Oberheim MC-1000

In general, it's a case of turn the thing on and go. The minimal interface is pretty functional, but takes a little getting used to (i.e. fiddle around with it before the first gig...). Pretty much everything is accessed via the matrix button panel (5 rows, 7 cols = 12 buttons); this is fine for setting up patches in the studio, but makes editing on stage a bit annoying. The one that sticks in the craw is the transpose function, which is an editable patch parameter - so if you want to use it, you have to go into edit mode, then select and change the transpose for one or both keyboard zones. If you then change patch number, the transpose you've just entered doesn't come with you (it doesn't stay with the original patch either, unless you save changes). So that's a decidedly awkward procedure for live use when in the middle of a tune. The side benefit: it makes me do what I should be doing, which is transposing with the mind rather than the machine, and not relying on the magic button!

Action is good; though at first I found it a little too easy to hit full velocity, even on the heavier velocity curves (there are 8 selectable curves). But I got used to it pretty quickly. It has a waveblaster slot for adding a soundcard, which sounded like a great idea, until I realised that there are very few waveblaster cards around. Waveblaster was a cross-compatibility standard in the mid/late 90's used for connecting synth daughter-cards to pc soundcards, but was effectively dropped as soundcards developed and software sampling got up to speed - the yamaha db50xg and db51xg were probably the best knows GM wb cards. (I found a 1994 creative labs GM card, which is just about usable if i don't want to lug a module around). There are not many waveblasters around second-hand, I imagine they're perceived as rather useless with no current soundcards supporting the waveblaster standard any more. Oberheim have an OP1 daughter card, but they told me in email that this card is only usable in the MC2000 - a pity, as it has the piano sounds they used in their minigrand piano module, which I really like and use all the time.
I guess this comes down to the pace of development in the music hardware industry being far slower than the pc industry. Which brings up another quibble - no USB support!! Surely anyone in the master keyboard business must be taking note of the success of Evolution, Midiman, Roland/Edirol etc with their USB controllers.

Rugged, rock-solid, seems super reliable so far. I got rid of an old Fatar SL900, which was physically far more flimsy than this. Excellent build quality!

They replied promptly to my email queries. The gear seems reliable, so I haven't had to have it repaired. (The Oberheim brand was bought from Gibson by Italian company Viscount; they seem to have maintained its reputation as a high quality marque. They also have a division called Voice Systems, I've bought a couple of their monitors and they also seem to be of very good quality. Fingers crossed...)

PROS: An excellent, well-built instrument with a couple of odd features. Good value for the money - far better than the comparably priced Fatars. Do your preparatory work setting up the patches, and it's a great live controller.
CONS: A USB port would be nice, maybe a couple more assignable sliders... The Waveblaster slot is only marginally more useful than a dodo enclosure...

Very easy to use in the main. Just plug it in and off you go, but the MC-1000 is a MIDI controller keyboard and so does not offer an internal soundset without the additional daughter board installed for tone generation. I use the MC as a controller only so I cannot offer a view on the sounds.
The manual is a little strange and tells you more about how to select a function rather than what that function actually does.

The MC-1000 features an 88-note balanced hammer action keyboard which is very heavy and solid. I can imagine some players shreading their fingers on this. It is a very expressive instrument and extremely good for playing convincing piano-style music. It also looks and feels remarkably professional. The keyboard responds to velocity and aftertouch.

The MC-1000 is velocity and aftertouch sensitive. I imagine that it can be used for any type of music, but the sound obviously depends on what device you are controlling.

The MC-1000 is built like a tank, which is the main reason I bought it. The majority of the weight is in the keyboard although the entire chassis is made of fairly heavy guage steel, and the end panels are solid block of hardwood that are about 30mm thick. The base of the unit has also been designed with a recess so that it will not bow under its own weight. The metal does not bend.

Turnkey are the sole distributors of Oberheim products in the UK. I have yet to deal with them regarding problems over the operation of this instrument.

I would be rather upset if my MC-1000 were stolen as I have come to love it very much as a large centrepiece master controller in my set-up.
The main reason I was drawn to the MC-1000 was value for money. You really do get lots of keyboard for little money here. It has the appearance of something that cost double the actual price. The appearance is also the other main factor in why I chose the MC-1000. It is one of the best looking master keyboards available at such a price.