March 27, 2024

M-Audio Introduces The Hammer 88 Pro Full-Size, Weighted Keyboard Controller

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Hammer 88 Pro adds graded hammer-action keys and professional hardware updates such as RGB pads, sliders, smart controls, assignable aftertouch, auto-mapping, and more

M-Audio (m-audio.com), synonymous with innovative music production technology, today announced the introduction of a brand new full-size, weighted keyboard controller, the Hammer 88 Pro. This new M-Audio controller is created for musicians everywhere that want real piano feel, onboard software controls, and precision playing options for fast and fun music creation, right out of the box. The M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro provides everything a music producer needs that no other full-sized controller offers in this price range, solidifying the M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro as the next industry standard in 88-key keyboard controllers.

ONBOARD CONTROL

The Hammer 88 Pro gives you all the options you need to control whatever music creation software you choose. The top panel includes 16 RGB velocity-sensitive pads with Note Repeat, 9 assignable faders and 8 assignable knobs to control your audio software. Hammer 88 Pro also includes an intuitive OLED screen that makes it easy to search for and test sounds, map controls, and mix and edit your sessions. On the back panel you will find 5-pin MIDI IN and Out connections, (1) footswitch and (3) expression pedal inputs, for all the connections you need.

NEXT-GEN PIANO FEEL

M-Audio has upgraded the keybed for the Hammer 88 Pro with graded hammer action keys. These “graded” keys are individually weighted, mimicking the feeling of an acoustic piano. This grading makes playing any music style feel ultra-realistic with a natural response and lets the user easily express the emotion in their music. The Hammer 88 Pro’s custom keybed also features Assignable Aftertouch enabling you to affect the sound of a virtual instrument plugin by continuously scanning how much pressure you apply to any key even after initially pressing it.

SMART TECHNOLOGY

Hammer 88 Pro features M-Audio’s brand-new Smart Chord and Smart Scale technology. Smart Chord lets the user play full chords with the press of a single key. Smart Scale enables the user to set the keybed 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 and helps make creating music faster and easier than ever before.

PROFESSIONAL CONTROLS

Built into the Hammer 88 Pro are features that are essential to creating modern day music on any computer or DAW. At the top of this list is Auto-Mapping, which instantly maps the Hammer 88 Pro to many popular DAWs such as Pro Tools, MPC Beats, Cubase, Logic, Studio One and Fruity Loops, plus the virtual instruments that are included with the Hammer 88 Pro. The built-in Arpeggiator will affect anything you are playing on the keys from any virtual instrument in your DAW. This powerful tool can operate in Latch or Momentary mode, making it easy to match your style.

The new M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro offers a complete software package that includes multiple DAWs, virtual instruments, and sample packs so every songwriter, producer, live streaming musician or composer has all the tools needed to create a full production right out of the box.

Premium Software Suite Included:

3 DAWs

• Pro Tools | First M-Audio Edition

• MPC Beats

• Ableton Live Lite

Virtual Instruments

• Hybrid 3 – Multi-oscillator synthesizer

• Velvet – Electric piano

• Mini Grand – Acoustic piano

• Vacuum – Analog synth

• Boom – Vintage drum machine

• DB-33 – Classic organ

• Xpand!2 – Multitimbral workstation

MPC Expansion Packs

• MPC Beats Producer Kits – Multi-Genre Beat Production Pack

• F9 Instruments Beats Edition – 25 High Quality Instrument Samples

• LANIAKEA Sounds – TrapSoul & LoFi Production Pack

• MSX Audio – Soulful Drums Collection

• ADSR – LoFi Producer Collection

• MVP Urban Roulette Beats Edition – Urban Kits & Samples Expansion Pack

• Cr2 Deep House Beats Edition – Deep House Expansion Pack

• Cr2 Techno Beats Edition

• MVP HookCity Trap n Soul Beats Edition

Hammer 88 Pro Series Key Features

• Best-in-class 88 graded hammer-action keys with aftertouch and assignable zones

• (16) RGB, backlit, assignable, velocity-sensitive pads with Note Repeat for beat production, clip launching, and more

• (8) assignable knobs & buttons for controlling virtual instruments, mix plugins, DAW controls, and more

• (9) assignable faders for controlling virtual instruments, plugins, DAW faders, and more

• Preset and DAW buttons for auto-mapped DAW controls & plugin parameters

• Smart Chord mode enables playing of enharmonic or custom chord voicings

• Smart Scale mode eliminates wrong notes making it easy to craft a perfect song

• Arpeggiator with Type, Octave, Gate and Swing controls

• Ergonomically designed pitch and modulation wheels & (3) footswitch pedal inputs and (1) expression pedal input

• USB-MIDI connection and 5-pin MIDI Input and Output for connecting to external MIDI gear

• Intuitive layout featuring an OLED screen for quick control edits

• Includes music rest, MIDI editor software and a complete software production package

The Hammer 88 Pro is available immediately. U.S. retail price is $799.

For more information, please visit www.m-audio.com.

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