Sir, this is exactly what I was looking for. In fact, so much more. This is a complete tutorial about A-49. And your setup is the same as what I had in mind. Thanks a lot! Also, thank you very much for the information about the CC settings. That part in particular was very helpful for my goal.
Thanks so much, glad you found the video helpful. I absolutely love this controller (for controlling my Yamaha YC-61); it has a great action, and it weighs next to nothing. Only drawback is I have to be careful if I do an organ smear on it not to push it right off my upper tier stand (because it's so light). Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe
This was my first midi controller purchase back in 2016. Perfect for what I was looking for, with both usb midi AND midi, and the keys felt nice compared to the m-a udio oxygen 25 I tried.
I have had the A-49 for 4 years now, The reason for the purchase is more or less as in your explanation, an additional advantage is that it can lie close to another keyboard and makes a heavy 2 tier standard out of reach. I use it with a Ketron sound module
I am totally with you on key actions. I am still on the look for a fairly inexpensive master keyboard with decent action. I had both the Oxygen Pro and Keylab Essential. Oxygen Pro is definitely passable but the Essential I couldn't stand for one minute. I suspect that maybe the more premium models (the non-essential Keylab) might have decent actions but I have no way of trying locally. It's surprising the A49 is still being sold, this is quite an old model (and A61 is also not available).
Yeah this model has hung around for a while (10 years?); but I'm super happy with it (and 5 lbs is great for a 2nd keyboard on gigs). Seems like other countries still sell the A-500 and A-800, not sure why they're not sold here. I've never tried the higher end Keylab's key action (I'm super curious about that one). Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe.
The GO has piano shaped true full size keys and the action is a bit more “piano like”; the A49 has slightly narrower synth style keys which are a better hybrid for playing either piano or organ; and while they aren’t as “piano like” they have a more premium feel to them. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe
I have a lot of keyboards lol (including a PSR-EW425 which is an awesome keyboard). But I wanted one as small and light as possible that also had 5 pin MIDI out to trigger the sounds on the YC-61 (which are amazing!). None of my other keyboards have 5 pin MIDI out, and they're all quite a bit bigger than the 5 lb A-49.
The Roland is a venerable and well-built controller, and it's great for live playing. But I don't believe it has aftertouch. Most customers though are buying keyboard controllers for use with DAWs and not live performance, so key feel is less important than DAW control, knobs, sliders and decent pads. The just released Arturia KeyLab 49 mk3 49-key Keyboard Controller (the more advanced line that sits above KeyLab Essential) is US$449, has a better keybed (that has aftertouch and it velocity sensitive), has a color LCD screen, contextual touch-sensitive knobs, pressure-sensitive pads, has normal pitch/mod wheels (not Roland's oddball wobble-stick), and it is USB-C powered
Thanks for sharing that! I’d like to try the keybed on one of those Arturia’s, no one stocks them where I live though. And the A-49 (I found out after doing the review) can trigger after touch with the D beam controller. I never use aftertouch personally, but at least it’s there (sort of ;). Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe
To be honest I don't know! The manual doesn't say, and I don't have a DP-10 to test with it; I tried my Yamaha pedal, but the polarity is opposite and not switchable so I can't test with that either, sorry about that!
There are no sounds built in to the A-49 (it's just a MIDI controller), so if you're not connecting it to another keyboard you would have to connect it to a DAW app or VST app (sound bank) on a pc or a tablet to generate sound. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe
Hello. Thank you for the good video. I'm a guitar player, and I don't have any experience with Midi controllers, but I have realized that I need one for my compositions. I basically work with GarageBand, in a MacBook Pro. In your opinion and experience, do you suggest to buy this Roland A-49? I also saw the Keystep 37. I really appreciate your input. Thank you again.
To be honest, the main reason to buy the A-49 is it has 10x better key action than any other midi controller in up to double it's price, so if you're a keyboard player and the key action is important to you (it's huge for me, I'm using the A-49 live with my band) then the A-49 is awesome. But if you're just using it for compositions etc (and if you're a guitar player, you're probably not concerned with key action that much?) then you'd probably be better off with a controller that has more features like pads for finger drumming, more assignable knobs, sliders, dials etc (which can be set to control settings in your DAW). Hope that helps! Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to susbcribe
Thank you for the video, Tony. I am exactly this type of MIDI controller user that does not care about any DAW integration or sound effects but purely uses MIDI controllers to play sounds provided by VSTs (piano and organ). Since I am moving more towards organ playing (classical organ to be precise) with the intention of using Hauptwerk system, I am still in a search of a proper keyboard. I currently have Yamaha CK61 (I like its action better than the one in YC61 that I returned). Since I want a two keyboard (manual) plus MIDI pedalboard system, I am considering a MIDI controller (I tested quite a few), another CK61 or a keyboard available from the company Classic MIDI Works. I need 61 keys. On another note, how do you like YC61? Michael
Keep your eye on the used market for a Roland A-500 or A-800; those are 61 key controllers no longer sold here (but they are on other country's websites) that I'm betting have the same keybed as the A-49. And so far so good with the YC61 - I love it so far (and far easier to use than the Hammond was, and far sturdier feeling, and only 15 lbs is great). L&M never stocks the A-49, but they sometimes have Roland VR-09's and the keybed on that is either identical or very close if you wanted to test it.
