Är också i tankarna på ny midiplanka och hittade följande om CME UF 7 här:
http://www.musicplayer.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=18;t=013966;p=1
Hello
I happen to own a CME UF 7. In summary, I must tell you that its keybed is great, and I will post a review that I have written for somewhere else.
I quote:
"The waiting time is over and my UF 7 is here. I was waiting for it anxiously to arive, since I was without a keyboard for a few weeks. When it arrived, I first took a look at the package. Solid, brown cardboard package, the usual. Inside, the keyboard was solidly anchored in styrofoam, and wrapped in a plastic bag.
I unpacked the board, and examined it. The 8 function knobs are made of rigid ruber, with the injection separation point clearely visible (a little bump on one side). I put the board on the stand, and first, anxiously, I touched the keybed. I tell you, I have not played a semiweighted keyboard with such a good feeling in years. During the years I owned or played the following: Roland D 20, Korg Poly 800, Roland D 5, Korg M1, Korg Trinity, Roland JV 90, Roland XP 50, Roland XP 60, Roland XP 30, Roland A 33, Roland JP 8000, Access Virus KC, Kurzweil K 2661, Yamaha Motif, Korg Triton Extreme, Roland Fantom S. Of all these keyboards, only one is better, feelingwise, then the UF 7, and that is a 2000 $ board, the Access Virus.
The keys are a litlle rigid when pressing down, just the way I like them, unlike the tipical easy Trinity/Triton keyboard, with a little longer movement, but not as long as Roland synth keys. Upon release, the keys go up with a little thump, and stop very preciselly, with no springy action. The keybed is a little like Kurzweil K 2661, the hint of rigidity being similar, and very appealing to me. I even like the keys more than on the recently selled Fantom S.
Next I powered the board, via the external DC adapter, connected it via MIDI with my soundcard (using a 5 pin cable, not the USB port on the back pannel) and fired up my Bosendorfer Giga library. The board has 4 velocity curves, the only one that I found usefull for my heavy piano playing being the first. The board behaved great, and responded well to my playing, being quite easy to play nuances, even if the action is only semi-weighted (no hammers, of course).
Next, I started a VST, and tried the pitch and modulation wheels. They are good quality, though I was never a fan of those, I prefer the Roland Korg lever thing. They seemed to be great quality, and responded well.
When I installed the latest USB drivers, taken from the website , together with the USB cable, I was not so happy. Although I installed the drivers according to the manual, together with the template for Cubase, and the faders seem to control their respective functions, the sistem halts, or behaves erratically, sometimes crashes. I put this on the drivers, allways a solvable problem. Also, I confess, I did not insist upon fixing these problems, so maybe, it is all solvable. Untill I get some other drivers, I will suffice with MIDI and no faders, for a while.
The pannel is very intuitive, with all the functions at the touch of a button, and also has a data knob, continuous, with leds folowing the circular motion of the knob.
About the looks, well, it is the most good looking thing you have/will own. It looks and feels of such good quality (exept for the knobs, but everything else), and is designed with such simple and elegant shapes, that you will love it (inspite or maybe becuse of the side caps that are painted a funny metalic cherry red.....original)
On the back panel, it has a slot for an optional firewire board/controller, a USB port, breath controller, sustain and expression pedal.
After a couple of days of using it the bottom line is: GET IT!!
You will not get a better board for the money, or even for twice the money. I have the feeling that this is the best investment musicwise I have made in years. Great job CME."
Now, a month has passed since I wrote this review, and I had time to play it some more. The keys became a little lighter, but they still play well. I must say now this is indeed chinese manufacture and design, but of better quality you would have thought. It is not the best controller ever made, but for me, there is nothing better at the moment. My last controller was a Roland A 33, and I like the UF more. It has a better keyboard (for me) and more controls. The USB drivers will eventually be fixed and all the controllers will be available then. Via MIDI no faders/knobs work.
I still like it.
