Check this out - Master Controller Keyboard from CHINA!

[DoubleBlade]

TravelMate 8100

Yup , it sure has that "1394" port in it....

But I don't understand , why "1394" where they can just state "Firewire port" to avoid confusion...

 

[Silencer]

is there anyplace to test this new product? any showroom or something?

 

[Cheez]

Doubleblade,

"1394" sounds cooler than "firewire". Also, it takes up less space to print. Seriously, I've got no idea.


Silencer,

Bongman already told us the venue for the launch - scroll upwards. I think it is a new company - they don't have a showroom yet (still under renovation apparently). So this Sunday's launch is the first. Otherwise, will have to wait for them to open shop, or wait for City Music to bring in their stock.

 

[Cheez]

I couldn't make it to the launch. Could some kind soul who went please give some feedback and review on this keyboard? How did the launch go?

 

[DoubleBlade]

I just came back from the launch a couple of hours ago....

So here goes my review....


The launch wasn't really that grand as what I had expected.Just a small room and demos by the personal was all I need to make my decision THAT THIS IS THE IDEAL BRAND FOR ME!!!!

I shall now talk about the UF5 , UF6 , UF7 Series of MIDI Controllers.As promised , what you see is what you get.The UF5 (49 key) cost $350 SGD is already dirt cheap , considering the fact that CME has thrown in 8 assignable control knobs , 9 assignable control faders and LED data display , control buttons which include Programe , Transpose , Octave , Channel , Keyboard Split and 6 sequencer buttons , including REC , PLAY , STOP , FASTWIND , REWIND AND RETURE TO START etc into their MIDI controllers , surely WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR????

Of course , their controllers have the aftertouch and breath control interface function but I'm in no position to comment on the aftertouch as I do not know what aftertouch is.

I shall now touch on the UF8 (88 key) series.It comes with UNGRADED weighted keys which in my opinion , if I would comment on the touch and feel of it , I shall say that the touch is a bit stiff and wobbily but still ideal for any pianist.The touch reminds me of a Bosenderfor Grand at La Salle SIA with some extra stiffness to it.


The only setback I had was that right now you have to depend on USB power for it to function.The notebook from which the controller was connected to experienced a huge amount of latency.I guess it was the notebook that was causing this lag but when connected to a PC (UF7) with 256MB of RAM , it worked perfectly fine.


Another thing I would like to highlight is that the Opitional Firewire Expansion Board will ONLY be arriving here at the end of this year as CME wants to market the expansion boards in Europe first before arriving in Singapore.So right now , if you were to get one for yourself , it would be USB power for a time being....

The firewire expansion board includes :


2 24bit/192KHz line inputs

2 24bit/192KHz line outputs

1 Mic in with preamp

1 guitar Hi-z input

1 IEEE 1394 FireWire interface

1 S/PDIF digital I/O

2 headphone outputs

1 MIDI OUT port

1 MIDE IN port

1 MIDI THRU port

1 headphone volume control


Prices for the range of controllers (in SGD , thanks to the kind sales personal) :


UF5 (49 key) - $350

UF6 (61 key) - $496

UF7 (76 key) - $662

UF8 (88 key) - $995

 

[iansoh]

wasn't much at the showroom. only three models brought out, and only one keyboard was hooked up to a synth. the other two weren't working with the software.

i tried out mainly the 88. action feels light and slightly hollow. not like the yamaha stage pianos at all. i'd say it's similar to the roland rd-150 and alesis qs8.2 key action.

for the non-weighted one, i tried out the 76. quite a fair bit of resistance from the keys, not exactly light action. slightly more springy than the korg keybeds i'd say. tending towards the roland x6.

knobs and buttons felt relatively sturdy and reliable. definitely MUCH better than m-audio radium keyboards.


the lady bosses told me that on top of the prices quoted by doubleblade above, they're offering an additional 10% discount. they have an office at the science centre. but i don't have the address. maybe those who missed out today can go there to try it out. not sure if i should publicly post the contact information of the marketing personnel. but those who want it please pm me for it.

 

[DoubleBlade]

the lady bosses told me that on top of the prices quoted by doubleblade above, they're offering an additional 10% discount.

The 10% discount is only applicable if you purchase the controller on the day itself which unfortunately is already over....

 

[Cheez]

That is certainly bad news. Depending on USB power is not a problem - but there are so many comments re: the instablitiy of their USB driver. They are still coming out with the newer drivers - I hope not beta versions. Their website said that power "can be supplied" by USB - I thought it meant that they have an option for a power adapter or USB.

I don't understand why they only hook up one unit to a synth. To test the response of a keyboard, we really need to feel the velocity response on a synth, not just the mecahnical action of the keys. Do any of the units have multiple velocity response curves to choose from? What is everybody's opinion on the velocity responses? What's more - hooking up to a PC with low latency - that is a really bad move. Can't tell whether it is a driver issue or a PC issue. Low latency (if not zero-latency) is the KEY for any keyboardist.

I don't expect much from their key action, but from the sound of it - it doesn't sound too bad. Cannot expect excellent action from low price. If it feels like an RD-170...M-audio certainly will face some competition, especially they have after-touch which the M-audio doesn't have.

