Fatar Studio 610+

find manual here..

http://www.studiologic.net/manuals-fatar/fatar_studio610plus.pdf

full fatar studios pdf

I swore off Fatar a long time ago...read on I'll tell you why...yet...I saw alot of positive reviews on this one...got it dirt cheap on ebay...wanted a controller...to sit ontop my hammond...so I took a chance. Plugged it into my Roland Modual U-220...the action felt good. (Smile)

Previous statement...nice action...got it off ebay...nothing to indicate anything...no led or parameter screen...but hey...the manual designated the four little control buttons just fine...I think there was suppose to be a sticker for defineing the button operations...but I didn't get one...made my own with a few labels. It very flexible and easy to navigate.

No internal sounds...it's light enough to cart around and carry a small rack of moduals in the other hand. The moduals will outweigh this board...flimsy it is...but like previously reviewed...once it's situated it's solid.

I misplaced the adaptor for this...and accidentally plugged the wrong one in...smelt a little smoke...thought it was fried...went back on ebay searching for another...(their dirt cheap for what you get) Found the original adaptor before bidding on another one...plugged it in...and it worked fine. I did say I swore off Fatar a long time ago and here's why...I had a Studio 1176 a few years back...and apparently something slipped off one of the weighted keys and caused it to clunk clunk. That was my fault I admit...It fell while in a unworthy case...however when I called Fatar N.Y. I'd never met a more bunch of arrogant rude unhelpful individuals in my life...and I've been in the business a long long time. I think they developed such a bad reputation they had to change their name to studio logic. Seems logical to me...ha!

copy and paste...when I called Fatar N.Y. I'd never met a more bunch of arrogant rude unhelpful individuals in my life...and I've been in the business a long long time. I think they developed such a bad reputation they had to change their name to studio logic. Seems logical to me...ha!

I would buy another...I dig this board...I can recommend it...but be wary of fatar keybeds...especially found in other instruments.

This is about the best blend of easy-of-use and features you're likely to find. Anything this thing can do can be accomplished in two button pushes, making this a great live controller. I think their method of using the keyboard as a number pad is brilliant.

There is a manual available online, which is kinda helpful for most of the features. However, the images are low-res and hard to see in some cases. My particular board (used) doesn't have everything labeled, so it's taken some trial and error to figure everything out.

It does not remember your settings once you turn it off, but because it only takes 3 seconds to "reprogram" it, no big deal. It also does NOT have MIDI "Active Sensing" which in my mind is a GOOD thing because this confuses some MIDI gear.

The only thing it doesn't have that I wish it did have was a MIDI thru. It only has two parallel MIDI outs.

The Mod wheel is easily assignable, which I consider one of the best
features... use it as a distortion level, drawbar, chorus amount, etc.

No sounds, obviously.

Feels good to play. When I was researching, I wasn't sure what "semi-weighted" meant. For those curious, Hammond Organs are considered to have semi-weighted action. It's the feel of a "real" keyboard, not the cheap department store variety. However, it's not weighted like real piano keys either. If you are looking for a controller to do organ, this is what you are looking for.

If you are looking for something to control piano, you may want a weighted feel (and *perhaps* another octave or three.)

There are jacks for volume and sustain, too.

I agree with earlier reviews: when you first lift the thing, you'll gasp at how light it is. The shell is flimsy-feeling plastic. If you image a Roland from the 90's, it's *not* like that. It's small, too. Not more than six inches wider than the 51 keys themselves.

It's the only controller I'm willing to spend any money on (I'm a cheap bastard), so yes, it will be my only axe. One key seems to send full or high velocity values, but that's about the only thing wrong with it. That doesn't interfere with organ sounds anyway since they aren't velocity sensitive.

I accidentally plugged in a 15v AC adapter to it (oops!) and fried the insides pretty good, but because the circuitry is so darned simple, I was able to fix it with a $2 part (voltage regulator). Let's hear it for simple and elegant.

Never used. Doubt I could at this point if I wanted to.

It is totally worth what I spent on it: $75 on eBay. Wow. I run this into a Behringer Nano controller into a Peavey Spectrum organ module, then that goes into a homemade leslie. I'm not much of a player yet, but this setup works amazingly well for the $200 I spent total (not including leslie). It's also light, making it easy to toss in the car. My buddy's Kurz weighs a ton.

The reviews I read leaned me towards this instead of later models, mostly because of ease-of-use. I was tempted by other controllers such as M-Audio and such, that had a lot more knobs and sliders, but the reviews tended to be overwhelmingly negative both in terms of feel and reliability.

What can I say, it's just plug 'n play so the Studio 610+ gets a 10 here. If you know what a master-keyboard is you'll understand that there is no need to look at the manual.

61 Keys that do feel semi-weighted, two wheels (one for pitch, the other one's free assingable) and four buttons in the middle of the keyboard for program- and channel change, a transpose button and a control button to assign pitch, mod, vol or pan to the expression wheel. Two jacks for a volume and a sustainer pedal and thats all I ask for...

I think it could be used on stage as well as at home, so, as an allrounder, it gets a 10.

