M-Audio AXIOM 25 Manual

AUDITION
Oversized LCD is
easy to read even on
a dimly lit stage.
Sturdy construction.
This thing could take
a bullet at point
blank range.
Every once in a while, just when you think a type of keyboard has saturated the market, along comes something with
features that make it distinctive enough to refresh the whole concept. Take compact MIDI controller keyboards,
for example. It seems like everything under the sun has been done — slimline design, exotic controller options,
built-in audio interfaces — so how does a manufacturer stand out in an increasingly crowded field? Well, M-Audio
arguably rolled the first snowball down the hill with their Oxygen 8 controller, so it stands to reason that they're
in a good position to take things to the next level, and their new Axiom line of controller keyboards tries to do
just this.
I spent a couple of weeks kicking the tires of the two-octave Axiom 25, which adds a few new dimensions to
their existing super-compact controllers. For one thing, the Axiom includes semi-weighted keys that also transmit
aftertouch. That's rare for this type of product: M-Audio's Ozonic, which is a FireWire audio interface as well as a
MIDI contrtoller, is one of the only other super-compacts that does this. In addition to the piano-like keys, the
Axiom also has eight velocity-sensitive drum pads on its control panel. They're similar in feel and appearance to
the Trigger Finger pad controller, and they're awesome for triggering samples, as well as toggling MIDI assignable
insert effects and the like.
Other welcome amenities include a set of labeled (but reassignable) transport controls, eight 360-degree rotary
controllers, and rubberized pitch and mod wheels. You program all of this via a large backlit LCD that's a breeze to
read under dim conditions, which should elicit cheers from the dance club and live laptop performance crowd. The
66
keyboard 07-2006
MIDI CONTROLLER KEYBOARD
Sexy rubberized Transport controls
transpose, pitchbend default to standard
and mod wheel play and record
controls are extra operations but can be
grippy for when you reassigned to any
get extra sweaty. function you prefer.
M-AUDIO AXIOM 25
Eight assignable
pressure-sensitive
drum pads can
trigger sounds, act as
toggles, or even
apply proportional
pressure to
continuous
controllers. Wow!
by Francis Preve
Semi-weighted keys
with aftertouch are a
welcome surprise in
a super-portable
controller.
MIDI controller key-
board with drum pads
and semi-weighted
keys.
PROS
Semi-weighted keys
with aftertouch. Eight
onboard drum pads
can also be used as
pressure sensitive
controllers. Class
compliant, no drivers.
Nice array of preset
templates. Built like a
tank.
CONS
Doesn't fit into the M-
Audio Studio Pack
backpack.
Axiom 25, $239.95
Axiom 49, $329.95
Axiom 61, $379.95
M-Audio
www.m-audio.com