Even if just for demos, having the ability to lay down tracks with samples is increasingly becoming one of the most valuable tools for producers and composers. And, thanks to better and better samples becoming available, many producers see MIDI programming as one of the best ways to make music with their DAW.
If you don’t already have a solid MIDI controller, chances are you’re missing out on much of the functionality and capabilities of your DAW. On top of that, many of the newer controllers feature programmable knobs, faders and pads that can be utilized to boost your mixing workflow.
Here are three of the best 61 key MIDI controllers on the market right now.
M-Audio Axiom 61
Probably the most straightforward, and affordable, of our group, the M-Audio Axiom 61 is an all around excellent MIDI controller. The semi-weighted keys offer enough action to allow your expression to shine through in your samples and the pads are top quality. With eight knobs, eight pads and nine faders, it has more than enough features to accommodate the workflow of most DAWs and producers.
Novation Impulse 61
The Novation Impulse offers similar features to the Axiom and is equally reliable for programming MIDI samples. Some musicians have preferred the action of the Impulse to others and the new model has improved faders, which feel more professional.
With several knobs and faders, there are countless possibilities with DAW integration.
Akai MPK 261
Akai’s MPK 261 is the newest model of the group and represents a nice upgrade from the original MPK 61. It has an excellent action, eight faders and 16 pads with programmable RGB lights, which could be used for more extensive drum/sample sequencing and live performances. (Ableton users, rejoice!)
There are some extra programmable features on the MPK 261, as well, that allow more extensive DAW mapping of the buttons, which could have even more benefits to your workflow.
If you don’t have a MIDI controller yet, any of these three will make an excellent addition to your studio and can enable you to make the most of today’s amazing sample libraries while streamlining your workflow.
So, Why A Membership?
Let’s face it — trying to create professional mixes without the correct knowledge, tools, services, and network is like playing a concert with a broken instrument to an audience of no one.
That’s where the Sage Audio membership comes in — the membership gives you everything you need to create professional mixes consistently.
The membership is the secret to your success — it’s the difference between the 1,929,999,999 of poor-sounding mixes and the .00000002% of mixes that make people say 'WOW!"
There are 7 unique value-points included in your Sage Audio membership.
Let’s go over each one so you can decide if the membership is right for you.
1. Sage Audio University
- SAU Flagship Mixing Course: 23-video in-depth mixing course that reveals the little-known secrets of mixing and matches the needs of the new music industry.
- SAU Flagship Mastering Course: 19-video in-depth modern mastering course that dives into every nuance of making professional-sounding masters.
- SAU Pre-Mastering Course: Concise pre-mastering course that details the latest industry standards for preparing your mixes for mastering.
- SAU is designed for every experience level, ranging from budding mixing engineers to advanced engineers. The techniques and concepts taught can be applied to any DAW to create industry-leading mixes without expensive software or plugins - and free plugin alternatives are suggested throughout each course.
- Each SAU course includes Start-to-Finish session walkthrough lessons for multiple genres so you can follow along with your preferred genre.
- SAU Certification Document, which can be downloaded and showcased on your website and social channels.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
2. Private 1-on-1 Mentorship
- The Sage Audio private 1-on-1 Mentorship gives you direct access to us for advanced mixing feedback, in-depth discussions, and customized guidance that's tailored to your specific needs.
- Unlimited private access to us for advanced mixing feedback, where we provide detailed suggestions for improvement.
- Unlimited private access to us for in-depth discussions to help you improve every aspect of your mixes and masters.
- Customized guidance that’s tailored specifically to your needs.
- Fast communication so you can improve your skills quickly.
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3. Unlimited Mixing Feedback
- Unlimited professional mixing feedback directly from us so you can consistently improve your skills and create professional mixes.
- Mixing feedback is invaluable, and the Sage Audio membership gives you continual direct access to us for real-world feedback so you can improve every aspect of each of your mixes while you're in the process of mixing.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
4. 50 Free Mastered Songs Per Year
- 50 free mastered songs per year with your own dedicated professional mastering engineer so you can get all your mixes sounding like professional songs.
- You get your own dedicated Sage Audio mastering engineer to create custom masters that are specific to you and sound exactly how you want.
- Unlimited revisions with your dedicated mastering engineer. As a standard of our service, we are not happy until you are happy with the sound of your masters.
- All masters are delivered as commercial, industry-standard high-resolution 24-bit HD WAV masters so they will sound clean and clear on every platform.
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5. Community
- The Sage Audio community is a tight-knit community of passionate audio engineers who can provide you with additional real-world mixing feedback, meaningful discussions, networking, collaborations, and more.
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6. 70+ GB of Curated Sage Audio Downloadable Content
- 36 multitrack sessions spanning multiple genres for mixing practice.
- 57 un-mastered mixes spanning multiple genres for mastering practice.
- 62 Recommended Free Plugins List (vetted, tested, and approved, so you don’t have to).
- 39 Recommended Paid Plugins List (vetted, tested, and approved, so you don’t have to).
- 71 Sage Audio custom plugin presets to improve your mixes and masters.
- Sage Audio Membership Badge to showcase on your website, social channels, and portfolio.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
7. 800+ Video Catalog
- Access 700+ in-depth Sage Audio mixing and mastering videos - curated and organized into categories so you can easily take a deep dive into all aspects of audio engineering with thousands of hours of concise, expertly crafted Sage Audio videos to continually improve your skills at your own pace.
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