M-Audio Hammer 88From real comments

Name: M-Audio Hammer 88
Rating: 5 (8 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 8 mentions across 2 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment100%

PROS 100%

Rank based on 8 mentions across 2 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You want a piano-like weighted feel without spending $1000+
You need a sturdy, road-worthy controller that survives shipping and gigging
You want room on top to mount a NanoKontrol or LaunchPad for extra control

What users love

Piano-like feel for the priceKey factor0 mentions

Strongly positive

Rugged, tank-like build0 mentions

Strongly positive

Skip this if...

You need guaranteed long-term reliability without sticky keys or ghost notes
You're set on a true standalone keyboard that makes sound without a computer
You want the quietest possible key noise for sensitive recording situations

What users complain about

No cons data available.

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice

1Mid

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz

Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz

Articulate sound

Great with extended-range guitars

Strong overall tone quality

Price concerns

2Premium

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

Musical analog tone

Long-term reliability and board loyalty

Simple, intuitive controls

High price point

Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable

Distortion at high settings

3Premium

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

Touch-sensitive dynamics

Long-term favorite / durability of appeal

Sweet, low-gain tone quality

High price versus clones

Deluxe loses some original character

Limited mid control

Best value

4Mid

MXR Super Badass Distortion

Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged

MXR Super Badass Distortion

Exceptional versatility

Natural, amp-like tone

Powerful 3-band EQ

Demo videos undersell the pedal

Noticeable noise floor

Volume drop when engaged

5Premium

Eventide Orville

Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you

Eventide Orville

Exceptional reverb quality

High-quality warm pitch shifting

Strong aspirational appeal

High price

Cheaper alternatives may suffice

Effect can feel like it plays for you

6Premium

Origin Effects Deluxe61

Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb

Origin Effects Deluxe61

Authentic amp-like tone

Excellent low-to-mid gain drive

Underrated favorite among owners

High price point

Limited gain-staging flexibility

No built-in reverb

7Premium

Roland TR-808

Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware

Roland TR-808

Iconic, powerful kick drum

Warmer, more alive analog character

Cultural and historical influence

Extremely high collector price

Analog noise and static requiring EQ

Reliability concerns of aging hardware

8Premium

Moog Subsequent 37

Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine

Moog Subsequent 37

Inspiring and addictive to play

Warm, fat analog tone

Strong DAW/VST editor integration

High price for what it offers

Limited versatility outside bass range

Needs effects/partner gear to shine

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style tone

Convincing demo influenced purchase

Excellent clean boost

Not suited for metal tones

10Mid

Wampler Paisley Drive

Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions

Wampler Paisley Drive

Transparent tone

Versatile across genres

Works well across many guitar types

Two-channel routing complexity

Dry signal bleed-through

Inconsistent demo impressions

You are here

31Mid

M-Audio Hammer 88

Piano-like feel for the priceRugged, tank-like build

M-Audio Hammer 88

Piano-like feel for the price

Rugged, tank-like build

Versatile
1. MXR Super Badass Distortionarrow_upward15
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward6
3. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward4
Expensive
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_downward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_downward3
3. Eventide Orvillearrow_downward4
Dynamic response
1. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward8
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward2
Build quality
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_upward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_upward1

Overall Impression

Many players say the Hammer 88 comes closest to real piano feel in its price range. Multiple owners directly compare it favorably to pricier controllers, saying it feels close to a piano and even holds up against triple-sensor action boards like the Nord Piano 3. Buyers who tried it after cheap plastic keyboards or acoustic pianos said it let them express delicate classical pieces convincingly. Several called it the best hammer-action option under $500-$1000, with one longtime owner still happy after three years of church use.

Build quality is frequently called tank-like, with an all-metal, heavy-plywood chassis. Owners report it surviving rough shipping drops that would have destroyed plastic-cased keyboards, and it's rigid enough to hold a NanoKontrol2 or mini LaunchPad on top without velcro. Multiple buyers mention getting it used or open-box for $280-$400 and considering it excellent value. However, weight makes it less ideal for frequent travel, and one owner noted a Pro-model firmware bug misprinting button labels that M-Audio never fixed.

