Which portable MIDI controller?

[jasedee]

I am going to New York next week for a couple of days and thought I'd drop past this store called B&H Photo/Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/) and pick up a couple things as they are SO much cheaper in the US than in Australia...

Im looking at getting an Digidesign MBox mini, and a small 25 key MIDI controller to take on the road with me.

Does anyone here have any experience with small portable MIDI controllers? I was leaning towards the Edirol PCR M1 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=12236&A=details&Q=&sku=341503&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation). It's super slim, USB powered and nice semi weighted keys. But my last Edirol controller seemed quite poorly made. The Novation Xiosynth looks awesome, but it is out of my budget and seems over spec'd for my purposes at the moment...

How about the Alesis Photon (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=12236&A=details&Q=&sku=341010&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation)???

[Merlot]

Novation remote SL. B&H is a great store though. Good for camera equipment as well. You should check out music row while in NYC. More guitars, equipment than you can shake a stick at.

[jasedee]

Thanks for the recommendation Merlot, it looks great, although maybe a little pricey for me at the moment. Would love it though, especially with that automap feature...

[Khazul]

+1 for a Novation board.

[jasedee]

Novation remote SL. B&H is a great store though. Good for camera equipment as well. You should check out music row while in NYC. More guitars, equipment than you can shake a stick at.
Hey Merlot, do you have a web address for Music Row? Cant seem to find it on the net... Also, do they sell computer music equipment?

Looks like I wont be making it to B&H. We arrive on Friday afternoon and they close at 1:00pm, we have Saturday off but they are closed on the Sabbath, and on Sunday we are filming so probably wont get a chance to visit...

Any other recommendations for Audio shops in NYC for Computer based audio gear?

[Merlot]

Sorry IU am just getting back to you. Music row isnt a store. it is a set of audio sotres on a street. It is on W. 48th St. between 6th and 7th Ave. Sam Ash, Manny's music, etc . . . are all on the "row"

[The girl next door]

Novation remote SL. +1 ...........

[Doc Jones]

Just fired up my Novation X-Station 25 last night.

Oh man, this controller is going to be fun to use!

[Merlot]

Soooo much easier to get into the process of making the music or programming sounds without using a mouse. ;-)

[jasedee]

Went to B&H today and picked up the Edirol PCR-M1. It is the slimmest MIDI controller out there, perfect for when you're on the road, and need portability.

At USD$149 I thought it was a steal...

Also picked up an MBox Mini.. I fuckin love America, everything is so much cheaper here than back home in Sydney!

[Doc Jones]

Also picked up an MBox Mini.. I fuckin love America, everything is so much cheaper here than back home in Sydney!
Yup, now if I could only get my company to pay me in Australian Dollars or Euros !!