Wed Oct 09, 2019 10:11 am
Hi Don,
The Behringer UMX610 and the M-Audio 61es are probably the 2 most used MIDI controller keyboards folks here have been robbing the keyboards out of, so yes either unit works and the keyboards can be removed with relative ease.
Concerning the try before you buy: If you have a good music store available locally, perhaps a Guitar Center as an example, I too would suggest going in and getting a first hand 'feel' for each of the above mentioned units. I was completely the opposite in my opinion. The Behringer is nice and has more 'organ like' keys in shape, but felt cheesy and the feel, rather light action, and overall side to side looseness of the keys reminded me of a cheap Casio keyboard (which I own one in fact). The M-Audio on the other hand has a more sturdy, tighter feel to me, the visual drawback being the long overhang under the front of the keys some refer to as 'waterfall' keys, but if you look at most old school French organs as an example they do use waterfall keys, look at the MDA set of the 1902 St. Eucaire as an example. I've seen some here take the time to trim the overhang from the front edge of the 61es keys and it turned out great. Some digging here on the forum might find it, but was a long time ago. As for the M-Audio's supposed weighted keys. Ah, this is really more hype than anything to lure in those piano players concerned with having a feature like this. When I disassembled the keyboards from the case, on the bottom side of the keys they use a small and thin piece of metal they glue in on the bottom side. Can we call this weighted and the results are it's like playing a piano? Ah, nope I don't think so, not even close. If anything it seems to again add a bit more firmness or sturdiness to the keys and takes away that light too easy to press, cheesy Casio feel. I will say this and is probably the same for the Behringer as well, key travel is a bit more than you will find on your average organ but is not ridiculous or way out of parameter. When you compromise and can't cough up $750+ for the basic 'organ' keyboards out there (like me), any way you go you do give up a few minor things but it's nothing that would prevent you from having a great set-up that you'd certainly enjoy.
Marc