Only you, Keen, would call that 20-minute, full-fledged A50 review - quote-unquote - “a bit too short” and append it with a step-by-step, free, extensive guide on making it work with a DAW. Wow. Thank you so much for the New Year gift.
I've watched several videos on your channel, all very hi quality videos; but with this one sir, you earned my lifetime subscription. I mean, this one goes way beyond "hi quality", it left me speechless!
After viewing both of your Yamaha PSS-A50 videos the 4th time - today I have ordered one. Even knowing all the complaints you have made, i think it's a good value for the money to buy such a entry level machine with midi. If it's not my thing, no huge lost of money is the result. Thank you 1000 times for that detailed and edutaining video!
I am truly impressed by the quality of the videos from the channel. Simply outstanding!
Год назад+3
I found the solution for the Yamaha keyboard MIDI problem that I've been trying to solve for years here. This is also an incredibly good MIDI and DAW usage tutorial, even audio effects... Excellent explanation. Thank you very much.
A good explanation and demo of how MIDI works. Most of the other videos are talking about computers, gadgets, boxes, cables, protocols etc. without even a simple demo - thank you!
Dude, most clear explanation of midi on youtube. This little keyboard can Def be a master keyboard to your daw, thts crazy...just picked one up for $80 on Reverb. Pairing it with my new sp404mkll! People are sleep to the fact tht this is basically a cheaper yamaha reface!
so many years using synths just either as standalone instruments, or as controllers to send input to vstis, but never thought about sending midi info back to the device for it to play. And I found this video researching about the pssa50 to get it for my 7yo daughter ! thanks a lot for such a complete information !
Excellent tutorial! I now am motivated to buy a Yamaha PSS-A50 and apply your instructions in a DAW (Logic). Thank you very much! Your images and audio recordings are good, your editing is concise and to the point and your voice is nice to listen to. Subscribed :)
I recently purchased a PSS-A50 as my first keyboard to learn on, and was surprised by how easy it was to connect it to my iPad Pro and begin using it as a controller for GarageBand. Literally just plug and play.
debated for 2 months almost, and finally got an A-50. Excited for it. Thank you Keen for the excellent videos! I am ready to dig into MIDI like never before! very inspiring video!!
So glad I found your channel. I like the way you make things seem very easy. Your video and audio quality is also exceptional. Thanks! I just ordered a Yamaha PSS-A50 based on your videos about it. Even though I have a ton of other MIDI controllers both large and small and a few Synths already. I think this will work well for when I'm traveling and want to work on some ideas and to practice.
Iam buying it after watching this video, all though the keys are small for my hands but I just want a midi controller which also is a stand alone and this one seems perfect to me ( (in this budget) after watching the 2 videos of your on it. I must say you are really precise, great command over everything, I'm inspired, sir. Thank you
Awesome Video. Got the A50 for the nieces and nephew as a present from my cousin. Glad i picked such a cool keyboard. Messed with it to show them how cool it is and was impressed especially since it only cost $108.
Sweet. I got this over summer. It's a great way to introduce kids to music and at the same time get a controller adults can use, too, at a reasonable price.
As an owner of this small bright machine, I'm glad to see this depth on the review, not just a basic features overview. Of course, there's a bit more deep features by using sysex/NRPN's with an XG editor, but that's diggin too much under the hood, and not really useful as voices can't be saved & recalled easily that way.
mate your a legend, music production stuff was super confusing using ableton and now this video has made it easier for me to have fun with my keyboard!
Amazingly good video but I would have to wach it at least a dozen times to grasp everything! Midi is just so complex, to me at least! Getting a PSS A50 fro Christmas on the back of your review, seems the perfect choice for noodling anywhere and getting ideas down - Great video as is your full review of this keyboard Mr Keys! Will we see videos for the Yamaha Reface series any time soon? They have been around since 2015 but I cannot seem to find any reviews on your channel... Thanks for all your hard work in producing these amazingly useful videos!
@@KeenOnKeys The Refaces are so expensive but they do seem to get a lot of praise too! As I said, I am getting a PSS A50 as a portable keyboard that I can use anywhere but having just watched your excellent demo of the Casiotone SA-50 I am now wondering if that might be a better option for my needs... as well as being significantly cheaper! Too many choices! What would you recommend for a very small portable keyboard just for working on ideas on the move? I'd really appreciate your advice! Many thanks again for all your hard work, we all appreciate it! You are also a total master of the keys too! Wonderfully creative playing! Cheers.
I have used midi since 1988.. 100% old school! It was how I made music for recording. Loved it! PS - New subscriber! You explain everything very well! My first Midi instruments were. Yamaha PSS-480, Yamaha QX-21 two track sequencer, and Casio MT-240. I got a Casio VZ-1 in 1990! Still use it in 2021. Have you ever heard of the Brother PDC-100 Disk Composer? 32 tracks + 64 macro Sequencer? It was a fabulous piece of Midi equipment.
