Cakewalk A-800PRO 61-Key USB/MIDI Keyboard Controller

No longer available at zZounds

Cakewalk A-800PRO 61-Key USB/MIDI Keyboard Controller, Glamour View

Cakewalk A-800PRO 61-Key USB/MIDI Keyboard Controller, Rear

Cakewalk A-800PRO 61-Key USB/MIDI Keyboard Controller, Side

zZounds Gear Experts Say...

Plug in a USB cable for the ultimate workstation. This controller is compatible with a range of Mac and PC-supported software.

Overview

If you're looking for a keyboard controller that you can use in the studio, on-stage, or anywhere you feel inspired, look no further than the A-800PRO. Combining the best of Roland engineering with Cakewalk's legendary ease-of-use, the A-800PRO has the features and feel you need to get the most out of your music performances and productions. The A-800PRO is the perfect keyboard for use with a wide variety of software on Mac or PC including Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Garage Band, Logic, Nuendo, Pro Tools, SONAR and the included Production Plus Pack. Best of all, the A-800PRO is easy to set up -- if you can plug-in a USB cable, you'll be making music in no time at all.

Features

- 61 Velocity-sensitive keys
- Inspiring feel & response for serious players
- 45 assignable controls: knobs, sliders, buttons, transport & more
- 8 Dynamic Pads for finger drumming & MIDI triggering
- Sure-grip Pitch Bend/Modulation Stick
- Expand playability with Sustain & Expression Pedals (available separately)
- USB Bus Powered--no AC adaptor required
- Durable Roland-quality manufacturing & craftsmanship
- Ready to play with 3 included virtual instruments
- Works with any DAW on Mac or PC
- Supports Windows 7 & Mac OS X Snow Leopard
- Includes the Production Plus Pack music creation software

New in the 800 PRO

- 16 x 2 character, brightly lit LED display for editing controls and navigating the system menu
- 8 velocity-sensitive, lighted, dynamic pads for finger drumming… read more and triggering loops and samples, with HOLD button for latching.
- Dedicated transport section for using the A-PRO as a control surface, that can be remapped if desired
- Console-style faders for improved feel when making tweaks and adjustments
- Included Editor software makes creating new control maps and transferring them to the A-PRO simple and easy
- Production Plus Pack includes Cakewalk Sound Center, Rapture LE & Studio Instruments Drums for Mac and PC, as well as SONAR 8.5 LE (PC Only)

A Roland-Quality Instrument

When you perform with the A-800PRO, you're tapping into the benefits of over 30 years of Roland keyboard development. A superior key mechanism provides aftertouch and and increased sensitivity for a wide range of expressive dynamics in your performance. Rounded key assemblies offer responsive reaction to your touch and more comfortable glissando. Plus, enhancements have been made to eliminate vertical shake and reduce the already low mechanical noise on key strokes. And with selectable Velocity curves you can fine tune the A-800PRO to match your playing style. No matter what your skill level, you'll appreciate the feel of a quality instrument when you play the A-800PRO.

Easy Connections

The A-800PRO provides easy access connections on the side panel so that you can have a computer monitor or laptop in the ideal position behind the keyboard -- a must for educational use. Connect USB, MIDI IN/OUT, Hold and Expression pedals without having to reach behind the keyboard.

Everything at Your Fingertips

The A-800PRO has been ergonomically designed to put everything at your fingertips. All controls are easily accessible and intelligently laid out to make performing and producing music an inspiring affair. Whether you're playing your favorite virtual instrument or working in your digital audio workstation, 9 knobs, 9 sliders, 4 buttons, and a dedicated Transport section offers fully assignable control of all the features you need. And the sure-grip, rubber-coated Pitch Bend/Modulation Stick offers expressive control of both functions at the same time.

The A-800PRO Editor for Mac and PC makes it a breeze to customize the A-800PRO for use with your favorite synth or DAW. Just fire up the editor, adjust your Control Map, and hit transmit...it's that easy. And when you're working with an ACT (Active Controller Technology) enabled DAW like SONAR, parameters will remap automatically, keeping you in the flow and focused on your music.

Dynamic Pads

The A-800PRO puts 8 velocity sensitive Dynamic Pads right within your reach. Use these pads to trigger grooves, samples, or one shots on the fly with your favorite DAW, sampler, or virtual Instrument like the included Cakewalk Sound Center or Studio Instruments Drums. Use the Hold control to "latch" the pads. Or assign aftertouch, velocity, and controller data to pads for greater expression in your performance.

Ready to Rock

Whether you're live on stage in front an audience of screaming fans, or dimming the lights in the studio to capture a mood, you can always clearly see what you're doing with the A-800PRO's ultra-bright backlit LED display and buttons. And the A-PRO works with USB bus power, so if you have your laptop you're ready to make music anywhere.

FPT Low-latency MIDI Transmission

Don't trust your MIDI to anything else! The A-800PRO offers MIDI Transmission using Roland's proprietary FPT (Fast Processing Technology). You can rely on FPT for stable, high speed, low latency, and low jitter MIDI transmission. In layman's terms, that means that subtleties of your performance are going to be captured regardless of the music application you are using. And when working with virtual instruments, FPT provides lower latencies to give you the inspiring feel of playing a real instrument.

Production Plus Pack

The Production Plus Pack is a powerful suite of music creation software that ships with the A-800PRO. It includes SONAR 8.5 LE recording software (PC only) and three high-quality and versatile virtual instruments for Mac and PC: Rapture LE, Cakewalk Sound Center,and Studio Instruments Drums.

