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M-AUDIO KEY RIG

with modeled options, several filter types, envelopes for the filter and amp, multiple modulation options, and a surprisingly complete collection of effects. The SP-1 could have stopped at just playing back a nice piano, but you can layer (or split) two pianos, chosen from a bunch of presets. And yes, there are a bunch of effects too. Theres no sample playback module la EXS24, but the GM module includes a good General MIDI set and should cover your, uh, general needs. The organ holds its own against the world of Beethreewannabes, with virtual drawbars and a decent rotary simulation. All the instruments let you assign controllers to the various parameters for realtime control, with a simple learn option so you dont have to think about assignments too much, either. The GM module and organ dont have a bunch of effects, but there is a master effects section with one effect chosen from a relatively extensive menu, and each instrument has a send control for driving it. A few other welcome touches include the ease of setting up splits (you can set each instrument to its own keyrange, pan, gain trim, level, and MIDI channel). Id give Key Rig very high marks for striking a near-perfect balance of ease of use, cost, and editability. It takes a bit of a hit on your CPU, but hey, its four instruments and you might not need to load a bunch of other stuff anyway. Yes, its a scratch pad but with fine vellum paper, along with a pen that doesnt run and offers a choice of inks. Key Rig is an ideal stocking stuffer that offers exceptional value for money. (PS: And if you still have some disposable income, theres an equally cost-effective Drum and Bass Rig with a step sequencer bassline synth, drum module, loop creator, and electric bass guitar module.) Craig Anderton

M-Audio Trigger Finger

Got an itchy trigger finger for great rhythm programming? Of course, you do.
by Mitch Gallagher Programming drums can be a pain in the ass. Plunking in little dots on a grid with a mouse is painfully tedious, and often results in lame, rigid rhythms which is fine, if youre into that sort of thing. But if youre after feel, mousing in drum and percussion parts isnt going to cut it. Yes, you can use a MIDI keyboard to play in parts. But the black-and-whites arent exactly designed for the task. It works, but its not natural, especially for non-keyboard players. For great-feeling drums and percussion, my opinion says that pad controllers are the way to go. High-priced boxes like the MPC60 and its progeny do the job, but theyre, well, high-priced. And they do way more than just serve as pad controllers. Thats wonderful if your MPC is the main instrument you build your tracks around. But if youre like me and you just want some pads for playing in drum parts with some feel, then an MPC is overkill. MIDI drum pads are excellent if youre a drummer or are handy with sticks. But Im not I want something I can bang on with my fingers. It doesnt get much simpler than the Trigger Finger. Install the driver on your Mac or PC, then connect the Trigger Finger to your computer using the supplied USB cable. Launch Reason, Live, or a host DAW running a plug-in instrument such as Battery, Kontakt, or MachFive whatever youre using for your sounds and start smacking the pads, cranking knobs, and flicking sliders. Alternatively, connect Trigger Fingers MIDI out to your keyboard or sound module, and start playing. As the annoying TV ad guy says, Its really that easy. The Trigger Finger can draw power over the USB connection, or you can use it with an optional 9-volt power supply. The MIDI out can either send MIDI messages generated inside the Trigger Finger to another MIDI device, or it can serve as a MIDI output for a computer thats connected via USB, turning the Trigger Finger into a 1-out MIDI interface. Enigma Trigger Finger can send out a very wide variety of MIDI messages, from notes to

