Sound:
This unit is an amazing MIDI controller! The keys are well-weighted and respond to aftertouch on a variable scale you can set. Pretty much all of the buttons have adjustable velocity and the ability to save multiple programmed setups is very handy! On its own this keyboard makes no sounds, but plug it in to nearly any software and you have near-infinite control over it! The knobs/sliders have just the right amount of resistance and have physical start/stops without a middle indent - terrific for adjusting paramters on the fly without looking!
Feature:
The keyboard is solid and a bit hefty, made out of a good plastic that hides fingerprints well. All of the hookup jacks are on the left side rather than behind, so this fits well in a studio environment. It weighs enough that you can really jam out and not send it flying, and the keys feel terrific! Very solid build and I have no fear of it breaking. My one hardware gripe is that the x/y mod adjustment only moves up and left/right - there is no down like a typical joystick would have.
Ease of Use:
The knobs/sliders/pads are a pleasure to use, and you can program each of them to do 8 different things depending on what you have loaded. To switch between the banks of program you have a rotary knob and a single keypress, so it's quite fast. The keys weigh just right and are spaced well for such a small controller and the physical location of everything is complimentary if you adjust paramters frequently mid-jam! I use the unit to control various VST paramters, track volumes, drum triggers, piano loops and anything else MIDI can control.
Quality:
This is a solid product. They did not use shiny cheap plastic, rather a slightly grippy black/grey that feels like you could bludgeon yourself with it and still rock out. The crossfader feels a bit cheap but the inclusion is something few other companies have done. The knobs all respond well and resist just the right amount and the travel is great on the sliders. If you intend on moving the controller around a lot I would recommend getting a keyboard case for it, I believe a soft one would do. I expect to be playing this keyboard in 5 years without having to replace anything, it's a good build and I feel *well* worth the money. One thing to note is that the USB plug is on the left side, so it does stick out quite a bit and looks like it could easily be broken off if someone hip-checked it. It would have been nice had they included an elbow bend USB cable rather than the standard one that stands out 2 inches. All in all however, a solid unit!
Value:
This is the best bang for the buck of any of the dozens of units I examined before I made my choice. The plastic and internal components alone are worth the sticker price - but the weight and solid feel of it shames the other controllers in this price range. I am completely satisfied with the price I paid and heartily recommnd this unit to anyone who needs a MIDI controller with plenty of options yet retaining the expressive qualities of a keyboard.
Manufacturer Support:
I've owned the controller for 2 months now and no issues whatsoever. It came with a 1-year warranty from Roland Canada with registration on their website, and they have plenty of authorized dealers if repairs need doing. The website itself has a fair amount of patches and information and I look forward to seeing what the community can contribute!
The Wow Factor:
This is a very pretty machine when you play it. The velocity pads light up to indicate if they've been triggered or not and the configuration of the knobs/sliders is excellent. I feel the workflow of this unit is very natural and the secsy black plastic makes it look very understated and tough. It looks like a serious piece of gear and I constantly receive comments on how nice it is from friends. Edirol/Roland spared no effort in making this a practical AND beautiful piece of technology!
Overall:
I intend to be using this for at least 5 years - basically until it wears out. As soon as I saw the unit in store I felt a connection to it, and once I laid hands on it I knew it was "the one." After having pawed roughly 2 dozen other MIDI controllers and reading reviews of features, I realized no one else is offering this much for the price. Knowing Roland is in some way behind this also makes me feel confident in support and longetivity. I would not hesitate to replace this unit with the same one, or possibly the big brother of it - which just adds more piano keys and nothing else! And for the record, I feel funky and can express it quickly with this unit, there is no banging through countless archaic menus.
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