PCR 500 not bad for the money

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:46 pm

Someone digging old thread out, meanwhile there are few much better controllers. Novation got their software refined, MPK49, MPD32 . Those Edirols are great value for money.

Goran@Irrupt · Post by **Goran@Irrupt** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:56 pm

looks prety good.
i was consider buying one of CME's (UF8), are they THAT bad?

w

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:31 pm

if you want piano action keys that is the best deal. Just that the USB never worked right. Still yuse via mid they are all OK. Keays are the best part of all models.

Goran@Irrupt · Post by **Goran@Irrupt** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 7:00 pm

yeah, i wanna use it as a piano in my studio. i've also heard that it's possible to put Waldorf synth module in it and you can use it as a hard synth.
so, should i go for it? (CME, i mean!

)
thanks,
w

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 7:17 pm

The Waldprf sounds fantastic but almost impossible to use, sold mine for 100 Euros waiting for the standalone version. Workaround is operating it thsoftware but then with Logic or Cubase since Live is not too good for it.
CME 88 was usefull for me to study keyboard, since i am guitarist, keys are great for the money. What I did not like about any CME - weight the 88 is a monster though if it is to be in the studio, no gigs , it is fine. Alternative is the Doepfer but it costs twice or more.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:37 pm

Still, some drum pads would have been nice.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:55 pm

thanks for the mini-review, rihkyray. I am looking at the 49-key version too... even though I use the lemur for all my gigs I still would like to have some basic button/fader/knob setup to yank. Like many have said, the pcr-500 looks ideal.

Quick question for you to test, if you would care to indulge me;
Earlier pcr versions have all had low resolution knobs. If you please, could you record some slow knob+fader automation and see if it skips values - like, jumps 0, 2, 4, 6 etc? That would be awesome.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:26 pm

I didn't know earlier PCRs had low rez knobs?!?!

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:38 pm

I didn't either until I got mine... apparently the user demographic for the low-priced pcrs haven't had much interest in the resolution of the knobs, but man... 6-bit midi for a cutoff is step city...

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:40 pm

Machinate wrote:I didn't either until I got mine... apparently the user demographic for the low-priced pcrs haven't had much interest in the resolution of the knobs, but man... 6-bit midi for a cutoff is step city...

NO DOUBT!

Do you know if that's the case for Evolution boards as well? I also have an older Evolution that I can use given this situation.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:53 pm

Interesting - I just did a test on my Edirol PCR-30. Real slow knob and slider movements. Looks like it steps up 1 CC at a time. No low rez here. What model do you have, A?

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:02 pm

pcr-50. I left it at my previous gig, so I can't really sit down and do more testing on it... maybe it's just a bum unit?

illphill · Post by **illphill** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 11:32 am

has anyone tried the cme u-key yet? looks nice...

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:26 pm

Machinate wrote:thanks for the mini-review, rihkyray. I am looking at the 49-key version too... even though I use the lemur for all my gigs I still would like to have some basic button/fader/knob setup to yank. Like many have said, the pcr-500 looks ideal.

Quick question for you to test, if you would care to indulge me;
Earlier pcr versions have all had low resolution knobs. If you please, could you record some slow knob+fader automation and see if it skips values - like, jumps 0, 2, 4, 6 etc? That would be awesome.

Sorry,couldn't answer earlier, my phone line was cut and repaired only today.
Didn't notice anything abnormal, how exactly should I check it ?
PCR M1 though was like that, had it only a week- nice idea for megacompact portable unit but those jumpy values and dynamic too was uneven and in steps- 1. low, 2.sometimes louder sometimes softer, 3.VERY LOUD
Will try to check PCR 500 but let me know how to do it better.
Neb, I think those pads can be used as pads and even have aftertouch. Didnt have time to check it and I am not sure if I need them for playing- have my MPC for that.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:32 pm

nebulae wrote:Still, some drum pads would have been nice.

It is advertised as if the pads are both regular buttons and have velocity sensing.