CME UF5 49-Key Semi-Weighted Action Controller
Aftertouch. Pitch bend and modulation wheels.
Overall User Ratings (based on 13 ratings)
Submitted August 8, 2008 by a customer from ferguson.com
"A classic controller. Look into the newer version of it, the CME UF50. They've added alot of nice software features to ease midi"
I have been and will be using this as a master keyboard for a very long time. On the road and in the studio.
Sound
No sound. It's a MIDI keyboard. There is a sweet synth expansion for it, easily attainable and doesnt cost much by the ppl from Creamware but I don't own that.
Features
The last reviewer obviously can't read a manual and is the primary reason im reviewing. His whole review is worth ignoring. You can setup split keyboard zones easily, its right in front of you on the panel. The knob controllers are easily switched through for more parameters to assign at will. The mixer/midi faders can be switched to 'drawbar mode' and they absolutely rock.
Ease of Use
Have had no problems sorting this out. Only took a few minutes really but i've got quite a bit of experience with keyboards and midi. Interface is very intuitive and everything is clearly laid out. Looks nice and has a really strong build. The faders and knobs move like old school oil dampened pots.. real smooth and consistant.
Although the UF5 doesn't have weighted or semi-weighted keys like it's bigger brothers.. the keys have a great spring weight and feel great to me. They play as tho they are weigthed. very natural response. Those that might be used to mini midi keyboards might find the action a bit springy.
Quality
Great looking and solid.
Value
Killer price, got mine for a steal 2nd hand at a local Music Go Round.
Manufacturer Support
Only had one question and it was answered accurately within an hour. Havent experienced any h/w problems.
Musical Background:
Musician
Musical Style:
Electronic
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Submitted June 20, 2012 by Sophia K in Jacksonville, FL
"Nearly a paperweight"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I bought this thing new five years ago. I have STILL not successfully integrated the control surface into a setup.They have never released a Vista-onward compatible driver for the device. There is a workaround there, but the USB support isn't very good to begin with.The worst thing about it is that there is no on-board controller assignment. You have to use their 1.0 shoddy never updated controller mapping software. Only thing is, that also needs a special driver to reroute the MIDI input through it - which will not install correctly as a legacy device Vista-onward. Thus, all those cool knobs and sliders? Utterly useless.If you try to get support, they will instead tell you to purchase their newer products. Dude, naw, never again. The key action is fine. It would be fine as an 80s style controller keyboard for MIDI modules and I use it to input notes into my DAW. Except... one of the rotary encoders in a slider has already started acting up and sends spurious data, which my DAW interprets as volume (since ALL the sliders are mapped to volume by default) - so I have to go in and delete controller changes for volume now too. Annoying.I can't sell it in good conscience and wouldn't get much for it anyway. You think you're getting a good deal with CME, but you truly get what you pay for. Go to their website, click "Forum," and you'll see what I mean. I've been getting the same SQL error forever. They are just pumping out dubious garbage and truly don't care about how the products actually work for you. I feel it's unethical for retailers to even carry them.
Musical Background:
Producer
Musical Style:
Electronic
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Submitted June 12, 2007
"Limited use for Live Stage."
Features
No zones or chaining,only receives on one channel. They build this unit in a nice tough case like it would hold up on the road but this unit is useless for live stage. By a used A-70 or A-80 if your live.
This unit is only good for project studios.
Ease of Use
Impractical for Live situations even with a laptop. unless you like using one synth at a time or all your synths on one midi channel.
Quality
Great exterior. Make it for live, receive on four channels with four outs to run multiple synths on seperate midi channels, Daisy chaining programs.There would be no other unit like it with along with the USB features it has.
Manufacturer Support
I would love to talk with R&D.
The Wow Factor
Great Looking unit.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Progressive Rock, Metal
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Submitted October 26, 2005
CME UF5 Controller Customer Review
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
best controller by looks, quality and feel compared to ones I've tried, mainly fatar and korg. at these prices, don't expect real professional stuff, but they are good budget quality. lcd is straight foward, and although I'd like more from the LCD, it's reasonable at this price.
Sound
well it is a countroller, so sound depends on your hardware that produces it.
Features
I like how the faders and sliders are with the keybaord. its pretty much what I needed.
Quality
I love the aluminum casing. I mean when I got a fatar controller, it looked like crap just because of the bumpy plastic texture. this is nice and smooth. although I did come across one problem, and it was the lcd malfunctioning, or defective. 6 light lines were not working properly, so I couldn't make out the digital numbers displayed immediately. getting an exchange for the same product.
Value
I'd say this is the best controller I've seen. although the sliders and knobs and buttons are not the best of qualities on REAL mixers, but they are far better than the knobs and faders I've had on a fatar. they are like a higher quality budget, meaning their cheap, but still good quality.
Manufacturer Support
well I haven't dealt with the actual company, but seeing as they are from china, I see two possibilities. its good enough support, or not enough support. I really can't rate the service from the manufactor.
The Wow Factor
when I saw it on picture, I was drooling. when I read it was aluminum, I wanted it even more. took it out of the box anbd it met my expectations even more.
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