Using The Akai Professional Max25 With Traktor Pro

Using The Akai Professional Max 25 With Traktor Pro 1
Using The Akai Professional Max 25 With Traktor Pro Free
Using The Akai Professional Max 25 With Traktor Pro 2
Using The Akai Professional Max 25 With Traktor Pro Software

How to Use a MIDI Controller with the Remix Decks in TRAKTOR PRO 2 The TRAKTOR PRO 2 Remix Decks can be mapped to any standard MIDI controller, for example Native Instruments MASCHINE. If you are not familiar with the TRAKTOR Controller Manager, first please consult your TRAKTOR 2 documentation and read this article in the Knowledge Base. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Akai Professional MAX25 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard & Drum Pad Controller with CV/Gate Outputs (8 Pads / 4 LED Touch Faders) at Amazon.com. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. AKAI Professional entered the electronic music industry in 1984 with one purpose - to give artists the tools they need to express and explore new musical possibilities. The Akai Professional Max Series are portable keyboard controller with MPC production controls. Syncing with Pro Tools allows hardware transport control, fader control, and slaving of the Arpeggiator and Note Repeat functions. This guide walks through setting up the MAX25 and MAX49 to take full advantage of this Pro Tools integration.

Sound QualityN/A
Ease of use
Features
Bang for buck
Overall:

I originally bought the Max 25 for the sequencer and the CV/Gate ports. I still use it mostly for that. It is definitely better as a live controller. It doesn't replace a computer or a workstation, but it makes jamming without one a lot easier.
I've broken down the review into subsections addressing the different parts of the keyboard, but suffice it to say that it is a very nice keyboard. My verdict is, if it has the features you're looking for you probably will not be disappointed (with a few, non-deal-breaking, exceptions).
Keyboard Quality:
I'm not the best player, but I do love the feel of a good keyboard. The keybed on this keyboard is excellent. In fact, the keybed, pitch/modwheel, aftertouch and pedal inputs alone make this worth the $300 that I paid for it. It is literally the best feeling non-weighted keyboard I have ever played, I highly suggest testing it in a store because this is such an individual thing.
To give you an idea of my own preferences, I love the Nord Lead 3 keys. I hate the Korg M3-61 keys, I hate the Akai MPK keys, I don't like the Prophet 08 keys. These keys don't feel like any of those, but they are closest to the NL3.
It has a very good spring to the keys. My main complaint about the Akai MPK series was that the springiness didn't feel even. The keys feel very even throughout the whole range of motion. There is enough resistance that one could probably play piano parts on this keyboard, but it shines on synth stuff.
Pressure:
The keys go from initial touch into aftertouch without requiring too much pressure. The after touch pressure isn't too light. It feels just right, I never hit it by accident but my hands don't hurt after using it a lot (if you've used an old Roland you know what I mean). I can also hit a much larger range of CC numbers than I can with most keyboards, so it has a good dynamic range.
Velocity:
The velocity is very responsive. I haven't done extensive testing, but I haven't had any experience with notes playing too loud or soft.
Pads:
Historically I am a drummer. I have an Ableton push. I had an MPK. I have an Alesis drum pad. I've modified E-Drums. I've played MPCs, Launchpads, APC 40s. I am no greenhorn to the world of finger drumming controllers. These are among the best pads I've felt. They feel just like the MPC pads (unlike the MPK pads, which were terrible). I love that they are backlit. The note repeat function is a lot of fun. I like controlling my MFB 522 by starting the sequencer on a simple beat (using the MAX 'play' button) then I add fills using the pads. I do wish that there were 12 or 16 pads, but then the controller would be bigger, so it's a fine tradeoff. I would not want to use this keyboard as a replacement for a dedicated drum controller. ALSO a HUGE negative is that you cannot program the foot pedal inputs to be Note Numbers! I would love to be able to plug in a kick pedal and a hi-hat pedal and use them!!! Anyone reading this at Akai, please implement this!
Pitch/Modwheel:
I wish they were backlit like the ones on the MPK. Otherwise they're great.
Touch faders:
I prefer the big solid faders of the MPK. I do like that these can be set to reflect values in the DAW (like motorized faders), but without the physical component, I don't find them useful for mixing.
Sequencer/Arp:
I would have liked to see the option of converting a MIDI clock to Trig or Gate signal. You can do this with the sequencer or the arpeggiator, but you cannot use the keyboard while doing this, so it's sort of pointless. I do often use it as a modulation source in my modular, but I find myself usually resorting to the Minibrute for pitch/gate output. I would also liked to have seen more CV options. Built in LFOs (this can be done with the sequencer + slew, but has the same issue as sending MIDI clock, no keyboard).
I bought the Akai Max 25 because I liked the touch faders and the sequencing approach on the Max49. The 8 faders on the 49 provide a much better experience in that regard. I have requested the ability to control the sequencer note values using an external controller, and they told me that it would work using Sysex. I don't really care enough to follow up on that.
It is NOT possible to have the sequencer transmit note data to the CV/Gate port and without having the keyboard transmit note data to the CV/Gate as well. This is a huge oversight, as the whole purpose of me getting this keyboard was to sequence my modular with the sequencer while playing the Prophet 08 with the keyboard and my drum machine with the pads. So far the best solution that I have come up with is to have the Sequencer send MIDI note data (for example on channel 12) and send that data back into the in port of the Max 25. Then set the CV/Gate output to receive on MIDI channel 12. This would be a fine solution, except that there is no MIDI thru on the Max 25, so then I cannot control the drum machine and prophet! The workaround is to use an external MIDI splitter (or have MIDI thru on all of your boxes) but it sort of removes a lot of the convenience factor. The absence of a MIDI thru port is unfortunate.
CV/Gate:
I really like that you can set the CV/Gate to V-Trig or S-Trig and adjust the trim. It's cool to be able to switch between V/Oct and Hz/Oct, though I don't have an MS20, so it doesn't help me. I'm not sure why they did not use 1/8' jacks considering the popularity of the Eurorack Modular format. I also don't know why they didn't add more jacks for CV. Onboard LFO + Envelope would be amazing. The capability is there, because the sequencer is capable of creating an LFO if you turn on the slew.
No CV/Gate when powered over USB. This is kind of annoying, but if you are interfacing with a CV device, you probably have a power source of some kind handy.
VyZex Software:
It's nothing special. It does most of what I want it to (and quite a few things that I would never use).
Conclusion:
It's a great controller. It's a pretty good replacement for a clock source, but I would not expect it to take the place of a dedicated sequencer.
It's definitely live performance focused. I think it's worth a look! Would love to see a 61 key version with more CV outputs, faders, and pads.
I would also love to see some more features added in a firmware update. I won't hold my breath.

