Thanks for the review - very helpful.

LUV this video! Thanks very much!

2:50 well man you slappin the hell out of it of course its gonna bang like that 😅

@WoodyPianoShack

3 ай бұрын

i call it playing with dynamics! ;)

Thank you

I literally tried out some of the competition earlier today. Cheaper than it (at full retail price) is even worse (most are much worse; I got what I thought was the least bad, it turned out to be still pretty unplayable), better than it (judging only by how it feels without plugging it in) is even more expensive. I wish these things were plugged in at the store so we can actually test them. After watching your video all I can conclude is we’re buying blind even when there’s a demo unit...

We need more reviews like this. Being able to challenge the hype honestly is indeed rare because anyone doing this & being paid for their service is well advised that they perform a favourable review if they want to continue reviewing more gear in the future. I was contemplating this keyboard due to the size & the fact that it was being made by what I classified as a reliable manufacturer. Roland who for the most part build excellent keyboards have resorted to selling a product based on price rather than performance & quality. I have changed my mind & will now look for a controller that is more robust. A real eye opener for sure & an excellent review Woody! Cheers!

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

thanks for the feedback, i'm fortunate in that a lot of gear is available hear, I fund all the gear myself so no obligations to do favors to anybody. wouldn't mind working with manufacturers in the future, but probably i've burned bridges by now.

Hello Woody, what would you say is the best compact 49-61 key midi controller (focusing on keybed only!)

49 keys boards are not made for playing boogie piano on curved desks. The A49 is still one of the better controllers compared to most others of similar size. I am missing a deeper look at it's midi features. Hey Woody, this was not the best of your reviews ;-)

@WoodyPianoShack

6 жыл бұрын

hey, appreciate the feedback! take your point. in preparing this vid i was thinking that you can get the features from the roland spec sheet, more interesting to focus on build quality and keyboard action.

@TheTomkittelkey

6 жыл бұрын

Only few owners know that the A49 can be used standalone without PC or Mac. Even though it lacks a power supply jack it can be powered with an USB phone charger. Hold the Function, Assign, and Pitch buttons while plugging the unit in to the USB power supply to enable standalone use. Roland seems to make a secret of that. No mention in the manual. Things like this could be discussed in a comprehensive user review.

Good rewiew thanks

So... am I missing something? If your desk surface is "slightly bowed in the middle" (your words) then why is it the fault of the keyboard that it bounces up and down at the middle...??

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

hi jim ,fair question, i'll try to explain. all other keyboards i have are strong enough not to bend when supported by all four corners, or resting on keyboard stand. therefore not a problem if desk is bowed or if resting on keyboard stand. a49, not so much :) obviously noticed by Roland since they cheated a bit and put extra rubber feet in the middle to prevent it bending. On my desk this design flaw is revealed.

@DJSpecialSauce

7 жыл бұрын

Gotcha. Roland cheaps out to hit that price point I guess. Hey, do you do other MIDI keyboard/controller reviews? I'm doing some music composition with SynthMaster One, and I'm on a tight budget ($100-$150). Someone was saying that the M-Audio keyboards are crap so I stopped looking at those... I was thinking about the AKAI mini MKII, what do u think?

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

The akai mpk stuff is well built, feels good to me. made of metal. Probably not the mini though. unfortunately most controllers are cheap flimsy plastic, I don't find them enjoyable or satisfying to play. i'd happily pay more for better quailty. hoping that one day Nord makes a contoller.

@adamgriffiths1703

7 жыл бұрын

I can add to this. My desk is perfectly flat and the keyboard still bends in the middle!!! It needs better support in the middle full stop.

@jamesrobertson6255

3 ай бұрын

A flat surface is always recommended

Very good !

Awesome video...I was thinking about buying it, but now I don't know...it seems risky to put on a keyboard stand. What sturdy and reliable midi keyboard would you suggest in the same price range?

Thanks Woody. I considered the same unit until I saw that it does not have a standard power on/off slide switch. Other reviewers said you had to replug the USB cable into the keyboard every time, insane. I had the A-300/A-500 once upon a time as well, was pleased with that unit over all but they lacked ease of integration with DAWs/plugins compared to other keyboards.

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

the lack of power switch doesn't bother me to much. but i don't leave it connected when i'm not using it, and use the same usb cord for my printer. :)

Oh, I didn't know you made a video on the A49. I bought one earlier this year, and as someone who is a complete beginner, my reasons were the following: - 49 keys. This obviously won't be enough for serious piano pieces, but since I'm more interested in synth stuff, that won't be a problem. - It has a layout I'm a bit more familiar with. - Speed sensitive and has Aftertouch (that Dbeam stuff is quite fun to mess with too, it can be surprisingly intuitive :D ). - Doesn't need a power adapter, just plugs in and ready to go. - And yes, it's Roland. Out of the available options, this was the only keyboard that was made by a company I actually know and respect. Also, I'm the kind of person who prefers to get something that's not only good for learning or trying out, but if it works can be used for more serious stuff later. So yeah, while I'm absolutely not an expert on music production, I think it's not that bad, especially compared to other keyboards I tried in this price range.

you need a new desk mate

Thanks for the review Woody. am curious if you get a chance how the A-88 is. I was thinking of getting that before I got my M-Audio Oxygen-88, which was about 1/2 the price and had more controls for controlling an external synth module.

