Hi, all.
I'm in the market for a new MIDI controller for controlling VSTis (Omnisphere, Kontakt, etc.) My M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 is on its last leg and it's time to get a replacement (uneven velocity response/worn piezos).
My requirements in a MIDI controller:
- 88 keys
Keyboard action:
- Hammer Weighted Action (with actual hammers)
- Not too stiff, not too floppy. I need to be able to perform fast, repeated 16th notes on a single key with ease.
- Pitch Wheel
- Modwheel (or slider and/or fader(s) which can be programmed to broadcast any MIDI Continuous Controller number.
- Sustain pedal input (polarity switching a plus)
- Expression footpedal input (polarity switching a plus)
- No more than $1,000 USD (unless it's a really fancy unit)
--------------------
I was looking online for 88-key hammer-action MIDI controllers and came across the Roland A-88 MIDI controller (street price: $999 USD.) It's strictly a controller with no on-board sounds, which is fine for what I need. But the problem is that an A-88 isn't available locally for demonstration and I'm not a fan of paying return shipment on it if the keyboard action isn't right for me. (More on the A-88 later in this post.)
So I dropped by GC yesterday to try out the floor models of all their keyboards and controllers. The only two units they had which include hammer action keys were a Yamaha Motif synth and a Roland Juno DS88 synth (street price: $999 USD.) I didn't care too much for the Motif's keyboard action but the Roland Juno DS88 got my attention.
I played the Juno DS88 a little while and found it to be pretty good (some nice sounds as well!) I bought it and took it home, then hooked it up to the DAW. After playing for a while, I began to notice that it was difficult/tiring to play fast, repeated notes on a single key. For fast 16th notes, it was impossible to play them. I literally couldn't do it and I have strong hands. Doing this on the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 was easy, thanks to its loose action. The Keystation Pro 88 had a bit of "flop" on the upstroke when the key return to its rest position. This helped aid with playing fast, repeated notes on a single key. I simply can't do this at the same speed with the Roland Juno DS88. I realize people give the Keystation Pro 88's action crap for its poor action, which I understand on a certain level, but at least you can play fast 16th notes on a single key without much trouble.
To me, the Roland Juno DS88 keyboard action feels a little too heavy and "gummy." I wish it were more loose and bouncy like the Keystation Pro 88. Also, the keys don't travel that far down on the Roland compared to the Keystation Pro 88 keys. I wish the Juno keys had the same degree of travel (or very close.)
So I called Roland's support and spoke with a technician, asking him how the keyboard action on their A-88 controller differs from that of their Juno DS88. I asked because both boards feature Roland's "Ivory Feel-G" however, the A-88 features "Ivory Feel-G keyboard with Escapement" which means it will respond differently in some way compared to the Juno DS88. He wasn't able to describe a specific difference in how the two keyboards would respond in practice but noted that there would be a difference.
Here's a key point:
As you may have noticed from earlier in my post, both the Juno DS88 and A-88 boards are $999 USD, however, the Juno DS88 is a full-fledged synth with great sounds, ASIO support, 8xAA battery power option(!) etc. but the A-88 is strictly a controller (but with the addition of Escapement.)
Is the price of the A-88 due to the Escapement feature of the keys, or am I missing something? If so, is the A-88 action that different (better?) from the Juno DS88 to justify the same price for drastically less features? Even then, does the A-88 have a keyboard action comparable to the Keystation Pro (looser, deeper key travel and less gummy than the Juno DS88?)
Sorry if this post went on for too long. I checked Google and didn't see any discussion about the action of these units in detail, nor comparisons in feel of Roland boards having Ivory Feel-G with and without Escapement.
Thanks for reading and for any feedback!
- Mike
I'm in the market for a new MIDI controller for controlling VSTis (Omnisphere, Kontakt, etc.) My M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 is on its last leg and it's time to get a replacement (uneven velocity response/worn piezos).
My requirements in a MIDI controller:
- 88 keys
Keyboard action:
- Hammer Weighted Action (with actual hammers)
- Not too stiff, not too floppy. I need to be able to perform fast, repeated 16th notes on a single key with ease.
- Pitch Wheel
- Modwheel (or slider and/or fader(s) which can be programmed to broadcast any MIDI Continuous Controller number.
- Sustain pedal input (polarity switching a plus)
- Expression footpedal input (polarity switching a plus)
- No more than $1,000 USD (unless it's a really fancy unit)
--------------------
I was looking online for 88-key hammer-action MIDI controllers and came across the Roland A-88 MIDI controller (street price: $999 USD.) It's strictly a controller with no on-board sounds, which is fine for what I need. But the problem is that an A-88 isn't available locally for demonstration and I'm not a fan of paying return shipment on it if the keyboard action isn't right for me. (More on the A-88 later in this post.)
So I dropped by GC yesterday to try out the floor models of all their keyboards and controllers. The only two units they had which include hammer action keys were a Yamaha Motif synth and a Roland Juno DS88 synth (street price: $999 USD.) I didn't care too much for the Motif's keyboard action but the Roland Juno DS88 got my attention.
I played the Juno DS88 a little while and found it to be pretty good (some nice sounds as well!) I bought it and took it home, then hooked it up to the DAW. After playing for a while, I began to notice that it was difficult/tiring to play fast, repeated notes on a single key. For fast 16th notes, it was impossible to play them. I literally couldn't do it and I have strong hands. Doing this on the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 was easy, thanks to its loose action. The Keystation Pro 88 had a bit of "flop" on the upstroke when the key return to its rest position. This helped aid with playing fast, repeated notes on a single key. I simply can't do this at the same speed with the Roland Juno DS88. I realize people give the Keystation Pro 88's action crap for its poor action, which I understand on a certain level, but at least you can play fast 16th notes on a single key without much trouble.
To me, the Roland Juno DS88 keyboard action feels a little too heavy and "gummy." I wish it were more loose and bouncy like the Keystation Pro 88. Also, the keys don't travel that far down on the Roland compared to the Keystation Pro 88 keys. I wish the Juno keys had the same degree of travel (or very close.)
So I called Roland's support and spoke with a technician, asking him how the keyboard action on their A-88 controller differs from that of their Juno DS88. I asked because both boards feature Roland's "Ivory Feel-G" however, the A-88 features "Ivory Feel-G keyboard with Escapement" which means it will respond differently in some way compared to the Juno DS88. He wasn't able to describe a specific difference in how the two keyboards would respond in practice but noted that there would be a difference.
Here's a key point:
As you may have noticed from earlier in my post, both the Juno DS88 and A-88 boards are $999 USD, however, the Juno DS88 is a full-fledged synth with great sounds, ASIO support, 8xAA battery power option(!) etc. but the A-88 is strictly a controller (but with the addition of Escapement.)
Is the price of the A-88 due to the Escapement feature of the keys, or am I missing something? If so, is the A-88 action that different (better?) from the Juno DS88 to justify the same price for drastically less features? Even then, does the A-88 have a keyboard action comparable to the Keystation Pro (looser, deeper key travel and less gummy than the Juno DS88?)
Sorry if this post went on for too long. I checked Google and didn't see any discussion about the action of these units in detail, nor comparisons in feel of Roland boards having Ivory Feel-G with and without Escapement.
Thanks for reading and for any feedback!
- Mike
MIDI Controllers in 2016 (Roland A-88?)
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