Hey there.
There really isn't much more to test other than the keys (make sure they are working and responsive), and making sure the knobs and sliders are working. Also, check to see whether or not any midi notes are being dropped in your DAW/sequencer.
How are you liking the UF8 not that you've had some time with it? I ended up purchasing the Yamaha P70 and use a software velocity scaler to adjust for the odd midi scaling. The P70 key's respond great to the onboard sounds, but I'm still not 100% happy with the midi velocity even after using the velocity scaler. I'm considering selling it and purchasing the UF8 or maybe the UF80 when it is released.
Can you compare the key-action with any other keyboards you've used?
Please advise: CME UF8 + VX8, 88 key midi keyboard controlle
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6081 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
It was the P70 or the UF8 for me as well. The P70 had a nicer piano action. It also had a good piano sound which was not that important to me as I have the Virtual Grand Piano VSTi. Everything else was in favor of the UF8 and I mean absolutely everything else.
As for velocity curve I use http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/printview ... 0&start=15 but have not tried this with the CME as for the time being I ma happy with the default curve.
see also http://www.trombettworks.com/velocity.php
Unfortunately I have littler time to devote to music. I checked all the sliders and knobs which work ok at least as seen on the CME LED. All 88 notes work fine but have not tested it on Cubase to record midi.
Having a hard time trying to figure out how to get the transport to work in Cubase. The "template for Cubase driver" the zip file is corrupted and will not work. This is getting on my nerves.
I need to spend some time to figure a few things out. Yes, read the manual.
As for velocity curve I use http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/printview ... 0&start=15 but have not tried this with the CME as for the time being I ma happy with the default curve.
see also http://www.trombettworks.com/velocity.php
Unfortunately I have littler time to devote to music. I checked all the sliders and knobs which work ok at least as seen on the CME LED. All 88 notes work fine but have not tested it on Cubase to record midi.
Having a hard time trying to figure out how to get the transport to work in Cubase. The "template for Cubase driver" the zip file is corrupted and will not work. This is getting on my nerves.
I need to spend some time to figure a few things out. Yes, read the manual.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6081 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
Extremely disappointed at CME. Emailed twice to tech support but they did not reply.
Unfortunately my time has expired to return the UF8 for a refund. The Cubase template zip file 104tem_Cubase.zip, The Compressed (zipped) folder is invalid or corrupted. I tried unzipping some of the other downloadable files and they were also corrupt. A friend also could not unzip this file on his computer.
Their .rar files unzip without a hitch. I installed the UF editor but could not get it to work. Yes I have spent time looking a their forum, which by the way does not have a search feature making finding info very difficult. So again very disappointed. Hours wasted and still have not gotten the UF editor and the Cubase template working.
Life is too short to have to deal with set up issues. I WILL NEVER BUY A CME PODUCT AGAIN. Midi is a very old standard and has been perfected so there is no excuse for midi problems. I suspect they don't give a damn about their customers. I repeat I WILL NEVER BUY A CME PODUCT AGAIN.
Unfortunately my time has expired to return the UF8 for a refund. The Cubase template zip file 104tem_Cubase.zip, The Compressed (zipped) folder is invalid or corrupted. I tried unzipping some of the other downloadable files and they were also corrupt. A friend also could not unzip this file on his computer.
Their .rar files unzip without a hitch. I installed the UF editor but could not get it to work. Yes I have spent time looking a their forum, which by the way does not have a search feature making finding info very difficult. So again very disappointed. Hours wasted and still have not gotten the UF editor and the Cubase template working.
Life is too short to have to deal with set up issues. I WILL NEVER BUY A CME PODUCT AGAIN. Midi is a very old standard and has been perfected so there is no excuse for midi problems. I suspect they don't give a damn about their customers. I repeat I WILL NEVER BUY A CME PODUCT AGAIN.
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- KVRer
- 25 posts since 15 Sep, 2005
Please see Fernand's review at http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=709510 as my review of the UF8. I can only add that yes, on rare occasions, I have experienced dropped USB connections using the 1.05 driver, just as I've seen the DAW software crap out after sitting idle overnight, and the UF8 no longer being visible when the DAW program is restarted, need to disable/enable the driver or reboot, but I'm not sure it's the CME driver that's causing it, there are so many layers and possibilities. They will have to come out with a Vista driver and by then maybe the XP driver will be overhauled too. I use it in USB mode just fine, but you can always use it in MIDI mode if you have trouble. Overall a very satisfying keyboard with a great feel and a sensible balance of features.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6081 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
Hoping to get some feedback I registered at the CME forum. Unfortunately I could not find any way to post my message. Later I could not even login. So I will post it here and hope that some one from CME will read it. Highly unlikely as they have proven they could care less about a satisfied customer turned to an angry and unsatisfied one.