Reliability and consistency complaints appear repeatedly among longer-term owners. Several users report sticky keys developing within months, a rattling key, ghost notes making live play unusable, or a pitch-bend wheel with noticeable latency on the Pro version. Others who bought used described the action as dull, lazy, or wobbly compared to new units, raising doubts about consistency. Some also struggled to get FL Studio or Reaper knobs/faders working, calling documentation and M-Audio support inadequate.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

pianoPiano-like feel for the priceKey factor

6 mentions

Strongly positive

Numerous owners say the Hammer 88 feels close to a real piano and holds its own against much pricier controllers. It was compared favorably to the Nord Piano 3 and praised for letting players express delicate classical pieces.

@vidmaster7

Thanks for the balanced review. I did quite a bit of research prior to deciding on the Hammer 88. I absolutely love it. Out of the seven keyboards I own this is by far my favorite. The main reason is that it feels as close to a piano as any I've played. It is extremely well built and feels like it was designed to last a lifetime. There is room for my Korg nanoKontrol2 to sit on the right side and a large volume knob connected to my laptop sits on the left. While it's at home I use the built-in stand. When I take it on the road, I use a much more substantial projector stand for my Windows 11 laptop with Ableton Live 10 Suite and Sunday Keys 2022.

smart_display

July 14, 2022

@henrysu5100

Nice review David. We have a Hammer 88 along with several other 88 key keyboards and my wife (piano major) actually prefers the Hammer 88 for use with Sunday Keys. Evaluating the keybed action is similar to comparing a Steinway vs Yamaha grand piano. I think the Hammer 88 is a good balance between a realistic feel but fast enough for synth and string runs. (One of our other keyboards is the Nord Piano 3 which has the triple sensor action that is designed for super quick retrigger on key presses and the Hammer 88 performs well in a head to head test.)\n\nWhile the top is curved, there is still plenty of surface to place a NanoKontrol 2 on top with no need for velcro or adhesive. I would never trust it with a laptop or iPad due to the limited space.\n\nFinally, the Hammer 88 is built like a tank. The case is all metal and heavy plywood. This does contribute to the weight of the unit but mine has also endured drops in shipping that would have shattered other keyboards with plastic cases.

smart_display

July 13, 2022

@Thadnill

I grew up with an acoustic piano but since moving to the city (6 years ago) we had to sell the piano and I have been stuck with a very cheap plastic midi keyboard since, so I have lately been looking for a MIDI keyboard that will allow me to play and express more delicate classical pieces in a close way to a real acoustic piano, and hearing you play chopin really showed me that this keyboard makes it possible! It's very affordable too so I think that I will most likely buy it.\nMy other option was to get the Kawai VPC-1 but it 3 times the cost and extremely heavy, and it looks like this can do the job!\n\nBtw I actually prefer this minimalist look over keyboards with lots of faders, effects, screens, etc. This looks a lot more pure, delicate and pianistic (if that makes sense) haha. Thanks for the video!

smart_display

March 11, 2021

@pengwidowGAMES

Been deciding between this and the Arturia keylab 88 essential, but I think even without the knobs and faders this keyboard is just so much more expressive no matter what you play on it and really brings out a true sense of feel, can't wait to get my hands on it, your reviews have kept me searching but I think alas I have found the perfect midi keyboard for me. thanks ^-^

smart_display

September 23, 2020

securityRugged, tank-like build

2 mentions

Strongly positive

The all-metal chassis and heavy plywood construction are frequently praised for durability, with one owner noting it survived shipping drops that would destroy plastic-cased keyboards.

@henrysu5100

smart_display

July 13, 2022

@Retronozzle

Got mine about a week ago, I am so impressed, it's bit on the heavy side for travel but the touch and built quality is superb. Using the Hammer 88 with mainstage so I kept it's velocity curve linear in the editor and setup the velocity within Mainstage to my liking for individual instruments. BTW it fits perfectly into Roland - CB-88RL bag as it's the same size as a Roland 300NX. The mod and pitch wheels are very smooth. Tested with Pianoteq6 demo, oh my, this took the Hammer-88 to the next level but this software is bit expensive so I'm sticking to what I currently have with software, perhaps I will wait to see what happens on black Friday with the offerings, hopefully get it half the price. Lots of questions about the feel, I've played on a couple of Yamaha and Roland stage pianos and this really beats them by far. Sturdy keys, a tad spongy, but not so that it's unpleasant or feeling laggy. Once you setup your velocity to your liking this is something to be hard to beat.

smart_display

June 13, 2018

M-Audio Hammer 88chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

thumb_up_off_altBuy this if...

What users lovefavorite_border

thumb_down_off_altSkip this if...

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what

Versatile

Expensive

Dynamic response

Build quality

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

M-Audio Hammer 88From real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression