Icon 88 Controller

@Samuel Diaz Did you end up trying this board again?
It's really the only 88 key controller that's
a. affordable
b. has the mod wheel in the right spot so you can do keyswitching (and leave your arm on the table)
c. Has Sustain & Expression outputs

d. Isn't the M-audio Keystation.
God, I hate that fucking board. It's really beyond me how any of you can work with it (professionally).
I've bought 3 of them and send each one back within a few days. I will never, ever try it again

 

Thanks Sam!

Yes, feel is way too personal but I was glad to hear your experiences regarding the quality.
Seems to be hit or miss really (lots of 1- or 5 star reviews).
I'm pretty sure I can order this board and send it back if it's not satisfactory so I think I'll try that soon.

@Alexander Schiborr
Agreed, I also like how shallow it is.
Thomann stocks it around 200,- so you could try risk-free as well (I believe you're in Europe too?)

Edit:
I do have a weighted 88 key piano as well, don't like them for midi controllers however.

 

I occasionally write for the sound architect website and got talking to the company who ships these in the UK. I passed it on to a fellow composer friend Jordan who took the time to review it. https://www.thesoundarchitect.co.uk/icon-ikeyboard-8x-review/

 

Thanks Matthew!
I'm ordering it tomorrow, should be here early next week. I'll have my report soon after.

Edit:
Ordered

 

Sooo.. yeah this is how the board arrived.
Control section is half ripped off, guts exposed.
Not sure if something's gone wrong with the shipping (it was packed decently) or maybe it was already broken when it left the factory.

Just mailed Thomann, waiting to hear back

 

If I put it on my desk, it's almost like there is no damage.

Report so far:
- Don't hate the keys, they're pretty flimsy but I was used to that and prefer it over the 'off-on switch' feel of the keystation.
Doesn't feel very different from my novation keyboard if you have acces to one of those.
- It's not erratic so far but it is very high in velocity, maybe there are a couple of curves too smooth it out. Like this it's really hard to play. I'll investigate later.
- Not liking the position and the angle of the modwheel, but maybe I can get used to it.
The modwheel is definitely not moving freely however, I can feel it rubbing against something but that maybe part of the shipping damage.
- Also the touchstrip is in the way of your left hand a bit. It does pitchbend right out of the box. Maybe you can change that, certainly isn't necessary if there's a pitchwheel right next to it (literally).

Gotta go

 

And the replacement arrived.. in 2 pieces.

Clearly this board has a structural weak point and shouldn't be shipped.
I'm done trying

Anyone use that swissonic board? It looks cool & has aftertouch.
Unfortunately the wheels are on top though, so you can't keyswitch simultaneously. That's a real dealbreaker

 

Yes, identical. If I took some pictures I'd have a hard time telling them apart.
That's what you get for being cheap

All the other boards have the wheels on top, and some don't even have a 2nd pedal output for expression (nektar), and certainly no aftertouch.
Guess i'll be sticking to 61 for a while longer, at least I'm close to an actual piano but it's a pain in the ass regardless.
The market for these things must be so small.

 

That sucks. It seems it's a design issue.

 

Thanks Alex, I'm not too bothered except the stupid box is now in my way again until UPS comes to collect.

Likely because they made a whole bunch and have to get rid of them before a new model goes into production.

Good idea, I'm assuming Thomann communicates damages like this to the brand, especially if it happens all the time,
but I'll email them anyway!

 

I once ordered a flatscreen TV, they shipped it in the box from the manufacturer, and because of the very thin layer of styrofoam and sharp edges of the TV, even a rather minor bump to one of the edges damaged it so clearly that I didn't even have to fully unpack it to see it, so I gave it right back to the delivery guy. Then I ordered another one, from another retailer, delivered with a different delivery service. They also didn't put additional packaging around it, and it had the same kind of damage, and I also sent it back. Then I gave up on having a TV because I was so fed up with that shit.

I once talked to stuff like that with someone who had an online shop for polyresin figurines etc. and he said the delivery companies specify that things must be packaged in a way that everything survives a drop of 1 meter height, which is basically impossible for some goods.

If one is really set on getting some specific and very fragile thing from a music equipment online shop, I think it might be worth it to send an email or call them about paying extra for an additional layer of extra thick and soft packaging material around the regular shipping packaging. I'd be surprised if there's no way to work something out for that. They must be fed up with getting broken things back as well.

edit: I didn't read the whole thread but I'd imagine for some things it's also possible that the manufacturer delivers them in a packaging that is inherintly unsuitable for being shipped in, because the equipment isn't evenly enough supported to withstand higher forces of being dropped or thrown during transport. In that case it might even be beneficial to ship them without the original packaging, even if that seems counterintuitive as hell.

 

Honestly I just gave up with midi controllers - they are all built to a (low) price. Even some of the more expensive controllers feel like cheap toys when compared to my old Korg M1 or Roland XP80 (wish I'd never sold that now....)

The only one that feels vaguely OK is the NI Kontrol S61 (haven't tried the 88).

I mainly use my Nord Stage 2 EX (but they are expensive and it is a crazy purchase for a controller alone), but if I didn't have that I'd probably pick up a second hand stage piano - the keybed on the Roland/Yamaha/Kawai stage pianos are great and can be picked up for little money for some of the older models.

If only Roland would get rid of that stupid joystick....