M-Audio KEYSTATION 88 MK3

The Keystation 88 MK3 is a simple yet powerful USB/MIDI controller designed to create your music and play your VSTi's from your Mac or PC's virtual instrument library in real time. It features 88 notes with a natural, semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive, solid-key feel and a series of controls that expand the range of playable notes. Expression capabilities enhance your workflow and make it easy to manage your recordings. Use the octave change buttons, pitch-bend and modulation wheels, transport buttons or directional controls. The Keystation 88 MK3 also features a 1/4" pedal input, so you can connect an external foot controller, such as the SP2 (sold separately), and enjoy sustain like a real piano, and a 5-pin MIDI output for controlling an external MIDI device.

Playing experience
Lightweight and rugged, the Keystation 88 is ideal for traveling musicians looking for a simple, on-the-go solution to control their virtual instruments, or for producers who want to add an intuitive USB/MIDI control keyboard to their home studio. For easy installation, the Keystation 88 is class-compliant, so it doesn't require a driver; it's USB-powered by connecting it directly to your MAC or PC. In addition, the Keystation 88 supports iOS connectivity with the APPLE Camera Connection Kit (sold separately), allowing you to perform and compose with music production audio apps on your iPad or other iOS devices.

Pro Tools / First
Pro Tools / First, is a comprehensive and powerful audio production and music creation solution for recording, editing, mixing and sharing your music. Go mobile and polish your music anywhere with the available 1GB Avid cloud space allowing you to record and sync up to 3 projects, and why not collaborate with other musicians.

Ableton Live Lite
Also included with the Keystation 88 is Ableton Live Lite, one of the most popular music performance and production programs among musicians. Ableton Live Lite is a powerful music creation tool that allows musicians and producers to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit musical ideas in a stable, fluid audio/MIDI environment. Explore the sonic possibilities in real time whether on stage or in the studio. When you're happy with your work, Ableton Live Lite lets you record and mix it all together.

Beats MPC software

The Keystation 88 MkIII also comes with the new Beats MPC DAW, developed by Akai Professional. Incorporating the best elements of the legendary MPC workflow, MPC Beats offers all the essential tools for professional production. Edit samples, mix your tracks, find any sound with the legendary MPC synthesis engines, record audio and much more. MPC Beats will host your AU/VST plugins, so when you expand your arsenal, you'll still have full compatibility with standard virtual studio technology.

AIR Xpand!2

Xpand!2 is a powerful multitimbral synthesizer and feature-rich multipurpose workstation that allows for patching with up to 4 layers of instruments. Using everything from a wavetable to FM synthesis to sample playback, Xpand!2 offers thousands of ready-to-use sounds and patches for a wide variety of genres.

AIR Mini Grand, also included in this suite, is a powerful piano emulation featuring seven distinct piano sounds, cleverly tailored to accommodate a wide range of musical styles and cover production needs. Combining a host of carefully selected piano samples, a choice of 7 piano models, an innovative technology called "re-pedaling" (for realistic string resonance) and environment simulation; Mini Grand offers composers an arsenal of customizable sounds, perfect for live performance or for your studio recording sessions.

AIR Velvet is a virtual electronic piano that combines five legendary electric pianos from the 1960s and 70s into one versatile instrument. Based on the legendary Fender Rhodes Suitcase, Fender Rhodes MKI and MKII, Wurlitzer 200A and Hohner Pianet-T stage pianos, Velvet accurately emulates the sound quality and nuances of each original instrument.

AIR Vacuum is a polyphonic analog synthesizer with tube circuit modeling that perfectly captures the crunchy, warm sound of the analog era. With four analog oscillators, multiple filters, envelopes, and built-in audio effects, Vacuum immerses you in subtractive synthesis to recreate those sought-after analog sounds of the 70s and 80s.

AIR Boom includes a wide selection of 10 different classic electronic drums, offering variations on the classic 808 and 909 kits, more aggressive Dance and Urban style kits, and a powerful retro-style kit inspired by the "CR78 fused with a 606" model. Each has been created with great attention to detail and offers incredible sonic impact.

AIR DB-33 reproduces the sound of one of those great and unique sounding instruments that is the tone wheel organ, such as the classic Hammond B3. The Hammond B3 was used by many great rock, soul and jazz artists from the 1960s to the 1980s. Unforgettable musicians such as Stevie Winwood, Jon Lord of Deep Purple, Jimmy Smith and Richard "Groove" Holmes.

Complementing this rich software offering, the Keystation 88 MkIII provides 40 free lessons on Melodics software, and 3 months free trial on Skoove piano lesson software to sharpen the skills of beginners and advanced keyboard artists alike.

- Touch: Semi-weighted

- Key format: piano

- Category: Master Keyboard

- Inputs: Expression pedal, Sustain pedal

- Outputs: Midi, USB/Midi

- Software provided: Velvet Air Music Tech, Xpand!2 Air Music Tech, DB-33 Air Music Tech, Mini Grand Air Music Tech, ADSR, F9 Instruments Beats Edition, Laniakea Sounds, MSX Audio, BOOM Air Music Tech, MPC Beats, Vacuum Air Music Tech

- Controller: Pitchbend, Modulation, Octave up/down

- Power: USB, Optional AC Adapter

- Compatibility: PC, Mac, iOS

- Dimensions (mm): 1378 x 216 x 73

- Weight (kg): 6.24 kg

- Velocity sensitive: Yes

- Aftertouch: No

- No. of faders: 1

- No. of keys: 88

- Additional specs: - 88-key velocity-sensitive piano-size USB master keyboard

- 1 volume fader

- Newly updated design, with transport buttons and directional arrows grouped together for ever simpler use

- Hypersensitive pitchbend and modulation wheels, octave control

- Direct power via USB port

- USB/Midi port and Midi output

- Sustain and expression pedal input

- iOS compatible using the optional Apple Camera Connection Kit adapter

- Comes with a complete production kit including Pro Tools First, Ableton Live Lite, the new Beats MPC DAW and production kits, F9 Instruments Beats Edition, Laniakea, MSX Audio, ADSR, and the virtual instruments Velvet, Mini Grand, Vacuum, Boom, DB33, Xpand!2 from AIR

- Includes 3 months free registration to Skoove online piano lessons, and 40 free lessons on the Melodics learning app