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songboy
Published on 04/30/09 at 12:36
The characteristics that motivated my choice were the 88 weighted keys and the price. Also, the amount of programable buttons and faders certainly helped me decide on this unit. As for connection types, there is USB, Midi in/out, 2 sustain pedal inputs, and an expression pedal input.
UTILIZATION
The action of the keyboard is OK. I have played better weighted keyboards and this one does a pretty good job, but for the price, its hard to complain. I use this keyboard for the studio as well as performance and it suits all my needs. I do notice, however, that the keys are "sticky" when you first start playing. Now I don't mean sticky like there is gunk in them, I mean there is a little extra resistance when you first hit the key. This happens every time I sit down and play it, but it only happens the first time you strike the key and then it is fine and its not all the keys, but quite a few. As for the configuration and setup, its plug and play with my macbook. Assigning knobs and buttons is generally a thing you do with whatever programs you are using. Of course you can go in and change what the button/fader on the Pro 88 does, but its almost unnecessary. The manual does explain how to do that though. As for channel and patch selection, that is also something you have to assign with a program, at least thats how I did it (I use mainstage, and if you are a mac user, so should you because it rocks!!!) The manual is small and pretty much covers all the things you need to know about this keyboard.
OVERALL OPINION
I have been using it for about a year now. What I like most is I only paid $370 for it brand new, shipped to my door, thats half the price of a yamaha or a CME keyboard. What I don't like about it is I have noticed some poor craftsmanship. For example, one side of the keyboard has a much larger space between the frame and the keys than the other side, also the faders "buttons" look a little crooked. Also, the some of the keys do that sticky thing as well as some make squeaky noises. All in all though, these things make little difference to me, the unit works great and well...you get what you pay for when it comes to aesthetics. I also have M-audio's Axiom 61 (much better in the way of craftsmanship but doesn't have the weighted keys) and I also used to own a Korg TR 88. The Korg's key action was actually a little lighter which I didn't really like but despite that, the keyboard had a great feel and I could fly on that thing. Now that I am getting use to the Pro 88, I am digging it, but at first I definitely liked the Korg's better overall. My opinion of the value is a good one. For less than $400, it could have been a piece of crap, but, despite its flaws, I really like this keyboard. Yes, I would definitely do it again.
UTILIZATION
The action of the keyboard is OK. I have played better weighted keyboards and this one does a pretty good job, but for the price, its hard to complain. I use this keyboard for the studio as well as performance and it suits all my needs. I do notice, however, that the keys are "sticky" when you first start playing. Now I don't mean sticky like there is gunk in them, I mean there is a little extra resistance when you first hit the key. This happens every time I sit down and play it, but it only happens the first time you strike the key and then it is fine and its not all the keys, but quite a few. As for the configuration and setup, its plug and play with my macbook. Assigning knobs and buttons is generally a thing you do with whatever programs you are using. Of course you can go in and change what the button/fader on the Pro 88 does, but its almost unnecessary. The manual does explain how to do that though. As for channel and patch selection, that is also something you have to assign with a program, at least thats how I did it (I use mainstage, and if you are a mac user, so should you because it rocks!!!) The manual is small and pretty much covers all the things you need to know about this keyboard.
OVERALL OPINION
I have been using it for about a year now. What I like most is I only paid $370 for it brand new, shipped to my door, thats half the price of a yamaha or a CME keyboard. What I don't like about it is I have noticed some poor craftsmanship. For example, one side of the keyboard has a much larger space between the frame and the keys than the other side, also the faders "buttons" look a little crooked. Also, the some of the keys do that sticky thing as well as some make squeaky noises. All in all though, these things make little difference to me, the unit works great and well...you get what you pay for when it comes to aesthetics. I also have M-audio's Axiom 61 (much better in the way of craftsmanship but doesn't have the weighted keys) and I also used to own a Korg TR 88. The Korg's key action was actually a little lighter which I didn't really like but despite that, the keyboard had a great feel and I could fly on that thing. Now that I am getting use to the Pro 88, I am digging it, but at first I definitely liked the Korg's better overall. My opinion of the value is a good one. For less than $400, it could have been a piece of crap, but, despite its flaws, I really like this keyboard. Yes, I would definitely do it again.