Roland PC-200 MKII Midi Keyboard Controller

Pretty easy to use, since it is "only" a MIDI keyboard with no sound generator at all. Plug and play is what this beast is for.

On one hand, it is nice to be able to send so many different MIDI commands (see features). But the fact that everything is done using the keyboard keys while the button is lit is not really user-friendly. Hit that button,
and playing will not generate any note, while there is some risk that a "random" message gets send.

Changing Midi channel uses the same mechanism, but is less error prone and similar to other keyboards (press the button, press one key, press the button again).

Do not expect too much, since is only has 4 octaves, three buttons and one volume/data slider. No USB either (they made a 300 with USB on I believe). Evolution keyboards are much better equipped for a lower price. But this beast has a sustain pedal input I use at all times, a pitch bend/modulation joystick (very limited sensitivity for modulation), and only three buttons : two for changing octave up/down, and one for changing Midi channel and sending many types of MIDI commands. Even the less common CC0 CC16 and CC32 are there, so chances are the one you want is on the list. But since there is no display, using key for selecting numbers is not practical at all.

No sounds, so this does not make part of the review.

No way to change velocity curve. No aftertouch. Limited modulation sensitivity. Not possible to obtain "very low" volumes.
I guess I got accustomed to its curve anyway.

Very good, I carry it each week in my car, no box, felt from seat a few times, got my case with sound generator, mixer etc fall on it, got under rain, even snow, and it keeps going without any hitch.

For power supply, I never tried batteries, but I just extended the DC power cable of the sound generator, and connect both on the same. It works fine. Actually, it draws so little that connecting it on the unplugged transfo after two weeks inactivity would power it up for a few seconds !

Never used. I heard bad stories about support, but I never tried to contact them.

If lost or stolen, I would look for a synth, that does not need a Midi cable and external box. Some home keyboard with internal amplifier would actually better fit my needs, but sound quality is lower than what I use (SC55).

The controller compacts a lot of interface into very few buttons. It is capable of sending program changes, entering numeric midi data, etc, but all with no display for feedback, and only the midi/select button to start you.

Battery powered is great, and they last along time.

Velocity data starts at 50 and goes to 127, which is not too great.

Has been dropped, kicked (not drop-kicked though), and gotten quite dusty. Still going, not a nick.

na

Does what it should, with no bells and whistles. The velocity problem is the biggest bummer.

This is purely a midi controller. The manual is good.

velocity sensitive keys; aftertouch; midi controllers: after Touch, Velocity, Reverb level, Chorus Level, Pan Pot, CC-16, as well as any midi control change. The above mentioned 7 have their own data entry controller right on the keyboard, making it very easy to change those parameters via the controller while recording (eg pan potting left and right while playing) there is also +1/-1 octave change buttons, also making a transpose on-the-fly very easy it is a small keyboard, which is good for the computer desktop; only having 4 octaves (49 note) bothers me a bit, but you can make up for it by the easy octave switch button

the one thing i don't like is the combined bender/modulation wheel--there is not enough of a range for the modulation, so that when you try to modulate it makes a quantum leap to the maximum the velocity is good---i haven't tried aftertouch