Reddit reviews M-Audio Oxygen Series 61 Ignite MIDI Controller

I recently impulsively bought a Roland JD-Xi, as my first ever synth and music instrument in general, at Guitar Center after visiting and seeing it was $100 off. There's a 45 day return policy so I'm can always get my money back if I end up regretting my purchase, though I'm enjoying it so far.

However, I'm itching to practice playing the keyboard itself, so that I can both play songs I know and also create more interesting tracks on my synth, but I'm finding the 37 mini-key keyboard on the JD-Xi to be a bit limiting. I'm considering buying a separate 61 key MIDI controller and connecting it to my JD-Xi, and putting them both on some two-tier stand.

Does this seem like a waste to have the JD-Xi then? Would I be better off getting the MIDI controller and a synth with a smaller/no keyboard that's cheaper? The 4-track pattern sequencer is one of my favorite aspects of the JD-Xi, and I don't really see another synth with something similar.

Or, rather, would getting a separate MIDI controller help me bring out the most of the JD-Xi?

Also, in terms of controllers, I'm not looking to spend a ton since I just spent a decent amount on the synth, just a basic velocity sensitive 61 key keyboard with MIDI out, and possibly some knobs that can be assigned to control some of the menu parameters for the JD-Xi. Here's some of the ones I found:

midiplus i61 [$84] Pretty basic

midiplus Origin 62 [$126] Has a bunch of knobs and such that I can use for the synth, but apparently the velocity sensing is mediocre

Nektar Impact GX61 [$120] Pretty good reviews, has some MIDI assignable buttons. I'm assuming it has 5 prong MIDI out, but it's hard to tell from the picture.

M-Audio Oxygen Series 61 [$120] Seems decent all around, but again, it doesn't look like it has a 5 prong MIDI out, just a USB.

Any suggestions?

Novation and M-Audio are usually best sellers, and are fairly common in home studios. I prefer the feel of the Novation Impulse line, and the M Audio Axiom Air series. I would probably choose an M-Audio midi controller if all you have is around 200. Behringer used to be ok, but major companies (Musicians Friend, Guitar Center) have dropped them from their product line, and support is nearly impossible from Behringer. I had to order a piece from Behringer for a customer, and it took 2 months just to get a hold of the right part number, then another month to get the part shipped from the factory.

Alesis is great as well, if you dont need all the drum pads, knobs, or sliders.

In the 200 dollar range you should do just fine, I would grab an Axiom Air 25, or a Novation launchkey 49. If you need the 61 keys, get a basic M-Audio keystation, or Oxygen. Those UXM610 feel like spongecake, and have connectivity and mapping issues.

Get this one for 61 keys.

Links for days!

here

here

and here

Let me know if i can help you out!