View other reviews for this product:
Audiofanzine FR
Published on 12/07/08 at 12:53
(Originally written by mengil/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
What kind of keyboard (synth, piano...)? - How many octaves?
The PSR E413 is a 5-octave arranger keyboard (61 keys)
- Types of connections (audio, MIDI, etc.):
Headphone/line output, USB connector and 1/4" input for a sustain controller.
- How many presets and styles are available? - Can they be edited? Does the unit have an effects section?
You get about 500 presets with some editing possibilities:
- Two controls for the filter (very effective, it's what I like most about this keyboard), for the effects section (chorus/flanger and reverb... average quality) and for attack/release parameters (quite difficult to use because the controls don't produce any effect up to one quarter of the way... In spite of this, I find this function very useful).
- Dual mode
- Split mode (you can edit the split and dual sounds the same way as the main sound)
- Five global EQ modes
You also get 180 rhythms named styles (percussions without accompaniment), a music database with 280 rhythms and accompaniment capability, and a song section with 35 tracks, five of which can be edited (each track has five instruments + one recorded "style")...
The device also provides an arpeggiator (not very versatile), a "harmony" section (which can be useful to play things like The Who's "Baba o'riley" for example :P) and a 2x2.5 watt amp stage, which is powerful enough to play with acoustic instruments.
Very comprehensive keyboard considering its price... 9/10
UTILIZATION
- Is it easy to make settings?
Yes, very smooth since it's a quite simple keyboard.
- Is it easy to edit sounds or effects?
Yes, you can save complete configurations in a 16-sound bank. You can also save your ideas in the "song" memory section.
- Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive?
Yes, very clear except for one point:
It doesn't mention that the phones/line output is not conceived for line applications: the signal is strongly amplified when the keyboard volume exceeds the center position which led me to destroy two monitor pairs and one keyboard amp... :/
I give it 7/10 because of this even though it can be easily avoided.
OVERALL OPINION
I've been using this keyboard for one year. I use it at home and with a band (we play rock and heavy metal stuff). I really like the sound quality, which is excellent considering the price: synth sounds have a strong punch but there are not many differences among the sounds, the piano presets need to be edited and are quite ok, the organ sound is good.
Choir and orchestral presets are quite average and the guitar simulations deserve no comments. Another problem is that the memory of the keyboard gets completely erased when you don't turn it off at the right moment.
And I also don't like the fact that it destroyed several devices that cost five times as much.
I think you can hardly find a better keyboard for its price and I'm satisfied with it. I recommend it to beginners and keyboard players on a low budget.
Exceptional value for money in spite of the few negative points...8/10
What kind of keyboard (synth, piano...)? - How many octaves?
The PSR E413 is a 5-octave arranger keyboard (61 keys)
- Types of connections (audio, MIDI, etc.):
Headphone/line output, USB connector and 1/4" input for a sustain controller.
- How many presets and styles are available? - Can they be edited? Does the unit have an effects section?
You get about 500 presets with some editing possibilities:
- Two controls for the filter (very effective, it's what I like most about this keyboard), for the effects section (chorus/flanger and reverb... average quality) and for attack/release parameters (quite difficult to use because the controls don't produce any effect up to one quarter of the way... In spite of this, I find this function very useful).
- Dual mode
- Split mode (you can edit the split and dual sounds the same way as the main sound)
- Five global EQ modes
You also get 180 rhythms named styles (percussions without accompaniment), a music database with 280 rhythms and accompaniment capability, and a song section with 35 tracks, five of which can be edited (each track has five instruments + one recorded "style")...
The device also provides an arpeggiator (not very versatile), a "harmony" section (which can be useful to play things like The Who's "Baba o'riley" for example :P) and a 2x2.5 watt amp stage, which is powerful enough to play with acoustic instruments.
Very comprehensive keyboard considering its price... 9/10
UTILIZATION
- Is it easy to make settings?
Yes, very smooth since it's a quite simple keyboard.
- Is it easy to edit sounds or effects?
Yes, you can save complete configurations in a 16-sound bank. You can also save your ideas in the "song" memory section.
- Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive?
Yes, very clear except for one point:
It doesn't mention that the phones/line output is not conceived for line applications: the signal is strongly amplified when the keyboard volume exceeds the center position which led me to destroy two monitor pairs and one keyboard amp... :/
I give it 7/10 because of this even though it can be easily avoided.
OVERALL OPINION
I've been using this keyboard for one year. I use it at home and with a band (we play rock and heavy metal stuff). I really like the sound quality, which is excellent considering the price: synth sounds have a strong punch but there are not many differences among the sounds, the piano presets need to be edited and are quite ok, the organ sound is good.
Choir and orchestral presets are quite average and the guitar simulations deserve no comments. Another problem is that the memory of the keyboard gets completely erased when you don't turn it off at the right moment.
And I also don't like the fact that it destroyed several devices that cost five times as much.
I think you can hardly find a better keyboard for its price and I'm satisfied with it. I recommend it to beginners and keyboard players on a low budget.
Exceptional value for money in spite of the few negative points...8/10