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l'electron libre
Published on 07/10/11 at 10:52
First, the connectors:
MIDI in and out, sustain pedal, expression pedal, USB, auxiliary input jack and an input format "breath".
So my motivations for 'technical': in fact, I decided to buy this keyboard after buying the mini version of the range: the Player.
Background to the purchase of Player: I was looking for a small keyboard for mobile use. After some extensive research, I stopped on this bundle software / hardware as seduced by the apparent robustness of the keyboard than the offer itself. After a short time of use on my laptop, I started thinking about the "long version" for my music station sets ... knowing that the keyboard like the software would allow me to push a little further the capacity of this pack ... and I confess I am not disappointed and, for several reasons ...
I said that before the purchase, I tried the demo version downloadable soft laboratory ...
UTILIZATION
Let the formalities: the manual is clear and relatively sufficient (or appropriate) given the ease of use at all.
The configuration could not be simpler: powered by USB, the keyboard is immediately recognized by the computer and sequencer. The "unlock" the software is via the web: a card number is provided, they are among the Arturia website which gives us the activation code ... it takes a few minutes at most.
Today, I will only comment on the keyboard ... the software will come later (I have not toured the 3500 sounds provided or scenes).
So, to my surprise, this keyboard is quite nice signed CME ... very nice indeed! Of course, it still suffers from some defects (CME is not really known for the quality of its keyboard masters ... this is not a scoop!) But also has real qualities.
General short tour so ...
Already the first impression is excellent: we are faced with a sturdy aluminum keyboard and solid wood for the sides. Obviously, with such "assets", the beast weighs his weight, but somewhere, it reassures all that the finish is pretty good overall.
The knobs, sliders and other controls have good build quality even if the alignment is not clear when they are on sliders to zero ... made in China?
The pads were a nice touch ... sliders, pitch bend and modulation are manufactured in the same material.
The knobs and buttons, they are in "hard" plastic and not rubber ... Note that, if the Player version, the knobs are notched, this is not the same for the laboratory version ...
Also note that the knobs "scene" and "preset" buttons are to facilitate the selection of sounds in the app.
The pads are velocity sensitive personal but I find they lack the flexibility ... it is fast noise beyond the sounds themselves ...
And then ... 4 is frankly just ... especially when you're used to 16 (PADKONTROL) ... difficult to build a drum set with only 4 pads ... It is therefore understandable that these pads are mainly there to trigger drum loops implanted in the soft (and scenes), something very "practical" to give a bit of inspiration but also for a possible game live ... available without a drummer!
The sliders appear solid despite their small size ... they have a well balanced, and strength can go a little further into the sound processing.
The knobs, small as well, also seem strong enough ... too bad they are not serrated like the player ... it does not change much but still!
The keyboard is soft and pleasant enough for the game's momentum is good but I'm not yet convinced by the aftertouch that seems pretty light ...
Still, the keyboard leaves a good impression of its "flexibility" and by a relatively solid. I have no particular difference noted between the top and bottom of the keyboard as has been said in the forum ... the feeling is the same along the entire length ... and it is rather a good feeling.
Manufacturing (CEM) of this keyboard is very honorable and offers an easy touch that rivals the best keyboards of my set!
The prémap is also a strong point of this keyboard ... not just for the software that accompanies it but also for other VSTS or for other keyboards!
I did a test by connecting the laboratory to my Korg MicroX via midi ... and I must say that I quickly appreciated not having to go into detail on the small screen MicroX to assign the different parameters of modulation, LFO and more ... Between the ten or assignable knobs assigned and sliders, control over the sounds from other keyboards is very intuitive as there is no programming to do, recognizing the laboratory signals noon!
OVERALL OPINION
I use it only for a few weeks and have not toured the sounds ... that's why I did not address the issue today ...
But side keyboard is pretty good!
I tried a few models before because I was already convinced by the "formula" after the test player ...
There, I spend 25 to 49 keys, from minimum to maximum and controller from 1000 to 3500 sounds ... the 25 keys is my portable solution, the 49 keys to my throne in my screen fixed station ...
The characteristic I like most ... the prémap! The touch keyboard is also ... prémap but is a lot, but then a lot of time to win!
What I like least ... aftertouch but it is yet to be verified to give a final opinion.
Level quality / price ratio: do the math ... the software alone costs 189 euros ... paid 327 euro, the keyboard I finally returned to 138 euros ... But I doubt that for this price, you can find one as good build quality ...
The offer is very honest!
