Decent keyboard controller

spoimala · Post by **spoimala** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 5:04 am

Any suggestions for GOOD keyboard that works well as a master controller. And preferably not very heavy and big.

The problem is always changing sounds. I have a rack module - or two - and one keyboard as controller. How on earth do I wisely change sounds on those devices?
What would be perfect? A keyboard that has 5-20 buttons that I can program freely. For example "When I press button A, send cc00=0 and cc32=15 on midi channel 5 to midi port 1". Why is this so difficult? Is there any device that let me do that?

Some Roland's A-series has something like that I've been told, but they are a bit too big...

Could use it as controller for SFP synths also...

aMo · Post by **aMo** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 5:59 am

Evolution Keyboards might be what your looking for: http://www.evolution.co.uk/products/keyboards_01.htm

<img src="http://www.evolution.co.uk/moreinfo/images/pro49c_l.jpg">

next to nothing · Post by **next to nothing** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 6:40 am

or this one

http://shop.synthplanet.com/product.las ... A1AB&from=

spoimala · Post by **spoimala** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 8:02 am

These Evolution boards look good. Does anyone have any experience? What is the keyboard (the touch) like?

marcuspocus · Post by **marcuspocus** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 8:26 am

I can't really comment if it's A good one, but a can tell you that it definitely feels better than my midiman 61key.

The keys on the midiman USB61 are wobbling all the times, they feel loose or something, on the evolution, i did'nt feel this...

spoimala · Post by **spoimala** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 3:16 pm

Marcus, is there anything you can compare Evolution to?
Are the keys weighted, semi-weighted, korg-synth-alike, or how do they feel?
And keys are normal-sized, aren't they? I was just about to buy a microKorg until I realized it's keys are toys

marcuspocus · Post by **marcuspocus** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 4:33 pm

They are toys also...

It's not a piano at all.. it a cheap midi keyboard, beter than my usb midiman. A bit more solid, but not full size keys.

They are synth-like, not weigthed not even semi-weigthed...

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 6:46 pm

I would definetely go for a Roland, they make very good quality control keyboards and at very good price too. Go and see to their web the different choices:

http://www.roland.com/index_f.html

spoimala · Post by **spoimala** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:00 am

Yeah, I know Roland makes quality keyboards. The A-37 would be great... but they don't have any lightweight keyboards - like Evolutions- have they? And much more expensive than Evos.
How about Edirols : http://www.edirol.com/products/info/pcr50.html

But looks like they don't have those fully-programmable buttons that Evo has.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:06 am

Well, i boubht one myself in Glasgow for a friend, and it was VERY light, you should read the specifications to find out how many kgs they have exactly.

borg · Post by **borg** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 3:10 pm

i recently bought the evolution mk-361c. it's a nice keyboard, but definitely no piano feel... nono, this is a good synth keyboard, with lots of knobs, and it does what it has to do for me...
only thing is, there's this weird problem. when i release a key, i get two 'note off' messages. i looked through the paper and online manual, the boards, but nothing. then i sent the evolution support team a mail and got a reply within a few days, that it was indeed strange and that i could send them the keyboard and they would send me a new one, of course on their charge. oh well, i suppose it is good service, not?

at least it's three times as small and light as my old emaxII i used as midi keyboard

spoimala · Post by **spoimala** » Wed Jul 16, 2003 2:06 pm

Anyone of you knows what kind of keys microKorg has? Those tiny keys... half the size of real piano key. Who can play it, a 5-year old child maybe?

Borg, MK-361C has keys like whatever synthesizer, right? How easy is programming program change commands?
And how easy it is to use them? Are there many buttons that change a preset in my sound module with just one press of a button?

I have a Midim Oxygen8 and how easy it is to change sound?
1) Press "MIDI/SELECT"
2) Use keys to type in the number of sound
3) Press "Enter"
4) Press "MIDI/SELECT"

Ugh, I hate that! Changing sound must be done with just one press.

dehuszar · Post by **dehuszar** » Wed Jul 16, 2003 10:29 pm

If a piano feel is what you're after, the Studiologic 880 and 990 controllers by Fatar are AWESOME!!! I grew up playing a Chickering upright piano, and while the Fatar controllers aren't piano-perfect, they have the most solid and kick that I've played with in a keyboard. They're not feather light, but they're not 80 pounds or anything. Their website will have detailed parameters.

Sam

Sam

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 2:36 am

I use a Roland A-33. Very reliable, a nice playable key action, and light. If you get one make sure you turn off the MIDI clock which it sends out by default !

_________________
Here I rest

[ This Message was edited by: Spirit on 2003-07-17 03:40 ]

Subterfuse · Post by **Subterfuse** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 4:05 pm

Have you considered an add-on? Like the Kenton Control Freak Studio. You could run a keyboard thru it and use it's fancy sliders and programmable buttons.

_________________
Jonathan

[ This Message was edited by: Subterfuse on 2003-07-18 17:06 ]

zezappa · Post by **zezappa** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 8:37 pm

below from where I got a MC1000 76keys semi-weighted (no aftertouch but better than most synths)), 2 wheels and 2 assignable sliders. 128 user programs to define and fast acess via jump (1-2-3-etc) knob. and not overpriced...
(88 keys version with aftertouch and weighted keys, if you play piano...)

http://www.turnkey.uk.com/tkweb/stockde ... ontext=WEB

and about knobs and sliders in low budget controllers I think you already know...

choose welll

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Tue Jul 29, 2003 8:00 pm

Evolution claims that The Guitar Center is their North American distributor yet when doing a search for the Evolution MK-361C on the Guitar Center Website it says "Product Not Found"

It reminds me of when I arrived 2 hours early to catch the Long Island Railroad train to NYC from Hampton Bays. I had checked on the internet for the time and printed it out. When I called the LIRR to complain he said the webpage had given me the weekday schedule not the weekend. I informed him that I had typed the date in exactly and had a printout including the date and times. He told me that he couldn't do anything about it because another company handles the website. What is the point of the LIRR paying a company to put out a bunch of lies about when the trains arrive? What's the point of having a distributor that does not carry your products? Incompetent idiots!

[ This Message was edited by: braincell on 2003-07-29 21:08 ]

Post by **garyb** » Tue Jul 29, 2003 8:06 pm

and they don't ride no stinkin' trains.it's automobiles and aircraft.........

mr swim · Post by **mr swim** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 4:49 am

What about the oberheim MC-2000 ?

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/nov99/arti ... erheim.htm

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Fri Aug 08, 2003 11:15 pm

I'm trying to decide bewteen a Fatar SL161 and a Roland A37. The Roland is more expensive. Both have aftertouch which I need. I did a search on usenet and found that a lot of people were happy with the fatar but some people said it felt cheap and had some problems with it. Should I spend the extra money and get the Roland A37?