It's one of the most interesting and important video about music i have seen. I think this lesson should be learn at school. And your channel should be traducted in all langages. It's really helpful, full of simplicity, humility, it show how far we are gone with our world of consumisme. Yes arpegiators were invented since a long time, and yes it makes a long time they are many voices in digital piano who this days cost nothing. But now they sell you this little thing and many other as an option and at very expensive price when they only add them as new invention in just a master keyboard and making by that climbing upper the prices. But in that video we learn that we can use an old casio better than the new keyboards they try to sell us. I have share this video to all my musicians friends and my family. Wonderfull video i keep it to my list👍👏😉
Where should I start... I've briefly used Cakewalk Demo in the 90s before buying Cubase, and stuck with that. But I couldn't stop watching all your explanations, even though they were not new for me. Just so well done, maybe a little fast paced for a beginner at some points. And thanks for the info that Cakewalk is free now, I may try that again then.
Some awesome work and content on all videos in this channel! Thank you. Looking at subs, totally underrated there... wishing you it will take off soon! Happy 2021!
Hello Keen on Keys. I really like your videos. Currently I have a problem : my PSS A50 is recognized by Cakewalk as a digital keyboard in and out that I checked and confirmed in response Cakewalk answers me with the absence of a midi device. Yet my PSS A50 is recognized by Ableton lite with the same connection cable. Thank you for your providential help.😎
Hello i like very much your videos. Now i have a problem and I need your help : no connection with Cakewalk midi although digital keyboard in and out checked with my PSS A50. I'm surprised because midi works well with Ableton lite. Thanks a lot for your help.
Oh wow, thank you so much for this, this seems to have some great pointers how to start. I bought a PSS-A50 a few months ago (partially because of you review and it having a MIDI interface), but I hadn't really had the time to do much with it. And I haven't played any instrument since 1992 and never played any piano/keyboard, so I should get around learning much of this stuff first. Oh and the later parts of the video make my head spin, but well, many of the stuff (mostly IT), I can do now in my sleep, did also do that in the beginning.
Wow, thank you... this was a surprise! This was very informative and will be useful, as I hope to be able to produce some pleasant music. The PSS a50 is definitely one of my favourites and especially so, as I fixed a broken one I got for cheap. The only thing it could do with more of is synth sounds, so I am happy I can use other software instruments and of course the vintage instruments too.
Thank you for the video! I tested connecting the PSS A50 to an iPhone 11 using the camera connection adapter and it works as a midi controller for Garageband. :) I do wish the audio could pass through as well and I haven't tested sending the arpeggios yet, but it may work.
Great explanations! I had tu subscribe! 😁 This little keyboard is just amazing, i bought one! Even pro ones are not multitimbral or just two voices, but 16 sounds is just crazy!!! I bought one to playback one or two midi chords lines on live sessions with other synths, mostly mono 👌
Only now on my front page! I'd like another video like the Behringer cat. Not with new gear like most youtubers, just newish synths that are unpopular. Perhaps the wasp? Your cat video was insane and made me buy one.
I love this thing, and I love this video (and the other one, too). These videos, and this keyboard, have ruined our lives. Really, this was the first keyboard that entered this once beautiful home. We now have Too Many Synths. Way Too Many Synths. But this video came up on my RUclips recommendations, I watched it again, got out the A50 - I still love it and it's still one of my favourites. Yes you heard that right, Microfreak. That new Ronald Compact Aira synth is a bit similar in some ways, by the way. And it's really small … Ruined, this house is. Can somebody please comfort me by revealing the secret to syncing this to an external drumcomputer with 5-pin MIDI? Is there a box? Do I need a computer? Life would still be ruined, but syncing this would make it all worthwhile. Well, that and an affordable JVC KB-800. Thanks.
Awesome content, thank you! Is this a good keyboard to learn how to play and then use as a midi? My goal is to ultimately produce music, but would like to polish my playing skills now. Thank you in advance!
Thank you for the information on the Surrealistic MG-1 Plus! You just saved my bank account! I will eventually have to find a real instrument but for now I have this and will be using it.
Everyone i show your videos to really likes them. The chord progression at 29:20 is from a movie i used to like but don't seem to be able to recall atm- maybe you know?
Thanks for the Surrealistic MG-1 recommendation. Cherry Audio is a fine source for synth instruments! I have it working in Cakewalk and now Ableton LL using a bona fide MIDI control surface (M-Audi Oxygen Pro MINI). Just keys working at the moment - no maps.
Hi, thanks for a great video. Do you know if this keyboard is suited to be used as a controller (not sure if it's the right term) for a keyless synth like the Roland JU-0A? This video made me buy my first keyboard and got me into producing songs, which seemed pretty daunting before.
Really nice video! Does anyone know what would be the cheapest keyboard controler with standard Midi jacks? I don't care about the pads, the knobs or built in sounds. All I need are mini keys,. It also needs to be accessible since I'm blind.
@@elierosenberg9852 That really is the best option that I was able to find when I was shopping, but it’s also much more expensive. Also, keep checking for the PSS-A50. I don’t know what country you’re in, but they are available in the US, just backordered on some websites right now because of the holidays.
