E
Extremely disappointment!
Another keyboard from another hi-end brand; much money invested only to encounter the same issue again!
Let me premise this review by stating that I am not interested in bells, whistles, flashing lights, software or any of the other "features" which are so aggressively marketed these days by keyboard brands. I wanted a functional MIDI controller KEYBOARD which I could use reliably for writing orchestral music by playing the parts. I am a classically trained pianist and therefore I consider myself to have a relatively disciplined level of dynamic control when playing a keyboard instrument. I am NOT comparing this keyboard to a real piano because it's a keyboard, not a piano. I have had at least 15 years' experience of professional keyboard performance besides classical piano.
Issues:
1. The black keys are significantly more velocity sensitive than the white keys.
2. It is almost impossible to play the white keys hard enough to output the maximum velocity value of 127. The max velocity when playing the white keys usually peak at around 115.
These two problems make dynamic performance a total nightmare. I have tried all of the velocity mapping options including the custom mapping but could not achieve anything resulting in unhindered playing. This is once again a fundamental flaw in the design of the key-bed/sensors etc.
For a keyboard of this price, why is the most basic and fundamental function of the keyboard so utterly defective?!
The drum pads are at best average. The velocity sensitivity isn’t very precise, and if you’re into finger drumming then often the pads will not trigger unless you hit them quite firmly. In my opinion they’re simply not sensitive enough for accurate finger tapping like AKAI pads if you want to use them dynamically. They also feel very rigid and unyielding which becomes fatiguing to use after a short while. There’s practically no bounce to them whatsoever, and so your fingers will end up going a bit numb.
This keyboard, and all other keyboards I have were tested with MidiView and then with various Kontakt libraries to feel, listen and see how they responded.
I have tried the Novation61SLMKII, AKAI MPK 261, and now Arturia KeyLab61mkII which ALL suffer from the same issue with keyboard velocity control problems.
I have used far older and cheaper Yamaha performance keyboards which allow for natural and dynamic playing.
I question how years and years of research and development these big brands have been doing, could possibly result in pricey MIDI keyboards that are so unplayable?
The features are nice yes.
Aesthetics: Beautiful.
Playability: Pretty useless as an functional instrument.
Let me premise this review by stating that I am not interested in bells, whistles, flashing lights, software or any of the other "features" which are so aggressively marketed these days by keyboard brands. I wanted a functional MIDI controller KEYBOARD which I could use reliably for writing orchestral music by playing the parts. I am a classically trained pianist and therefore I consider myself to have a relatively disciplined level of dynamic control when playing a keyboard instrument. I am NOT comparing this keyboard to a real piano because it's a keyboard, not a piano. I have had at least 15 years' experience of professional keyboard performance besides classical piano.
Issues:
1. The black keys are significantly more velocity sensitive than the white keys.
2. It is almost impossible to play the white keys hard enough to output the maximum velocity value of 127. The max velocity when playing the white keys usually peak at around 115.
These two problems make dynamic performance a total nightmare. I have tried all of the velocity mapping options including the custom mapping but could not achieve anything resulting in unhindered playing. This is once again a fundamental flaw in the design of the key-bed/sensors etc.
For a keyboard of this price, why is the most basic and fundamental function of the keyboard so utterly defective?!
The drum pads are at best average. The velocity sensitivity isn’t very precise, and if you’re into finger drumming then often the pads will not trigger unless you hit them quite firmly. In my opinion they’re simply not sensitive enough for accurate finger tapping like AKAI pads if you want to use them dynamically. They also feel very rigid and unyielding which becomes fatiguing to use after a short while. There’s practically no bounce to them whatsoever, and so your fingers will end up going a bit numb.
This keyboard, and all other keyboards I have were tested with MidiView and then with various Kontakt libraries to feel, listen and see how they responded.
I have tried the Novation61SLMKII, AKAI MPK 261, and now Arturia KeyLab61mkII which ALL suffer from the same issue with keyboard velocity control problems.
I have used far older and cheaper Yamaha performance keyboards which allow for natural and dynamic playing.
I question how years and years of research and development these big brands have been doing, could possibly result in pricey MIDI keyboards that are so unplayable?
The features are nice yes.
Aesthetics: Beautiful.
Playability: Pretty useless as an functional instrument.
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