Sujet [NEWS] [NAMM] Cakewalk A-800PRO

Hi guys,

The PCRs and the A-Pros do share some commonalities (shape, mod wheel) but very quickly you will find these controllers are new and different.

First is the backlight LCD display which makes editing and changing settings a breeze. To change the settings of a slider you enter edit mode (a button press), touch the control you want to edit and then dial in the new value in the display. That's it! So there are no crazy combinations of buttons and notes that have to be pressed to get a new assignment to a control. I also really like the velocity meter on the display which is shown while you play. It is very useful to see that when working with patches in Rapture. Many Rapture patches have velocity mappings in them.

The keyboard bed itself has been upgraded significantly. These controllers play like a synth and not a MIDI controller. I love my XP-60 (bought brand new when they first came out) because of the feel of the keyboard bed and the responsiveness to aftertouch. Until the A-Pro I still used the XP-60 exclusively as my controller in my studio. However, now I like the A-Pro better, I really do.

The Pads are also new. They are velocity sensitive and have aftertouch. They can also be latched so working with the matrix view, samplers, drum machines etc is a very rewarding experience.

The button configuration, layout and function is also brand new. We (Roland and Cakewalk) listened to customers and incorporated their feedback into the work-flow and usability of the controllers. The A-Series is very easy to navigate and the controls are definitely arranged in a way where you can comfortably use and access the controls. For example the transport control section is above the keys, the sliders are significantly wider and flatter, and so on.

The ACT implementation is redone from the ground up.

The drivers are also brand new which means the already stable and responsive PCR drivers are taken to the next level. All the playability in the world is useless if the drivers aren't responsive as I know all of you know.

Finally, all three of the A-Pro series controllers have the same number of sliders, knobs, and pads and the same functionality. The only difference is the number of keys.

The A-500S can be run on batteries along with the SD-50. At the booth we have the A-500S and SD-50 running with the BA-330 PA all running on batteries. Obviously, this is great for live use.

I know I am starting to ramble as I am pretty tired from the first day of the show so I will stop now.  Anyway, the point is these are definitely new models and not just a "re-branded PCR".

Regards,

Robin