Edirol PCR-50

Two years old, minimal use at home only, now 12 keys are not responding (2 months ago only 10 not working), sliders and knobs still work (although one has a really gritty feeling). I would never buy a controller from them again.

I just use the basic functions with FLStudio. No problems here for me.

Knobs and sliders. Work Well.

No velocity curve control, this causes problems.

Not very good at all. Basically a couple of keys died.

I took it apart today to try and see if I could fix it. The guarantee ran out so hey nothing to lose.

I managed to fix the dead keys with none other than blu tac. Not sure exactly how long this repair will last but so far so good. I stuck strips of blue tac to the underside of each offending key. On the part that strikes the switch on the PCB.

No email support available.

It's the weekend so I cant call the number provided to see if I can source a replacement for the keyboard PCB

Does it's job now I've fixed it :) for the time being anyhow!

need the manual to really use all of the features. i lost mine for now so i can't figure out some stuff without it.

lots of knobs, faders and buttons. i could never get the aftertouch to work though?

this is a controller keyboard. no sounds. it used to work well with my sequencer and computer. velocity and aftertouch not working right, so it does not react to my playing.

after 2 years i am having problems with some keys not working. or they barely work with velocity of 1. more than 1/4 of the keys are not working now in different spots. really pisses me off.

of course i never sent in my registration so im screwed.

would not buy this keyboard again. i used this for awhile as a controller for a sequencer and computer, it was fun while it lasted. i like that all the controls are assignable but the damn keys quit working on me so it is very aggravating and wasting my time trying to get it working. i really hate when the keys quit working on a keyboard. i wish the keys wouldn't quit working. it doesn't help me make music now, it mostly slows me down because i'm trying to get the keys working again. edirol you truly suck for selling me this expensive piece of crap.

Not very good.
Very cryptic menu.

lots of knobs to tweak.

feels ok.
nothing to rave about.

This is where all BUYER'S BEWARE!
The unit was working fine for about 2 years in a studio set up.
Then the low Bb stopped working then the top Bb.
Now most the keys have problems. This is unacceptable.
The warranty is up and to have someone fix this is have the cost of the unit.
EDIROL YOU SUCK!!!

What's minimum wage?
Are they making that there?

Brother/Sister Beware! don't be had.

it was working ok with my nuendo set up
couldn't get to work properly with more advance features
did the basic job

it looked promising

not bad not good

after a year of minimal use in my studio i started to lose some of the top keys. lost more and more now only the 1/3 of the notes work.
the garanty is over and i'm left with this useless peace of gear in the middle of recording sessions
nice work guys...

i called them a few times but they still have'nt got back to me with the number to ship it back to the company
they can talk the talk
but can they walk the walk
and keep they're credibility

i dont think it's acceptable to send product in the market
when they are not tested properly
i can see that other pcr 50 had the same fate

put your pants on guys

expectations were high
but they slowly faded

too bad

is the golden age of ROLAND over...
time will tell

you've got to read the manual and then some. I use just the basic functions to trigger vst's in cubase

lots of features for the buck

this is where I have the problem. I'm not a full time keyboard player, I mostly play guitar. So this keyboard gets lite use. After a year of sitting in front of my computer [as it never leaves the house] keys started to quit working. Some have poor response, some have low velocity and some don't work at all. I have 8 keys that don't work at all. They are spred all over the keyboard. Of all the equipment I have bought over the years [Some of it was junk] this is the worst. Don't buy this keyboard

Just a quick update on my review below, where i was unhappy about the Edirol PCR-50 not having aftertuch on the keys, and i said i was going to buy a MAudio Radium controller keyboard instead.

Well, it turns out that most midi controller keyboards dont have aftertouch on the keyboard. The only MAudio one that does have it, is the Ozonic, which is just new. But that only has 3 octaves, and is quite expensive, as it is also a firewire audio in/out device. ( Got that info directy from an MAudio technician. Very helpfull).

The best option seems to be the E-MU Xboard, which is only about #110 new. 49 or 25 key versions, PC and Mac.

The Novation Remote, and the CME range of controller keyboards seems to have aftertouch keyboards as well, though both of these are semi weighted, and cost a fair bit more.

So the EMU Xboard seems to be my best choice. Seems to have been a trend on controller keyboards not to have aftertouch. Shame. Hopefully that trend is maybe now changing.

Typical poor Roland manual. Doesent explain things very well. Be prepared to spend some time on it.

NO KEYBOARD AFTERTOUCH, I REPEAT, NO KEYBOARD AFTERTOUCH. Just bought this " Midi Controller Keyboard" yesterday. Having to buy another one tomorrow. You can only have aftertouch via a " Slider:" or "Knob" You CANT have it while playing on the keys. How pathetic is that. What king of midi controller doesent control one on the most basic features. They put alot of technology into this keyboard, and it can do alot of things. But it cant do one of the simple things it should.

Highly disapointed. Going to buy a M-Audio Radium tomorrow. That seems to have aftertouch, on the keys. Thumbs down to Edirol/Roland, big time.

Built qaulity seems resonable.

Another thing i really dont like is the depth the keys go down. They go down quite far. A good bit farther than my Korg or older Roland keyboards. Guess i like the shorter action synth keys, sort of distance. This might be designed more like a pianos action, so might suit some players more than others.

Also, you cant use the midi out port, while you have the usb cable in, unless you are controlling the device atatched to the midi out port, via the computer. This wasent a major issue for me.

No sounds built it. Its a controller keyboard.

Dont know.

They havent replied to me yet, but it is only one day, and they probably get asked this same question a million times. How do you set it up to have aftertouch on the keys, as its not mentioned anywhere in the whole, extensive manual ? Only mentions about using aftertouch on a knob or slider. I found my answer on the US Edirol site, ie Edirol.com one, in the FAQ, suprisingly enough.

" Q) I cannot get aftertouch working. Would welcome some help. Many thanks (submitted 10/8/2004)

A) The PCR keyboards are designed to use Aftertouch as an assignable controller. This means that you can assign it to any knob, fader, or button by using the Edit function. Aftertouch is not assignable to the keys on the PCR keyboards "

Cant belive that.

If you dont want aftertouch, you might find it usefull enough. If you do, look for a proper controller keyboard.

not applicable. Use it as a midi controller.

Several keys no longer worker, which makes playing many chords almost impossible since the keyboard doesn't have many keys to start with. Very disapointed. I did not play it hard nor very often, and covered it with the packaging sleeve while not in use to prevent cumulating dust.

I contacted them by email, and they gave me a number for the repair department, but I hadn't played the keyboard in so long that when I found the keys didn't work, it was no logner under warranty. They didn't give any indication that this was a common problem, but apperently it is. So I give them a 4 just for being closed mouth and not offereing to cover the cost of something that's obviously a materials or manufacturing defect.

The prospect of paying someone to repair and ship it back and forth doesn't excite me. So I haven't taken any further action.

Would be nice if all the keys still worked. It's just about useless to me now.

Easy to set up and get going, drivers worked straight out of the box.

Send and receives on all 16 midi channels when set up correctly, and the midi ins/outs help to control other synths, however the midi ins and outs only work when board is powered with power not usb otherwise to get the ins/outs to work you have press the v-link button and by doing this you lose some of the other features of the board. Using USB with a equencer works great and the midi ins/outs work from/to the computer.

Have had it about a year and now the keys are not responding as well 2 keys that is.

No sounds

Not now that some of the keys aren't working well.

Once dealt with edirol and they changed the board for free. Changed the rotary knobs moving up in steps of 3 to steps of 1.

Not now because the keys aren't working and not after long either!