Overall User Ratings (based on 17 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(17) (see rating details)
Submitted December 18, 2009 by a customer from musicmound.com

"You cannot go wrong with a Roland keyboard!!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I have never had a Roland product fail me. This one will be with me until it becomes obsolete . . .
Sound
I chose a 10 here because I believe this unit rates a 10 overall but this is a midi controller and has "no" internal sounds so this question does not actually apply.
Features
I will refrain from becoming too wordy in this review but I will say here that this unit offers at least as good, and in most cases "better", features than other manufacturers offering studio type midi controller keyboards today.
Ease of Use
Like all "Roland" products, this unit is built and designed with the user in mind. The Edirol model keyboards by Roland are very user friendly. I am using my Edirol PCR-800 in my studio with Logic Studio, Pro Tools, Sonar Producer, and Cubase, and it works well with all of these.
Quality
Okay, here's where the rubber meets the road . . . quality. I purchased my first synth in 1983 and it was a Roland. I became a Roland fan at that time. Through the years, on occasions, I have purchased other brands that were in the limelight at the time, but I have always came back to Roland, which manufactures Edirol. I have owned Korg, Yamaha, and as of late, M-Audio keyboards to give them a try, but I will always remain with Roland for my main keyboard. (My mainstay keyboard has been a Roland XP-80 since they were introduced in the 90's.) I may own other brand sound modules, such as the Yamaha Motif-Rack I have today, but my keyboard will always be a Roland due to the quality. With this in mind, I did try out other USB computer studio keyboards, such as those offered by M-Audio, but when it came time to lay down my cash I had to go with a Roland, the Edirol PCR-800. There is no comparison to the higher quality of the Edirol over other brands.
Value
What can I say? You want value? Put your hard earned funds in a keyboard designed and manufactured by Roland.
Manufacturer Support
Since 1983 I have had to contact Roland for support two times (back in the 80's) and I can tell you that there is no better support than that of Roland.

Musical Background:

Musician, song writer, reecording engineer . . .

Musical Style:

Country and progressive rock (Yes type stuff)
13 of 14 people (93%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted October 17, 2007 by a customer from gmail.com

"This is a great keyboard for those of who you like nice synth action and needs lots of controllers."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
This keyboard far exceeds my current piano playing and i expect to use it for practice for at least the next two years. I also doubt i will be in need for any more controllers than i already have, so even when i get an 88 later on i will still use this for synths and sequencing.
Features
Lots of controllers, aftertouch, nice keyboard, velocity curves and easy to program on the fly.
Ease of Use
If you can use a midi keyboard you can use this. The learning curve is not steep at all. I quickly learned how to assign controllers on the fly with ease. I havent dug too deep into the pcr editor yet but it also seemed fairly straightforward to use, i just dont need it. For the kind of work i do (programming synths / sequences) i have to quickly change controllers anyway. Installation was a breeze.
Quality
The keyboard feels good to play on. The knobs are also very good,you can use them even if you have big fingers and they have a litle resistance (which is good). The crossfader (plastic) feels cheap, i doubt it would endure scract dj use for too long. The faders are okay, it would have been neat if they were metal. Im not sure about the pads, their performance varies a bit. I can play drum kits fast on them without problems but sometimes it seems as if i pushed it down but no signal was sent. This might be a design fault or it might be that i need to get used to the pads properly. The build quality is really sturdy. I actually dropped this thing from my desk (70 cm high) down to the wooden floor by accident and it landed with the controllers down. I was sure i had ruined it. Nothing fell of, all controllers worked 0 to 127, no stuck / broken keys and everything was, much to my joy, in perfect working order.
Value
It's not cheap but you get what you pay for with this product.
Manufacturer Support
Never needed them and i doubt i ever will.
The Wow Factor
I think it looks very nice.

Musical Background:

Amateur producer

Musical Style:

Drum and bass, jungle, ambient, abstract hip hop, dance.
30 of 31 people (97%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted September 15, 2007 by a customer from verizon.net

"Roland does it again, and again, and again, and once again! Wow!!!"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Until something mind blowingly, fantastic comes out to take its place??? I don't know maybe a virtual mind reading keyboard that connects you to the world wide web of artist, all while you create music virtually and control midi devices with your mind, you know, just thinking about it and it happens, just so natural you don't have to worry about the making of music, it just happens. And the interface does not get in the way, no rather it inspires you to make more wonderful music all the while you are becoming the next Mozart or something like that?! Oh Wait', that was a dream I had the other night, sorry.
Sound
It makes no sound except except the fluttering of the keys when you play in the open patio with the moonlight above you and you are pounding up a fiery musical storm of inspiration with the knobs a turning', keys a flying' and the sliders sliding'. Oh' YeaYYYYY'
Features
PLenty of features, right up there with the CME UF series keyboards but probably better action on the this 61 keyboard because after all it is a Roland! Roland has better and more durable key action on their keyboards than any other manufacture, I own a Roland Juno-2 from 1985 and it still works, I just keep it clean. I clean the keyboard contacts every five years or so to keep it new like, and it still works great', flawless' just like a Roland usually is?!
Ease of Use
Very easy interface as most Roland equipment except some of their earlier workstations were hard to mangage but this one is a keeper and is very powerful once you learn the Midi controller Lingo'. Get very familiar with your DAW and plug-in software that you are using and then you will know how to set-up the knobs and sliders for Total Control and World Domination!!! At least in your music studio that is'. Download the new and crispy Roland templates for your software program/s and plug-ins you are using and it sets it up for you automatically Wow!!! And now, isn't that just Dandy'?!
Quality
Right up there with the best keyboard hardware around and of course it is made by Roland so you know', what could go wrong??? It probably is a good idea if you are not a electronic gee-whiz' technician then you should get an extended warranty of some kind so you don't lose sleep over whether the key monster gremlins are going to byte your keyboard, take off a few sliders, pads and wiring with them while munching it all down with large glass of milk for their late night snack'?! Oh wait that was me spilling milk into my own keyboard while eating a late night snack', DOH'!!! That is why you should not drink or eat around open keyboards and or any studio electronics!!! Bad' gremlins, badddddd!
Value
Value is excellent considering what else is there in this price range with this kind of quality key action and functions and ease of use?!! I tell you nothing so far except maybe CME but their manual and interface and keyboard just don't have the long history and quality that Roland has in making real musical devices for the long haul and into the future. I have seen alot of midi controllers come and go over the years and Roland seems to be consistently always on the top of the heap! I don't know if CME VX series will knock Roland off its thrown', we shall see?!
Manufacturer Support
Don't know yet, but when I do, I will let you know if the customer service is good , mediocre and or just plain stupid poor service. I have dealt with Roland in the past, and their reputation is good, for all their product line, and that is why Roland keeps going Strong and is leading the way'. Just what I am not sure, but leading the way none the less to their kind of sound' of music' and whatever that may be in the future, we just shall soon see now, won't we??? Now, I have to get my Album out Soon, or the keyboard Gremlins' are going to take over my studio, no probably more like spider webs and dust, not Good'?!
The Wow Factor
"I want it bad like, like, playing the keys in the open moonlight exasperating a sweet melody of music into the cool air' to the one I love, all while tweaking the knobs into a crescendo' of exquisite' musical inspiring delight" Sex appeal??? I am not sure what a keyboard controller has to do with sex appeal, but, I desire to make wonderful and inspiring music with this keyboard to change the way the world thinks' and make this place a better one for all'!!! Or maybe not.

Musical Background:

Recording Engineer and Producer

Musical Style:

Electronica, Acid Jazz, R&B, rock, Hip Hop and Techno'
23 of 38 people (61%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Please wait.