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#338626 - 02/03/12 09:40 PM Roland A-500 pro review anyone ?
Jez Offline
Member

Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 206
Loc: India
Nigel, I know this may not be the right place to ask about midi controllers. Thought I'll give it a try coz the general arranger section has a lot of experts and this area is updated regularly. I plan to buy a 49 key midi controller to be used with my pc. I am looking for good quality keys . I short listed the a500 pro. Any opinions/ reviews will be highly appreciated. Thanks.
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Jez

Auron Music

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#338628 - 02/03/12 11:50 PM Re: Roland A-500 pro review anyone ? [Re: Jez]
Bachus Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 03/02/06
Posts: 7143
I have a PCR 800 (that is for sale), the previous series of models..

Roland is build for durabillity, they keys are among the best, the knobs, sliders, buttons and pads are build to last till next century.

If it has all the functionallity you need, its a safe buy....
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Yamaha Genos, Roland Jupiter 80, Ipad pro.

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#338629 - 02/04/12 12:23 AM Re: Roland A-500 pro review anyone ? [Re: Bachus]
Jez Offline
Member

Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 206
Loc: India
Yes that's what I need, a controller that feels good to play, compact in size,and is built to last. This would be my second midi controller, a little more serious than my first one viz. Creative Prodikeys DM wink it was great thinking from Creative to come up with this innovative product. I doubt if they still make them; I don't find them in the stores.

I am not interested in the number of sliders and knobs but I need keys that last and feels good. By the way I plan to use it with the korg m1 legacy plugin which is awesome. It's got all the m1 series sounds including the expansion cards.

I am leaning towards the a500 pro and will checkout the a500 pro in the stores tomorrow
before buying it.
_________________________
Warm Regards,
Jez

Auron Music

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#338636 - 02/04/12 03:07 AM Re: Roland A-500 pro review anyone ? [Re: Jez]
Jez Offline
Member

Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 206
Loc: India
Creative Prodikeys DM

Do they(Creative)still make them ? It's a good basic midi controller for amateurs creating music on the pc wink


Edited by Jez (02/04/12 03:22 AM)
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Warm Regards,
Jez

Auron Music

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#338638 - 02/04/12 04:03 AM Re: Roland A-500 pro review anyone ? [Re: Jez]
Bachus Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 03/02/06
Posts: 7143
Originally Posted By: Jez
Creative Prodikeys DM

Do they(Creative)still make them ? It's a good basic midi controller for amateurs creating music on the pc wink


Thats a boystoy compared to the Roland and exactly what he does not need....

Originally Posted By: Jez
Yes that's what I need, a controller that feels good to play, compact in size,and is built to last. This would be my second midi controller, a little more serious than my first one viz. Creative Prodikeys DM wink it was great thinking from Creative to come up with this innovative product. I doubt if they still make them; I don't find them in the stores.

I am not interested in the number of sliders and knobs but I need keys that last and feels good. By the way I plan to use it with the korg m1 legacy plugin which is awesome. It's got all the m1 series sounds including the expansion cards.

I am leaning towards the a500 pro and will checkout the a500 pro in the stores tomorrow
before buying it.


Then Roland is a perfect choice... but quite expensive... and i bet overtime you will learn to love the knobs and sliders on top of that. With softwares midilearn function its easy to set up controlls.


I never understood why Roland stopped making 76 and 88 key versions of this line...


Edited by Bachus (02/04/12 04:06 AM)
_________________________
Yamaha Genos, Roland Jupiter 80, Ipad pro.

http://keyszone.boards.net

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#338653 - 02/04/12 08:49 AM Re: Roland A-500 pro review anyone ? [Re: Jez]
DonM Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 06/25/99
Posts: 16735
Loc: Benton, LA, USA
Love the PCR-800.
I have an M-Audio Oxygen 61 that someone can have really CHEAP.
DonM
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#338655 - 02/04/12 09:01 AM Re: Roland A-500 pro review anyone ? [Re: DonM]
FransN Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 05/16/09
Posts: 1415
Loc: Netherlands
Aren't the keys smaller of the Cakewalk A series? Many people on others forums saying this. I am also looking for a good controller sofar with no success.

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#338885 - 02/06/12 07:16 AM Re: Roland A-500 pro review anyone ? [Re: Jez]
Jez Offline
Member

Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 206
Loc: India
Thanks everyone. I went ahead an bought the M-Audio Oxygen 49. I got it at a bargain price and its key feel is not as good as Roland A-500 Pro but still usable and then the deal I got is Oxygen 49 at less than half the price of the Roland A-500 Pro. Went ahead and bought the Oxygen 49 !! Savings of course for the T5 wink

Key length is bigger than on the Roland; Action is synth style. Key travel is not that deep. Pitch Bend and Mod wheels are located at the top left instead of left.

Came back home and did a quick play ... the melody of the theme from Exodus.

Theme From Exodus - Using Korg Legacy Collection Digital Edition

Used a Strings patch on the Korg Legacy Collection Digital Edition software.

I am no pro. Forgive the mistakes wink
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Warm Regards,
Jez

Auron Music

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#338888 - 02/06/12 07:41 AM Re: Roland A-500 pro review anyone ? [Re: Jez]
Fran Carango Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 05/26/99
Posts: 9673
Loc: Levittown, Pa, USA
Jez, nice job..
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#338939 - 02/06/12 04:36 PM Re: Roland A-500 pro review anyone ? [Re: Fran Carango]
Jez Offline
Member

Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 206
Loc: India
Thanks Fran smile
Happy Playing !!
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Warm Regards,
Jez

Auron Music

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