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Akai Professional MAX49

Item ID: MAX49

49-key USB MIDI Controller with Semi-weighted Action, Aftertouch, CV/Gate Outputs, 12 x MPC Pads, 8 x Touch Faders, and Akai Connect Mapping Software

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  • Retail Price$699.00
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  • Sale Price:$499.00 PLUS Free Virtual Instruments!
    Retail Value $50.00
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From Our Research Team:

Comprehensive Controller for Any Studio or Live Rig

Akai's MAX49 USB MIDI controller breaks new ground by giving you unprecedented control over any processor or sound module - MIDI gear, software instruments, or even analog synthesizers with CV and Gate connectivity. You'll love how this compact 49-key controller gives you new ways to perform with your music. Innovative touch faders give you a new way to control parameters, whether you assign them to control faders in your DAW's mixer or use them to tweak effects during a DJ set. They're incredibly responsive, and give you new creative options that aren't possible with traditional faders. And in traditional Akai style, you get 12 real MPC pads arranged in four banks for up to 48 programmable controls. But the MAX49's prowess goes much deeper than a great feeling keybed and expressive controls.







Whether you produce music on your laptop, command your entire studio with your keyboard controller, or perform live with analog synthesizers, the Akai MAX49 is ready to integrate into your rig. As expected it's an amazing USB and MIDI controller, but also gives you control over analog synthesizers via CV and Gate outputs. There's a 32-step sequencer on-board, as well as an arpeggiator with multiple modes. And the touch faders feature a modulation sequencer, that lets you step through the values of the eight touch faders in sync to your performance. There are so many possibilities for production and performance with the Akai MAX49 USB MIDI controller - call Sweetwater today to find out how it can enhance your rig.

Akai MAX49 USB MIDI Controller at a Glance:
  • Exceptional keyboard
  • Innovative touch faders for creative control
  • Digital control over analog synths
  • Made for expressive performances

Exceptional keyboard
Akai's MAX49 USB MIDI controller sports 49 semi-weighted keys with aftertouch. You'll love the robust feel of the keybed, with that "just right" resistance that's perfect for getting the most out of your synthesizer. Aftertouch gives you access to an often-overlooked control option for your sounds. Whether you use it every day in your studio, or put it to the test on the road, the MAX49 is built to last and perform like a champ.

Innovative touch faders for creative control
You'll find eight touch faders on the MAX49, which give fader-like control over whatever parameters you choose. But because they're not a physical fader, you can choose to jump between different values without sliding between them for abrupt control changes, or you can choose to force them to slide between values for fader-like operation - best of both worlds. The touch faders can be assigned to Aftertouch, MIDI CC, and Mackie or HUI control types for exceptional control both live or in your studio with your DAW.

Digital control over analog synths
Connect the MAX49's CV and Gate outputs to your favorite analog synth, and prepare to command it like never before. Sure, you can play and modulate vintage synth gear with the reliability of a modern controller, but that's just the start. Akai's MAX49 can take incoming MIDI from either its MIDI In port or via USB, and send that out the CV and Gate outputs - that's huge! Now you can send sequences from your computer's DAW or your hardware sequencer, and use them to trigger an analog synthesizer. If you love the sound of analog synths, but haven't found a way to integrate them with your computer's software sequencer, you need the Akai MAX49!

Made for expressive performances
With a built-in 32-step sequencer and a 16-step arpeggiator, Akai's MAX49 is much more than a keyboard controller. Create, edit, and save your favorite sequences for use with any sound module or software synthesizer at a moment's notice. You can even trigger sequences from the MPC pads for fluid performances. The eight touch faders can be used as a modulation sequencer, too - there are two modes, Sequence Note Mode and Sequence CC Mode. Note Mode lets you assign note values to your sequence with the position of the touch faders. CC Mode lets you assign CC values that can be sent to any USB, MIDI, or CV source, then step through them. The MAX49 is amazingly versatile, incredibly creative, and a ton of fun to play with.

Akai MAX49 USB MIDI Controller Features:
  • Compact 49-key controller for sound modules from any era - USB, MIDI, or CV
  • Semi-weighted keybed with aftertouch, perfect for getting the most out of synthesizers
  • 12 real MPC pads, arranged in four banks for up to 48 programmable performance pads
  • Eight touch faders can be assigned to control sequencer values, CC messages, and more
  • Built-in 32-step sequencer, and 16-step arpeggiator
  • Save your control mappings and created sequences as user programs that you can pull up at any time, for use with any sound module or software
  • Dedicated transport controls for comprehensive DAW control
  • Ideal controller for combining computer synthesizers, MIDI modules, and vintage synths with CV/Gate connectivity

Get more performance from your controller than you ever thought possible with the Akai MAX49 USB MIDI controller!
Specification Detail
Number of Keys 49
Type of Keys Semi-weighted
Aftertouch Yes
Number of Performance Pads 12
Number of Encoders/Pots No Encoders
Number of Sliders/Faders 8 Touch Faders
Dedicated Transport Control Yes
Other Controllers Pitchbend, Mod Wheel
System Requirements Mac 1.25 GHz G4/G5 or faster, 1 GB RAM, Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later
System Requirements PC 1.5 GHz Pentium 4 or Celeron compatible CPU or faster, 1 GB RAM, Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP
Pedal Inputs 2 x Footswitch, 1 x Expression Pedal
MIDI I/O In, Out, and USB
USB Yes
Height 3"
Width 29"
Depth 12.5"
Weight 11.7 lbs.
Power Supply Bus Powered or included Power Supply
Manufacturer Part Number MAX49

MAX49 Image Gallery

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I am amazed at the level of customer serivce I received for my first order. Great Job! The entire process was smooth and efficient. I also loved the candy touch. What a lovely treat!


