Keyboard action quality?

[Razmo]

I was wondering, if anyone with a Pro 2 could tell a little about how the keyboard feels to play? ... does it have consistent velocity sensitivity on the keys? ... how hard do you need to press the keys to get aftertouch? ... how is the general feel of it?

[Benzebub]

I have just had it for a few days now so still more to discover, but, they feel very sturdy despite being "synth action". They do not feel cheap and wigglyThey are almost opposite of my Sub Phatty where the keys are "resisting" much more but still feel quite wiggly.
The aftertouch I found very usable on this. It's easy to control when you want it to without reacting just by pressing a key as it is on my Mopho.

[Razmo]

Thank you for the info... still considdering the Pro 2 here, but I've still got about a week to think it over... many options to choose from, so it's hard.

[Benzebub]

Agree. I was eyeing the Sub 37 but already owning a Sub Phatty tipped it over in favor of the Pro 2. I _think_ this will be my last keyboard synthesizer as I don't really have space for any more.

[Razmo]

I'll most likely get the Pro 2 as well very soon... initialy I decided against it for several reasons, but I really want a keyboard synth that I use with at least 3½ octave of keys, so the Pro 2 would fit the bill.

I did think about a Sub37, but I don't like the angled control panel, as I have gear that will be behind it on my desk, and it only has 3 octaves... I still want the Sub37, but I'll wait until MOOG release something similar in rack format... besides I'm not good at waiting, and I really don't know when the Sub37 will be available where i live, so...

So I believe I'll be on the Pro 2 wagon very soon, unless something extraordinary pops up very fast...

You say "Synth Action"... I thought the keys were semi weighted? ... how far is the travel of the keys on Pro 2? ...normal, or less? ... does it make mechanical "clonks!" when played?

Until now I've heard only good responses to the keys, so that's a good sign.

[namnibor]

I am yet to see a demo of someone actually "playing the keys" on Pro 2. Seems to appeal to sequence twiddlers so far and before taking the plunge on the Pro 2, may be prudent to know more...it seems like this instrument is shrouded in cloud of mystery...really weird.

[Benzebub]

You say "Synth Action"... I thought the keys were semi weighted? ... how far is the travel of the keys on Pro 2? ...normal, or less? ... does it make mechanical "clonks!" when played?

You are correct, sorry. They are indeed semi-weighted. I mixed up the terms since all my synths are semi-weighted.
They are not noisy. I cannot here any clonks or squeaks when playing. Bad analogy: The feel like a concrete floor with a rug on it. Soft but still very solid.

[Razmo]

You say "Synth Action"... I thought the keys were semi weighted? ... how far is the travel of the keys on Pro 2? ...normal, or less? ... does it make mechanical "clonks!" when played?

You are correct, sorry. They are indeed semi-weighted. I mixed up the terms since all my synths are semi-weighted.
They are not noisy. I cannot here any clonks or squeaks when playing. Bad analogy: The feel like a concrete floor with a rug on it. Soft but still very solid.

OK... nice... thanks for the info...

[Razmo]

I am yet to see a demo of someone actually "playing the keys" on Pro 2. Seems to appeal to sequence twiddlers so far and before taking the plunge on the Pro 2, may be prudent to know more...it seems like this instrument is shrouded in cloud of mystery...really weird.

I'll most likely be making some demo's the way you want to hear them Namnibor, because I'm probably going to go for the Pro 2 first anyway... I need a new keyboard with some quality, and the extra ½ octave in contrast to the Sub37 makes the difference for me... also I'm going to have the keyboard standing on my desktop so that I can reach the knobs, but as I have gear right behind it, the angled panel of the Sub37 is a problem as well. on top of that I REALLY need those two sliders on the Pro 2 for my P12 module.

So I'll wait for MOOG to develop a new rack-piece sometime in the future instead of getting the Sub37.

I'm still waiting for the refund from the Tempest I returned (the postal company here screwed up, and has not sent the package back yet )... but as soon as the refund is there, I'm ordering a Pro 2.

[Benzebub]

So I'll wait for MOOG to develop a new rack-piece sometime in the future instead of getting the Sub37.

Me too! I would really like a Sub Zero module.

[namnibor]

Interestingly, the angled panel of Sub 37 works perfectly for me because I have it on top/third tier of one of my keyboard stands and it's perfect access for my needs. I prefer to stand mostly when I am playing and easy access to desk where computer/DAW is.

Also, I only mentioned to find out more now rather than an unfortunate *much later* when perhaps, it may not be possible to use the sliders on Pro 2 for the P12 module. I am almost certain I had read somewhere on old forum where that was asked "on the forum" and someone from DSI had implied this was not yet implemented but I could be entirely wrong. It would just suck for you if it ended-up being a "feature request never implemented" so *maybe* sending a direct DSI support question regarding that before purchasing would be pragmatic?!

I quite like the key-action of the Sub 37.

[Razmo]

Interestingly, the angled panel of Sub 37 works perfectly for me because I have it on top/third tier of one of my keyboard stands and it's perfect access for my needs. I prefer to stand mostly when I am playing and easy access to desk where computer/DAW is.

Also, I only mentioned to find out more now rather than an unfortunate *much later* when perhaps, it may not be possible to use the sliders on Pro 2 for the P12 module. I am almost certain I had read somewhere on old forum where that was asked "on the forum" and someone from DSI had implied this was not yet implemented but I could be entirely wrong. It would just suck for you if it ended-up being a "feature request never implemented" so *maybe* sending a direct DSI support question regarding that before purchasing would be pragmatic?!

I quite like the key-action of the Sub 37.

It's probably also the most ergonomical for most users I think... the angle gives better view of the panel layout... for me it's only because I need to access gear behind my master controller keyboard... I have three 4unit rackpanels behind where it would be standing, where the three top units have gear in them... I'd not be able to touch these if the Sub37 was standing in front of them... one of thsese gear-things is my E-MU sampler that I need absolute hands on control with, so the Pro 2 which is not as high fits better.

Aout the sliders on Pro 2 being compatible with P12 module, someone on the old forum confirmed that it does in fact work

I just hope that MOOG sees the light, and create a Slim Subby or something like that .. I still really want that MOOG.

Here is a picture of my studio table... that should make it more clear why the Sub37 is too high:

[Martin]

Aout the sliders on Pro 2 being compatible with P12 module, someone on the old forum confirmed that it does in fact work

][/quote]

Hi all,

yes i tested Pro2 with P12Keyboard and it works via MIDI cable havent tried with usb. Tested with Position + Pressure via NRPN and CC again a moment ago, cant make out a difference between direct on P12 or over Midi in terms of timing or precision. (Strange i thought midi is slower then the internals of the instrument) The Latches work too.

The Keyboard seems to be the same in Prophet 12 and the Pro 2, hard to say how it is, like An1x or Poly Evolver just a bit speedier more precise down point blending over into AT area very well, crispier with fast springing up again wich doesnt "prrr" just going back up again. Weight and feather have good balance.

Hope this helps,

Martin

[Razmo]

Thanx... seems the keybed is quite nice... have not heard anyone saying anything bad about it yet, so that's a good sign.

About the reaction of the sliders thru MIDI... when it comes to simple stuff like a control (wheel, slider, knob whatever) the speed of MIDI is more than enough to not hear a difference or notice any latency.

In fact, if you work with synths on a DAW sequencer, those sequencers usualy echo incoming MIDI data back out to whatever track is hilighted... that means that if you're using, for example the Prophet 12 keyboard with a sequencer, you'd normaly set the P12 to "local off"... this shuts off the direct connections of the controls in the Prophet 12 to it's engine, and then only sends the control data out as MIDI data to the sequencer on your DAW... this then in turn sends it back via MIDI to the P12 which then reacts to it.

So in essence, you're allready using MIDI for control data if you're using a sequencer, even if you're playing a P12 via it's own keyboard, wheels and knobs etc.

It's only when the P12 is set to Local On, that it's essentialy "faster" than MIDI since it's directly connected to the internal engine, but I bet you won't notice any difference in response, unless the MIDI trafix is extremely clogged up with data information.

[pulsn]

The Keyboard action is fine, not as good as on my Waldorf Blofeld, which feels even more like quality, but fine. Both, DSI and Waldorf uses the Fatar TP/9s which is good. The keyboard of my Moog Sub 37 in comparison feels and plays like a cheap china toy. Very bad quality.