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

a88 is on my wishlist.

DOne a Great Job

Excellent review. It would seem that the solution is to add more plastic to the keys but ... they do not.

I had mine for 70 euros and I was really excited at first, because it says "Aftertouch" along other functions and I foolishly thought you can enable/disable aftertouch. I don't think it is intentionally misleading, but it sure did fooled me. Still, i have grown to love my a-49 for its simplicity and portability. But indeed, hitting those black keys hard enough is a pain.

Shocking! Having gone through so many options looking for a master keyboard, I might go back to using the D50 which felt really good. I noticed you also did a review of the A 800 pro - would you say that would be a good companion with Logic pro X Woody?

@WoodyPianoShack

5 жыл бұрын

i never reviewed the A800, I have also an A500 on loan to me, which is much better than the A49. Can't comment on logic integration.

@jamandspoonmusic

5 жыл бұрын

Woody Piano Shack sorry Woody...i meant the A500 (half a brain awake syndrome!). Thank you for all your fantastic videos by the way😊😊😊

great video Woody ! lots of the right information you need to know when buying a midi control keyboard, just one question ? who is the guy at the end of the video ? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! well done Woody ! 😎👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

hi, funny comment, that was my brother, Wally. 👍👏

Hey woody. I'm gonna buy the JDxi. I really need your opinion as you are the only one that has covered this topic. Can you tell me if the jdxi keyboard is atleast somewhere comparable to the DX. as in when you hit the top of the black key is it stiff like in the case of the a49 or does it press down easily? (Basically what do you have to say about the hinges on the jdxi)Thanks. (P.S i hope you see this in time.)

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

nah, you can't compare the jdxi to the dx, of the a49, it's pretty bad for any serious playing, but good enough to create patterns and jam a bit. you don't buy the xi for the keyboard.

@bombayblur3797

7 жыл бұрын

Ill take your word and call off the purchase. Next in line was the korg kross. It has an arranger and drum track. But no synthy controls. Any idea about the korg kross' keys?

Well, I got to this review a bit late. I’ve been playing 25key synth’s for about 5yrs and recently got a nord lead 2 rack. Had some time at a shop to fiddle w/ the 61key from samson and the 61key arturia keylab essential. Didn’t like the feel of either and I didn’t want to have to fork over 200+ for the keylab since I could only find 61 key controllers between 50.00 and 100.00 I went and bought the A49, seeing a huge list of positive reviews. But even if you bought it used I noticed the keybed on my used sub phatty got better in action after repeatedly pressing the keys. So I’d say that 30+ years of use on your dx7 has had a lot of wear in use. And I bet if you spent a few months banging away at that newer board it would get worn in and easier, but you shouldn’t have to do that but it seems like that could be the case.

I have the same problem with the black keys on the Korg Krome which cost me nearly £1000 in the UK. You would expect better for that price. I have older keyboards such as the Korg 01wfd and the Korg X3 which I bought in the 1990s which were well made not like all plastic stuff made these days. I bought the Poly Moog costing a small fortune which was all plastic casing. It was so heavy it sagged in the middle which caused the circuit boards to come disconnected. What are your thought on the construction of modern built keyboards?

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

once you are aware of this issue you notice it on many modern keyboards, my psr, keylab, nord lead are same. if you want decent construction these days then you are looking at the top-of-the-range keyboards only from roland,korg,yamaha. otherwise get a nord, they still use metal cases and quality components. or a boutique synth...

Woody - you still have the Roland FA, if so, does the supernatural control on this controller keyboard do anything spectacular?!

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

fa is long gone, but i don't think it's a useful feature

@Skijumptoes

7 жыл бұрын

Woody Piano Shack I was mainly curious if it offered any way of variably controlling the rotary speed on organs, for example, as the FA doesn't have that kind of control, but got the impression that these keyboards were being sold as a companion for the Integra.

Hi woody. I wish I'd seen this before I bought mine. I have another issue with it, wonder if u have any experience? I want to change the velocity curve or switch it to full velocity. Manual says hit function, hit KEY VELO, enter number, hit ENTER. When I do this or try to change any setting on hitting the first data value (number) the function light goes off and nothing changes. Did you try this?

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

i have done other settings, like midi channel, knob assignments, i did eventually get it to work, but my first attempts were a failure. i don't remember the secret.

thanks!

Hey guys, i want very good quality keybed and nice durable midi keyboard that can last for more than 1 year, and I really dont care about the knobs or fader because i'm planning to buy arturia minilab mk2. Can you suggest me the honest best midi keyboard for me ? Novation? Roland A49? Arturia Keylab? M-Audio?

good to know I wonder if the a88 has a better keybed

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

i think it probably does, i like rolands weighted keyboards, the fa08 was pretty good.

@jamiebales8394

7 жыл бұрын

I believe the A88 and FA08 share the same keybed.

can you kindly review nektar gx49 ?

I choose this 49 keys midi controller because it haves midi out. But it haves some bugs in the system that Roland knows about. In use with usb there are not so many problems. But it haves problems when it’s connected to a other keyboard or soundmodules. Even with Roland equitment. For example the sustain and holding on sounds it’s dramaticly bad. The most problems it gives with connecting with midi cable is piano,guitar and brass sounds like trumpet. Roland haves no updates to take care of these problems. To bad because it’s a really handy compact midicontroller. When you don’t need a extra arranger and only need a set of extra keys

Nice review, but one thing you forgot to mention is that it is basically the Integra 7 controller (the module is a much nicer piece of equipment, lol)

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

ah ok, didn't know that, although I did notice the supernatural controls, which is a bit lame and wasted if you're just using it with your computer (99.9999% of cases).

@lemonslice2233

7 жыл бұрын

Nah, it works the same whether you're using the computer or not, the controls are still automatically linked. There's two other keyboard with such controls, the RD-64, a 64-key hammer action that generates some basic keyboard sounds itself as well, and the A-88, a pure MIDI hammer action controller that makes an excellent master keyboard in general whether you're using the Integra or not (great key action and very compact). Shame the A-49 feels so cheap, I had an older 49-key Roland controller that had a much nicer key action, and was built much sturdier with finer plastic.

@lemonslice2233

7 жыл бұрын

Seriously though, I think you should have just bought the Yamaha MX49. It has not only a fairly decent action (as for as you can except for the size and price), but a crapload of great Motif sounds.

For those wondering- the Roland A800 Pro I have has the exact key action issue as the A49. It's usable, but you always need to strike towards bottom of the key. The white keys also exhibit this, to a lesser extent.

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

yeah, i notice this issue on lots of keyboards, not just roland. but roland choose to specifically market the a49 as having a superior keyboard action (check their product homepage).

@jeffcook3901

7 жыл бұрын

Definitely true. Too bad nobody makes a new midi board that'll last which has good synth action keys.

Dx7 is made in japan, a-49 in china. Thats the reason! I have the a-49, its not bad for the price. Not sure if there is an better one in this price range. Works excellent with an ipad with the camera connection kit without an usb hub. Only problem i have with the a49 is the cheap hitting noise of the keys to the plastic, should have been dampened. You can hear it in this video too.

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

china can make great product, it's more about design and cost decisions by the manufacturer. the real midi-output is a cool feature for controlling other synth modules, drum machines and as you mention, mobile apps. need to try that myself.

@tsevetgestoorde

7 жыл бұрын

Woody Piano Shack Thanks for the response. The original price of the dx7 wasn't 150€ at the time either? 😀

@jamiebales8394

7 жыл бұрын

It's not China's fault. They built what Roland told them to build, within the budget given.

What program is he using to play the piano? I'm having massive delays in Sonar

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

reaper, latency is all about choice of audio interface and settings.

ためになります！

At this price point, what else would you recommend?

@michalvalta5231

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah. Something velocity sensitive.

I can't get any sound from mine. Do I need anything else other than usb lead which connects to pc?

@WoodyPianoShack

5 жыл бұрын

install the roland driver and run a soft synth on the PC

@chessguru900

5 жыл бұрын

I did install the driver the blue led light comes on all the buttons on the left light up in red but can't get any sound. I am a guitarist btw. I don't know much about keyboards.

how does he get the sound by only connecting a usb cable?

@WoodyPianoShack

5 жыл бұрын

the PC receives midi and creates the sounds, the A49 doesn't have any sounds.

Yo Woody, another very interesting video, as usual. :) My 2 cents, I have an Edirol PG controller now for some years, and I should say that the keyboard mechanism is really cheapo, and simply under par, for a Roland product!! let's compare it to my XP 80 semi weighted keyboard, or even the classic D-50, or the DX7 IID... SHAME ON YOU; MR ROLAND!! It's a pity as the design of this little controller has great bonuses as the beam lights etc... Thanks!!

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

you actually use the d-beam.... :o thanks for the comment, agree with you :)

can we use this keyboars standalone ? i mean without connecting it to a software ??

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

has no built-in sounds, must connect to software or hardware synth

@Siddharthkalra45

7 жыл бұрын

Woody Piano Shack what hardware can i use for external sound.