Power Supply: USB Cable (Included) or DC 9 V AC Adaptor (Not Included - only required if using A-800 PRO without a computer)

Specs

Keyboard: 61 keys (with velocity and channel aftertouch)

Controllers:
- Pads (A1-A8, Buttons (B1-4, L1-L9)
- Knobs (R1-R9)
- Sliders (S1-S9)
- Foot Pedals (P1, P2)
- Mod/Pitch Stick (BEND, MOD)
- Keyboard Aftertouch (AFTERTOUCH)

Display: Backlit 16 x 2 character LCD

Left Side Panel:
- Power Switch (USB Bus/OFF/DC IN)
- MIDI Merge Switch (ON/OFF)

Connection Jacks:
- Hold Pedal: 1/4 inch phone
- Expression Pedal: 1/4 inch TRS phone
- MIDI Connectors: (IN, OUT)
- USB Connector
- DC IN

Power Supply: USB Bus Power or DC 9 V (AC Adaptor, sold separately)

Current Draw:
- 300 mA (AC Adaptor)
- 300 mA (USB Bus Power)

Dimensions:
- mm: 1001.9 (W) 250.8 (D) 91.4 (H)
- inches: 39-1/2 (W) 9-7/8 (D) 3-5/8(H)

Weight: 4.5 kg / 9 lbs 15 oz

System Requirements
Windows:
- OS: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 7 / Windows Vista(R) / Windows XP SP2** or later
- Computer: Windows-compatible computer equipped with a USB 1.1 port
- CPU: Intel-compatible Processors 1GHz or higher
- Memory: 512MB or higher
- Hard Disk: 100MB or more free space

**This product does not support Windows XP Media Center Edition or XP Professional x64.

Macintosh***:
- OS: Mac OS X v10.4 or later
- Computer: Apple(R) Macintosh(R) series with on-board USB port
- CPU: Intel Processor or PowerPC G4 1GHz or higher
- Memory: 512MB or higher
- Hard Disk: 100MB or more free space

Production Plus Pack 3
Windows:
- OS: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 7 / Windows Vista(R) / Windows XP SP2** or later
- CPU: Intel-compatible Processor 2GHz (3GHz or higher recommended)
- Memory:1GB (2GB or higher recommended)
- Hard Disk: 8GB or more free space (EIDE /Ultra DMA 7200 RPM or SATA recommended)
- Hardware: WDM or ASIO compatible audio interface, DVD-ROM drive for installation

Macintosh***:
- CPU(Clock): Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo processor
- Memory: 1GB or higher (2GB or higher recommended)
- Hard Disk: 6GB or more of free space, EIDE / Ultra DMA (7200 RPM or SATA recommended)
- Hardware: Core Audio compatible Audio Interface, DVD-ROM Drive for installation

***This product does not support Macintosh computers running Microsoft Windows.

Power Supply: USB Cable (Included) or DC 9 V AC Adaptor (Not Included - only required if using A-800 PRO without a computer)

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 888-CAKEWALK

Reviews

(9 ratings)

Submitted January 30, 2011 by a customer from hotmail.com

"A-800PRO is a well crafted, useful and versatile Product, but could use better integration with its obviously intended target So"

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

I hope to be using this Controller for some time. My previous one, the Midiman USB Keystation 49 has held up for about 8 years, though now one of the Midiman's Keys, the low D2, always sends out a max-velocity message no matter what the striking velocity of the key actually was.

Sound
This really does not apply because this keyboard produces no sound. It is a MIDI Controller keyboard only. The action is a tad better than my other keyboards. It is not GHA, but I knew that.

Features
Since I own the Roland-Cakewalk Sonar Software, I had thought that this keyboard would be more ready to go with the Controller Assignments. It appears that End-User-dinkering is still necessary just to get it to basically talk to the Sonar Software. Oh well. Otherwise the A-800PRO seems to have any kind of Assignment possibilities that you could hope for.

Ease of Use
The Manual could have been more developed. In the beginning, I was confused by the A-800PRO Editor which is a separate stand alone Software Application and the Sonar Interface which communicates with the A-800PRO. The similar-yet-different confusion factor stumped me for a while until I realized that they were two separate things. I have yet to use the power features, but computer-MIDI-telemetry has never been an easy go for anyone or any company. The basics stuff, which is what I HAVE used, works OK.

Quality… read more
Good workmanship. Seems pretty solid.

Value
Yes, definitely.

Manufacturer Support
I have not dealt with Roland on this Product, but my experience has been that they are pretty much unreachable & uncaring. Cakewalk has, however, a completely different CS standard and I have always been promplty & cordially dealt with. I am not sure yet exactly who handles the issues on the A-800PRO.

The Wow Factor
This Keyboard Controller was purchased because it served the function of being an outboard controlling interface for the Sonar Software. It has yet to prove that function. At this time I cannot say, for lack of time to fully operationalize it. As I said before, I thought that it would be more fully functional out of the box. For instance, the "Forward, Rewind, End, Start" Transport Controls do NOT seem to be recognized by Sonar yet, though the Keyboard Controller MIDI basic Note Number, Velocity Messages are OK. The Sliders also seem to require tweaking to get Sonar to respond the way you think it should, though they have standard assignments on the A-800PRO.

Musical Background:
Hobbyist

Musical Style:
Ecclectic

7 of 7 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?