The little brother of the Edirol PCR series keyboards is this Edirol PCR-300 MIDI Controller, a very compact and portable keyboard perfect for carrying it around. Although it’s smaller than the other models it has very similar features, it hasn’t less controls because of having less space.
The Edirol PCR-300 MIDI Controller features is a 32-keys keyboard that features high-quality keys with aftertouch sensors, 50 assignable controllers (rotary knobs, buttons and a pitch wheel), 18 velocity pads (to play drums for example), crossfader, faders (eight track and one master faders), USB, hold and expression pedal ports, MIDI input and output (all the inputs and outputs are on the side panel), automatic or manual control assignation (the Dynamic Mapping software can assign the most important functions to the keyboard controls) and is USB-powered.
This MIDI controller works with PC and Mac computers and comes with a musical software pack called Cakewalk Production Plus Pack that includes SONAR LE, Project 5 LE and Dimension LE. The price of the Edirol PCR-300 MIDI Controller is $249.
Just picked up my Edirol PCR-300 last week and I’m *very* pleased with it thus far! The rotary knobs have that perfect resistance Roland is known for, and they have a physical start/end rather than the 360 endless ones (great for visually checking your dial settings!) The velocity sensitive keys feel great and are weighted very reasonably - all in all the build quality is tough and the keyboard is a bit heavy for its size (which of course means solid and tough for carrying to gigs!) The trigger pads feel nice and have a single click rather than a spongey “did i click it or not?” feel, and they have a nice LED to show their use. The crossfader is a bit light, but the vertical faders feel great! If I had to pick one control I *do* not like it’s the pitch bend/modulation joystick - it’s quite stiff and only moves upowards on the Y axis rather than being centered and having a downwards movement. This feel slightly artifical when adjusting modulation as center is actually halfway up the movement. On the other hand the control feels quite precise and built to be abused, so perhaps once it’s been used more it will feel right.
One small gripe is the AC adapter is sold separately - and although the controller works perfectly fine on USB power it never hurts to have the backup power! All in all I am very pleased with my Edirol PCR-300 and feel it was an excellent investment and a typically awesome Roland product!
9/10
Hey timn, thanks a lot for your opinion.
hi!i’ve just bought pcr 300 and i try to use it with reason.the problem is that only the pads are working with reason.i dont know how to assign all the others(knobs etc).i thought that it has also automatic assignment.also how you transfer the map from pcr editor to the controller. sorry for the bad english!