All user reviews for the Korg Kontrol 49

Usb keyboard.

UTILIZATION

I am a pianist his touch .... To me it's about the same as touch keyboards for small children found in toy stores. I say this not to be clever, it's really what I think.

I have a digital piano connected to my pc to play my virtual instruments, but I wanted a small keyboard placed just below my screens in order to tweak the sound on my PC and had a controller when I'm facing the screen.

Why he does the job, along with any USB keyboard would do the trick I think.

OVERALL OPINION

I find the knobs vraiments cheap, it creaks a bit, I think the whole does not inspire quality. But I must say two things:

- I have not tried others.
- I bought it used, it may be suffered much before!

I had more desire to buy the A500 roland pro, but I had seen one in a store I was shocked by the small size of the keys. So I took the korg but I do not like it too.

I was looking for a versatile keyboard, ie that of comprent knob and fader.

UTILIZATION

Very nice touch for a noon configuration seems simple, the navigation is in any case ...
Yet took the time to immerse myself in the instructions but it seems to be quite clear.

OVERALL OPINION

Rcupr yesterday in store, order from 5 days, so not too dja wait, good service at korg
What I like least are the knobs that must make two turns to go from a mini max, although they react the VLOC.
What I like most, its compatibility avc most soft reference, reason and above all the legacy collection is to visit the demo the same stroke ms-20 and Polysix Wavestation, or necessarily of the joystick small but very precise.
G tried a few models before but not enough depth to make a real comparison.
I find it still a bit expensive = 400euros
The exprience I did not but I do it again this choixx regarding a MIDI keyboard that I was looking for versatile!

- What characteristics have motivated your choice?
Everything you need for controller anything! Includes joystick, really handy to control 2 (X & Y) or 4 (left / right and up / down) parameters of a finger.
I even think that it is possible to send each value to a different MIDI channel.

- What connector (MIDI pedals ...)?...
Again it all. Note that the two are actually wearing out: Outa = Out and outb = (Thru hybrid). But it leaves something to adapt to all situations Kontrol.
They thought of everything from Korg.

I put 10, it deserves it!

UTILIZATION

- The touch keyboard is it fun? Should your use?
For a pianist, it's like pedaling in the air. The keyboard opposes a very small force and very linear. It could be an inconvenience, but personally it does not bother me. Most virtual instruments that I have Kontrol driver with synths, so the sound is in line with touch. If I want more expression, I use my digital piano. The keyboard still respond to velocity and provides very fine 9 velocity curves.

- The general configuration is it simple?
It may be easier dificil. Everything is done to navigate.
Installation is hassle-free.
Then six buttons, an encoder and a main LCD can do all the work of configuaration. Hard to go wrong. Now if the key combination to configure your way, Korg provides software configuration, and again it's clean, simple, ergonomic and efficient. All done with the mouse and transfer it all on the Kontrol once satisfied. What could be better?

- The selection of MIDI channels, patches is easy?
Again it is simple and powerful. Since one can choose any MIDI channel for each control. And it is simple to implement!
The selection of different scenes is also very quick and easy. It is pressed the stage, you tap on one of the 12 pads to recall a particular configuration, then release the button stage, one can check the name of the scene on the small screen of the primary endpoint and cancel if you do not want change.

- The manual is clear and sufficient?
The manual is very detailed, in french and very clear.
But given the ease of use of Kontrol, this manual is primarily used as a reference manual, to find a particular function.
Everything is there and it's really nice to open a manual to find an answer to his question.

I put 9, because I find the fader a bit fragile in appearance.

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
I used a few days ago and it has become indispensable in my configuration.

- What is so special that you like most and least?
+ Simple programming
+ Editing Software Settings
+ Layout of controls
+ The colors that help in the identification of a control
+ Pads, even if they are not very large, are very pleasant to handle and respond well to vélcité
+ Infinite possibilities in the configuration. There is a solution to all configurations.

