Traded M50 for M3... some thoughts & comparisons

[c_hammal]

Hi guys,

I know it has been such a long while. I think I haven't posted anything in about a year. Last summer if some of u remember I got the M50 61 when I moved from Egypt to the US. I used to have a TE 61 and a Pa1X Pro.

Anyway, I've always been impressed with the M3 since its release because I did own a Karma for a while back in the years and complained about the quality of the sound samples. I then got the chance to trade-in my M50 at GC for an M3 61 with a very cool offer. So now I finally own an M3 and it already came with the Xpanded update.


So here are my thoughts in comparing the M3 with the M50 after a year of extensive use (and please add/share your thoughts as well):


To start, I have to say that I really missed having a good key bed, I hated the one on the M50 and I'm trying to remember if the old Karma had a similar bed. Please add your thoughts... But I guess I got used for so many years to the TE and the Pa1X key beds and I have a feeling that the M3's key bed is similar to the Pa1x... is it??

The major thing I've noticed though in comparing the M50 with the M3 is the depth of the sounds. I missed that feature from the TE (thanks to the valve) and the Pa1x. I compared this through similar combis and still used my same pair of Shure headphones. I gotta say that the M3 just got me goosebumps!!! I'm not sure if it's just my ears playing tricks or if the M3 is truly a lot deeper. I'm not a huge technical guru but I assume the M3 has more RAM and a larger number of effects per combi??

As for Piano, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the new EXB piano sound that they added in the Xpanded while also keeping the M3 piano which I also love. So besides the fact that the piano sound is a lot nicer, I think my piano playing, due to the better key bed, sounds more piano-like than the M50. I mean both are a 61-key version but maybe the dynamics caused by the key bed r a distinctive factor in my playing (that's just me).

Another feature I realized that I missed a lot that the M50 didn't have is the sampling. I never used it so much in my previous boards so I thought I wouldn't need it, hence, the M50 would be enough. Then after a year of not having it, I realized how much I needed that feature back! Especially that I've learned guitar this spring and I wanted to add some samples of my Ovation guitar to my music and use the keyboard to play them instead of doing this on Logic or Garage Band (which is still doable of course). But at least now I can import samples and that alone I think is a great feature now that I've realized its value

I also enjoyed a lot the added drum track to the already existing drum pattern within the combis, as well as having the different scene buttons which are accessed through existing buttons instead of screen settings.

Well I don't wanna sound like I'm attacking the M50 cauz so far I've been saying how much the M3 is better. The M50 in my opinion is a GREAT value for its price. To be able to have so many features in such a small, light and affordable keyboard is truly a big plus. I remember how happy I was when I got it last year and I composed a lot of stuff on it, but for some reason, I always felt a little limited. I composed a lot more interesting music on my TE when I compare them to the ones on the M50. And yesterday, I felt like I got that dynamic from my TE playing back through the M3.


Alright... enough talking! I wanna hear your thoughts!!!

I will be posting a lot more hopefully this year especially that I'm back in the music writing groove again. I kinda took this past year off after releasing my album last october. I will ask you to please share your thoughts as I explore more of my recent M3.

I also would like you to please suggest me the best powered speakers I could purchase for the M3 that are on the lowest lowest budget. I had a pair of Behringer MS16 which sounded soooooo bad with the M50! I sold them. And I want to buy a new good pair that will be fair to the M3's powerful sound. I usually rely on my headphones (Shure SRH440) for recording. The speakers is only to hear myself playing and/or hear the final product of the music when recorded. Did anyone try the M-Audio AV40?? Their price are tempting but I don't want another MS16 experience.


I will be waiting for your responses! I miss many of you around here and hope to get back in touch this year with lots of posts and discussions as well as the greatest advice like always


Carol

[McHale]

I own both and BOTH have a unique place in my life. I bought my M3 first and absolutely fell in love with it. When I originally purchased it, it was with the intention of replacing my aging Triton in my live rig. Shortly after getting it I realized there were a few signature sounds I couldn't replicate to my liking on the M3 so I would keep the Triton in my rig. But, I still wanted to take advantage of the M3 in my live rig for all the better sounds. My only issue was, the M3 is as heavy as my Triton and I didn't need the Sampling, aftertouch, or the added weight. The M50 was the perfect solution.

In terms of sound difference, I have the M50 and the M3 running through the same mixer and have A/B'd quite a few sounds on both and there is no real sound difference. I hooked them both up to my Triton via MIDI so they were both triggered with the same velocity, aftertouch, etc and even ran them through a spectrum analyzer. The big thing I miss from the M3 in a live situation is the KAOSS-like touchscreen feature.

The greatest thing about the M3 is the optional EXB_RADIAS. Radias is such a pwerful VA and adds so much more to a stock M3. I can't stress how great it is and what it adds to the M3 for such a low cost.

Congrats on your M3.

[Randelph]

c_hammal,
i was tempted by the m50 as well, but i couldn't stand the keybed, it has no microphone input, and no way to add samples- and it wasn't a whole lot more money. i got mine for about $1,300 (once I sold the free recorder they gave away for free).

try out the orchestral sounds that come with the Xpanded: sensational!