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Samson Carbon 61 61-key Keyboard Controller

61-key Velocity-sensitive USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With Pitch and Modulation Wheels, LCD Display, Sustain Pedal Input, iPad Stand, and Software - Mac/PC
$149.99

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Samson Carbon 61 61-key Keyboard Controller
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An Affordable Semi-weighted Controller With Cool Features

The Samson Carbon 61 USB MIDI controller boosts your musical productivity with its 61 velocity-sensitive keys and versatile, easy-to-use featureset. At the heart of the Carbon 61 is its great-feeling semi-weighted keybed. Designed to feel like an instrument rather than a computer peripheral, these keys transmit all the expressive subtlety of your performances to your DAW. The Carbon 61 has everything you expect of a modern controller - and then some. It even has an integrated stand for your iPad! Give your creativity a shot in the arm with the affordable Samson Carbon 61 USB MIDI controller.

A Great Featureset

Samson's Carbon 61 USB MIDI controller sports a great featureset. The wizards at Samson had their thinking caps on when they juiced this puppy with an iPad stand. You can even power the Carbon 61 directly from your iPad if you have the optional Apple Camera Connection Kit! The Carbon 61 is fitted, naturally, with pitch and mod wheels, a sustain/expression pedal jack, and traditional MIDI out. You also get an assignable data encoder, volume slider, and a 3-digit, 7-segement LCD that displays everything you're doing in real-time. But there's even more to the Samson's Carbon 61 USB MIDI controller - including a price that will make you think a digit fell off and got lost! Check it out.

Samson Carbon 61 USB MIDI Controller Features:
  • Great-feeling, compact semi-weighted keyboard controller
  • 61 velocity-sensitive keys capture the full dynamics of your performances
  • Dedicated Transpose and Octave buttons
  • Pitch Bend and Modulation wheels
  • Assignable data encoder and volume slider
  • Shift key to adjust up to 14 performance-related control parameters
  • 3-digit, 7-segement LCD displays the behavior of every function in real-time
  • MIDI Out, sustain pedal input and USB connections
  • Integrated iPad stand; can be powered directly by your iPad
  • May be used with your favorite iPad apps (requires optional Apple Camera Connection Kit)
  • Ships with Native Instrument's Komplete Elements software
  • iPad and USB bus powered
  • Mac OS X and Windows compatible
Enhance your productivity in the studio with Samson's Carbon 61 USB MIDI Controller!

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Keyboard Controller
  • Number of Keys: 61
  • Type of Keys: Semi-weighted
  • Velocity Sensitive: Yes
  • Other Controllers: Pitchbend, Mod Wheel
  • Encoders/Pots: 1
  • Faders: 1
  • Pedal Inputs: 1 x 1/4" TRS (sustain)
  • MIDI I/O: Out/USB
  • USB: 1 x Type B
  • Power Supply: USB bus powered
  • Height: 4.76"
  • Width: 39.37"
  • Depth: 11.02"
  • Weight: 7.48 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: SAKC61

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Samson Carbon

Absolutely love this brand. i've been using it for years, and wanted to upgrade. The 66 key just gives a much better production experience. So it's a Win Win! Sweetwater Thank You! and Josh is The Best!
Music background: Sound Engineer, Producer, Singer/Song Writer
Rated 5/5

Bang for the Buck!

I was in need of a cost-effective keyboard/controller for Standard (5-pin) MIDI devices I have (Roland MKS-50, Ensoniq DMS-8, Korg, EX-800, etc.) and after careful investigation and consideration I chose this one. I'm impressed with what I got.

This unit supports Standard and USB MIDI, so it's at home with a rack full of keyboards or as an input for Virtual instruments or DAW.

It easily powers from a PC via USB cable but any USB power supply will work- I use the one I charge my iPhone with: a USB wall charger.

The keys are called "semi-weighted" though they feel more like normal light-weight keys that have spring resistance to them. This, however, should not be an issue for those who are happy with spending so little on a controller keyboard. If you need real weighted keys, there are always those $800 controllers :)

Most all of the buttons/knobs (including the sustain pedal input) are predefined but can be reprogrammed to some other constant controller function. I consider this well thought out. (And the sustain input is TRS so it supports an expression pedal as well.)

At the end of the day, the Samson Carbon 61 gets the job done and for a lot less than I was expecting to pay. If you want enough and don't care about "fluff", give this one serious consideration.

Best wishes!

Andrew Woodard,
Charlotte, NC
Music background: Electronics Engineer, Recording/Audio Engineer, Bassist
Rated 4.5/5

Nice Minimal Controller

Pretty nice MIDI keyboard controller. Has a little slot for an iPad if you're interested in connecting one.

***There is no 9V DC power jack, but keep reading...***
I was a little shocked to find no power jack on the keyboard, since I was going to use it away from my computer to control another synth.

I ended up using a USB cell phone charger to power the keyboard and it worked really well. So if you want non-computer bus power, there you go.
Music background: Production, electronic, hip hop, prog
Rated 4.5/5

Nice controller

I ordered the Samson Carbon 61 mostly based on the Carbon 49 controller reviews and video demo on the Sweetwater Website . I did have to go and get the Apple Lightning Camera Connection Kit from the Apple Store in Greenville, SC to get the Carbon 61 to work. This review is based on only 2 shows I have played at; I used the Korg Module Synth App for My sounds. As a bassist primarily, I play keys to fill out spaces where needed. For whatever reason, the only controls that worked with the Korg Module App were the Octave and Transpose keys. The sustain pedal worked as well. Volume, Pitch and Mod wheels and Data encoder did not. That being said, I am new to using controllers, so any advice is welcome. I also just purchased the iMini App from Arturia. With this app, everything basically worked! So, any suggestions as to assigning controls to functions are welcome. And yes, i did read the Owner's Manual! As usual, Nick Church continues to provide excellent Customer Service. Thanks, again, Nick!
Music background: Working Bassist/Keyboardist
Rated 3/5

Samson carbon 61

Pros.
Good price
Led for programming.
A standard midi out along with USB midi that didn't need a daw to work, this was hard for me to find.
In a price range that was affordable.
iPad stand ( nice touch)
As usual great customer service. The 3 pay plan make its easier for this old rocker to afford my toys without giving up my whole pension check.
Cons.
Noisey, clackey sounding keys. You kinda get what you pay for thing here.
I heard of some velocity issues, but haven't found any in the way I use it.
I bought two of these , but returned one because I found I didn't need two
I haven't used the included software yet.
All considered , not a bad controller for the price, if you can get by the noisey keys, I might try to correct this at a later time , you can go on you tube to check it out.

Thanks again Mike Winebrenner of the sweet water team
Music background: Retired, professional
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