The message I had planned to post on the CME Forum:
I am extremely angry that I have to take the time to register at a forum and post such elementary comments.
I wrote to tech support but they did not have the decency to reply. Because of this I am now stuck with a UF8 the return period has expired and cannot return it for a refund.
The Template for Cubase on Driver 1.04, 104tem_Cubase.zip is 5 KB. It will not unzip for me nor for two friends that also tried to unzip it. I also tried to unzip other files on the list and none of them will unzip. After hours of looking at the posts on this forum I found no answer. Why does this forum not have a search feature? Disgusting!
I will write all over the web warning about CME. See my post here. http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 39#2479239 My initial comments were good by my final one will definitely cost you some sales.
The message I had planned to post on the CME Forum:
I am extremely angry that I have to take the time to register at a forum and post such elementary comments.
I wrote to tech support but they did not have the decency to reply. Because of this I am now stuck with a UF8 the return period has expired and cannot return it for a refund.
The Template for Cubase on Driver 1.04, 104tem_Cubase.zip is 5 KB. It will not unzip for me nor for two friends that also tried to unzip it. I also tried to unzip other files on the list and none of them will unzip. After hours of looking at the posts on this forum I found no answer. Why does this forum not have a search feature? Disgusting!
I will write all over the web warning about CME. See my post here. http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 39#2479239 My initial comments were good by my final one will definitely cost you some sales.
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- KVRer
- 25 posts since 15 Sep, 2005
Dear Kalamata,
I am not affiliated with CME, I don't think too highly of present day QA and tech support standards, but in light of the MAJOR and genuine technical problems most of us face in making stuff "just work", your outrage at some allegedly corrupted files seems quite out of proportion. I have downloaded, unzipped and successfully used these files, so you might want to double check why your own system is having trouble. Try Winzip. There ARE some extra spaces or other odd chars in the filenames. Your wanting to write all over the web about this petty beef because you can't unzip or post is unwise. They are a small and new company, and they sell decent stuff at a fair price. Support is especially difficult across language barriers for small companies. You may find no company up to your standards. At least they put up a forum, unlike their competitors, and people seem to be using their forum and the downloads OK. If only the giant firms who can afford to hire 24x7 support techs in Pakistan survive, it will not serve us well. I for one am very happy to have discovered the UF8, a joy to play at a fraction of the cost of a comparable Yamaha or Roland keybed. So please think and focus on cases of genuine misconduct or shoddy merchandise before you poison the waters.
I am not affiliated with CME, I don't think too highly of present day QA and tech support standards, but in light of the MAJOR and genuine technical problems most of us face in making stuff "just work", your outrage at some allegedly corrupted files seems quite out of proportion. I have downloaded, unzipped and successfully used these files, so you might want to double check why your own system is having trouble. Try Winzip. There ARE some extra spaces or other odd chars in the filenames. Your wanting to write all over the web about this petty beef because you can't unzip or post is unwise. They are a small and new company, and they sell decent stuff at a fair price. Support is especially difficult across language barriers for small companies. You may find no company up to your standards. At least they put up a forum, unlike their competitors, and people seem to be using their forum and the downloads OK. If only the giant firms who can afford to hire 24x7 support techs in Pakistan survive, it will not serve us well. I for one am very happy to have discovered the UF8, a joy to play at a fraction of the cost of a comparable Yamaha or Roland keybed. So please think and focus on cases of genuine misconduct or shoddy merchandise before you poison the waters.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6081 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
To inform people of the problem with CME Tech support is not a bad thing. Can't figure out how I am the villain in all this. If my post was read by me it would have saved me the trouble of buying the UF8. So being honest and vocal is the best policy.
I bought the UF8 because it included bells and whistles. Looks like I should have bought the Yamaha P70. No bells and whistles but then again I would not be concerned about this issue with this fine keyboard.
Yes and anger can be a good thing. I had 10 hours of anger but still the problem persists. I hope that CME gets angry and fixes things.
