The AXiS-49 First Impressions

I like the AXiS-49.
I give it top marks because while I have quibbles about the keys, it is the best isomorphic (translation: easy to learn & very fast to play) keyboard in the world. I've taken it as my instrument to master. 

It is light, portable and should meet my needs as the keyboard to master instead of a piano. As this is a considerable, multi-year commitment, I’ve given it a fairly close examination. Crucially, the velocity sensitivity seems quite adequate to simulate a good piano’s sound. .

Axis-49's output revealed

It plugged in to my desktop and laptop computers and was immediately recognised. I hooked it up to Max/MSP (a midi programming system, see right) to see what it was doing, note and velocity wise. I then piped the midi signal through to Garratin Personal Orchestra (GPO) with a Yamaha grand piano sampler playing. That worked well, albeit with a bit of latency, about 1/16 of a beat (due to the layers of software, not the Axis) .

The key travel distance is sharply less that that of a piano, about that of a PC’s keyboard, and the keys “click” when pressed. They also “thunk” when they hit bottom. This is not an issue when playing loudly, but is noticeable on soft passages. I expect much of this is due to my mal-adroitness, although another mm of travel distance might have been nice. In any case, this can probably be fixed with a light felt bed and/or light wire spring under the keys … and I know where to get them.

My experience is on a homebuilt hexagonal-array keyboard with much greater spacing and a heavy 65-gram touch. The key spacing feels at first very close, but is exactly that of a PC keyboard. At first this is disconcerting, and I expect it will be to anyone with experience on a piano keyboard, perhaps not so much for those with a midi keyboard, which generally have lighter touch. On the other hand, we all are experts on PC keyboards, so the fingers should quickly adapt.
 
If you are used to a stiff piano keyboard, I warn you, be prepared for a surprise. The sharply reduced key travel and much lighter touch will come as a shock – both are nearly 1/2 to 1/3 lighter; it was easy to "peg the scale" and hit the top velocity of 127; not so easy to consistently hit 55.  It will take several months for me to get used to lightening up.
 
I quite like the bevelling on the keys - it allows key-to-key hops: nice glissandos, trills even! A whole new way of playing is possible here.

The little carrying case box it comes in is a pleasant surprise. It will come in handy. I think that I will cover mine with “Mac-Tac” (a kind of self-stick plastic wallpaper sold on hardware stores) to re-enforce it and water-proof it.
To test the crucial velocity sensitivity, which came out so unevenly in my hands, I called upon my resident professional pianist (my wife), she had no problem keeping the key velocity (loudness) even, and playing softly, so the problem, methinks, lies in my gnarled mitts.
 
On the other hand, she just could not figure out the harmonic axis layout. She has played the piano since the age of five, so the piano layout is wired down tight within her soul. She can play any song in any key (her favourite key is C-sharp!). So there is little hope of convincing her of its advantages. I, on the other hand, could at least easily play the chromatic and major scales on the Axis in any key.

Here’s a tip based on several years experience: you’ll never convince a keyboard player with 5 or more years of experience that this is a great keyboard. You usually will have great difficulty even explaining how it works. Piano teachers will universally say (if you press them for an honest opinion) “it makes it too easy” and "all the same", which is perhaps the greatest praise of all.
 
Ken

PS. On the other hand, I once showed my prototype to a gentleman who played horn in a band, and had had three years of piano. He instantly could play the thing and would have purchased it on the spot. Go figure.

Comments

[Keats' Handwriting]

Yeah you really hit it on the head everybody- I've been thinking for a long time about how the layout of the traditional keyboard just doesnt make any sense.  The thought of memorizing dozens of fingering which are essentially random rather than based upon a structure which I can remember- yuck!!

I just play in C and Am.... hehe...

[MusicScienceGuy]

[this is good] I daresay you're not greatly set in your ways.
I'd love to see how a young person with a flexible brain - not like my old, fossilized noogin - with already developed keyboard skills, does with an axis or jammer.

Ken

[John M.]

I am a pianist with more than five years of experience and I LOVE alternative layouts!!!Then again, I'm 17 and have hated the piano for a long time, ever since I realized how ridiculous it is.Don't get me wrong.  I love the Sound of the piano, and I love the Repertoire of the piano, and I love the Musical Possibilities of the piano.But boy do I hate the piano =PI'm only just catching up on all of this sites posts, but decided that it was worth pointing out that there is an exception to the rule.

John

[Jim Plamondon]

Ken wrote that "Here’s a tip based on several years experience: you’ll never convince a keyboard player with 5 or more years of experience that this is a great keyboard."

This matches my experience, too. Guitar players get it right away; it's like a "keyboard with a capo." Players of band and orchestral instruments get it. But by and large, experienced pianists either don;t get it or, when they do get it, are horrified by the thought that novices might use it to gain, easily, skills that take pianists a lifetime of struggle...and greater expressive power, too (with the Thummer, anyway).

[MusicScienceGuy]

The next challenge, of course is to actually practice, practice, practice, and practice effectively. A light portable unit was "key" (pun intended) to my plans. As well I have a trick or two to come out soon involving ... karaoke of all things. Stay tuned!

Also, I hope to talk the C-Thru people into letting me manage a forum on their site. Lets see if they do.

Ken.

[MusicLearner]

[this is good]

Good on you, Ken.

I can tell that you are a happy man right now :-)

It is encouraging to see you preserve that far.

What keyboard layout have you tried with the Axis-49?

Looking forward to hear about your experience on this new layout.

 

I have been drawn to the dark side a bit - playing on the standard keyboard with my method of moving the root note around. Currently, the keyboard does not seem to be a limitation any more. I also switch to the numbered notation. The notation also stops to be a limiation. The last limitation left seems to be "me".

 

Music Learner