Sound:
N/A
Feature:
Drop Ableton live lite that comes with it or include something that at least a decent piano soft synth for demo'ing. It's doesn't have to be Ivory. But something to make this feel less than a toy for someone just getting into the midi game.
As for knobs/sliders/pads. It's enough for me without going bonzo with it. Fits my needs.
Ease of Use:
I like the feel, the knobs, the sliders. The keys are addictive to play which makes the problems even more difficult to stomach.
Quality:
Hefty and solid. I like that. But....
There are painful rattles. Play button was loose and buzzed on each time a key was pressed, even lightly. Two of the lower keys felt floppy -- all the other keys have uniform action -- the keys are adjacent and my guess is that some padding is missing at that spot (may be a gap).
It seems to me while they adopted the chassis of the other MPKs for this model, it doesn't suit the hammer action of the keys which causes things to rattle and shake more. The action changes the stress points while playing, and I think they should have spent more time understanding the mechanical dynamics of that before releasing.
I even tried out a second one at the store, to see if I had just picked up a bad one, and that one rattled worse in different spots. It may just be a build/yield issue that they'll resolve as more get sold.
Value:
While "weightier" with nice key bed, and solid knobs -- a few details drop the value down considerably such as loose buttons which rattle and the action of a few keys were inconsistent with the rest. I feel it almost lives up the price, but these defects now, unless something changes my mind, I'd say the value is only slightly better than the m-audio equivalent and not enough that the price justifies.
If it were about 30% less in price, I wouldn't be so annoyed at the flaws.
Manufacturer Support:
Just dealing with the local tech now -- hoping that it doesn't have to get sent away (and of course, I'd have to pay to ship a 70 lb keyboard there). If I have to ship it, I'm returning it and getting my money back.
The Wow Factor:
I like it. It's sturdy. A bit heavy to sling around, but heck, if you are buying a fully weighted 88 keyboard, they are not in general going to be light. If looking for portability, don't get it unless you've a strong back or good friends with strong backs.
Overall:
If the tech fixes the problems, and no rattling appears with moderate usage over the next 6 months, I'd say it's a pretty good overall and I just picked up a lemon initially. If the rattles return, or it can't be fixed to my satisfaction, I will be severely annoyed and my overall rating will drop considerable.
I'm giving it a 5 for now...
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