "pro" piece of equipment, but it doesn't try to be. But at the price, it's very very nice for my purposes (chiefly a swiss army knife controller with Ableton). I love that I can toss the TF in a messenger bag along with my laptop and have a full-featured performance setup. If mine ended up lost/broken/stolen, I'd be very likely to pick up another.

Biggest potential downside (based on my own experience and reading other reviews) is that the drivers can be pretty hit or miss. If you're thinking of buying one I'd definitely make sure you have a return option just in case you can't get it working satisfactorily with the rest of your rig.

If I could have gotten the driver's to work correctly I would have spent more time using the interface. I know the Ableton software included has a steep learning curve. Even after using the software for several months on other M-Audio products, I still get frustrated at all the configuring required before I can start recording.

I purchased the Trigger Finger in the first place because of all the pontential features. I think it was a good product in concept. Too bad it was not quality tested before release.

Ableton software simply uses Windows midi sounds (which suck).

I would use it with MIDI sound modules, but never with a PC.

When I called to solve the latency issue, the customer support told me to re-install Windows. I am a PC Technician and have a very in-depth knowledge of Windows. Re-installing windows will not fix the issue. The driver's do not work and no updates are available yet from M-Audio. I have a lot of experiance with Ableton's software as it came with my Black Box. It takes a lot of figuring out, but I know I have it set up correctly. None of these points where mentioned by M-Audio support nor was I sent to the next level of tech support.

Works perfect with a midi sound module. However, it does not come with a power suply, so you have to keep the USB cable plugged in to the computer to suply power. BUT, the USB interface has such a bad latency problem that the controler is useless for tapping out rhythms.

Trigger finger with Ableton Live 5.2. on a new Compaq laptop 1GB RAM external HD 80 GB. Enigma software worked fine when it could find the product.

Pads transmit MIDI note # and additionally can transmit midi
commands such as volume depending on pressure. 8 velocity curves. No sounds strictly controller. 8 knobs assignable to different parameters

Designed to be played with fingers, I had to hit the pads pretty hard to get them up to full volume. Not as sensitive as I would like.

I only had it for a few days

The drivers for this unit are not good. My computer which is brand new and up to date with all sofware etc would only recognize the unit some of the time and then it would just quit sometimes. M- Audio support had me disable some devices using the same IRQ. This worked for one night. The next day my computer failed to recognize the trigger finger again. I called support and was informed I needed to do a wipe of my system and reload Windows XP so the USB ports could be configured to recognize the trigger finger. I don't think so.....

This unit was worthless to me and I returned it to Guiter Center. I had to fight to make them take it back because it had been opened. I replaced it with a Korg padKontroller that my computer recognized and have had no problems. I think the drivers foir the trigger finger are the problem. If you buy this unit make sure you can return it if you have a problem.

strictly a controller, so there are no sounds to critique.
editing the parameter values is quite simple, and even quicker if you use the software editor.
the (pdf) manual is pretty weak, and fails to provide some vital details which must be discovered through trial and error. that said, the device is a simple one (if you're familiar with MIDI) so this shouldn't pose much a problem.
i agree with the previous review that not including a DC adaptor is a pretty cheap move, but they're easy enough to find. i prefer to use the MIDI jack rather than the USB port, so i can run multiple devices in/out of the same interface, which neccesitates a DC adaptor.
the addition of a mic stand socket (thoughtfully centered under the pads) is good, allowing one to free up precious desk / keboard stand space if neccesary.

the assignable faders and knobs allow you to control all kinds of parameters, which is nice for mixing or tweaking. .
there are a lot of little features that really add to the usefullness. for example, the ability to assign both notes and control messages to the same pad, and then temporarily block one or the other from transmitting allows you to instantly switch between using the pads for drum input and event triggering, very nice! great to have aftertouch on the pads too, so they can be used to manipulate parameters according to pressure continuously applied.
16 presets stored inside and an infinite number accesible via the software editor means you can create custom set-ups for any imaginable device you want to control.
extremely versatile.

the pads are very responsive, consistent, with a nice feel to them.
a BIG improvement over using a keyboard for percussion input.
the faders and knobs have a nice rubber tactility, and a smooth glide to them.
all in all, it's a pleasure to touch and work with.

seems pretty solid to me. obviously it should be kept clean and protected from impacts, but it's not at all flimsy. i would depend on it without reservation.

i wouldn't know.

i would buy it again if it were lost, definately.
i love how compact / slim it is, and it greatly enhances the experience of programming percussion or working with software sequencers / sound modules.
wish it had a few more faders, but then it wouldn't be so portable, so it's ok.
at this price, it's a great value.

I just picked this unit up, as my Octapad is acting up as one of the pads crapped out. This is an amazing little package for the price. It is only a controller and does not have any sounds on board, so it designed to run software,or an external midi module. There is not a hard copy of the manual, so have a printer near by. Also they neglected to include a DC adapter as it powers up using USB. I had a spare so it wasn't a big deal, but a cheap move just the same. I use this unit to run Sampletank 2XL drum sounds, and it worked flawlessly out of the box.
I gave it an 8 only because they didn't include an adapter.

The pads on this unit are multi velocity and react rather well. It's not an Akai MPC unit but it is a heck of a lot cheaper. You can actually assign all 16 pads to one sound if you like for 16 exact velocities locked on each. This is great for dynamics and two handed technique on each drum, or whatever it is that you are triggering. A lump for instance. A repeating line in the song that you can fly in as a sample at the touch of a button.

Not only does it react to playing style, it has a multiple of contoller options in sliders and rotary knobs. A little confusing at first. You definitely have to read the software manual, or what I did was download the pdf and printed it, off the net. The feel is real though. There is one map or program that I tried that gives you 4 drums each with 4 velocity levels, spanned across horizontally from quiet to full. You can almost approach it bongo style at this point and let what happens happen.

I can't see why you can't bring this on a gig, although if you are using a PC you would generally have everthing tracked already. It isn't a robust rad worthy unit though. Not to be mistaken for a stomp box for sure.

Never had to. I use their card though the 1010LT and nver had any issues what so ever.

I have a full line of gear including outboard and a Mackie 2408 that I use for mix down and monitoring. This unit is great because it doesn't get in the way. The Octapad was also great , but you have to set it up in the room much like a keyboard and give it it's space. I often found myself saying the heck with it and played drums on the piano keyboard that is set up permanently. It seems that for the price and the design using pads there would be little or no worries about eventually destroying your contacts in your keyboard. I tend to get a little carried away if a fill demands some velocity, and I know that is not good for the keyboard. The pads seem to take it pretty good. The multi fixed velocity is really a cool addition, especially for hihats and cymbals for a realistic playing style. That is why I used the Octapad.
People often ask me , if I used real drums in my demos.