The Roland A-49 USB MIDI Controller Keyboard White is a white 49-note USB MIDI controller keyboard. There’s no shortage of portable MIDI keyboard controllers on the market, but portability often equates to subpar keyboard action. With the new A-49, the game has changed. This lightweight, slim-line controller features a premium-grade, full-size keyboard that raises the bar in its class. Available in pearl white and black finishes, the A-49 is a dream for musicians seeking a simple, easy-to-use MIDI keyboard with pro-quality playing feel.
The A-49’s keys have a rounded shape for better reaction to the player’s touch and more comfortable glissandi. Other enhancements have been made to reduce the already low mechanical noise and eliminate vertical shake. All of these features add up to a keyboard that even the most discerning pros will appreciate. Add colour to your sound and excitement to your performance by waving your hands over the invisible D-BEAM. The A-49 can assign all its controllers automatically for fully utilizing an external SuperNATURAL sound module such as the INTEGRA-7. It’s also a great second keyboard for controlling synthesizers that have on-board SuperNATURAL sounds, such as the JUPITER-80 and JUPITER-50.
The A-49 was born for mobile use. It’s strong yet amazingly lightweight (less than six pounds/2.5 kilograms), making it easy to lift and carry. And although it has a very streamlined design, the A-49 features a full-size, premium keyboard with 49 velocity-sensitive keys. For the ultimate in portable convenience, the A-49 is powered from your computer’s USB bus — no power cable or adapter is required. It draws a minimal amount of current, which is ideal for a USB bus-powered device.
The A-49 provides clean connections via its recessed rear panel, so you can place a computer monitor or laptop in the perfect position for creating music. Two knobs, two switches, and the D-BEAM controller are all easily accessible and intelligently arranged to make your workflow fast and fluid. Dedicated octave buttons offer immediate control of the key scale, and a transpose button is provided for adjusting the scale in semitone steps; LED indicators give you instant visual feedback of your octave/transpose settings. Other settings can be accessed via the Function button, which lets you use the keys to perform additional tasks printed above the keyboard.
Recently, many musicians have gravitated toward their Apple iPads to record musical ideas. While there are small MIDI keyboards that can be used with the iPad, the A-49 gives you pro playability as well as mobility. Its clean, clutter-free surface and excellent feel keeps your fingers on the keys and your mind on the music.
The main features of the Roland A-49 USB MIDI Controller Keyboard White include:
Advantages:
1. The keys are made very high quality.
2. Mechanics ideal, unweighted has aftertouch.
3. Pressure sensitivity is similar to a real piano.
4. Almost Noiseless.
5. The ideal management system (nothing more), analog tuning tone and three, customizable features key real sound (important for physical keyboards latest generation), Rolands classic joystick modulator and the most interesting solution (as opposed to A-500) is the optical management system (especially when there is no pedals, helping them to imitate by hand)
6. Via the MIDI transmit all packet parameters, USB 3.0 allows without delays.
7. Phantom power supply (without adapter), eats only 98mA - this is very important for those who are playing on the road through the netbook (ie keyboard eats like a regular USB flash drive and consumes no battery).
8. Lightweight (2.7 kg)
9. The rear has a niche for a laptop, which is very useful when working on a compact stand.
Disadvantages: Do Roland them almost never happens.
Advantages:
-very strongly built
-very comfortable and low noise keys
-pitch/modulation stick is very good to control, very precise. And contrary to what I thought, you can very easily control the modulation without affecting the pitch, it is mechanically perfectly designed for it. Well done, Roland.
-very small: 18cm depth when one key measures 13cm: minimal design
Disadvantages:
- the two potentiometers are very small, non grippy and conical, which make fingers slide horizontally and vertically, so you will tend to always lose contact with the potentiometers. Good idea is to change the caps on them (one of my next plans).