USB Controller Keyboard

Controllers >MIDI Controllers

At first glance, the Max49 seems much like other controller keyboards, but it's got a surprise up its sleeve..

Given the huge choice of MIDI controller keyboards on the market, what might tempt you to choose one over another? Akai may have the answer with the Max49, a fashionably red and rather handsome example of the genre, with some unusual aspects that set it apart from the crowd.

At A Glance

Comprehensive MIDI control is, of course, the name of the game, and to this end the Max49 offers a four-octave velocity and aftertouch-sensitive keyboard, 12 pads (also with velocity and aftertouch), eight buttons, and — its most distinctive feature — eight touch-sensitive ribbon faders. Interestingly, there are no rotary controller knobs; the ribbon faders are the primary method of sending continuous controller messages on the top panel. While these faders (and the absence of knobs) might not be to everyone's taste, they do have distinct advantages; they're impervious to dust and grit, and, unlike physical faders, they allow you to make instantaneous value changes simply with a light touch of the finger (an LED ladder on each fader tells you its current position). DAW transport control buttons and pitch and modulation wheels complete the basic performance controls, with cursor buttons and a rotary encoder providing navigation around the edit menus in the LED display, parameter value adjustment and preset selection. The remaining buttons govern the built-in arpeggiator, step sequencer, octave shift, fader bank and pad bank selection.

Hands Across The Decades

Around the back, we find a USB port, MIDI In and Out, and three assignable footswitch sockets. We also find the Max49's trump card: CV and Gate connections. These operate at 0-5V with 1V per octave, giving a five-octave range when used with external analogue synths. This forward (and backward) thinking allows the Max49 to communicate with synths spanning six decades! Although the Max49 is USB bus powered, a 6V PSU input is provided (and the PSU itself is included). The PSU is necessary to provide sufficient power to the CV/Gate outputs if you're using the Max49 with a computer at the same time. The Max49 therefore acts not only as a controller for analogue synths, but as a MIDI-to-CV converter for information coming from your DAW. With the current resurgence of new analogue synths, this should make the Max49 especially appealing to retro-minded musicians.

Controls To The Max

The Vyzex Editor, here showing fader number two in bank 1-8 as the editing focus.

Four banks of faders, buttons and pads provide an effective total of 32 buttons and faders, and 48 pads. Each individual controller can be assigned to completely different tasks, MIDI channels and outputs; faders can send CC data, aftertouch, NRPNs and Mackie/HUI control data. Buttons (togglable or momentary) can send CC data, notes, program/bank changes or Mackie/HUI control data. Pads can generate notes and program/bank changes and, when sending notes, they respond to aftertouch. The pads also have a Note Repeat function (momentary or latchable); the time division of repeated notes is selectable directly from the eight buttons, and is sync'ed to the Max49's internal tempo or a DAW's external tempo. Aftertouch is very effective when used with Note Repeat, making dynamically variable drum rolls a cinch. The pads are apparently the same as those on Akai's MPC Renaissance; they're also the most effective pads I've encountered on a controller keyboard, responding accurately to velocity with the minimum of misfires. For times when you need to guarantee that the pads will trigger events at full velocity, engaging the Full Level button will ensure just that.

