Product Description

An affordable, easy-to-use starter keyboard and software combination, M-Audio's Evolution eKeys 37 is perfect for computer users who would love to play and create music but have never known where to begin. Whether you aim to play the piano, have fun with pre-school nursery rhymes, create your own compositions, or concoct potent mixes from the supplied library of professionally recorded samples, eKeys 37 does it all. The keyboard is MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) capable and USB-powered, so there's no bulky power supply to hook up.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18861 in Musical Instruments
• Brand: M-Audio
• Model: US72022
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 2.40" h x 18.80" w x 5.20" l, 1.76 pounds

Features

• 37 mini-keys
• Extremely compact
• Easy installation
• Bundled music software:
• Sound Studio II VST (PC only)

Amazon.com Product Description

An affordable, easy-to-use starter keyboard and software combination, M-Audio's Evolution eKeys 37 is perfect for computer users who would love to play and create music but have never known where to begin. Whether you aim to play the piano, have fun with pre-school nursery rhymes, create your own compositions, or concoct potent mixes from the supplied library of professionally recorded samples, eKeys 37 does it all. The keyboard is MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) capable and USB-powered, so there's no bulky power supply to hook up.

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The lightweight eKeys keyboard connects to your PC or Mac computer via a standard USB connection. The keyboard has 37 mini keys whose small design lets them mesh with any computer setup. Installation couldn't be easier: the attached USB cable simply plugs in to any available USB socket on your computer. Because the keyboard is Class-compliant, installation is automatic in Windows XP and Mac OS X. (Drivers are included for Windows 95/98/ME/2000 and Apple Mac OS 9.1 or later.) Once installation is complete, the keyboard is ready to use with the included Windows-only software or any other standard music package.

The supplied Windows-only software consists of Picture Board, Music Teacher 1.3, and Sound Studio II (v.1.1). Picture Board is a fantastic early learning tool for teaching children essentials such as numbers, animal names, household objects, and the alphabet, while cleverly introducing them to the music keyboard through a fun combination of sounds and images. You can personalize Picture Board by adding your own images (bitmap files) and sounds (WAV files). It's a great way to learn at many different levels and a perfect introduction to the keyboard.

Music Teacher 1.3 lets you load in any MIDI file and learn how to play it. Supplied with 20 beginner lessons, the program is suitable for use with the Alfred Music range of teaching material, including MIDI files. Features include notes testing, rhythm testing, notes and rhythm tests, backing mode (wherein a backing band will accompany your playing), recital mode, score display (view the musical data on up to 2 staves on treble and bass clefs), listen and teach modes (teaches you one or two tracks at a time for any MIDI file), loop mode (handy for practicing difficult sections of a song), 2-handed tests (learn left and right hand parts together), tempo settings, game screen (a fun way to learn musical phrases), note indicators, and a results screen (which gives you a percentage mark on your note or rhythm accuracy).

Sound Studio II 1.1 is a 32-bit sequencer with VST plug-in support. VST plug-ins are software representations of hardware effects units and musical instruments. Sound Studio II comes bundled with 2 full VST synthesizers, 1 full VST drum sample player, and 6 additional demo synths and instruments, including the best-selling FM7 and B4 from Native Instruments. Also bundled are 21 VST effect processors from MDA. You'll be able to find hundreds more plug-ins on the Web. Using VST plug-ins with Sound Studio II opens up a whole world of music-making possibilities. The program works with Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP.

What's in the Box

M-Audio Evolution eKeys USB keyboard, a user's manual, an eKeys installer CD-ROM, and warranty information.

Note: System requirements: PC: a Pentium II 300 MHz processor with 128 MB RAM or better, an available USB socket, Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, and an approved MME- or ASIO-compliant soundcard; Macintosh: iMac, Power Mac G3 or better with USB running OS9/OSX.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful.
For $50, it is reasonable
By William G. Scott
The main drawback of this is its main asset: It is tiny. It fits nicely under my 17" iMac, and allows me to play with GarageBand, which is all I really wanted. For about $100 you can get a proper, full-size, midi/usb keyboard, which if I were at all serious would be the thing to get. But as a toy (for an adult or child), this is acceptable. Beware that the keys are so small that they are narrower than my fingers (which are not that fat) in diameter! It is a child-size keyboard really. I ordered this on Sunday evening and had standard shipping and it arrived 10am Wednesday. It works on Apple without external software; for PCs it comes with a CD. It seems to work fine.

Please note that this is not a stand-alone keyboard. To use it, you need the computer, and the sounds produced are synthesized by the computer software (such as GarageBand).

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
This is a toy, not an instrument...
By C. Converse
This is a perfectly functional MIDI controller. It's not velocity sensitive, but for many applications this doesn't matter. There is also no built-in capability to shift octaves, but depending what you're using it for this might not be a huge issue either.

The problem with this keyboard is that it's just too small. Yes, the description describes them as "mini keys." But I've used other keyboards that claim "mini keys" that were significantly larger than these. I found it nearly impossible on this keyboard to hit a single key; the keys are just barely as wide as my fingers.

I knew when I saw the box that I had made a horrible mistake. This item is obviously intended almost solely for children. It's actually perfect for children; but the description doesn't make this particularly clear.

If you're looking for a quasi-functional MIDI controller on the cheap for adult use, look elsewhere. This might work for playing simple beats, but for actually playing melodies you'll just find yourself frustrated.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Great for what i use it for
By K. Litchholt
Im not a professional keyboard player. I bought this keyboard to have something to play around in with reason and Guitar Pro. It suits those needs great. Its detects right away and withing minutes you will be playing.

The keyboard itself is extremly small reminds me of a kids toy keyboard. If your looking for something more professional you will probably have to fork out the $100 bucks and get the bigger model.