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[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

[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............

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

So, decided on the M Audio. Will report back when it arrives and plugged in. Thanks for all the excellent input.

[Eddy Deegan]

So, decided on the M Audio. Will report back when it arrives and plugged in. Thanks for all the excellent input.

Several times I've found spawning a thread to 'think aloud' about something often yields useful results, even if through the lifetime of that thread you end up shifting your requirements a little bit with a nudge here and there from various posters.

There's a lot to be said for a group conversation. The same goes for creating music, I suppose - the trick being to find the right group to do it with

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

And if it all goes pear shaped you've got somebody else to blame!

[blinddrew]

And if it all goes pear shaped you've got somebody else to blame!

Whoah there! I put a disclaimer in and everything!

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

Very pleased with the M Audio. A 'does exactly what it says on the tin' sort of product. Worked fine straight out of the box, seems well made and the keys are nice to play. Also they don't rattle like many cheap keyboard keys do. The octave switching has a good feature, the colour of the light above the up and down switches change colour depending on how far you are from 'home' which is useful.

The only tiny niggle, for the sake of completeness, and it is really tiny is that the keyboard sags very very slightly in the middle under heavy playing. This is cured currently with a thin pad of post it notes. What do you expect for £76 including postage?

What you perhaps don't expect for that amount is a load of excellent free software bundled in. This includes, amongst others, an XLN Addictive Grand Piano (£89 to buy on their site) another grand piano and an electric piano from Air (which is excellent, with 70 very usable presets). I can't get the mini grand to work, currently, but gifthorses, mouths etc.

[blinddrew]

What you perhaps don't expect for that amount is a load of excellent free software bundled in. This includes, amongst others, an XLN Addictive Grand Piano (£89 to buy on their site) another grand piano and an electric piano from Air (which is excellent, with 70 very usable presets). I can't get the mini grand to work, currently, but gifthorses, mouths etc.

That was actually one of the reasons I chose it. I've been very happy with the bundled piano and the synth.

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

DId you get the Air Mini Grand piano? Can't get it to work at all. Interface loads fine but just goes Clunk when you press a note. THe component is there and all authorised afaics but just clunk.

[Wonks]

[blinddrew]

Nope, I got the Xpand2 synth but the main piano plugin was Sonivox EightyEight. They've obviously changed their software pack.

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

Finally got the AIR piano going, needed a software update. I've got pianos coming out of my ears now!