- The joystick is very convenient, very sensitive, very accurate, but too small. It must be handled gently, which is not obvious when we went in a trip to hell!
- The wheels of pitch bend and modulation are not very practical to handle. They are caught between the covers and suddenly you can not handle that from the top. Maybe it's just a matter of habit, but handling seems to me not intuitive and practical.
- Have you tried many other models before buying it?
I tested the controller Behringer BCN44: user manual nonexistent programming too complicated.
The UF7 CME: nice touch, nullisime programming, ergonomics absent, controls too close together, but seems more robust.

- How would you rate the quality / price?
It was worth the money (€ 350). I think it's well worth with regard to its possibility, its simplicity. It has a Korg quality in terms of support, drivers, reference manual and compatibility.

- With experience, you do again this choice?
I Refer this choice with his eyes closed.

The finish, size synth Unlike the younger brother microKONTROL, faders, rotary, touch, quality pad, 2 midi out, the side Fully customizable, the joystick and the display dedicated motivated my choice. It is complete, solid and well screwed.

UTILIZATION

The hit is good, finally commeun synth, better than his little brother or microKORG as easily as an ion or a nova, barely less than a juno 106 for my taste.
I used to control the exchange controls, exchange programs, to edit the airbase with the faders and it's great, rhythmic clap, play keyboard parts and control volumes.
The configuration is so simple that I took 2 hours to hand without notice. I was afraid of it at the base and it is very easy. There is a logic and screen printing using a good understanding.

OVERALL OPINION

I watched the axiom 49, the MPK49 and remote 37sl.
It's a safe bet! There is no repeat of the beat and mpk ARPEGIO automap and not the remote sl but it seemed to me a pro unlike the axiom is a notch below my taste in terms of finishing. Be careful not fit it in a backpack.
I am very satisfied. If I had no hardware synth I can be taken a novation x-station. It is less well organized on the panel but also it's a synth controller.
This choice I would do with pleasure. It is a choice many years as I matured do without controller, remember that I had time to think about my choices and products coming out. And today I do it again the same as it is simple cheap and effective sound.

Just a quick note to say that this keyboard is great: it's the Korg! Just plugged in, already recognized by Logic and Reason, and it plays! The names of the beats or tracks appear on the small screens of knobs, it recognizes itself assignments when I move something ... It's just perfect.

AND big + + + for me: the keyboard is a REAL keyboard, unlike all other master keyboards I've tried (and I've tried many!) It plays like a Motif or M3 not a keyboard rotten as it is everywhere else (even those who leave home Fatar to be classified in the same kind ........).

In short, I am very happy: THAT'S GOOD! <img class="smiley" src="/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" />
(Therefore, I also bought the small microKONTROL, to the pair: the same, instant recognition, keyboard and even better if every smaller than the "competitive", even recent market)

The Korg Kontrol49 comes with lots of features. I haven't figured them all out yet. But the ones I have used are neat. The Korg comes with eight sliders and eight encoders plus one master encoder, which allow you run scenes which you can store on your computer in a program called Kontrol49 editor librarian. It's a very efficient way of getting to the sounds you need. The only down side that I can think of is demo software (NOT Korgs Legacy Software) the other software. Like Reason, lounge lizard, there's another one but I can't think of it's name right now. They don't let you use the software long enough to make an intelligent dicision about them. With the Korg software you can take a year or more to decide. Because of the way they made the demo software. It's the full version without the abillity to record or save. Also while you'er playing a hiss sound play over what you play every few minutes. So what! I played with Korgs software long enough I've already decided to buy it. It was the fact that I could work with the software in the demo version that convinced me to buy the full version. The other software companys should wake up and smell the coffee your in business to make money hello! Korg is! Are you?!

Price paid

399.00

UTILIZATION

Very easy to use. My cmputer freezed up a couple of times but that was because I had too much other stuff on it, like a flight simulator, ect. That suff is off now. My computer works just fine.

