SOUND ON SOUND

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

You don't already own a silver cape? What's that in your forum picture then!

That's my Harris tweed cape, strictly for outdoor use.

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

make sure that anything you get is class compliant and it will work fine on just about any platform.

How can you tell? Do they always say?

[Folderol]

make sure that anything you get is class compliant and it will work fine on just about any platform.

How can you tell? Do they always say?

Not always. Sometimes you have to really dig for the information :(

[Dan LB]

So this is looking like the very thing...sustain AND expression jacks, d-beam hand wavey thing that can be assigned to aftertouch or whatever, mod/pitch lever (much better than a wheel I'm thinking), nice key action, nice and small...and all for £125...in black or white...

Roland A49

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roland-49-MIDI-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00AYPPZAG

Had one of these before, It's decent for the money but the mod lever is sprung so always returns to zero when you let go so you can't just leave it in one position. I much prefer separate wheels for pitch and modulation

Dan

EDIT: just to add that it's not fully* class compliant either

* it comes with a driver CD rom and obviously you can download the drivers too, but you can manage to trick it into working with an iPad

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

Found this on the Roland site, quite a dig as Fold said. So you can switch the A49 to Class compliant:

Normally you will install a Roland driver on your computer to use the A-49 keyboard, but if there is not a driver available, or if you are connecting to a device that does not allow drivers to be installed (such as an iOS device), you can change the USB Driver Setting to "Generic." This will allow the A-49 to use the built-in USB driver in the computer (such as Core MIDI) instead of requiring a Roland driver to be installed. This mode is also called "Class Compliant."

[Dan LB]

Found this on the Roland site, quite a dig as Fold said. So you can switch the A49 to Class compliant:

Normally you will install a Roland driver on your computer to use the A-49 keyboard, but if there is not a driver available, or if you are connecting to a device that does not allow drivers to be installed (such as an iOS device), you can change the USB Driver Setting to "Generic." This will allow the A-49 to use the built-in USB driver in the computer (such as Core MIDI) instead of requiring a Roland driver to be installed. This mode is also called "Class Compliant."

Beat me to it - you replied as I was editing my post above for the second time :headbang:

[Dan LB]

Anyway like I said, the main drawback for me was the pitch / mod lever (well the mod part of it anyway!) so I sold it on.

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

I've never used a spring loaded mod wheel but does it make much difference either way? You can always map the modulation to the D Beam or whatever it's called too, as far as I can see. Mind you, never used one of those either!

[Wonks]

I have. The moment you move your hand away the modulation (or any effect mapped) goes back to zero. So if you want to set a modulation level and leave it there, then this isn't the keyboard for you.

[Sam Spoons]

I'm a guitarist not a keyboard player but I don't like the Roland joystick (or the even crappier joystick on my cheapo Alto 25 note midi keyboard). The pitch and mod wheels on my current Roland A90 and the Mini Moog I messed around with when I worked in MI retail are/were great, they just do what is required, the touch pads on the Arturia KeyStep I had briefly were excellent too (but I hated the mini keys), I wish Alesis (or somebody) did a 37 or 44 note version of the Q49 with full sized keys, a DIN midi output, USB and mod/pitch wheels (or touch pads). 25 keys is not enough to 'play' anything and 49 keys is, for me, pointless as I already have a Juno-D with 61 keys.

[The Elf]

I've always had a love/hate relationship with the Roland bender lever. In some instances it's perfect - especially for wild solos and some sync-lead fireworks, but much of the time it's simply a PITA.

Happily I have a selection of both here, but I couldn't live with a Roland bender alone.

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

Hmmm, the combo of potential driver issues and mod lever frustration issues are putting me off the Roland, have to say. :? Maybe the M Audio is the way to go and damn the expression pedal? Although people do seem to rave about the keyboard feel of the Roland and some even take the spring out of the lever so it works like a normal wheel!

[Sam Spoons]

My Roland Juno-D keyboard feels much nicer than the one on my Alto 25 note keyboard even with my minimal keyboard chops.

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! Talk about a lather of indecision. I'll have to find a shop (remember them?) that stocks both and give em a go.

[Sam Spoons]

Aaaaaaaaargh, me too............ :headbang: