Cakewalk A-300 PRO, Cakewalk A-500 PRO, Cakewalk A-800 PRO USB MIDI Keyboard Controllers Ship
Originally introduced at the 2010 NAMM show, the Cakewalk A-PRO Series of USB MIDI controllers -- the A-300 PRO (32-key), A-500 PRO (49-key), and A-800 PRO (61-key) -- are now shipping and readily available.
The new Mac and PC compatible keyboard controllers, developed in conjunction with Roland, are USB-powered and feature easy to access controls, eight Velocity-sensitive Dynamic pads, an ultra-bright backlit LED display and buttons, FPT (Fast Processing Technology) low-latency MIDI transmission, and more. Each one comes with the Production Plus Pack suite of music creation software that includes Sonar 8.5 LE recording software and three high-quality virtual instruments: Rapture LE, Cakewalk Sound Center, and Studio Instruments Drums.
Use them with just about any digital audio workstation (DAW), including Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Apple Garage Band, Apple Logic, Steinberg Nuendo, Avid Pro Tools, and of course, Cakewalk Sonar and the Production Plus Pack of music creation software.
A-800PRO MIDI Keyboard Controller Features:
- 61 Velocity-sensitive keys
- 45 assignable controls: knobs, sliders, buttons, transport, and more
- 8 Dynamic pads for finger drumming and MIDI triggering
- Sure-grip Pitch Bend / Modulation Stick
- Expand playability with Sustain and Expression Pedals (available separately)
- USB Bus Powered -- no AC adaptor required
- Roland-quality manufacturing and craftsmanship
- Ready to play with 3 included virtual instruments
- Works with any DAW
- Supports Windows 7 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard
- Includes the Production Plus Pack music creation software
- Backlit 16 x 2 character LCD display
A-500 PRO MIDI Keyboard Controller Features:
- 49 Velocity-sensitive keys (with channel Aftertouch)
- 45 assignable controls: knobs, sliders, buttons, transport, and more
- 8 Dynamic pads for finger drumming and MIDI triggering
- Sure-grip Pitch Bend / Modulation Stick
- Expand playability with Sustain and Expression Pedals (available separately)
- USB Bus Powered -- no AC adaptor required
- Roland-quality manufacturing and craftsmanship
- Ready to play with 3 included virtual instruments
- Works with any DAW
- Supports Windows 7 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard
- Includes the Production Plus Pack music creation software
- Backlit 16 x 2 character LCD display
A-300 PRO MIDI Keyboard Controller
- 32 Velocity-sensitive keys (with channel Aftertouch)
- 45 assignable controls: knobs, sliders, buttons, transport
- 8 Dynamic pads for finger drumming and MIDI triggering
- Pitch Bend / Modulation Stick
- Expand playability with Sustain and Expression Pedals (available separately)
- USB Bus Powered -- no AC adaptor required
- Durable Roland-quality manufacturing
- Ready to play with 3 included virtual instruments
- Works with any DAW
- Supports Windows 7 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard
- Includes the Production Plus Pack music creation software
- Backlit 16 x 2 character LCD display
Cakewalk's A-PRO Series of USB MIDI controllers are now available. For prices and further details, visit cakewalk.com.
Great Keyboard
I bought this because I wanted a small portable keyboard to use with Sonar and my laptop AND my home system. This keyboard works perfectly for me. I can play my Triton 88 as a slave with the MIDI merge input, use all the knobs, buttons and sliders on the A-500 to control Sonar apps then unplug it, grab my laptop and head out the door. The keyboard has a springy solid feel to it, very responsive and the knobs and sliders have a nice rubbery grip. It's lightweight (8lbs 7oz) and compact, a little smaller than the Axiom 49. Set up was not ideal-none of the controls worked when I plugged it in after installing the drivers. But the Cakewalk support is really top notch and they walked me through a few fixes until we hit the right one, "factory reset" in the functions menu. I also had to reverse the polarity on my M-Audio foot pedal for sustain. Once it was all set up it worked great, the A pro editor comes up in Sonar, all the knobs and sliders move, and are easy to program. I tried the Axiom and the keys feel chunky and response is inconsistent, also it wouldn't work with my Triton as a slave keyboard. It's also bigger and heavier- 13 lbs. The bigger pads and bright blue display are much better though, and they have drivers for Windows 7 64 bit on their website. The A PRO is the one to get if you use SONAR, not sure how it works with other DAW's but Cakewalk support is really the best and you at least have someone to bitch at if it doesn't work.
how is the assign key working , is it automap like novation?
Comparing
Cakewalk A-300PRO $299.00
Novation 25 SL MKII $399.00
Akai MPK25 Keyboard USB MIDI Controller $249.00
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