Anybody tried the knobs and faders on softsynth? How is the response like? Is it over/under sensitive?

What about the pitch bend and mod wheel?

 

[iansoh]

oh yes.. the velocity curves. there are 3 to choose from. curve 1, 2 and 3. the difference is really great. the heaviest one is really heavy on the 88. quite some effort required to produce the full 127 parameter(i could only estimate via hearing the piano sample velocity). and the lightest one feels like the keyboard's become velocity insensitive. really extreme ends of the scale. the middle one is just okay. didn't feel particulary odd during the 15min or so i spent playing it, so i guess that's a good sign.

couldn't judge the response of faders and knobs. there was only a triton extreme there. no appropriate software or softsynths to provide the much needed visual interface.

didn't stay there to test the keyboard thoroughly. maybe bongman will be able to provide more insight.

 

[Cheez]

Thanks for the info! Sounds like only velocity curve 2 will be used and curve 1 and 3 are pretty unsuable - therefore redundant. So they did have something else to generate sounds beside a notebook. That's more like it.

So at this stage, it seems the biggest problem is the USB drivers and power. Also, what is that round red thing in the middle? Is it a data wheel? Looks like it has 4 buttons on it.

The ergonomics also looked well thought out. At least the faders and knobs are on the left side - not like the M-audio's blunder.

 

[DoubleBlade]

Was wondering whether did anyone of you who went to the showroom received a call them regarding their new showroom location?

I just received their call about 5 mins ago....

 

[iansoh]

just to follow up on this thread...

my UF7 is just in!! i haven't set it up yet.. but running my fingers over the keys, it feels tough and slightly weighted. and it's not like the usual 76 key layout of E1 to G7. instead it is A0 to C7. i wonder how many ppl actually noticed this.

gonna set it up later... anybody else acquired a UF board?

 

[DoubleBlade]

Hope to hear from your comments regarding the UF series soon...

Am contemplating of getting one in August when there would be a 50% chance that I raise enough cash to buy the UF6

 

[Cheez]

and it's not like the usual 76 key layout of E1 to G7. instead it is A0 to C7. i wonder how many ppl actually noticed this.

This may be an advantage. The softsamplers (eg GigaStudio and Kontakt) which use keyswitching map their switches in the lower registers. These can go beyond E1. My 76 key Roland A70 had this problem sometimes - so I had to tranpose my keyboard down an octave on certain occasions. It can be a hassle when you sequence different instruments on the fly. Remember the UF series function as controllers, not synths. So the diffferent keyboard range gives an added advantage towards controlling softsamplers. Of course, the 88 key would have no problems at all.

 

[iansoh]

keyboard action IS heavy! able to play piano more comfortably on this than all other non-weighted keys i've played.

however though, it has problem working with BOTH my korg expression pedals! maybe it's the stereo plug, or it's JUST KORG accessories being unable to work on most other keyboards. one pedal is able to produce CC#04 from about 64 to 127. the other is just simply, maybe 127 to 127. ack! whose fault is it remains to be seen. i will have to get a new pedal in the mean time. korg DS-1H sustain pedal works totally fine though.

it feels a little funny having to behind the keyboard at a position skewed to the right. nothing a little getting-used-to won't solve, and ergonomically perfect, cos the control sliders and knobs sit just above where the left hand would mostly be.

still playing the babe. wait up for more feedback. in the mean time, anyone who knows what i can do about the expression pedal, please pour forth your suggestions!

 

[Cheez]

I'm not familiar with Korg expression pedals, but make sure that the sesitivity knob is set correctly. Otherwise, your best bet is to get a new pedal to try it. If any doubts with Korg, the Roland expression pedals are great. Mine works well after many years.

And is that round thing in the middle a data wheel?

 

[iansoh]

yes.. it's a data wheel and its default CC is set to program change. so useful for changing patches and presets on the fly! and it is ratcheted, or wahtever u call it.. i.e, it clicks for every one step of the knob that u turn. helps to judge how much to turn.

 

[Cheez]

Hey iansoh, you've already got about 24 hours with your new toy! Quick - tell us more about how you feel about it.

 

[seekz]

i tried out mainly the 88. action feels light and slightly hollow. not like the yamaha stage pianos at all. i'd say it's similar to the roland rd-150 and alesis qs8.2 key action.

for the non-weighted one, i tried out the 76. quite a fair bit of resistance from the keys, not exactly light action. slightly more springy than the korg keybeds i'd say. tending towards the roland x6.

knobs and buttons felt relatively sturdy and reliable. definitely MUCH better than m-audio radium keyboards.

WTF man you... Sell me your broken M-audio Radium still got the cheek to post this kinda shit on the net. Then blame that i didnt check properly before buying.

Bloody unethical piece of thrash! I'm glad you've used your FULL name for your account, so everyone will know what kinda guy IAN SOH is...

"someone who sells people his broken keyboard so he can buy a new one"

its a very small world.... your acts wont go un noticed.

 

[DoubleBlade]

broken in what sense?

not say literially the entire keyboard split into 2 halves right?