Edirol PCR-50

It' s simple to program this controller Key.

better than Midiman Radium (more function) and Evolution (better keys!!). But why not 5 octave!?

no sound...only a controller

Unuseable with MAc Os 9!! I can't use it with one of my G4 set up, because it doesn't work well with OMS and the other Midi interface! I have to choose: PCR or Midisport..with a PCR oms doesn't recognize any other interface :-(

a lot of competence!!

MacOs 9 vs PCR.

For basic use, the PCR-50 is ideal. Just plug it in & go. It comes with a number of presets & the manual offers information to help set it up with different software programs. I use Cakewalk SONAR 2.0 and had a little trouble as the menues are different from those in the PCR-50 manual. Their instructions are for SONAR 1 which made it a bit of a pain. Most of the important features are accessible directly from one button or two button combinations. So it is really easy to adjust octaves, transpose keys, switch presets, and so forth.

The feature set is really impressive. In the manual there is all kinds of useful information. Even a little tutorial for creating SysEx, but I'm not very proficient at that. But I did find it useful. The programming isn't exactly intuitive, but every menu behaves the mostly the same, so once you learn one, most of the processes after that are the same.
The keys feel much better than on my friend's MK-249C. It feels more like an instrument, although changing the velocity sensitivity isn't easily accessible as I would like. After another jaunt through the manual, I found out how to do that.
The level of development on the PCR-50 is really deep. There's what's called an "H-Compatible" preset on the PCR-50 that basically emulates a HUI. Also, what I found to be the most useful for me, personally, was that the advanced control settings allow you to create a sort of range limit for your controls. It's really cool because it will prevent you from over-shooting the "useful" boundries of the parameter you're tweaking. Next I think I need to get an expression pedal for it.
I hope it pushes some of the other guys to get in the game and start making really powerful control tools with some more extended features, like aftertouch, or a ribbon control.

As I said, it was not at all intuitive to change the velocity sensitivity, but the manual is indexed, so finding out how to do that wasn't too bad. I would have liked to have better access to that feature in particular. But otherwise, it's been quite good.

The knobs don't fall off, so that's a plus. It's sturdy. If I were going to use a USB controller in performance, this is the most suitable I've seen.

If something happened to it today, I'd have to get another. After learning to program it & creating my own SONAR control setup, I've grown pretty attached to it. I would like to see who sets the next bar for computer controllers. I played around with the Oxygen & my friend MK-249C, but I can't see going to either of those after using this one. I wonder if some of the bigger keyboard companies are going to target the computer user.

Easy to program right from the controller.
A plug and play device. (but will not work if unplugged and replugged while computer is on, a software bug).
Not very heavy. Very compact. So not so hard to carry or throw in the back seat of a car.
The manual is OK, not great.

Well, its a low end inexpensive keyboard.
It does not have keyboard after touch, it does not have a million pedal inputs and breath controller input.
For $233 its great !
Better then previous PCRs and better then Midiman controllers.
It has two pedal inputs ! Including expression.
It has a user bank.
It has a pretty blue light when plugged into a powered USB port. =)
The keyboard can be powered by a powered USB port. (works on my laptop USB port)

If you want a 88 keys or 76 keys weighted keys with aftertouch and velocity settings you should not even bother playing this keyboard at a store, well hack don't even bother looking at this price range.
You can not get a Lexus all wheel drive for the price of a volkswagon.

Its a nice MIDI controller for those who have Gigastudio, Reason, etc..

It has 2 pedal inputs, 8 knobs, 8 sliders and a whole bunch of bottons.

No jog dial.

Ideal for on the road with a synth module or laptop.

A jog dial would have been nice and I would have paid $30 more for it.

I would have loved a serial connector for connecting my Palm or CE device to it. This way I can save a lot of settings for use with different synth modules.

Well, it makes a little thump sound if you hit the keys really hard.
It you drop it on a hard floor it will make a crash sound.

Quality of assemply is excellent.
I have not had it long enough to judge the quality of the components.
It is not made in Japan so I am not sure what to expect.
But I am keeping a open mind.
The quality of assembly is excellent.

Dont be silly.
Its a simple controller.

Excellent little 49 key MIDI controller.
Fair price for the features and size of the keyboard.
An excellent 2nd keyboard for controlling software synths.

I want to paint it.
The color scheme is terrible.

This is a post to the 'velocity curve' issue. There is a sort of velocity curve. See page 136 "Velocity Offset". It's actually better than a set of velocity curves! It adds to the velocity played from the keyboard. Hope this helps!

The following is for PCR-30 keyboard!

Very, very flexible programming. You even can programm sysex!

Though the workflow of programming is kind of fiddle twiddle (you won't be able without the manual in your hand). But maybe that's a compromise because of complexity.

As said: almost no limitaions in programming the knobs and sliders.

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As said by someone else: keyboard is kind of hard to push.

Even if you touch it very sensitive, it's kind of difficult to get velocity values below 30. And pushing it realy hard sends values of 110 to 120. So limited dynamic!

Directly under the keypads there is the electronic PCB board. No cover or protection in between. Hopefully nobody will have sweaty fingers while rockin the keys ;-)

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Not really recommended.

OK - USB keyboard + MIDI controllers - plug & play
Problem is that controllers sliders send values in
increments of 3.
easy & quick acces to octave change & program change
the manual is OK

the keyboard action is quite nice (far better than the MIDIMAN radium)
The velocity response is ok but there's no acces to different velocity curves

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would be a good solution for live performances because you can quickly acces program change ... but there's a big problem with the controllers sliders

EDIROL have annouced they will exchange the PCR-50 for new one with sliders in increment of 1.

not bad except for the midi controllers but it seems that the new one will be OK.
easy & quick acces to a lot of parameters
But it seems that all the new USB MIDI keyboard with controllers sliders have an average key action compared to none USB & none midi controllers keyboard.

This is a post in reply to the previous message. The keyboard 'does' have velocity curves so you should be able to get better response than what you got. Also, I spoke with Edirol today as I wanted to get more info on the value increments moving in 3's and 4's at a time instead of 1 and this is what they said. "The current keyboards (PCR-50 and PCR-30) knobs and sliders move in increments of 3, but in March the new shipment will have the updated encoders to move in 1 value increments. Anyone who has purchased one of the 'older' units can send them back to Edirol (you pay shipping to them) and they will upgrade the board for you and ship it back (no charge). So there you have it! Hope this info has been useful to someone!

This is really short review.
Bought it because it looks really nice and has sliders.
Made in China.
Keys send velocity value of 30 when all my other keyboards send 90 (when I strike them medium hard).
All sliders and knobs send values in increments of 3-4 (1-3-7-11-15 etc)
Evolution controllers send values in incremets of 1.
Mod lever sends only 8 values.
Keyboard action is way too tight.
My fingers started to hurt after plaing it for half an hour.
Pitch Bend Lever is coarse too.
No velocity curves.
Returned it in exchange for Evolution controller.
My verdict: nice looking junk.