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FP User
Published on 10/31/08 at 16:00
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 "scenes" 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)
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)