M-Audio Code Series Keyboard Controllers Now Available

m-audio-code-series-keyboards

M-Audio has announced that their Code Series – a new line of keyboard MIDI controllers – is now available.

The control keyboards are available in 25-, 49-, and 61-key versions.

Here’s the official intro video:

Features:

  • Smooth-feel, semi-weighted keybed with aftertouch.
  • 16 velocity-sensitive pads with LED feedback .
  • Touch pad for X/Y axis control .
  • USB Bus powered for portability and ease of use.
  • 5 Pin MIDI Input, and Output jacks allowing you to control your favourite synths.
  • Assignable pitch & mod wheels, knobs, faders, buttons (with macro ASCII support), and transport control with Mackie Control and HUI modes.
  • Split keyboard with four assignable zones.
  • Expression and Sustain pedal inputs.
  • 6 digit LED display.
  • Includes Ableton Live Lite, AIR Music Technology Loom and Hybrid 3.

The Code Series is available now for US $299 for the Code 25, $349 for the Code 49, and $399 for the Code 61. See the M-Audio site for more info.

25 thoughts on “M-Audio Code Series Keyboard Controllers Now Available”

  1. i am not much of a keyboard player…do more sequencing and pad playing…but the layout of this seams weird to move up the pitch and mod wheels and put the pads there. seams like they should be where the pads are and the pads should be top right.

    1. The most common place is on the left, but there have been other keyboards and controllers that move the wheels to the top.

      In the case of this instrument, it’s clear that they wanted to include the Akai-style 4×4 pad grid, and the only practical ways to do that are to put the pads on the side or to make the keyboard taller, which would waste a lot of materials.

    2. I agree. The pads, pitch, and mod wheels are placed poorly. Honestly, I would rather have fewer pads and a better layout with more knobs. Even better, given that I have a couple of different pad controllers already, I would prefer more knobs and no pads at all.

  2. M-audio,no thank you never again, after the Trigger Finger Pro disaster thats runs out of sync, zero support by by M-audio themselves, unanswered e-mails, thats it M-Audio.

  5. I’ve been interested in trying the computer/controller way for a long time but there are some things that stop me from doing it and the main is: can I work with splits and layers as I would do on a workstation (e.g. korg kronos)? The answer is probably yes but I thought it was a software thing so…

    Can someone enlighten me about the use of a controller that offer “zones”? Isn’t that the work of the software? shouldn’t any keyboard controller be able to do it?

    Honest question, I now just a bit about making music with software

    1. I agree….it should be the synth to map out zones. Much better that way as you wouldn’t have to ” Re-Zone ” for each synth. I know Rapture has zone capability…as well as Albino3…Wish Zebra2 had that capability.

      1. I don’t think there’s anything in a workstation about splits and layering you could not do with any powerful DAW. The “Instrumental rack” in Ableton (which is the one I’m familiar with) allow you to stuck instruments (of whatever kind: internal, external MIDI hardware, VST/AU…) in whatever way you want within a single track, assign them to keyboard zones and velocity ranges and add arpeggiators, MIDI and audio effects per layer…You can save it as a preset and yes, it will work with even the most simple MIDI controller keyboard.

        About this hardware MIDI controller having zones, well, it has a 5 pin MIDI output so it may allow you to map several hardware instruments to different zones without the need of a computer. To be able to map different MIDI channels to keyboard zones may also have some advantage working with software at some point…like assign different tracks to different zones (instead of working with a single multi-instrument track)…but yeah, nothing you could not do with the software alone I would say.

    1. Alesis and M-Audio are subsidiaries of the same parent company, so even if this were an egregious copy, nobody from Alesis is about to complain. But also, the Alesis has tons of extra buttons, but lacks faders, (5-pin) MIDI In, and that touchpad thing (which could be really cool if it doesn’t suck as much as everyone here seems to expect from an M-Audio product). I think maybe the drum/trigger pads are RGB on the M-Audio and just 3 colors on the Alesis too, but I could be wrong there.

  7. M-Audio’s business model probably aims for new customers, because there doesn’t seem to be any reason whatsoever for releasing new midi controllers every year except for the reason that it gets more publicity that way. So, is this news when they release a new midi controller?

    1. All the companies have to keep upping their game if they want to survive.

      Why is it a shock that they’d need to offer more bang for the buck, the way technology evolves? if they don’t do it, other companies would eat their lunch.

  8. When is someone going to make a goddamned midi keyboard with more than 2 mod wheels? There is even space for it on this keyboard. I used to have an Alesis Ion and I miss the 3rd mod wheel so much, it opened up the expressiveness of playing tremendously. fuck it, just pull the pads out completely and give 6 mod wheels. MOD WHEELS MOD WHEELS MOD WHEELS

  9. If the keybed is as good as it is said to be I wish M Audio would release an 88 key version.
    Also, a color screen with visual feedback focused on specific parameters as well as a browsing function would greatly enhance the controller.

  11. I guess the designer was a lefty, no use to me this, its an awkward lean over the keys to play the pads, how on earth did this get past R&D?

  12. Just noticed that someone already posted about the similarity with Alesis VI keyboards, so… this, since there is no comment delete.

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