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Roland PK5 - Dynamic MIDI Pedal

Roland's PK5 Dynamic MIDI Pedal bass note pedalboard lets you play a variety of sounds from any external MIDI device, leaving your hands free to play your favorite musical instrument. The PK5 puts the excitement and versatility to live bass performance with full MIDI control within reach of any musician. Learn More...

    • New $499.95
    • Blowouts save up to $50!
  • Installment Plan:4 payments of $124.98
    • free ground shipping
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Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * . . . . . . . . 2 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Quality:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Value:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10

Feature:
All I wanted was a pedal controller with MIDI out - when it worked, it was fine.

Quality:
This is the first Roland product I've owned that didn't last. It lasted about 18 months but now the midi out port will not work (in and thru still work, but out is dead which makes this thing worthless).

Value:
A product that doesn't last isn't worth squat.

Desirability:
I just want it to work!

Sound:
No sound, duh.

Ease of Use:
Changing midi channels and other functionality isn't that intuitive.

Support:
I emailed support who responded with a note for me to call them. It's out of warranty so I'm expect repairing it won't be cheap. I'd buy somebody's else's pedal controller if there was one.

Overall:
I expected this thing to last forever considering there isn't really much to it. Sadly, it didn't. And this is from very little use and no movement at all. I have no idea why it quit working, but now I have an expensive paper weight.

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Overall:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Features:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Feature:
Everyone raves about this but I was bummed with it from day 1. They claim it "transposes" over 9 octaves. I don't call octave-shifting transposing. If anyone can tell me how I'd like to know! Even the Fatar (which I don't own and reviewers dis) looks like it can do real transposing "Transposition +/- 24 Half Steps". I wish I'd bought that instead. Oh yeah, somewhere I got the idea it had ability to program it to play two notes at once. Octaves only folks. For the price they could have done some sweet stuff with this, but no, they want to sell you extra synths for that.

Quality:
That's all I got to say.

Sound:
Doesn't make sound.

Ease of Use:
That's all I got to say.

Support:
Manual is lame.

Overall:
Biggest disappointment in a while.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
more than what i need but regardless the extras are pretty cool

Quality:
very rugged material

Value:
this controller is like no other. not to mention i can be "the geddy lee of guitar" if you will because i play guitar and keyboards in my band and the stuff we write is so complex that ill definetely need it

Desirability:
well not too many fans would actually see it but regardless the presentation is awesome

Sound:
This pedalboard is insane! i saw it equipped with a roland fantom x, and i was really coming up with some very complex and cool stuff

Ease of Use:
all i do is step on the pedals and off im going

Support:
what support? dont need it

Overall:
i would definetely recommend this to any guitarist or bassist who also does keyboards like myself, its truly a guitarist/keyboardist's dream

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
I don't use the start stop, or variety change features, just because of the complication of playing and having to use two or three combinations to do that, it would be great if it had a direct start/stop and variety change switch.

Quality:
I've been using it for over 10 years and never had a problem.

Value:
quality price, perfect balance

Desirability:
I put adjusting legs to it, as not every stage is level

Sound:
I bought my pk-5 in the early 90's, I use it with a roland e-66 arranger, I play bars and festivals year round at an average of 4 nights a week and I never had to service it, what a great piece of equipement. Ricky

Ease of Use:
I don't think it is too complicated, like any other instrument you have a learning process but the manuals are clear,

Support:
never nothing haha

Overall:
I love this equipement , I just bought a second one to use in my home studio, just the start stop and variation options , would be nice if made easier, instead of midi maybe direct like the ps/2 pedals

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
I use mono and poly register only.

Quality:
Mechanical parts are made for "hard feet", factory quality OK.

Value:
Selling price is OK.

Sound:
My Pk5A works together with Yamaha CVP201, so it use only sounds programmed on CVP201. This couple of instruments sounds very nice and a performance of CVP201 has been strongly improved by Pk5A. Especially dual organ on CVP and tuba of Pk5A in a church music or dual piano on CVP and accoustic bass of Pk5A in jazz are excellent.

Support:
No, I have not need yet any service or solve a problem.

Overall:
I hope I will be satisfied with this product for a long time.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
The vast instrument selection provides for great add in voice flexibility. Good product construction.

Sound:
The multiple midi channel output selection and instrument selection allow great flexibility when connecting to a Yamaha Clavinova.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
It does what you need

Quality:
Faultless since purchase almost 10 years ago

Value:
Got it for

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
The Roland PK-5 pedals are without a doubt the best of all midi pedals out there. They are designed to be used with the Roland "E" Series of keyboards, but will work with any MIDI-capable device. As most others have mentioned, there is no way to tell "where you are" with the octave, midi channel, or program number. Would be nice if they would include 3 separate LED's with this info...

Quality:
I have had my PK-5 pedals since 1993...and I have not had ANY PROBLEMS at all with the functioning of the pedals or the controls. I did have to replace the power supply a few years ago

Value:
I paid $495 for these pedals back in '93, and I would absolutely buy them again...these pedals rule!!!! I would DEFINITELY recommend the PK-5 over the Fatar crap...

Desirability:
If you need to add "color" to your 3-piece band...this unit, and a sound module or keyboard will definitely help. Add a double-neck bass/6-string, and you too can become a 4-piece band with 3 people in it...

Sound:
You need a sound source for this unit - no "built-in" sounds

Support:
I haven't had to deal with Roland with this...but my past experience has been very positive with them.

Overall:
If and when my PK-5 pedals die, I will absolutely replace them with the newer PK-5 - my pedalboard doesn't have the "bar" under the pedals like the new ones apparently do. Hopefully, Roland will (at some point) take the suggestions of those that that use these pedals on a regular basis, and incorporate them into the design.

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