You can be the fourth person to try to unzip the CME Cubase Template.
http://www.cme-pro.com/download/drivers ... Cubase.zip . I tried two unzip programs and neither was successful. I know you were not aware of this fact but I should try Winzip. Don't know if I want to spend more time fixing things.
It is bad enough that the file will not unzip but the lack of response from CME is unforgivable. BTW I have found many companies up to very high standards and very often exceeding my expectations but this is not one of them.
I bought the UF8 because it included bells and whistles. Looks like I should have bought the Yamaha P70. No bells and whistles but then again I would not be concerned about this issue with this fine keyboard.
Yes and anger can be a good thing. I had 10 hours of anger but still the problem persists. I hope that CME gets angry and fixes things.
You can be the fourth person to try to unzip the CME Cubase Template.
http://www.cme-pro.com/download/drivers ... Cubase.zip . I tried two unzip programs and neither was successful. I know you were not aware of this fact but I should try Winzip. Don't know if I want to spend more time fixing things.
It is bad enough that the file will not unzip but the lack of response from CME is unforgivable. BTW I have found many companies up to very high standards and very often exceeding my expectations but this is not one of them.
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- KVRAF
- 2830 posts since 2 Mar, 2003 from The only civilized county in Texas
I clicked on that link, and 20 seconds later a folder "Cubase" was sitting on my hard drive, with subfolders for 2.0, 2.2, 3.0.Kalamata Kid wrote:You can be the fourth person to try to unzip the CME Cubase Template.
http://www.cme-pro.com/download/drivers ... Cubase.zip . I tried two unzip programs and neither was successful.
[link no longer available]
Victor.
Last edited by VicDiesel on Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6081 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
Victor,
Thanks for the help.
Prior to posting to test my zip programs if functioning, I found several zip files in my computer which were unzipped unceremoniously by double clicking. It seems that you are very knowledgeable, why were my two friends, both more computer savvy than me unable to unzip this Cubase template folder?
I have downloaded many zip files prior to this without any difficulty, in fact downloaded some CME .rar files which unzipped without any problem. I exhausted most possibilities prior to posting. So why my friends and me are the only ones with this unzip problem?
If only CME had doe what you did it would have saved me many hours. I will import the template into Cubase later today.
Thanks again.
Thanks for the help.
Prior to posting to test my zip programs if functioning, I found several zip files in my computer which were unzipped unceremoniously by double clicking. It seems that you are very knowledgeable, why were my two friends, both more computer savvy than me unable to unzip this Cubase template folder?
I have downloaded many zip files prior to this without any difficulty, in fact downloaded some CME .rar files which unzipped without any problem. I exhausted most possibilities prior to posting. So why my friends and me are the only ones with this unzip problem?
If only CME had doe what you did it would have saved me many hours. I will import the template into Cubase later today.
Thanks again.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6081 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
Using a Mac is considered cheating in my book. 
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- KVRAF
- 3386 posts since 21 May, 2004 from Deep in the Heartlessness of Texas
KK -- FWIW, I just now followed your link, downloaded the zip, double-clicked on the file, selected the subfolders inside it, and dragged them out into another folder. They unzipped in about 5 seconds, with no problems.
This is on a PC with Win XP Home SP2, using Windows' built-in unzip. Sounds like you and friends have something broken somewhere. You might want to do some more trouble-shooting, in case there are other problems.
But the UF8 zip files seem to be perfectly healthy.
Good luck with your new keyboard!
This is on a PC with Win XP Home SP2, using Windows' built-in unzip. Sounds like you and friends have something broken somewhere. You might want to do some more trouble-shooting, in case there are other problems.
But the UF8 zip files seem to be perfectly healthy.
Good luck with your new keyboard!
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6081 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
The UF8 is a really nice keyboard. Now that everything is working I am happy.
I have WXP Pro SP2. Still cannot figure it out.
1. Three of us on three different computers could not open the zip file.
2. I could open the several other zip files in my computer.
Obviously something is wrong. We all run ZoneAlarm and Probably AVG free.
Thanks everyone for the input.
Again. The UF8 is excellent keyboard for the money!!!
Legal Stuff:
I reserve the right to change my mind if problems arise.
I have WXP Pro SP2. Still cannot figure it out.
1. Three of us on three different computers could not open the zip file.
2. I could open the several other zip files in my computer.
Obviously something is wrong. We all run ZoneAlarm and Probably AVG free.
Thanks everyone for the input.
Again. The UF8 is excellent keyboard for the money!!!
Legal Stuff:
I reserve the right to change my mind if problems arise.