The free Enigma Editor/Librarian allows complete access to every programmable control in the Trigger Finger control surface. controllers to pitch bend to aftertouch. The pads can all be on one MIDI channel or each can send on its own channel. In short, this thing has far more MIDI capability than youd think from looking at it in reality, it has more MIDI capability than most (if not all) of us will ever use. To harness all that power, M-Audio provides a free downloadable editor called Enigma, which actually supports a variety of M-Audio control devices. With Enigma, you can address every programmable parameter in the Trigger Finger, and build up a library of presets. Enigma is compatible with both Mac and Windows. Install it on your computer, launch, and it will automatically find Trigger Finger and be ready for action. The user interface is simple; click on the control you want to change, and make whatever settings you need. Or you can drag parameters to Trigger Finger pads and controls. There are parameter lists included for a number of common instruments, which makes it easy. Select Gmedias Oddity (for example) from the library, and all the Odditys controllable parameters are listed. Just drag a parameter from the list to the pad, knob, or slider you want to use, and youre done. For quick changes (especially of the notes assigned to the pads), you can program Trigger Finger from the front panel just hold the Memory Recall and Prog/Bank Change buttons to enter Edit mode. Then, to change the note assigned to a pad (for example), hit the desired pad, then turn the first control knob. The LCD readout will change to display the note assigned to the pad. Easy. But if you really want to use Trigger Finger to its fullest, and you need to create highly customized programs, Enigma is definitely the way to go. Using It Trigger Finger is excellent for the obvious application: playing drum sounds. It worked great with Reason for playing ReDrum and other samples, and for programming MIDI tracks in Digital Performer, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and others. It also worked great for simply playing sounds; FM7 Pro-53, Korgs Wavestation , plug-in, on and on, anything that could be played by MIDI was cool with Trigger Finger
PRODUCT SUMMARY Type: Pad-, knob-, and slider-based MIDI controller Price: $249.95 Contact: M-Audio, m-audio.com Connections: USB out, MIDI out, 9-volt DC input USB Support: Mac OS X 10.2.8 or higher, Windows XP Compatibility: MME, DirectX, Core MIDI Presets: 16 Pre-programmed maps: Live, Reason, GM Drum, XG Drum, iDrum Assignable Controls Pads: 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive Sliders: 4 Knobs: 8 Dimensions: 11" (w) x 10" (d) x 2-1/4" (h) Power: USB or optional 9-volt DC adapter Software Bundle includes: Drivers, Ableton Live 4 Lite, Enigma editor
Thats where the M-Audio Trigger Finger comes in. This affordable box has 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads that you can use for playing sampled drums, triggering loops, sending MIDI messages, or doing whatever you want to use MIDI events to trigger or control. As a bonus, there are eight assignable control knobs and four assignable sliders for controller parameters, mixer settings, or anything else. You can create 16 preset maps for accessing your drum layouts, loops, or control needs, and quickly switch among them as you move from application to application.

JAN UARY 2006

www.eqmag.com

Gearhead Gearhe

for more than just percussion. Bass lines were easy to do with Trigger Finger, and the fact that the pads are both velocity- and pressure-sensitive was nice. You can assign any MIDI controller to be sent when you apply pressure to each pad, so you can have a very broad range of expressive possibilities available to you this worked great with synths like Arturias Minimoog V. Of course, you can also use the knobs and sliders to send MIDI controllers, which is great. But being able to dynamically apply pressure from the pads can really bring a performance to life. Above all, the Trigger Finger and its soft rubber pads makes programming I really should say performing drum and percussion parts fun. No more hours slaving over a grid or typing in data. Hit the record button and play. Its a blast, and it makes a real difference in the sound and feel of your MIDI drum and percussion tracks just avoid he urge to click the quantize button in your software! Is It Cool? Yes, its cool! In fact, at under $200 street price, the Trigger Finger is an easy EQ Exceptional Quality award winner there isnt anything in its price range that comes close. Its very easy to use, has a free software editor and includes a Lite version of Abletons Live 4. Just plug it in and go. I was making tracks in Reason within seconds of connecting the USB cable. The pads feel good, theyre dynamic in their response, and the eight sliders and four faders are incredibly handy. Basic programming from the Trigger Finger itself is not a problem, and for more in-depth programming, Enigma takes you as far as you want to go. About the only thing I wish it had was a power switch. Ive been waiting for someone to come out with something like the Trigger Finger for a while, and at this price, M-Audio has made me and my drum and percussion parts very happy. Trigger Finger is staying in my studio. Strengths: I 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads I Can be powered from USB I Easy installation I Comprehensive MIDI support I Easy pad and controller programming I Free Enigma editor for Mac and PC Limitations: I No power switch

Special Offer:

FREE Drum & Bass Rig virtual drum/bass rack!
Purchase an M-Audio Trigger Finger MIDI drum control surface, from an authorized M-Audio dealer between Sept. 12 and Oct. 31 2006, and mail in to receive a FREE copy of M-Audios Drum & Bass Rig virtual drum and bass software*. Combining the best-selling Trigger Finger with one of the highest-quality virtual instrument percussion packages available makes one *offer valid in domestic U.S. only killer package! Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Shipping Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (no P.O. Boxes) ________________________________ E-mail _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Phone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
To receive your FREE Drum & Bass Rig software, mail the
following (must be postmarked by 11/30/2006): 1. The above coupon, filled out completely 2. A copy of your Trigger Finger receipt 3. The original UPC code from your Trigger Finger package

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(addressed to:) M-Audio, Sales dept. Drum & Bass Rig Offer 5795 Martin Road Irwindale, CA 91706
Get M-Audios Drum & Bass Rig virtual drum and bass software, valued at $129FREE!