From melvinnich@aol.com Wed Mar 08 06:21:51 2000
Subject:Re: [Voce] Roland 'A' series controllers

Dear Ed,

Eamonn describes the A70 just as I would. And he makes me want to get
another controller since I mostly play organ sounds.

There is something satisfying about the keyboard action of an A70, but it is
not the kind of satisfaction that comes from playing an organ. With organ
keys, you can grab bursts of single notes and glissandi on a whim. The way I
would describe the paradox of the A70 is that its action is too "good" in an
all-purpose way to be a dedicated organ manual. I agree with Eamonn that the
A70 feels better than many piano-action keyboards precisely because it
doesn't go all the way with weighting and strange-feeling hammer-action.
However, it doesn't have that light and shallow feeling of a Hammond.

One more thing: the aftertouch is excellent on the A70. You can really feel
and control pitch-bends and patch-layer-fade-ins with the aftertouch. To me,
this is a trait of a higher-end keyboard. However, that means hitting the
key bed on an A70 is different experience than what is had on an organ. (N.
B. Of course, the aftertouch needn't be enabled all the time.)

Best of luck! If only someone made a dual manual controller with waterfall
keys.

Regards!