Also worthy of note is the semi-weighted, synth action keyboard; unlike the typically feather-light action of many keyboards of this type, it has a satisfyingly firm touch, lending itself to better control of velocity. My one criticism is that the black notes produce higher velocities more easily than the whites; this seems common on keyboards with shorter than normal front-to-back scales. No doubt there's a leverage/angle of momentum law of physics thing going on here.

3utools cracked 2019. The Max49 comes pre-loaded with 16 non-rewriteable presets for controlling a selection of DAWs, comprising templates for Live, Reason, Cubase, Logic, FL Studio, FX Guru, Pro Tools, Mackie Control and devices using the HUI protocol. These can be edited, and saved to any of the 16 User presets, two of which are already occupied by Pad setups for GM drums and a chromatic scale.

All of the Max49's controllers are reassignable and reconfigurable in numerous ways, so it's just as well that editing via its own LED display is a breeze. I managed to discover pretty much every function without reference to the manual. However, if you find editing via small LCDs about as much fun as doing your tax return, the bundled Vyzex on-screen editor is there to smooth furrowed brows (see the 'Vyzex Editor & Akai Connect' box).

Step This Way

The Max49's step sequencer is an unexpected inclusion for a controller of this type. Four custom sequences of up to 32 steps can be stored in every preset; simply hold the Seq Select button and choose one from the lowest four pads. Each sequencer step includes note number, velocity and controller value (the CC number is assignable), while the eight buttons act as mutes for any step; adjacent notes can also be tied. In edit mode, each step's note number and controller value can also be set from the touch faders on the fly, allowing for wacky live randomisation effects.

No keyboard controller would be complete without an arpeggiator, and this one offers all the standard octave range, up, down and random patterns, with adjustable gate time and swing. Custom rhythm patterns can optionally be applied to break up an arpeggio's regularity, by specifying 'rest' points along a grid of up to 16 steps in length. Arpeggiator playback modes are selected from the pads, and can be changed on the fly. The time divisions of both the step sequencer and arpeggiator are also selectable live from the eight buttons; all initial arpeggiator settings are stored along with each preset.

Conclusion

Akai have been very shrewd including CV/Gate outputs, along with classic step sequencer functions, on the Max49. Both are sure to appeal to analogue aficionados. These, plus USB and MIDI connectivity give the Max49 control over generations of synths dating back 50 years, and a reasonable chance of longevity in these times of planned obsolescence. I also like the Max49's appearance, its solidity of construction, the high-quality playing surfaces and those touch faders. Now, if Akai were to expand the Max range with larger 61, 76 and 88-note models with added rotary knobs..

Alternatives

The Max49 offers many facilities that are similar to its competitors. However, it (and its cut-down, two-octave sibling, the Max25) is the only one to include both CV/Gate connections and an integral step sequencer, which make it unique in its class.

Vyzex Editor & Akai Connect

For those who prefer to do their editing graphically, the bundled Vyzex editor provides a broader canvas with which to create custom presets. When instantiated, Vyzex copies the Max49's entire internal memory to the editor, placing the currently selected preset into its edit buffer, ready for tweaking. Using Vyzex is extremely intuitive: press a button, key or pad, move a wheel or touch a fader on the Max49, and the editor screen updates to focus on the parameters for that object. Saving your creations also includes a safeguard to protect the Max49's internal memory against accidental overwriting; once a preset is edited, two options appear: 'Store' and 'Sync'. Store writes the new preset into Vyzex's current preset setup, but leaves the Max49's internal memory unchanged. This way, you can create a 'Set' of custom presets, then save that Set to disk for future recall. However, if you wish to rewrite the Max49's internal memory with your new presets, choose Sync instead of Store.

Whilst Vyzex works like a charm, I had less success with Akai Connect. This bundled application is designed to 'wrap' your VST plug-ins so that they can be controlled by the Max49. Without describing the process in detail, I could only get plug-ins to respond to Connect's on-screen faders and buttons, but there was no response at all from the Max49's controls. When more than one 'wrapped' VST was running, there seemed no way to change Connect's controls from one plug-in to another, and with no support documentation of any kind to help, I was stumped on this one. Judging by comments on Akai Pro's forum, I was not alone with these issues.

Pros

CV and Gate connections.
Integral step sequencer.
Extensive programmability.
Rugged build and hi-tech good looks.
Touch faders extend live performance possibilities.

Cons