This ... I'll be back when I toured the sounds ...
enjoy!
MIDI in and out, sustain pedal, expression pedal, USB, auxiliary input jack and an input format "breath".
So my motivations for 'technical': in fact, I decided to buy this keyboard after buying the mini version of the range: the Player.
Background to the purchase of Player: I was looking for a small keyboard for mobile use. After some extensive research, I stopped on this bundle software / hardware as seduced by the apparent robustness of the keyboard than the offer itself. After a short time of use on my laptop, I started thinking about the "long version" for my music station sets ... knowing that the keyboard like the software would allow me to push a little further the capacity of this pack ... and I confess I am not disappointed and, for several reasons ...
I said that before the purchase, I tried the demo version downloadable soft laboratory ...
UTILIZATION
Let the formalities: the manual is clear and relatively sufficient (or appropriate) given the ease of use at all.
The configuration could not be simpler: powered by USB, the keyboard is immediately recognized by the computer and sequencer. The "unlock" the software is via the web: a card number is provided, they are among the Arturia website which gives us the activation code ... it takes a few minutes at most.
Today, I will only comment on the keyboard ... the software will come later (I have not toured the 3500 sounds provided or scenes).
So, to my surprise, this keyboard is quite nice signed CME ... very nice indeed! Of course, it still suffers from some defects (CME is not really known for the quality of its keyboard masters ... this is not a scoop!) But also has real qualities.
General short tour so ...
Already the first impression is excellent: we are faced with a sturdy aluminum keyboard and solid wood for the sides. Obviously, with such "assets", the beast weighs his weight, but somewhere, it reassures all that the finish is pretty good overall.
The knobs, sliders and other controls have good build quality even if the alignment is not clear when they are on sliders to zero ... made in China?
The pads were a nice touch ... sliders, pitch bend and modulation are manufactured in the same material.
The knobs and buttons, they are in "hard" plastic and not rubber ... Note that, if the Player version, the knobs are notched, this is not the same for the laboratory version ...
Also note that the knobs "scene" and "preset" buttons are to facilitate the selection of sounds in the app.
The pads are velocity sensitive personal but I find they lack the flexibility ... it is fast noise beyond the sounds themselves ...
And then ... 4 is frankly just ... especially when you're used to 16 (PADKONTROL) ... difficult to build a drum set with only 4 pads ... It is therefore understandable that these pads are mainly there to trigger drum loops implanted in the soft (and scenes), something very "practical" to give a bit of inspiration but also for a possible game live ... available without a drummer!
The sliders appear solid despite their small size ... they have a well balanced, and strength can go a little further into the sound processing.
The knobs, small as well, also seem strong enough ... too bad they are not serrated like the player ... it does not change much but still!
The keyboard is soft and pleasant enough for the game's momentum is good but I'm not yet convinced by the aftertouch that seems pretty light ...
Still, the keyboard leaves a good impression of its "flexibility" and by a relatively solid. I have no particular difference noted between the top and bottom of the keyboard as has been said in the forum ... the feeling is the same along the entire length ... and it is rather a good feeling.
Manufacturing (CEM) of this keyboard is very honorable and offers an easy touch that rivals the best keyboards of my set!
The prémap is also a strong point of this keyboard ... not just for the software that accompanies it but also for other VSTS or for other keyboards!
I did a test by connecting the laboratory to my Korg MicroX via midi ... and I must say that I quickly appreciated not having to go into detail on the small screen MicroX to assign the different parameters of modulation, LFO and more ... Between the ten or assignable knobs assigned and sliders, control over the sounds from other keyboards is very intuitive as there is no programming to do, recognizing the laboratory signals noon!
OVERALL OPINION
I use it only for a few weeks and have not toured the sounds ... that's why I did not address the issue today ...
But side keyboard is pretty good!
I tried a few models before because I was already convinced by the "formula" after the test player ...
There, I spend 25 to 49 keys, from minimum to maximum and controller from 1000 to 3500 sounds ... the 25 keys is my portable solution, the 49 keys to my throne in my screen fixed station ...
The characteristic I like most ... the prémap! The touch keyboard is also ... prémap but is a lot, but then a lot of time to win!
What I like least ... aftertouch but it is yet to be verified to give a final opinion.
Level quality / price ratio: do the math ... the software alone costs 189 euros ... paid 327 euro, the keyboard I finally returned to 138 euros ... But I doubt that for this price, you can find one as good build quality ...
The offer is very honest!
This ... I'll be back when I toured the sounds ...
enjoy!