The keys feel very good to your fingers. For example, I tried the Korg Triton some time ago, and have to say that the Fatar feels a lot better and this is the case with a lot of hi-end synthesizers, so I think I'll turn to expanders in the future.

The unit itself looks a bit cheap, but it surely takes more violent approaches by the user with a smile. I never used it on stage (since I am a guitarist ;-) ) but while transporting, it fell for several times without getting damaged. I like (and demand) products being build to last, so they get a 10 here...
If I would do a gig with it, I'd go to battle without a backup for the Fatar is a stout warrior.

Never had to call them...

The Fatar Studio 610+ is affordable, nice to play and really build to last.

Fantastic...


Koncept Kosh

EASY PEASY. PLUG IT IN. TURN IT ON. CONNECT MIDI CABLE. CONNECT
SUSTAIN AND VOLUME PEDALS. NEVER EVEN LOOKED AT THE MANUAL.

NO DISPLAY OR FLASHING LIGHTS TO LET YOU KNOW "WHERE YOU ARE" ARE
"WHAT YOU JUST DID". BUT,...THE KEYBOARD HAS A "SEMI-WEIGHTED" FEEL
WITH VELOCITY AND AFTERTOUCH!! THE MODULATION WHEEL IS ASSIGNABLE
TO VARIOUS MIDI PARAMETERS. VERY BASIC BUT VERY FUNCTIONAL.

NO SOUNDS.
THE KEYBOARD ACTION IS VERY NICE.

OWNED IT FOR 4 YEARS.
NO PROBLEMS.
IT DOES LOOK AND FEEL QUITE FLIMSY WHEN YOU PICK IT UP.
BE GENTLE IF YOU MOVE IT.
ONCE STATIONARY AND ON A STURDY STAND,..IT FEELS ROCK SOLID.

NEVER CALLED THEM.

AN EXCELLENT BASIC CONTROLLER.
I'VE BEEN EYEING UP THOSE NEW M-AUDIO CONTROLLERS, BUT NONE OF THOSE
MODELS HAVE KEYS WITH "AFTERTOUCH"!!!!
FOR NOW I AM STICKING WITH MY TRUSTY FATAR!

It's a midi controller, so there's no sounds. The manual is pretty much standard for a midi controller.

The synth-weighted (semi weighted) keys respond nicely, changing patches, midi channels is really nicely done, (i like it better than the SL-161) Changing banks, however was not possible with my synth.

It features good velocity and aftertouch, the wheels are pretty much standard fare, the mod wheel is assignable, and works great, the pitch wheel could feel a little less floppy for my tastes but hey. Thats me.

I loved this board, it was my primary board for about 3 years, I was using it with no backup until just recently, during travel, the program change button decided it didnt want to work anymore. Being the most vital button on the board, I needs repair/replacing. They dont make the Studio 610 Plus anymore, and I really dont like the look/feel of the SL-161, so it looks like I am going to buy a Roland A-37. (more keys, more features) I am quite an abusive board player, I bang, pound, and lean my board all over the place, this board stood up to my abuse for quite a long time, impressive. Chances are a lot of the button problems are caused by me beating the crap out of the keys. None of the keys ever failed, however. I'd buy another Studio 610 Plus, but unfortunately, most owners dont want to part with them.

Fatar themselves have not responded to a single request for service parts, etc. Their US distributor for the Studiologic series (the new ones) said they dont make them anymore, therefore no replacement parts are available, and directed me to FATAR. Whom I have not been able to contact. Basically, unless you can find a Fatar Reseller that has broken ones/spare parts laying about, chances are you wont be able to get service on this board. It's a real shame, a superior board for the price.

I loved this board, sure it looks kind of cheap and a bit like a toy, but you could really beat the living crap out of it live, I think i may have knocked it off the stand at just about every show for awhile, and it just kept asking for more. Never lost action in the keys, and aside from losing the program change button, it still works like a dream, (although i have one side of it held together with super glue and electrical tape so it doesnt crack open anymore) I hope my new controller can stand up to my pounding/abuse. I dont think the SL-161's possibly could. A rugged and rough unit that responds VERY well should not have been replaced by FATAR for such a shoddy upgrade. Such is progress, though.

This unit (same as SL161) really is a 'no-brainer'. Just connect via either of the 2 MIDI outs to your PC or sound module and play! Never had to concern myself with channel selection or anything. It just works!

The reason I bought it was the action - it's AWESOME! Heavier than most synths I've tried - even feels 'semi-weighted'. Not being a pianist by nature, I find this action perfect, even though I'd probably really enjoy a fully wieghted action eventually. It's just so much better than many units costing twice the price!

Velocity/aftertouch and the control/mod wheels are absolutely first class. This master keyboard really 'feels' good to play - lets me get on with the creativity.

I must admit, it doesn't seem to weigh much and looka a little cheaply made, but then there's the 'feel' and the awesome action. I love it! I don't gig with it, though, it just sits on the stand in my home studio, so i don't really know about how robust it would be on the road.

Never needed to call 'em!

If I ever need another master/controller keyboard, or if I ever lose this one, the first thing I will do is check out another Fatar! Highly recommended to anyone, pianist/keyboard player or not.