Emu Xboard 49 49-Key MIDI Controller

Fullsize Keys. Programmable Real-Time Controllers.

Item: EMU7705

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Emu Xboard 49 49-Key MIDI Controller reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

53 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

 

5 People wrote reviews

Read all Emu Xboard 49 49-Key MIDI Controller reviews...
* * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10 zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

"Best-in-class keys with aftertouch, enormous sample/loop software library make it a great overall value."

Feature:
Oh this thing has features, all right. The "key" features (pardon the pun) are the keys themselves. The XBoard's semi-weighted, synth-action, velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch seem to be regarded as best-in-class. When I was researching before I bought this unit, the quality of the keys' feel and response was frequently cited as the best in this price range, beating out M-Audio and Alesis. The rest of the chassis is pretty lightweight plastic and doesn't feel like it could take much abuse. Then let's talk accessories. The amount of sounds that this MIDI controller comes with is staggering. You get: - Protean Drums (a couple hundred acoustic and electronic drum kits) - Studio Grand (a couple hundred pianos and synths) - Mo' Phatt (a bunch of urban/dance/hip-hop sounds) - Beat Shop One (a bunch of urban/dance/hop-hop loops) - Planet Earth X (tons of world music instrumentS) - X Producer (odds and ends like sound effects and additional drum kits, synths, and loops) - Proteus X2/Proteus XLE (a VSTi plugin and standalone host ) - XPerience (more odds and ends loops, grooves) How's that for features and accessories?!?!

Quality:
This is a tough category to rate for the XBoard. The keys are great, the variety of extras is awesome and so is the quality of the samples. But the unit itself is a little lightweight so I've got to knock off a couple of points there. I wouldn't tote this around to gigs or parties or anything like that. I simply wouldn't expect it to hold up.

Value:
Value is where this unit shines! It's priced better than the competing M-audio units yet has better keys. It's not much more expensive than the competing Alesis units but it comes with so much more stuff.

Desirability:
Nothing too striking or visually appealing about this unit. It's pretty plain-Jane. But beauty is way more than skin-deep when it comes to the XBoard line of MIDI controllers.

Sound:
This is a MIDI controller, so it doesn't make any sound by itself. But included in the box are all of the software and libraries you'll need to make an insanely wide array of very impressive sounds. With the included Ableton Live Lite and Proteus X2, you've got the tools to put the enormous libraries of sounds to use right out of the box. The bundled version of Ableton Live Lite leaves much to be desired as a multitrack app, and Proteus X2 has a few shortcomings as well. Don't let that deter you though. There's no deal-breakers in this box.

Ease of Use:
This was my first MIDI controller so my learning curve included not just this unit, but the concepts of MIDI and VSTi altogether. I have to hand it to EMU, they put together a decent owner's manual. Although, I still can't figure out how to create a custom drum kit!

Support:
I haven't had to make any contact with EMU customer support yet. That in and of itself merits at least something.

Overall:
I think that this is the best deal going for a MIDI controller in its price range.

Submitted: 12/13/2008

Style of Music: Rock, Alternative

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* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Emu Xboard 49οΎ  Controller Customer Review

Feature:
Has the same features as any other midi controller I guess (more knobs and such then the M-Audio), and for the price you just can NOT beat it.

Quality:
I'm pretty new to midi controllers and keyboards in general, but the build seems pretty stable. The keys have a much better feel to them than the crappy Casio that I practiced on before. Not grand piano, but I still love it. I did have some beef with this though. When I got it, there were some slight discoloration spots on it, especially under the Xboard logo. You cant really tell from far away but it still bugs me that it was like it when I bought it.

Value:
I really dont know what makes a keyboard good, but my ~170 dollars when a long way this time, I can tell that already. This deal is just too freakin good to pass up. If you're looking for a midi keyboard for around 100-200 dollars, look no further.

Desirability:
Putting the discoloration spots aside, it looks pretty cool. If you're sitting in a crowd and watching someone play one of these, you wont really think it's "sexy" haha cuz all you'll see is those open sockets.

Sound:
Gave a 9 rather than a ten because of the annoying latency. I dont have ASIO or anything so it's probably just my computer. This is the only keyboard I've owned so I have nothing to compare it to, but the feel of everything - knobs, wheels, slider, keys - only one word: incredible.

Ease of Use:
I haven't used the bundled software yet. I've been using my other VSTs and it works perfectly fine with them (other than the latency issues I mentioned earlier but that's probably my computer hardware). Knowing nothing of midi controllers, I was able to get this thing working in around 5 minutes effortlessly.

Support:
Dunno, haven't had to call them yet, but that booklet that it came with has a lot of general information in there. It'd probably help you before any call to tech support.

Overall:
I really hope I dont have to replace this board any time soon, mainly because I dont have much money. But also because it's an amazing board. The others have said that it's made CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP but maybe they're spoiled by $1000+ boards? Cuz I cant tell. I was first going to buy one of the M-Audio boards because I was low on money but then I realized that I wont be able to make any cool Mars Volta-ish effects without some knobs and stuff, so I got this (what I consider to definately be an upgrade). Looking back, I would've deeply regretted buying the M-Audio.

Submitted: 8/27/2007

Style of Music: Progressive

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About This Product!
Description
Docs
The new E-MU Xboard 49 Professional USB/MIDI controller for PC and Mac offers unmatched playability, real-time control and programmability in a portable keyboard package ideal for studio and stage use. The Xboard 49 features fullsize velocity sensitive keys with aftertouch, 16 programmable real-time controllers, Xboard Control editing software, and E-MU's new Proteus X LE Desktop Sound Module with over 1000 sounds. The Xboard Control software provides an intuitive desktop interface that lets you effortlessly create custom templates for all of your favorite hardware and software instruments. The Xboards also allow you to set discrete MIDI channels for each controller and offer unrivaled real-time control and performance features, including Snap Shot that lets you send multiple program changes and controller values by pressing a single button, and Xboard Latch Mode that enables you to define a section of the keyboard as on/off triggers -- perfect for drum loops. The Xboard 49 is ultra-portable and can run on USB, battery, or AC power.

features
49 full-size professional keys with Aftertouch -- the Xboard 49 is a true performance controller with a high-quality synth-action key-bed

Xboard Control software lets you easily create custom setups for your favorite hardware/software instruments

Advanced studio/live performance features, like Latch Mode for triggering drum loops, Snap Shot for instantaneous program changes, and many more

16 real-time controllers that can be assigned to the key performance parameters of all your favorite virtual instruments

Includes Proteus X LE Desktop Sound Module (for Windows) with over 1000 presets and Ableton Live Lite 4 for E-MU (for Windows)

USB, battery or AC powered -- take your music anywhere

PC & Mac compatible -- Windows XP, 2000 and Macintosh OS X drivers

Technical Info

Dimensions (to top of knob): 3.12 x 9.5 x 31.12 in. (79 x 241 x 791 mm)

Weight: 8.5 lbs. (3.9 kg)

Knob height: 0.62 in. (16 mm)

Minimum System Requirements:
Mac: OS 10.2 or greater with native USB port

PC: Windows 2000 SP4 / Windows XP SP1 + / Vista
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