Listening To: Magick : Def-Fx

So, I came into a bit of extra cash the other day. Thinking about what I was going to do with it, I decided it was time to do something I’ve been meaning to do for a while now. It’s time to get serious about my music, and actually invest a bit of cash in it again after many a year. Yes kids, I’ve decided it’s high time I get a midi controller keyboard. No more fŨcking around, trying to control multiple parameters within Buzz using just the mouse and keyboard. No … I’ve decided its time DB gets his hands on something with assignable knobs ! :)

< --- I'm talking about lovely knobs like these ...

Previously I’d been thinking about forking out for the M-Audio Oxygen 8 (pic below) … in fact, this was the piece of kit mentioned in the “2004 Good Riddance” post. I even had a quote from James @ Intermusic in Bondi on one of these babies.

However, doing some research on the ‘net and reading reviews from various people, I realised this probably isn’t the best controller you can get in its price-range. It’s decidely ‘plasticky’ for a start, and only features 8 assignable knobs and one assignable fader.

Instead, further research reading convinced me the Evolution MK425C looked to be a better bet than the Oxygen 8. Not only does it have 8 assignable knobs like the former, it also has 10 assignable buttons AND assignable mod + pitch wheels ! Whoo :) The more assignable controls you have, the more functions you can map inside Buzz (or any other softsynth/tracker/sequencer) basically …

It even has global kill-send for all parameters —>

OK, so having settled on the Evo, I gave James a call. “Have you got the Evolution MK425C in stock, dude ?” “Funny you should ask that. I’ve got one in I can do you a great deal on. Guy bought it last week. Got it to his motel room, threw the box out.” “Yeah …” “Yeah … and then he decided he wanted something else, didn’t he ? So it’s got all the software, all the cables, and the manual … it just doesn’t have a box ….” “Bwahahahaa !” :-) You gotta love guys from Darwin who change their minds, don’t you ? The prices at Intermusic look to be pretty decent as is, but given there is no box with my unit (*s*) James is gonna knock the $$$ down even further to below the 250 mark … which definitely beats the rip-offski price they’re charging for the same controller at Venue ($265). Schweet !!! It’s even got a *real* midi-out, unlike most USB controllers, including the Oxygen 8.

What all of this means of course, friends and fans, is that I’m very excited about my weekend now ! Tonight I plan on going out and getting pissed with some of IG’s friends … who says she gets to do all the partying, just coz she’s in Spain ? But tommorrow, I’m picking up my new toy from Bondi ! Check it out below … doesn’t it look sexy ? Doesn’t it look sexier than the Oxygen ? ;)

Of course, I’m not a 100% sure how much fiddling I’m going to have to do to get it to work properly with Buzz … I might even have to use the software that comes with it and a couple of VST-I’s in the short term … but in the words of M-People we’re “movin’ on up, moooovin on up” :) Expect a review / rundown on my Evo experience in the next week or so !