I don't plan on taking my Korg on the road bcause I' not a musician. I'm a magician. I bought the Korg so I could make some instrumental music royalty free for my show. So for me the Korg is built just fine.

OVERALL OPINION

My Korg midi controler when hooked up to my Toshiba Laptop has an incredible sound. It's full and can sound mellow at the same time. When used with the Korg Legacy software it's amazing the different sounds you can make by taking just one sound and tweeking it with the Kontrol49 sliders or the encoder knobs. Even moving one slider a little bit changes the sound. You have hundreds of sounds to choose from.

I saw the Eagles Band playing on T.V. there in the back ground was someones keyboard and it said &quot;KORG&quot; at that time I was thinking of buying a keyboard or keyboard controler. When I saw that Korg I was hooked. The rest is history. At the present time I'm waiting for delivery of the full version of Korg's Legacy software with the MS-20 synth along with it! That's also a Korg!! I'll let you know about that after I've played with it for a while.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: konjecer ( 8-, 2005)

Nothing is missing, for most purposes. That's the thing about this unit, it has has almost everything you could possibly need, short of 88 weighted keys or built-in sounds. The librarian software is going to be your best friend when going from MIDI map to MIDI map, but fortunately the unit can store up to 12 or 16 &quot;scenes&quot; at a time, so if you have 12 different soft synth instruments each needing a different controller map, you will only need to load all twelve scenes in from the librarian software and you're done. Shut down your computer, it'll remember. It's awesome. It even lets you label your sliders and knobs. So for example if you use the sliders and knobs as a mixdown console controller, you can label each slider with the channel name. Or you can use the sliders and knobs as effects parameters, and each parameter can be labelled. The labels are displayed in red and green LED/LCD displays. So not only is it impressively handy, it's impressively fun to look at. The drum pads light up, too, in green (standby toggle off) or in yellow (standby toggle on or note send).

Price paid: $399 USD

UTILIZATION

This unit is incredibly usable. My only complaint, if it is a complaint, is that there are so many customization / configuration features available between it and the librarian that sometimes I get bogged down trying to figure out what I want to do. But I consider that a feature, not a flaw. I slide the unit under my desk shelf where I can still reach the keys if I need to, or I can pull it right back out. It's a perfect fit. The keys are perfect. They're full-size. There are forty-nine of them (hence the model name/number), making this bigger than the typical smaller MIDI controller, but smaller than the standard 61-key, 76-key, or 88-key MIDI workstation unit. I consider that the perfect compromise, because it's big enough to get a lot more jobs done, but small enough to be portable to take anywhere with a laptop.

o Latency - How long does it takes between playing a note to getting the signal outputted on the other end of the MIDI cable? To that end, I will say I have experienced no problems with latency. Of course, you will need a decent computer with a fast processor and ideally a sound card with ASIO support.
o Demo software - The KONTROL49 comes with demonstration versions of KORG soft synths. They sound great, considering that they're legacy synths, but since they are demos I don't use them; nothing like trying to sample some interesting sound and then being blown away by a loud white noise sound. Worse still to not be able to save.
o Key clicks, squeaks, etc. - The keyboard and buttons on KORG's hardware are pretty much like any Korg keyboard. No problems here, feels great, although without being weighted it's great for certain uses (i.e. inputting a melody for electronic music).

OVERALL OPINION

The KONTROL49 is made with Korg's standard quality of workmanship. It's not a piece of junk or a toy. It's road-ready, just like its distant nth uncle, the Triton. The unit comes in a box packaging with styrofoam and a plastic handle, so you can reuse the box as a carrying case if you like. It's also pretty lightweight, making the unit very portable.

She's a sexy beauty. I couldn't stop slobbering in lust over the thing when I stood over it at Guitar Center while looking for a MIDI controller as a first investment in a decent home MIDI studio. She's everything I hoped she would be. What a babe.
Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Xiaoth (January 1-, 2005)