If you're playing organ VSTs you really want a controller with sliders that can be mapped to the organ drawer-sliders. Or else look at the Yamaha Reface RC organ synth, and use that as a controller for other VSTs too.
Glad it was helpful! I couldn't believe it when I took mine out of the box and it didn't just work; so weird Roland did it that way. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe
I've been using the A49 since it came out, and never new the hacks to get it to work with iPad? Roland need to apologise for this, I bought other additional keyboards because of this? crazy!
Yeah they told me they usually ship the A-49 with a card indicating all of these "work with iPad, work with . . ." etc - but I didn't get one :( I was lucky enough to find a couple obscure videos on it. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe.
cant you not use your roland go 5 for the Apps? and DAW, then add a Iconic p1 nano to control the DAW as its very small also , really the midi controllers aren't very good at that other than basic stuff.
I'm not using the A49 for apps, I'm using it to control my Yamaha YC-61; it has a 5 pin MIDI out (which the GO 5 does not) and also has a FAR better key action which is way more important. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe
Sir, this is exactly what I was looking for. In fact, so much more. This is a complete tutorial about A-49. And your setup is the same as what I had in mind. Thanks a lot!
Also, thank you very much for the information about the CC settings. That part in particular was very helpful for my goal.
Thanks so much, glad you found the video helpful. I absolutely love this controller (for controlling my Yamaha YC-61); it has a great action, and it weighs next to nothing. Only drawback is I have to be careful if I do an organ smear on it not to push it right off my upper tier stand (because it's so light).
Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe
Great demo! many thanks for the tips on the power ;-)
Thanks so much! And thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe
This was my first midi controller purchase back in 2016. Perfect for what I was looking for, with both usb midi AND midi, and the keys felt nice compared to the m-a udio oxygen 25 I tried.
Yeah the keys on this really do feel better than any competitors in the price range.
Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe
I have had the A-49 for 4 years now, The reason for the purchase is more or less as in your explanation, an additional advantage is that it can lie close to another keyboard and makes a heavy 2 tier standard out of reach. I use it with a Ketron sound module
Nice! I’m loving mine as a controller for 3rd sounds on my Yamaha YC-61. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe
I am totally with you on key actions. I am still on the look for a fairly inexpensive master keyboard with decent action. I had both the Oxygen Pro and Keylab Essential. Oxygen Pro is definitely passable but the Essential I couldn't stand for one minute. I suspect that maybe the more premium models (the non-essential Keylab) might have decent actions but I have no way of trying locally. It's surprising the A49 is still being sold, this is quite an old model (and A61 is also not available).
Yeah this model has hung around for a while (10 years?); but I'm super happy with it (and 5 lbs is great for a 2nd keyboard on gigs). Seems like other countries still sell the A-500 and A-800, not sure why they're not sold here. I've never tried the higher end Keylab's key action (I'm super curious about that one).
Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe.
How does the A-49 key action compare to the GO-KEYS action?
The GO has piano shaped true full size keys and the action is a bit more “piano like”; the A49 has slightly narrower synth style keys which are a better hybrid for playing either piano or organ; and while they aren’t as “piano like” they have a more premium feel to them.
Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe
hey tony just curious why didn’t you just use another keyboard instead of the midi controller for the organ sound I thought you also have a psr e473.
I have a lot of keyboards lol (including a PSR-EW425 which is an awesome keyboard). But I wanted one as small and light as possible that also had 5 pin MIDI out to trigger the sounds on the YC-61 (which are amazing!). None of my other keyboards have 5 pin MIDI out, and they're all quite a bit bigger than the 5 lb A-49.
The Roland is a venerable and well-built controller, and it's great for live playing. But I don't believe it has aftertouch.
