assignable knobs & buttons for controlling virtual instruments, mix plugins, DAW controls, and more M-Audio’s new Hammer 88 is an affordable, fully-weighted, hammer-action keyboard for professional and semi-pro players or students looking for a realistic grand piano feel to use with virtual instruments or sound modules. The Hammer 88 Pro has plenty of assignable controls, so there are no issues there, but we feel it could have a better layout. There’s no doubt that the Komplete Kontrol S88 is a fantastic controller, especially if you are a fan of NI plugins. However, it’s just not as flexible as the Hammer 88 Pro, and at the price, it should be. The Simplicity - Some of the stage piano/workstations I have owned are amazing instruments, but just too darn much fuss for what I want to do. It does not get simpler than this. 2 wheels, 2 buttons, and a fader. Simple.

The Hammer 88 Preset Editor, showing the fader assigned to Breath Control (CC2) and the Expression Pedal assigned to Expression (CC11). Both are transmitting on the Global MIDI channel (Ch1) across their full zero to 127 range. The Preset Editor

An instrument shouldn’t limit your creativity, it should enhance it! Hammer 88 is USB-powered, class-compliant and supports USB-MIDI connectivity for rapid, hassle-free setup that lets you focus on what’s important—your performance. Plus for iOS enthusiasts, Hammer 88 supports seamless connectivity with the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (sold separately), enabling you to perform and Everything about it is solid and doesn’t have that delicate feeling that comes with some MIDI controllers. It even manages to look pretty sleek, despite its size and weight. Compared to other keyboard controllers OK, this might seem like a strange alternative to list. But, if you want the feel of the Hammer 88 Pro without all the bells and whistles, get the original, and save some cash.

This Software, including Documentation, is provided with RESTRICTED RIGHTS. Use, duplication or disclosure by any Government or Governmental agency is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (b)(3) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause of DFARS 252.227-7013 or subparagraph (c), (1) and (2) of the Commercial Computer Software-Restricted Rights clause of 48 CFR 52.227-19, as amended, or any successor or substantially similar or comparable regulations and/or restrictions .The Pro 88 offers a choice of Low, Medium, High and Linear velocity response curves (plus a variety of fixed values). Tests revealed the Linear setting to be the best response curve for reliably achieving a MIDI value of 127. On a critical note, the resolution in the very lowest velocity range is fairly coarse for all four settings, so fine control in that area can be rather hit and miss. But, if we had one concern, it was that the quality of the action would suffer for the sake of adding more features. Includes AIR “Mini Grand” Acoustic Grand Piano, AIR “Velvet” Vintage Electric Piano Instrument, and AIR “DB-33” Tonewheel Organ Simulator and SONiVOX “Eighty Eight Ensemble” Authentic Piano Instrument Smart Chord is a function that lets you trigger complex chords from a single root note. The notes added to your root are determined by the settings you choose using the OLED screen. Smart Scale

Thankfully, we needn’t worry; the Hammer 88 Pro has the same authentic hammer-action feel as the original. The keys are responsive through any playing style, and in our experience, that responsiveness should last for years. Don’t limit yourself to your computer-based virtual instruments! Take control of your studio equipment with Hammer 88. With its conveniently-located 5-pin MIDI Output, you can send all MIDI information to any compatible peripheral device, including hardware synthesisers, sound modules and drum machines. With Hammer 88, it’s easy get the most out of your external sound generators. This is a controller designed from the ground up to place you firmly in the driver’s seat. Seamless Integration For those familiar with M-Audio products, the design and function of the hardware interface have been mainly migrated over from the Oxygen Pro series, including the Chord and Scale technology.I have owned too many weighted stage pianos over the last 25 years, Kurzweil PC/SP's, Roland RD's, Korg SV1/GrandStage/Kronos, Yamaha CP/Motif. Several years ago I decided to try the controller + VST instrument route. I owned 88 key controllers from Arturia, Nektar, and Novation before trying the Hammer 88. Bingo! I have been using the Hammer 88 for the last several years (a record for me) and here is what I like about it: The OLED screen provides a massive workflow boost whatever DAW you use because it makes browsing and demoing sounds faster and easier (it could be a little bigger).

As we mentioned above, the rotary knobs are not being by the faders, and that’s an issue because it’s easier to use them in tandem when they are closer. It comes up when automating expression or other parameters in synth or strings VSTs. We loved the original Hammer 88 because of the excellent hammer-action keyboard. We expected nothing less from the Hammer 88 Pro, and given the name, it couldn’t possibly be any less than hammer-action keys. Hammer 88 Pro features M-Audio’s brand-new Smart Chord and Smart Scale technology. These functions open up your imagination and help blend your hardware seamlessly with your ideas across all 88 keys. Creating music on your computer has never been this intuitive and inspiring thanks to these workflow-centric features. With Smart Chord activated, pressing a single key or pad will play a full chord rather than just one note. The key or pad you press will determine the root note in the chord. The rest of the chord’s properties (major, minor, etc) are determined by the settings you choose. Smart Chord also has a Custom Mode that lets you determine the chord structure that will be assigned to each key by manually playing it. For example, if you select Custom Mode, and play a 1-b3-5-b7 chord, every key will then be assigned to play this chord structure. The note of the key you press will serve as the root of the chord and all of the parameters can be edited right on the Hammer 88 Pro! Hammer 88 Pro’s best-in-class 88 graded hammer-action key bed combines professional, graded, weighted hammer action with advanced high-speed key bed scanning technology for an ultra-expressive playing experience. This custom key bed also features Assignable Aftertouch, giving users added expression and control. Assignable Aftertouch enables you to affect the sound of a virtual instrument plugin by continuously scanning how much pressure you apply to any key after initially pressing it. This makes creating the mood, dynamics and emotion you want to deliver in your music natural and fast. NewFeaturesandImprovementswithv2.1.1 FirmwareUpdate We were pretty surprised to see pitch and modulation wheels on the original Hammer 88, but we’re pleased to see the Pro still has them.The Hammer 88 Pro comes with nine assignable faders and eight assignable rotary knobs. If we go by the numbers, that’s awesome; it’s as many as you’d find on most high-quality keyboard controllers. The Hammer 88 Pro comes with a pretty extensive software bundle, as do most M-Audio controllers. It starts with three DAWs: Pro Tools First (M-Audio Edition), MPC Beats, and Ableton Live Lite. You get three vintage keyboard instruments; Velvet (electric piano), Mini Grand, and DB-33 Hammond Organ. M-audio has just launched a software update that further enhances the capabilities of its controllers. Version 2.1.1 for the Hammer 88 Pro adds a lot of new features, including: