KVR Audio

parke02 · Post by **parke02** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:24 pm

Just a heads up to anybody who was considering buying this.

I finally got mine today, and so far its just about the worst midi controller I've ever had.

The OS is very buggy. I'm experiencing problems when trying to reassign controller parameters and changing banks. I'm pretty sure these are OS issues anyway that may be able to be resolved with new firmware.

I found an odd issue with G3 and G3# being unable to transmit note-on messages at the same time, unless they are played together at exactly the same time.

E.g. If I press and hold G3 then try to play G3#, G3# will not transmit a note-on message.

Worst of all, the keybed's velocity sensitivity is horrible. First of all, black keys don't seem to transmit anything above ~115 unless you slam the key as hard as possible while the white keys will transmit 127 way too easily. In general, playing softly is VERY difficult. When I'm playing normally, the average velocity being sent is ~80-90, and I find it difficult to play anything below 50. This is all on the "Soft" velocity curve setting.

I don't have heavy hands, and no I'm not being anal. As far as velocity sensitivity, my Evolution Mk-249c keyboard isn't much worse. I'm pretty sure my unit wasn't physically damaged during shipping. The box seems to be in the condition you'd expect it to be and the keyboard doesn't look damaged. Maybe I just got a lemon?

What sucks is that the keyboard feels so damn nice.

I've contacted CME's tech support and posted this on their forum. I'll keep you guys posted

HVX · Post by **HVX** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:38 am

Ouch. Not encouraging at all. I'm very much interested in this 'board, so definitely update when you can if you're able to get the issues solved.

XDVarenkor · Post by **XDVarenkor** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:50 am

I had all sorts of teething problems with my UF8 - having the latest drivers helped a lot, and it needed a lengthy playing in period to fix various issues with the keys, but it's all good now...

HVX · Post by **HVX** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:01 pm

parke02, I just took a look at your thread @ CME's support forum. As much as the specs of the UF70 interest me, I'm very fearful that this would be a little more hassle than I'd want to put up with. I genuinely hope you're able to get everything resolved. If they are fixable, I'll consider the UF70 again…

Makes me sorely wish that Novation made a ReMOTE 76SL.

MitchK1989 · Post by **MitchK1989** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:59 pm

If novation made 73/76/88 key controllers, I would worship them. I'm already considering replacing my ozonic and AN1X with a remote 61 SL and a motu 828.

HVX · Post by **HVX** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:01 pm

MitchK1989 wrote:If novation made 73/76/88 key controllers, I would worship them. I'm already considering replacing my ozonic and AN1X with a remote 61 SL and a motu 828.

Yeah, a Novation with 73-keys in the format that Korg has done with the M3 (C to C) would be fine, too. 61-keys, for me, isn't quite enough, and a full 88 usually has some kind of piano-weighted mechanism (which isn't what I need).

I guess the expensive and not-quite-the-same alternative for an extended range Novation controller setup would be to pair a ReMOTE 61SL with a ReMOTE 25SL.

hibidy · Post by **hibidy** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:54 pm

a. I am very sorry to hear this, I was kinda thinking maybe the cme's were dope.....but lately I'm hearing too many complaints

b. I have had MISERABLE results with all these controllers so far! And that includes the novation remote 37sl

Like the cme, I got mine "out of the gate" and of course there have been many fixes in that time, but still.....these controllers pretty much all seem to be plastic POS!

parke02 · Post by **parke02** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 11:03 pm

hibidy, what problems have you been having with the novation remote sl?

I was actually considering replacing the uf70 with that..

C-note · Post by **C-note** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 11:29 pm

The keys/touch and control on my Remote 61 SL is great. No problems here.

hibidy · Post by **hibidy** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:44 am

parke02 wrote:hibidy, what problems have you been having with the novation remote sl?

I was actually considering replacing the uf70 with that..

this is a long time ago (sorry I didn't make that clear) and sent it back......it was first gen!

I think today people are very happy with theirs.

Johnny_Boy · Post by **Johnny_Boy** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:41 am

parke02, I am seeing the velocity issue that you are seeing. See my UF80 thread for more details.

zai · Post by **zai** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:51 am

That's why I ended up buying a M3. Was checking to see if my VX7 was shipping yet...saw the M3...was so blown away that I took it home right the way.

Zai

PhilG · Post by **PhilG** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:25 am

I've been moderator in their support forum at the very beginning of the CME UF series.
But it just took too much time until some really serious problems have been adressed or driver updates were released.
They're fast in announcing solutions, even faster in announcing new products, but then you'll wait days, weeks, months... and can't use your gear properly.

Like many customers I've been really disappointed that they concentrate more on releasing new products before the serious problems of the existing series have been fixed.

That's why I decided to leave this community and sold my CME equipment, because I had no faith they would ever finish one product.

Now I'm a happy user of a M-Audio Axiom 61, never had a problem with this one.

dahen02 · Post by **dahen02** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:12 am

Damn, this is not encouraging reading

What about Edirol's PCR-500? Have any of you tried it?
/daniel

hibidy · Post by **hibidy** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:32 am

I got a great review in soundonsound, but GC doesn't carry them so I have no way of knowing/touching/etc

Just got my CME UF70.. major issues so far