A master keyboard that focuses on the quality of its standard-sized keys rather than on a multiplication of knobs and sliders of questionable usefulness. As a result, it is particularly compact: only 18 cm deep. It is also light but solid, sober, beautiful... and the keys are quite soft and silent. Very pleasant.
With easy-to-activate options, it can operate in standard MIDI mode (no need to install the Roland driver), and it can work without a PC, powered by any USB charger equipped with a Type A plug (the classic rectangles).
A small or big bonus depending on your use, when connected via USB, the MIDI-OUT port is accessible from your PC. You can therefore control a hardware synth from your PC, the keyboard converts between USB and MIDI. And meanwhile, you can continue to use the keyboard!
Let's talk about the few controls, the mini pitch-bend modulation joystick, and the d-beam. They work, they are fun, but their quality is not at the level of the keyboard keys. The d-beam is a bit random depending on ambient lighting, and the mini joystick has very low resolution, few different possible values, you can clearly hear the jump from one to another when moving it slowly. You just have to consider that it is not made for that, rather for strong and quick changes.
To conclude, to summarize: a good keyboard, a good feel. And surprisingly, that's quite rare actually, especially at this price.
Verified
Posted on 23 Jan 2024
By Adrien B