Alesis Vortex

I wanted to drive my Keytard Micron. There are not really on the market.
There are USB, MIDI or USB powered or DC battery pack.
Some options like aftertouch omni, an acceleration sensor (Who not really work). 3 knobs and some pads (sensitive omni: 2 groups of 4).
A braid that hurts.
There is no other option without Bluetooth or son ... OK in 2013 even the bowl of my dog ​​bluetooth. This is ridiculous. It just cost me 2 Midi cables because the cables are not protected.

UTILIZATION

I put the foam to absorb noise of keys and to add comfort. The configuration of the controls is a stark complexity. (Just to tell you that I am an electrical engineer and I currently designing a midi / analog interface, so if it's complicated for me ...)
The case cracked.
The manual (in French) is not clear. I managed to painfully deciphered.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few months, I had some controllers noon. Korg K61 is my favorite, I dislocated my E-MU XBoard 49 for pot.
I am currently creating a bluetooth interface for my Vortex (no choice if I want one)
It's too expensive for a full box of junk that does not work very well.
Time I could not finish my edits, this keyboard will continue to disappoint me.

MIDI keyboard laptop completely customizable. The Keytars are very rare, this product immediately caught my attention.
It has a lot of all controllers fully programmable pads in addition to keyboard 3 octaves.
The connection is minimal but sufficient: USB MIDI + out + FS + DC in.
Note that the power supply is sold separately, but can be powered by USB.

UTILIZATION

In use it is pretty cool even if the doc is very brief and totally deserves to be rethought. So the setting is not super intuitive. We made it quick but it must have some knowledge of MIDI.
The touch keyboard is very "come away" normal for a lightweight and portable. At the same time it is not for play Bach ...
Level latency honestly I do not even feel. Well for now I'm wired MIDI (not USB). A view with a MIDI HF ... yeah because they are nice Alesis, but will walk on stage with a USB cable??

OVERALL OPINION

I received two days ago, so my opinion may change with time, but for now I do not regret my purchase.

Pros of the product: many controllers and you can set a lot of things. For example, each pad can send either a note or a control change, a program change on channel you want ... From a usability point of view is correct, but no more. The doc is essential to set the cattle, and the doc is awful.
Despite its look a little gadget / toy, I find that once you have it in your hands, it does.

Cons: The doc is very brief, unworthy of the product. Despite the apparent solidity of the whole, I knob knob slide that is crossed, then I could just dislocated it back but ...
The unit comes with the minimum: a long USB cable, and that's all. No power supply, and especially no MIDI HF, which is a shame for a product of this type. Of course it would have doubled the price ...

In conclusion, I am not disappointed, and I think I'm gonna have fun this summer
Despite some flaws, it was not something bad for the price very attractive.