28 Feb, 2019
Akai Professional Midi Controller Road 88
The new full size controller keyboard from Akai’s Professional was unexpected. The Akai Pro MPK Road 88 is designed for touring and gigging.
With 88 hammer-action keys, velocity sensitive and aftertouch response and a built-in four-output USB interface so with this plugged into your laptop you do not need any other gear. The MPK Road also comes with a bundle of useful software including Akai Pro VIP, AIR Music Tech DB-33, AIR Music Tech Velvet plus AIR Music Tech Mini Grand for Road 88.
Other connectivity options include dual expression and sustain pedal inputs. Pitch and modulation wheels sit alongside a volume control, and you also get transpose functionality and split modes.
As we know most MIDI controllers of this size have features including knobs and pads, sliders and buttons whereas this has less features. The Akai MPK Road is not complicated and it is not trying to control your DAW and you can handle any situation with ease. It is just there to let you get the best playing performance out of your virtual instruments or MIDI gear. An integrated travel case with handle means that your MPK Road will stay protected and be easy to carry.
Akai MPK Road 88 is available and amazingly priced at $628.58
19 Dec, 2018
Prophet 12 Synthesizer – Limited Edition White
Though Sequential is saying goodbye to the Prophet 12 synth, but it is not going quietly. Sequential has announced that its Prophet 12 synth is about to be discontinued, but the company is seeing it off with a limited edition.
When we say limited, we really do mean it: only 100 Prophet 12 LEs will be made. After these have rolled off the production line, this hybrid analogue will be no more, unless you are lucky enough that is, to own one.
Paying tribute to the Prophet 12, Sequential boss Dave Smith in his speech said: “It’s nice to give the Prophet 12 a proper send-off with this special edition. The P12 was a real milestone for us in terms of pushing the synth envelope. As a hybrid instrument, it gave us a chance to explore the interaction of digital oscillators and analog filters and see how far we could take that idea. It’s still a great instrument and has found its way onto a lot of stages and studios, and into a lot of music.”
The Prophet 12 Limited Edition features 61 key semi-weighted keyboard with velocity and channel aftertouch, is the same as the standard model. As well as the white colour scheme, it also has maple end caps.
With the discontinuation of the Prophet 12, most people are bound to speculate on what, if anything, might take its place in the Sequential product line. And with NAMM 2019 just around the corner, we might not have long to wait before we find out.
The Prophet 12 LE is available in December 2018.
14 Dec, 2018
The new Roland Juno-DS76 Synthesizer is portable but has plenty of performance potential. Roland already had 61- and 88-note Juno-DS synths on its roster, and now it is bridging the gap with the launch of the Juno-DS76. If the 61-note model was too small and the 88-note version too large, try this.
The Juno-DS76 features a lightweight design and a 76-note synth-action. Designed for those who want something a little more portable than the Juno-DS88, but still with a keyboard large enough for serious playing and splits, this is a performance-friendly 16-part instrument that contains more than 1,200 patches, 30 drum kits and 64 performances. There are effects and a pattern sequencer, and if you hook the keyboard up to a computer over USB, you can engage DAW control mode.
For keyboardists who mostly play organ, synth, and other sounds, the Roland Lightweight, 76-note Weighted-action Keyboard with Pro Sounds 
provides increased playing comfort when different sounds are assigned to the upper and lower note ranges. The keys are also a little longer than a standard synth keyboard, offering a playing feel that is smooth and consistent no matter where the key is pressed. And with a weight of just 15.25 lb, the JUNO-DS76 is much more portable than typical 76-note synths.
provides increased playing comfort when different sounds are assigned to the upper and lower note ranges. The keys are also a little longer than a standard synth keyboard, offering a playing feel that is smooth and consistent no matter where the key is pressed. And with a weight of just 15.25 lb, the 
