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From Our Research Team:

Digital Piano & MIDI Controller!

The ProKeys 88 is the premium digital stage piano that doubles as a great MIDI controller. ProKeys 88 gives you a lot more sound bank memory than even the closest competitor, loaded with larger, more realistic samples-14 world-class instruments in all, including split/layer capabilities. M-Audio paired those great sounds with an 88-key hammer-action keyboard, delivering a realistic feel to satisfy the most demanding pro. The ProKeys 88 is also a great master controller keyboard, including a built-in USB MIDI interface for easy direct connection to your PC or Mac, MIDI In and Out jacks to communicate with other MIDI gear, pitch and modulation wheels, sequencer controls and more. ProKeys 88 pulls out all the stops in creating the ultimate playing experience in an affordable digital stage piano.

M-Audio ProKeys 88 Stage Piano/MIDI Controller at a Glance:

• Ultra-Realistic Piano Sounds
  
• More Than a Stage Piano - 14 Sounds in All
  
• Great-feeling 88-key Hammer Action
  
• Easy Setup of Splits and Layers
  
• Control Your DAW and Soft Synths
  
• Built-in Effects
  
• Sustain, Sostenuto, and Expression Pedal Inputs
  
• Headphones and Pro Audio Outputs

Ultra-Realistic Piano
M-Audio's primary mandate in designing the ProKeys 88 was creating an over-the-top piano experience that blows away the competition - and they succeeded! The quality of a digital piano is influenced greatly by the quality of the samples - which in turn, is impacted tremendously by the size of the samples. Most digital stage pianos cram all their sounds - sometimes 128 or more - into as little as 16MB of ROM. For the ProKeys 88, M-Audio chose instead to spring for a generous 64MB to do much better justice to 14 sounds that are the bread and butter for most keyboardists. In fact, the premium stereo grand piano samples of a Yamaha C7 alone are 30MB - more than some units' total memory for all sounds.

More Than a Stage Piano
The M-Audio ProKeys 88 delivers all the staple keyboard sounds needed by many musicians. Its flagship stereo grand is supplemented by an alternate grand designed to really cut through in popular music. The ProKeys 88 has electric pianos covered too, including both bright and warm classic Yamaha DX7s, a sweet Fender Rhodes and a vintage Wurlitzer (don't forget the tremolo effect). And the Clavinet brings one word to mind - "funky." The ProKeys 88's acoustic and electric basses give you the option of layering a ride cymbal for jazz tunes. Vibes, ensemble strings and an inspiring warm, lush synth pad round out a great sonic palette for the gigging keyboardist.

M-Audio ProKeys 88 Instruments:

• Stereo Grand Piano (Yamaha C7)
  
• Bright Grand Piano
  
• Fender Rhodes
  
• Wurlitzer Electric Piano
  
• Bright Yamaha DX7 FM Classic Electric Piano
  
• Warm Yamaha DX7 FM Classic Electric Piano
  
• Hohner Clavinet D6
  
• Vibes (with hybrid mallets)
  
• Hammond B3 Percussion Organ
  
• Hammond B3 Rock Organ
  
• Acoustic Upright Bass (with Ride Cymbal Option)
  
• Fingered Electric Bass including Harmonics (with Ride Cymbal Option)
  
• String Ensemble
  
• Warm, Lush Synth Pad

88-Key Hammer Action
Of course, a realistic digital stage piano must have a full 88 keys that are properly weighted. The ProKeys 88's full-range clavier features hammer action that feels just like the real thing. It features three velocity curves tailored to different touches, as well as a fixed velocity for synth work.

Splits and Layers
The ProKeys 88 keyboard also features split and layer capabilities. Put a bass in your left hand and keys in your right. Chord with an organ while playing a piano lead. Layer lush strings over a piano. You can even have a split and layer simultaneously for a total of three sounds at once.

Control Your DAW
When it comes to communicating with the outside world, most digital stage pianos offer little more than a MIDI jack. In sharp contrast, the ProKeys 88 inherits much from M-Audio's years of experience pioneering mobile MIDI controllers. It incorporates a full USB MIDI interface that communicates with your PC or Mac via a single, simple USB connection-perfect for recording with virtually all MIDI sequencer software on the market. (The instrument features class compliancy with Windows XP and Mac OS X without needing additional drivers.) You can even control your sequencer remotely from the ProKeys 88 via front-panel Start, Stop and Tempo buttons.

MIDI In and Out jacks allow full communication with all standard MIDI gear as well. The ProKeys 88 also features performance controls that are rare on digital stage pianos, including pitch wheel, modulation wheel, two footswitch inputs, and expression pedal input. The three different ranges available via the ProKeys 88's combined split and layer functions can each transmit on a separate MIDI channel as well. You also get dedicated front-panel buttons for program change, channel, bank MSB, bank LSB and local on/off.

Built-in Effects
There's no need to mess around with additional gear to add basic effects to your ProKeys 88. On-board EQ lets you easily tweak the tone on the fly. You also get three different built-in reverb spaces that simulate different acoustic environments. Chorus fattens up sounds like Fender Rhodes and basses. And what's a vintage Wurlitzer electric piano without tremolo? Experiment with different effects on the ProKeys 88 to create signature sounds of your own.

Full Pedal Complement
Every digital piano has a sustain pedal jack. But what about the sostenuto pedal (the middle pedal on an acoustic piano)? ProKeys 88 has it. There's also an expression pedal input for foot-control of volume. And all three of these pedals serve as MIDI controllers for outboard gear as well.

Headphones and Pro Audio Outputs
Ever need to practice privately? ProKeys 88 includes a 1/4" stereo headphone jack so you can play without anyone else hearing you-at home or at a sound check. Of course, it wouldn't be an M-Audio product without high-fidelity 1/4" unbalanced audio output with specs like 20Hz-20kHz frequency response and 108dB dynamic range.


M-Audio ProKeys 88 Stage Piano/MIDI Controller Features:

• 88-key stage piano with 64MB acoustic piano samples
  
• 14 instrument sounds in all
  
• Three selectable keyboard velocity curves plus fixed level for synth work
  
• Split and layer capability - even simultaneously
  
• MIDI controls including pitch and mod wheels, two footswitch inputs, and expression pedal
  
• Onboard EQ plus reverb, chorus, and tremolo
  
• Sustain and sostenuto pedal jacks, plus expression pedal jack for volume

The M-Audio ProKeys 88 is the answer to gigging keyboard players' dreams!

Specification Detail Manufacturer Part Number 9900-50853-00