Mary Ann, Point Pleasant Boro, NJ

Reviews

based on 3 reviews

Best Midi Keyboard available, but so much more

by Ben from Berkeley, CA
October 17, 2012
Music Background: Sound Designer/ Engineer/ Musician
I just received this beautiful piece of gear about a week ago and I have to say I am definitely impressed. I have not had a chance to test the CV Out/Gate features of this unit yet, but I have been th... read more [+]rough every other aspect of the Akai Max 49. The drum pads are the first thing I must talk about because they are simply the best drum pads I have ever used on any midi keyboard. I would even go as far as say these pads are better than the pads on my N.I. MASCHINE. They are ultra-sensitive and feel great, plus the light up feature just adds to the beauty of this piece of gear. The keys on this board will feel stiff at first, but that is just something that I have never had before because I owned a 7 year old M-Audio 49 key basic keyboard with a loose action. The aftertouch functions on the keys are phenomenal. The arpeggiator and step sequence are great additions. The arp has multiple settings and is really easy to use. The step sequencer is something that you won't see on any other midi keyboards on the market. It is quite fun to use and helps expand creative ideas when composing music. The Max 49 has 8 touch sensitive faders instead of the classic knobs on the Akai MPK series. I have heard many people say nothing beats turning knobs, and being a big analog enthusiast I would have to agree, but the second I started swiping these faders I was instantly impressed with how well they work and how accurate they are. Programming the Akai Max 49 is a breeze. It comes with multiple presets for many DAWS on the market, but you can customize your own very easily and save multiple settings within the Vyzex Max 49 editor software which comes with the keyboard. The last thing I want to add is that I love how solid this piece of gear feels. It is made out of strong materials and reminds me of a classic analog synthesizer. I can not wait to test the Max 49 out with some analog synthesizers in the future. Overall I have to give this piece of gear five stars because I have never seen anything even comparable on the market. Akai is going in a great direction and I am looking forward to their future innovations. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING THE AKAI MAX 49! close [-]

Akai max 49 midi keyboard

by Matt Marlow from Illinois
September 25, 2012
Music Background: Music producer
The max 49 is an amazing controller very versatile and easy to set up. Very responsive and really nice semi weighted keys. I would recommend to any electronic music producer.

Nice piece of kit, but...

by Dale from Richmond, VA USA
September 19, 2012
Music Background: Controllerist
In general, this is a quality product, but all these new features aren't nearly as useful to me as the features they've taken away. I drooled over this for months and really wanted to love it. However... read more [+], I ultimately ended up returning it.

Good stuff: First off, it looks absolutely amazing. I wanted to lick the metallic red finish as soon as I took it out of the box. The key bed has a really nice, tight feel. Very good quality. Also, the drum pads were my favorite thing about this controller. They're extremely responsive and are WAY better than the MPK line. The rubberized mod and pitch wheels also felt great. Much better than the crappy joystick on my Novation controller. Step sequencer was pretty nice as well, but I really prefer to manage this sort of thing within my software -- not with the hardware. The Vyzex editor was also quite nice to use. My only issue here was that I couldn't figure out how to select multiple controls (i.e. All the drum pads) to simultaneously change their midi channels all at once. Maybe it's possible, but it definitely wasn't self-explanatory. I can't really speak about the CV output feature. In theory, it seems cool for folks who have expensive analog gear -- but I don't, so it's pretty worthless to me.

Not-so-good stuff: The led touch faders are kind of cool in that they'll respond to changes made within your DAW / plugins. Honestly though, they're just no substitute for an actual hardware fader that I can grab between my fingers and flip up and down. My biggest gripe is that, aside from the mod wheel, there's not a single mappable *knob* on this thing. It's touch faders or nothing. For a $500 controller, this is absolutely unacceptable in my opinion. Granted, I could use a separate controller for my knobs. But why should I have to when I can buy the Novation SL MKII (just as well-built) which has 16 led knobs, 8 hardware faders, 8 drum pads, an amazing key bed, and that now costs $100 less than the Max49 at many stores?

So that's exactly what I ended up doing, and I don't regret it one bit. I saved $100 and got a better controller for my needs. The only thing I'm really missing from the Max49 is it's superior drum pads… but I've been wanting to pick up a standalone MPC controller anyway. That way I'll have the flexibility to take just my drum pads with me if I don't want to lug around a big 49-key keyboard controller.

All-in-all, the Max 49 is a nice piece of kit, but it's just not practical for me. If I ignore their drum pads and quirky Automap software, Novation still reigns supreme in my opinion. close [-]

Also popular

See Also: Akai Professional , Akai Professional 49-Key Controllers , Akai Professional Control & Interface Combos

Akai Professional MAX49

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