M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro 88-Key Graded Hammer-Action USB MIDI Controller with Smart Controls

The M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro is a full-sized, 88-key, USB-powered MIDI keyboard controller with a graded hammer action that opens a wide world of creativity. Taking feedback from users and artists alike, the new Hammer 88 Pro is equipped to be the ultimate studio and live performance tool. Add the Hammer 88 Pro’s natural piano feel to your arsenal and bring your music to the next level.
DAW Auto-Mapping and Performance Control
Thanks to the OLED screen that sits front and center, it is easier than ever to search for and test sounds, map controls, and mix and edit your sessions. Hammer 88 Pro can control any DAW and automatically map commonly used functions such as Transport, Faders, Pan controls, and much more. Whether you use Ableton, Pro Tools, MPC Beats, Cubase, Logic, Studio One, or any other major DAW, select the map and Auto-Mapping will take care of the rest. It also instantly maps to all the virtual instruments included in the Hammer 88 Pro software bundle (Velvet, Mini Grand, Hybrid 3, TubeSynth, Electric, Bassline). These world-class AIR Music Tech plugins can be fully controlled by the Hammer 88 Pro and used in real time as you create and mix your music.
Smart Controls
Hammer 88 Pro features M-Audio’s brand-new Smart Chord and Smart Scale technology. These functions open your imagination and help blend your hardware seamlessly with your ideas across all 88 keys. Creating music on your computer has never been this intuitive and inspiring thanks to these workflow-centric features. With Smart Chord activated, pressing a single key or pad will play a full chord rather than just one note. The key or pad you press will determine the root note in the chord. The rest of the chord’s properties (major, minor, etc.) are determined by the settings you choose. Smart Chord also has a Custom Mode that lets you determine the chord structure that will be assigned to each key by manually playing it. For example, if you select Custom Mode, and play a 1-b3-5-b7 chord, every key will then be assigned to play this chord structure. The note of the key you press will serve as the root of the chord and all the parameters can be edited right on the Hammer 88 Pro. Smart Scale technology allows you to set the keybed so that only notes in the selected scale can be played. This allows you to play within a chosen scale without the risk of playing any ‘wrong’ notes. You can choose from 16 different scale variations when assigning a scale to the keyboard. Smart Scale is easy to activate and deactivate and allows you to set the scale parameters you need to keep you focused on creating.
Professional Controls
Built into the Hammer 88 Pro are features that are essential to creating modern pop, electronic, hip-hop, and dance music. Note Repeat and the built-in Arpeggiator open a world of precise music production and live sound techniques to make your music sound professional. Note Repeat allows you to hold down any of the custom-made M-Audio performance pads and hear a repeated rhythmic pattern at a selectable note division. The Note Repeat feature can be activated momentarily or can be used in Latch mode. If you choose Momentary, holding the Note Repeat button will make the note played by the pad automatically repeat. If you choose Latch, pressing any pad will cause its assigned note to repeat without you having to hold down the Note Repeat button. The built-in Arpeggiator will affect anything you are playing on the keys from any virtual instrument in your DAW. When the Arpeggiator is activated, the keyboard repeatedly plays the pressed keys in sequence. The arpeggiator’s timing and rhythm are based on the keyboard’s time division setting and either the keyboard’s or your DAW’s tempo setting. Each note in the arpeggio will be the length you have selected for the time division setting - for example, if you select 1/4, each note in the arpeggio will be a quarter note. This powerful tool can operate in Latch or Momentary mode, making it easy to match your style.
Next-Gen Piano Feel
Hammer 88 Pro’s best-in-class 88-graded hammer-action keybed combines professional, graded, weighted hammer-action with advanced high-speed keybed scanning technology for an ultra-expressive playing experience. This custom keybed also features Channel Aftertouch, giving users added expression and control. Channel Aftertouch enables you to affect the sound of a virtual instrument plugin by continuously scanning how much pressure you apply to any key after initially pressing it. This makes creating the mood, dynamics, and emotion you want to deliver in your music natural and fast.
Ableton Live Lite
Ableton Live Lite is one of the most popular performance and production programs available in the world. A powerful music creation tool, Ableton Live Lite enables musicians and producers to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise, and edit musical ideas in a fluid audio and MIDI environment. Explore sonic possibilities in real time whether on stage or in the studio. When you are satisfied with your work, Ableton Live Lite lets you save it or mix it down.
MPC Beats
Whatever you set out to achieve, MPC Beats will get you started. Incorporating the finest parts of the legendary MPC workflow, MPC Beats features all the essential tools for pro production. Edit samples, mix down your tracks, find any sound with the synth engines on the legendary MPCs, record audio, and much more. MPC Beats will host your AU and VST plugins so as you expand your arsenal, know you will have complete compatibility with industry-standard virtual studio technology.