Edirol tries a budget controller keyboard
Review of Edirol PCR-500 by
 NegativeG
Advantages: About 50 controllers, comes with Sonar LE and Dimension LE
Disadvantages: DJ controller flimsy, some driver issues
...and you shouldn't normally need it if it is plugged into a USB port).
A USB connection socket.
MIDI In and Out sockets (you can use this as a MIDI interface to connect to another keyboard as well as using this as a controller at the same time. It does this by telling your computer that it is two MIDI interfaces).
Sustain and expression pedal sockets. I have a Yamaha sustain pedal and this or an Edirol will work. Roland should work as well since Edirol are made by Roland, but I haven't tested this.
IN USE
Using the keyboard is very simple. The main drawback is the small screen. It only has four characters to display and with so many things that you can adjust, it just isn't enough and you may get confused. I recommend keeping the manual to hand or use the software to edit controls.
All the buttons feel fairly solid...
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 15.08.2008
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Easily portable, playable and great value
Review of CME U-Key Mobiltone 49 by
 Macminer
Advantages: Very convenient and well-planned
Disadvantages: Company not well-established (support?)
...Why bother buying a CME keyboard when there are plenty others, with more established names: Edirol, M-Audio, Korg, Novation - to name but a few? Well, there are a couple of reasons:
1) It is very compact and easily portable. Not an inch of space is wasted. It is probably the narrowest 49-key keyboard, as well as one of the slimmest. You can easily carry it with you, put it on your desk and even keep it on your lap!
2) Key action is quite good. Obviously, this is a matter of preference, but for me it is better than the Edirols, Yamahas and quite a few other keyboards and MIDI-controllers I have tried. The action is quite firm, but not hard. I usually do not fancy so called "weighed" keyboards. I don't know why, but they do not have the same action as a real grand piano. Sure, there is some "hammer-like" effect in these expensive...
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 21.12.2007
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This product has not yet been reviewed. 
20.03.2008
