MIDI-Keyboard with DAW and VST-Control?

[Marco Hattemer]

I am looking for a MIDI-controller / -keyboard that not only works as a MIDI input device but that also let me control cakewalk (including transport and mixer settings) and VST-Plugin. Many of the great options in the market support more then on DAW but they seam to ignore cakewalk, so no presets for CbB delivered.

So far I found the following options, that look promising to me:

• Nektar Impact LX49+ - promises a good integration in CbB but seams to have a terrible key bed
• Roland A-300/500 Pro -  far superior IMHO, was once bundled with SONAR, not really sure how this translates to CbB

Any experience with one of these in CbB? Any recommendations? Did I miss some good alternatives?

Of course there is also the option to buy a controller without build-in compatibility and typ to configure the mapping myself.
How complicated is this and how far do I get? How do I get to know which functions can be mapped and which cannot (because of the implementation of the keyboard manufacturer)? Any recommendations for a good MIDI-keyboard that was successfully integrated?

Looking forward to the answers and really hope for some advice. So far it is all a great mess - so many options, so many different or misleading information.

Edited August 28, 2020 by Marco Hattemer

[Glenn Stanton]

while the Nektar has the presets advertised, and the Roland (may be the older units made to work with CwB), you might be better served by getting a midi controller keyboard that has the keyboard feel you want and majority of the controls (e.g. a Noord), then hunting for some presets and/or making your own. or just get a really good keyboard and a separate controller (e.g. MPC, FaderPort, nanoController, etc).

[Marco Hattemer]

First of all - tnx for your option. Right at the moment I think that buying a separate MIDI controller is out of budget limit.

Just looking for a nice keyboard and ignoring "out of the box" controller integration with CbB I would probably go with the Arturia KeyLab Essential 49. It offers support for "Mackie/HUI Control". Does that mean that I will be able to manually config the mapping to enable the transport controls? Is there any good tutorial or video guide available out there? There are so many technical specifications, different standards, abbreviations... it's really hard for a beginner to even know how to ask for information or what to look for.  Oh man - either this is really complicated or I am just to stupid for it.

I really think that the Roland A-300 Pro would be my favorite even when ignoring CbB integration. I heard it offers nice build quality, good keybed with aftertouch, good dynamic response... I only fear that it is a rather old, outdated product and I find it dubious that I need a special driver to even get it to play. 

[Thomas Fort]

I've got the Nektar Impact LX25+ and I love it... considering I bought it used for $60. The "terrible key bed" you mention is something I can live with in my situation.

[Marco Hattemer]

Yeah, I think the quality of the keys is very subjective and really depending on preference and experience. But in some of the YT reviews you really hear this loud, clicky, almost creaky sound that the keys make when you play it. Is this the same on your LX25+?

[Glenn Stanton]

my remote-workspace keyboard is an M-Audio Keystation 49 II - synth weighted keys, pretty quiet, class-compliant USB, and has the Mackie/HUI capability - but virtually no controls other than pressing the "advanced" button and selecting an option off the keys. has basic stop-play-record and cursor pad. https://www.m-audio.com/products/view/keystation-49

[Marco Hattemer]

Heard some really great things about the M-Audio keys. So I guess you had no problems with these reported MIDI hung up, strucks or crashes that flooded YT?