M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro USB MIDI keyboard controller

Introducing the M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro

The M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro is a full-sized, 88-key, USB powered MIDI keyboard controller with graded hammer action that opens up a wide world of creativity! Taking feedback from users and artists alike, the new Hammer 88 Pro is equipped to be the ultimate studio and live performance tool. Add the Hammer 88 Pro’s natural piano feel to your arsenal and bring your music to the next level.

With 16 assignable velocity sensitive pads, 8 assignable knobs and 9 assignable faders, this MIDI controller is the one-stop device for all music creation. The intuitive layout makes it easy to navigate the front panel so you wont waste time trying find the control you need. It also features an OLED screen for any quick control edits required.

The Hammer 88 includes a music rest, MIDI editor software and a complete software production package featuring Pro Tools | First M-Audio Edition, Ableton Live Lite, MPC Beats, 7 Virtual Instruments from AIR Music Technology (Hybrid, Velvet, Mini Grand, Xpand!2, Vacuum, Boom, DB-33) and 9 MPC Beats Expansion Packs.

DAW Auto-Mapping & Performance Control

Thanks to the OLED screen that sits front and centre, it's easier than ever to search for and text sounds, map controls, and mix & edit your sessions. Hammer 88 Pro can control any DAW and automatically map commonly used functions such as Transport, Faders, Pan controls and much more. Whether you use Pro Tool, MPC Beats, Cubase, Logic, Studio One or an other major DAW, just select the map and Auto-Mapping will take care of the rest. It also instantly maps to all the virtual instruments included in the Hammer 88 Pro software bundle (Hybrid, Velvet, Mini Grand, Xpand!2, Vacuum, Boom, and DB-33). These world-classAIR Music Tech plugins can be fully controlled by the Hammer 88 Pro and used in real-time as you create and mix your music.

Smart Chord Technology

With Smart Chord activated, pressing a single key or pad will play a full chord rather than just one note. The key or pad you press will determine the root note in the chord. The rest of the chord’s properties (major, minor, etc) are determined by the settings you choose. Smart Chord also has a Custom Mode that lets you determine the chord structure that will be assigned to each key by manually playing it. For example, if you select Custom Mode, and play a 1-b3-5-b7 chord, every key will then be assigned to play this chord structure. The note of the key you press will serve as the root of the chord and all of the parameters can be edited right on the Hammer 88 Pro.

Smart Scale Technology

Smart Scale technology allows you to set the key bed so that only notes in the selected scale are able to be played. This allows you to play within a chosen scale without the risk of playing any “wrong” notes. You can choose from 16 different scale variations when assigning a scale to the keyboard. Smart Scale is easy to activate and deactivate and allows you to set the scale parameters you need to keep you focused on creating.

Professional Controls: Note Repeat

Note Repeat allows you to hold down any of the custom-made M-Audio performance pads and hear a repeated rhythmic pattern at a selectable note division. The Note Repeat feature can be activated momentarily or can be used in Latch mode. If you choose Momentary, holding the Note Repeat button will make the note played by the pad automatically repeat. If you choose Latch, pressing any pad will cause its assigned note to repeat without you having to hold down the Note Repeat button.

Professional Controls: Arpeggiator

The built-in Arpeggiator will affect anything you are playing on the keys from any virtual instrument in your DAW. When the Arpeggiator is activated, the keyboard will repeatedly play the pressed keys in sequence. The arpeggiator’s timing and rhythm is based on the keyboard’s time division setting and either the keyboard’s or your DAW’s tempo setting. Each note in the arpeggio will be the length you’ve selected for the time division setting; for example, if you select 1/4, each note in the arpeggio will be a quarter note. This powerful tool can operate in Latch or Momentary mode, making it easy to match your style.

Next-Gen Piano Feel

Hammer 88 Pro’s best-in-class 88 graded hammer-action key bed combines professional, graded, weighted hammeraction with advanced high-speed key bed scanning technology for an ultra-expressive playing experience. This custom key bed also features Assignable Aftertouch, giving users added expression and control. Assignable Aftertouch enables you to affect the sound of a virtual instrument plugin by continuously scanning how much pressure you apply to any key after initially pressing it. This makes creating the mood, dynamics and emotion you want to deliver in your music natural and fast.