Basic Edirol PCR-A30 / Laptop question

rossc · Post by **rossc** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 5:26 pm

This is my first post on the forum so hello to everyone.

I've got a very basic question here - I have just bought an Edirol PCR-A30 keyboard to control Ableton via my laptop. I've connected it via USB but I can't get Ableton to recognise / acknowledge anything i'm doing on the PCR...it's got me worrying that I might have misunderstood how this all works. Should the setup I have here allow me to use midi or do I still need to go out and by something like a Midisport 1x1 to connect the PCR to the laptop before it will respond to what i'm doing?

Sorry for asking something so basic

Thanks a lot,

Ross

garvey · Post by **garvey** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:08 pm

Hi Ross:

Very interesting--and timely--question. I just received my PCR-A30 yesterday (ordered in DECEMBER!).

Unfortunately, we're both going to have to wait around until someone comes along, because I can't get my to work either. The Edirol manual is a bit, uh, skimpy for the beginner (me). It reminds me of a line from an old Monty Python bit--how to play the flute: "Well, you blow in one end and run your fingers up and down the outside." True, but hardly the whole story...

I have succeeded in getting it to play the AUDIO from Ableton; have you got that far? But the one thing I've noticed about that is that the volume feed to the headphones is way too low--even cranked to 11.

I'm also trying to get the PCR-A30 to run REASON. So far I'm struggling. I've not really dived in with both feet yet, and I supposed it'll be at least one exchange of emails with Edirol tech support. Still, if anyone on the list could throw us a bone...

Mark

rossc · Post by **rossc** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:39 pm

Hi mate, sorry to hear your suffering from similar symptoms to myself. Like you I've managed to get it up and running on the audio front, but no joy with the midi. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I'm not going to have to pay yet more money to get a midi interface as well.

Hopefully someone will reply with an answer soon...

cheers,

Ross

rossc · Post by **rossc** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:04 pm

Hi again, thankfully i've managed to figure it out and it's doing the midi stuff fine now so no need to rush out and buy a midi interface.

Basically what to do is follow the instructions to install the drivers, etc as it tells you in the Edirol manual. When you load up Ableton go to the Options bar at the top of the screen, then Preferences, then Midi / sync. From their select both Midi in and Midi out to 'Edirol PCR-A' and that should be it.

Hope it works for you too.

Ross

garvey · Post by **garvey** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:34 pm

Hi:
Glad to hear you're up and running. I have installed the drivers, etc. And on the Preferences > Audio tab I do have the ability to choose the Edirol drivers, but on the Preferences > MIDI tab, the only choices I see are my old SoundBlaster card. I remain flummoxed for now. Am waiting on a return email from Edirol support.
Thanks,
Mark

Question: Are you monitoring through the Edirol's headphone jack? If so, do you have to crank it all the way up to get a reasonable volume?

rossc · Post by **rossc** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:13 pm

Hope Edirol sorts out your midi problem soon. As for the volume, yeah i'm having to crank it up a lot too when listening through the headphones, haven't hooked it up to my studio monitors yet.

All the best,

Ross

garvey · Post by **garvey** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:38 pm

Well, I reinstalled the drivers, and now I'm up and running with both MIDI and audio. Still a bit of a learning curve ahead, but nothing too daunting, I think. Good luck with yours,

Mark

shaneblyth · Post by **shaneblyth** » Fri May 12, 2006 11:23 pm

i am looking at buying one of these..
what do u guys think now ?

whats the latency like ?
whats the cpu load like (i have a mac powerbook)
what about intel macs as i want to grab one.. do they work and or have drivers for them ?
one other thing.. what are the knobs like .. are the continuous or do they have stops ?

cheers

lummux · Post by **lummux** » Sat May 13, 2006 9:41 pm

I found the mic inputs a bit noisy so I am selling it. Upgraded to a Presonus Firebox, which sounds mint.

I found the headphone output to be rubbish as well, far too quiet to be useful.

Transferring memory sets to the PCR using the program is a bit tedious, as it's SYSEX, and you have to press about 5 keys on the PCR before sending.

The inbuilt speakers don't work on bus power.

I'd say it was OK for live stuff, but not great for recording anything that isn't a demo. Handy little device though. V portable.