Try not hitting the keys with your fingers.. I have an A49 and there is no problem. Play gently.. you dont need to hit it

It could be a perfect little controller if it was not for the bugs in the midi transmission. If you know what you buy then it’s most far it’s not totally perfect. But it should be functional for this price. That it’s mechanical not 100% that something you can expect from something so small and compact, there is just no space to put in quality mechanisme and keys. But at least you may expect something from a brand like Roland, that it does what it’s made for. And that is not what it is

Woody you say you bought this used, are you sure you didn't get some kind of early version, abused, or lemon? I just watched Scott Tibbs, a monster player, doing the Roland Integra demo with an A49 kzread.info/dash/bejne/amajt4-BgLPLidI.html and its looks solid as a rock on his desk, and he doesn't seem to have a problem nailing some pretty fine chops on those black keys? Same thing with the Music Japan guy .. also a great player kzread.info/dash/bejne/iqOmqZN_etvNo84.html

@WoodyPianoShack

6 жыл бұрын

yeah, it was used but in perfect condition with no signs of use. try one for yourself and let me know what you think!

@chrisstrobel3439

6 жыл бұрын

Woody Piano Shack Ok I'll let you know. For years I've been using my D-70, JD-800, and RD-700gx as contollers, but I recently aquired a Korg Radias R, and want a small footprint 49 key contoller dedicated just for it. I bought the Arturia Keylab Essential 49 last week, but the only thing that will transmit CC changes are the eight drum pads, so all its knobs and sliders are useless for midi hardware, its footprint isn't exactally compact, its more expensive, and its a pretty cheap plastic build keys included .. so the ONLY other thing I could find in a small footprint that had a midi out was this. Your review was the first I watched and I was a little bummed .. but then I watched Tibbs and the Japan guy and got a little confidence back, so I ordered one today. I'm curious .. do you play an acoustic piano with your fingers so close to the soundboard on the black keys? I would have got a ruler smack to the wrist doing that during my classical piano training as a youth lol. I was taught both in high school and in college piano performance to keep the fingers curved and towards the center on both white and black keys. You must have very large hands no? On my Steinway M if I try and hit a black key next to the soundboard it takes a lot of strength to depress the key as well .. on my RD-700gx forget it lol. All this in response to the fulcrum issue you brought up.

@WoodyPianoShack

6 жыл бұрын

the keys on an acoustic piano, and many other keyboards & synths, are much longer than the keys on the A49. They are really short and cramped, thus forcing you to play high towards the soundboard where you get little leverage. The A49 is not unique in this respect, I see similar keys on many keyboards these days, unfortunately. I was classically trained as a child, and don't remember any critique about my hand position, but I have been told off by some of my youtube viewers about my technique :) please just try before you buy, especially if your point of reference is a Steinway (I AM SO JEALOUS!) :D:D

@chrisstrobel3439

6 жыл бұрын

Woody Piano Shack Ahh .. ok the keys aren't full size. Silly Roland. Then they make their digital piano keys too big (my RD-700gx keys are physically bigger than my Steinway making it hard to hit notes on pieces with large intervals like some of the Chopin preludes I play) Ohh well .. the A-49 is not the kind of keyboard your going to play Chopin or Scott Joplin on anyways I guess. Scott Tibs seems to play pretty smoothly on the A-49 .. and his hands are definately bigger than mine, so I'm keeping my hope up .. there is just nothing else .. unless you have a better idea 😁

@Bolt_241

6 жыл бұрын

How old is your steinway? I've noticed narrower keys on older builds, especially with Steinway. I do know that keys did used to be a lot narrower on older pianoforte's, but I'm curious about how we got to our modern standard.

IT says in the manual.....PUT ON A FLAT SURFACE...OOPS

@WoodyPianoShack

5 жыл бұрын

at last, a reason to read the manual!

You simply trashed it. And well deserved. But the question is. Are there any controllers with deep keys?

plastic not fantastic

Come on!!!! Get a flat table,don't blame the keyboard. Very poor review.

@WoodyPianoShack

6 жыл бұрын

but i have played dozens of different keyboard on this same desk without noticing any issues. just wanted to share my experience, buy one yourself and let me know how you get on :)

What do you expect for £115. Look at the sweetwater reviews and watch someone who knows how to play.

@WoodyPianoShack

7 жыл бұрын

not the price, but roland's claims that this is a pro action that is questionable. sorry that my playing is not good enough for you.

@chrismartin6690

7 жыл бұрын

Woody Piano Shack I was not criticising your playing.

@chrismartin6690

7 жыл бұрын

Nick Tucker it would be good if trolls did not make comments

Get a flat desk dipshit

@unhookedunhooked3219

6 жыл бұрын

lol so true

seems RATHER shat.

please dont review Shit like that