Most customers though are buying keyboard controllers for use with DAWs and not live performance, so key feel is less important than DAW control, knobs, sliders and decent pads. The just released Arturia KeyLab 49 mk3 49-key Keyboard Controller (the more advanced line that sits above KeyLab Essential) is US$449, has a better keybed (that has aftertouch and it velocity sensitive), has a color LCD screen, contextual touch-sensitive knobs, pressure-sensitive pads, has normal pitch/mod wheels (not Roland's oddball wobble-stick), and it is USB-C powered
Thanks for sharing that! I’d like to try the keybed on one of those Arturia’s, no one stocks them where I live though. And the A-49 (I found out after doing the review) can trigger after touch with the D beam controller. I never use aftertouch personally, but at least it’s there (sort of ;).
Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe
Friend, do you know if it supports the sustain pedal Roland DP-10 half-damper function?
To be honest I don't know! The manual doesn't say, and I don't have a DP-10 to test with it; I tried my Yamaha pedal, but the polarity is opposite and not switchable so I can't test with that either, sorry about that!
Can you use the Roland A-49 just as an keyboard (without connecting to one)?
if so, how can you do this?
There are no sounds built in to the A-49 (it's just a MIDI controller), so if you're not connecting it to another keyboard you would have to connect it to a DAW app or VST app (sound bank) on a pc or a tablet to generate sound.
Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe
Hello. Thank you for the good video. I'm a guitar player, and I don't have any experience with Midi controllers, but I have realized that I need one for my compositions. I basically work with GarageBand, in a MacBook Pro. In your opinion and experience, do you suggest to buy this Roland A-49? I also saw the Keystep 37. I really appreciate your input. Thank you again.
To be honest, the main reason to buy the A-49 is it has 10x better key action than any other midi controller in up to double it's price, so if you're a keyboard player and the key action is important to you (it's huge for me, I'm using the A-49 live with my band) then the A-49 is awesome. But if you're just using it for compositions etc (and if you're a guitar player, you're probably not concerned with key action that much?) then you'd probably be better off with a controller that has more features like pads for finger drumming, more assignable knobs, sliders, dials etc (which can be set to control settings in your DAW). Hope that helps!
Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to susbcribe
@@PianoTone I really want to thank you for your response. It has helped me a lot.
Thank you for the video, Tony. I am exactly this type of MIDI controller user that does not care about any DAW integration or sound effects but purely uses MIDI controllers to play sounds provided by VSTs (piano and organ). Since I am moving more towards organ playing (classical organ to be precise) with the intention of using Hauptwerk system, I am still in a search of a proper keyboard. I currently have Yamaha CK61 (I like its action better than the one in YC61 that I returned). Since I want a two keyboard (manual) plus MIDI pedalboard system, I am considering a MIDI controller (I tested quite a few), another CK61 or a keyboard available from the company Classic MIDI Works. I need 61 keys.
On another note, how do you like YC61?
Michael
Keep your eye on the used market for a Roland A-500 or A-800; those are 61 key controllers no longer sold here (but they are on other country's websites) that I'm betting have the same keybed as the A-49. And so far so good with the YC61 - I love it so far (and far easier to use than the Hammond was, and far sturdier feeling, and only 15 lbs is great). L&M never stocks the A-49, but they sometimes have Roland VR-09's and the keybed on that is either identical or very close if you wanted to test it.
If you're playing organ VSTs you really want a controller with sliders that can be mapped to the organ drawer-sliders. Or else look at the Yamaha Reface RC organ synth, and use that as a controller for other VSTs too.
@@qwe1231 I mostly play classical organ.
Mehn....thanks loads for this video! Wouldn't have been able to power it on or use the iPad.
Glad it was helpful! I couldn't believe it when I took mine out of the box and it didn't just work; so weird Roland did it that way.
Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe
I've been using the A49 since it came out, and never new the hacks to get it to work with iPad? Roland need to apologise for this, I bought other additional keyboards because of this? crazy!
Yeah they told me they usually ship the A-49 with a card indicating all of these "work with iPad, work with . . ." etc - but I didn't get one :( I was lucky enough to find a couple obscure videos on it.
Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe.
Great review! What is the name of your band?
cant you not use your roland go 5 for the Apps? and DAW,
then add a Iconic p1 nano to control the DAW as its very small also , really the midi controllers aren't very good at that other than basic stuff.
I'm not using the A49 for apps, I'm using it to control my Yamaha YC-61; it has a 5 pin MIDI out (which the GO 5 does not) and also has a FAR better key action which is way more important.
Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe
what year was this keyboard released in?
2013 it’s been around forever - but I love it :)
Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe