Fatar / Studiologic VMK-161-plus

Touch and USB. But above all the possibility of having a real keyboard to touch heavy format 5 octaves, reasonably portable.
It is also the choice between noon and noon usb classic.
The midi-usb is enough to power the keyboard. So a single cable usb a sustain pedal jack and everything is ready to play.

UTILIZATION

The feel is very "musical" for my taste, that is "solid" and very expressive.
By far the best I've ever had to touch the fingers.
For instruments that have no dynamics, I also used now in preference to my other semi-weighted keyboard touch is so nice and "suggestive".
For someone used to a real piano, no change of scenery. After it is a matter of virtual instrument or sound module.
The manual is rather "elusive", but sufficient for my use.

OVERALL OPINION

For nine months, still happy.
The value for money is excellent, even if it is not given.
No way to change.

Heavy keyboard 61 keys + MIDI, a pedal provided

3 assignable footswitch inputs - MIDI I / O - USB - supply

UTILIZATION

The touch is nice. As already mentioned, it is still far from that of a real upright piano, but like a clavinova. Not fan of synth touches, too light, I appreciate it that I find expressive. The velocity is good, but the mono aftertouch does not convince me, it is too forced and the sensitivity is really low, too bad ...

Direct orders to change banks and channels are handy, too bad not to have added the same for the transposition and split keyboard (available via the menus) and a velocity curve setting.

Additional controls are convenient, but the knobs are just too fragile and will not stand long if a little over excited. Fortunately the metal shell restores confidence, the whole is quite heavy. (15kg)

OVERALL OPINION

Used for a week.

+ Nice Touch
Expressiveness +
+ Power via USB

- Bof Aftertouch
- Fragile knobs
- No button transpo

Interesting product if you are looking for a good keyboard for the rest of the game controller is rather poor and rather fragile.

- It's the mix between a heavy touch of quality and number of orders lunchtime that have definitely motivated my choice. On the other hand it is also his side that attracted me transportable while maintaining musical possibilities with 61 notes.

- For the feature I found quite complete: 8 knobs, 9 slides, 8 buttons, a pitch wheel, three pedals and all entries are assignable. Alimentatin via USB or conventional Alim.

- I use it with Live for managing virtual instruments (piano, synth ...) I add effects, send samples all in concert. I have rediscovered the joy of vintage synths bodouillage with the added touch approaching the piano ... the top.

UTILIZATION

- The touch is very nice, it is obviously far from the natural feel of the piano but anyway no keypad will never replicate the complexity of a piano touch. So yes, the touch is very nice, fairly fast with a quick return, there is sensitivity and dynamic too little is used for good virtual instruments.

- The manual is informative but poorly documented. For a beginner it can be in midi panic.

- The configuration of the south, once they understood the concept of the south, is very easy to use and coupled to a program like Live is downright happy.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 1 year and I have not tried other models but it met all my expectations in terms of touch and features MIDI and that's what I like most. For small negative side, we can talk about quality knobs and pitch wheel. After a year, one of the rubber knobs, which I use happily it must be said, has taken off and the pitch wheel is squarely in bulk, it does not automatically return to zero, c is slight but there is a small game and sometimes it causes some evil surprises coming ... (We end up playing 1 / 2 bit above what we would like ...).
The price / quality ratio is very good for me and I would do without any worries the same choice.