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- KVRer
- 25 posts since 15 Sep, 2005
Hey, Kalamata,
I would like to add that although what you were complaining about on the zip files seems to have been operator error, the CME support lag or indifference, typical as it may be these days, might also be viewed in light of what Chinese companies are. In all fairness to you, for me to sympathetically portray ANY Chinese company as "small" is inaccurate inasmuch as nobody does business in China without greasy connections to the Party, people and institutions that continue to still butcher and imprison millions, from students in Tien An Men Square and the Falun Gong, to the people of Tibet. As someone who has spent a little time in China, and is concerned about the Western World's outsourcing and trade deficit crisis with China, it is with a heavy heart that I purchase Chinese goods. At the same time, we are largely powerless. I recognize that even most of Japanese production has shifted to "the mainland", so that favoring nominally Japanese or American brands does little to change the situation. Maybe your anger was because of all the slave workers making the stuff we buy so cheaply?
This does not alter the fact that CME is a fresh and dynamic unit on the Musical Instruments scene, offering decent products at a decent price, and that the UF8 is an exceptional value, a good MIDI controller that is a real pleasure to play. If rumors about a price reduction to $399 are true, this would make it the best possible value on the market, and the (manageable) driver issues and lack of support pale on balance with the positive.
I would like to add that although what you were complaining about on the zip files seems to have been operator error, the CME support lag or indifference, typical as it may be these days, might also be viewed in light of what Chinese companies are. In all fairness to you, for me to sympathetically portray ANY Chinese company as "small" is inaccurate inasmuch as nobody does business in China without greasy connections to the Party, people and institutions that continue to still butcher and imprison millions, from students in Tien An Men Square and the Falun Gong, to the people of Tibet. As someone who has spent a little time in China, and is concerned about the Western World's outsourcing and trade deficit crisis with China, it is with a heavy heart that I purchase Chinese goods. At the same time, we are largely powerless. I recognize that even most of Japanese production has shifted to "the mainland", so that favoring nominally Japanese or American brands does little to change the situation. Maybe your anger was because of all the slave workers making the stuff we buy so cheaply?
This does not alter the fact that CME is a fresh and dynamic unit on the Musical Instruments scene, offering decent products at a decent price, and that the UF8 is an exceptional value, a good MIDI controller that is a real pleasure to play. If rumors about a price reduction to $399 are true, this would make it the best possible value on the market, and the (manageable) driver issues and lack of support pale on balance with the positive.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6081 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
peakdesign, BTW, I use the USB and I also had the UF8 drop the
connection and rebooting was the only way to get it working again.
I could use the MIDI but then I suspect the Transport will not work.
I can also use the midi into my MidiSport 8x8 which outputs USB.
What do you think? Is this worth trying? In this case I would not need the
1.05 driver, correct?
Ok the zip/unzip was the result of my software problem.
Just tried it again and this file still will not open n my comparer.
I believe that $399 I paid was only on sale for two or three days.
At this price it was hard to pass it up. Now I am very
glad I kept it.
Getting back to the CME being a small company:
Why defend a small company over little ol me?
I am even smaller than the smallest company.
Why all the sympathy with the company?
I any case if any contemplating buying the UF8 I urge
them to do so, especially if it can be returned for a refund.
I feel for all the suffering people of the world whether
suffering from political oppression, wars, natural disasters,
genetic defects etc. I am fairly happy but I know that there
is very much suffering. Too bad we live in a world where
this amount of suffering is not only possible but a reality.
connection and rebooting was the only way to get it working again.
I could use the MIDI but then I suspect the Transport will not work.
I can also use the midi into my MidiSport 8x8 which outputs USB.
What do you think? Is this worth trying? In this case I would not need the
1.05 driver, correct?
Ok the zip/unzip was the result of my software problem.
Just tried it again and this file still will not open n my comparer.
I believe that $399 I paid was only on sale for two or three days.
At this price it was hard to pass it up. Now I am very
glad I kept it.
Getting back to the CME being a small company:
Why defend a small company over little ol me?
I am even smaller than the smallest company.
Why all the sympathy with the company?
I any case if any contemplating buying the UF8 I urge
them to do so, especially if it can be returned for a refund.
I feel for all the suffering people of the world whether
suffering from political oppression, wars, natural disasters,
genetic defects etc. I am fairly happy but I know that there
is very much suffering. Too bad we live in a world where
this amount of suffering is not only possible but a reality.