Great video! I'd like to play my PSS A50 or any midi synthesizer keyboard in midi mode real time and hear the music playing back multi-timbral as I play because many keyboards have this capability but the local keyboard controls aren't there to do it. I haven't found any video which shows how to do this, I'm trying to get the most out of my portable keyboard when I'm traveling with a small laptop with a DAW like Cakewalk. I'm looking to do this realtime, not use the DAW to record or create separate tracks that can play back a multi-track polyphonic multi-timbral composition. If you know of a way to play my PSS A50 or other keyboard and have it echo back to different midi channels simultaneously different instruments and effects I select from my DAW please provide a link or explain how to do it or a how to video would be great. I setup a Cakewalk project based on this Keen on Keys video to select instruments and effects on the PSS A50. I'm trying to setup the PSS A50 or any midi synthesizer and have echo back to multiple tracks so I could for example play something and have it play back multi-timbral like strings, piano, flute, and french horn real time, and have independent control of effects on each instrument. I started with this Keen on Keys video and was able to get the PSS A50 to playback multi-timbral piano and strings as I played the keys and can control reverb, sustain amount, portamento speed, etc on one of these only using local on for the piano sound probably on midi channel 1, and midi mode for the 2nd string sound I set for midi channel 2 in Cakewalk, but if I add more tracks with different instruments it doesn't add them multi-timbrally when I play the keyboard even if I assign to different midi channels.
Hi keen, I have watched almost every video you have released. I love them and find them very helpful. I am a beginner getting into the synth world and want to play dawless. Is there a way to use this keyboard as a master keyboard in a dawless setup? Cheers from Sweden ❤
You need a USB Midi Host (not a USB midi interface!) to convert the USB in and out to standard DIN Midi in and out. I've seen some from Kenton or Miditech, but they aren't cheap.
@@KeenOnKeys I did not know the surrealistic mg-1 was also for mac, thank you! I am already on garageband, but cakewalk looks like a more full featured program, it's a pity it's not for mac. Do you have other suggestions for mac software? 🙏 Thank you for the wonderful in depth videos.
Well, I have now watched ALL of your videos (within a couple days).. I am so looking forward to some review of one of the analogue sounding Bontempis amd many more videos.. Retro/kid/home keyboard lover from greece. Do you intend to do anything in regards with circuit bending?
@@KeenOnKeys Love those bontempis, I think they are some of the best sounding keys from the era and that sound. I have circuit bent two of my Casios (MT-52, MT-45) only to imporove of their sound/features, thus not adding stuff that makes them go noisy, like many circuit benders. Especially MT-52 was problematic as chord section was too quiet, the whole thing was too muffled by the filters. Essentially you can use potentiometers to unmuffle the filter sounds of chord/bass/appregiator section separately, making the sound cheesier and adjustable, sort of pseudo-filter effect. Another typical bent possible in all MTs is the mute on/off of the cymbals, which is pretty useful.
Hi. Based on my conditions at the moment, will need to practice with headphones on almost constantly. Could you tell me please, based on that, which keyboard will be better for me - PSS A50 or PSS F30 ? Thank you.
great videos man! i am planing to buy one for my son (maybe a little for me too :)) so i am interested, what is the adapter you use for the phone connection? and does it take phantom power from your phone battery? (lets say if the AA batteries are inserted)
Hello, wonderful and informative video. Regarding the MIDI, would it be possible to utilize a USB MIDI Host to connect to equipment other than a computer such as the kenton or midiplus host?
Cakewalk has a great drum kit. But there is no Cowbell, Tambourine and so on. So my accompanients are missing of that percussion. I was searching for free possibilities but couldn't find any cowbells or full drum kit. I actually like that on the PSS-A50. And it is complete with anything a rythm section needs. How can I use the samples of the PSS-A50 Drumkit for existing Midi Tracks? PS: I was hoping to find some website to learn more about your person and background infos. I like your style a lot.
sweet video! my PSS-a50 headphone jack is really noisy. there's some hiss when notes are triggered. Did you eq it out somehow? I assume if one records 5-6 stems, all hissy - thats gonna be lotta hiss, right? How did you get away with it?
on my model as well, from the aux, it's like some ground noise, even without playing. Actually I can hear the hiss noise also just from the embedded speaker, when my ear is close enough...
@@vechirni_anbernic Okay, thanks a lot! You mean, still using 3,5 mm jack, but with short cable with thicker neck? Btw. do you use headphone when you are for example outside? I can not change the cable of my headphone so easily..
@@zwang2778 I record though a short 10cm guitar patch cable, into a focusrite solo interface - with sane gain levels there's no audible hiss. For headphones and stuff - no idea if there's a way to fix it, my friend
Hello, I have a question about the buttons on the keyboard while using Logic Pro X. If I add a software instrument track instead of an external MIDI track, how do I enable the sustain and motion effect buttons?
Thanks for these helpful videos. I really want to learn piano, I am 38 years old though ;-) Is this keyboard ok for this? I like the small size and the usb power input. Bit how about the small size keys? Is it ok for learning basic stuff?
Surely you can learn the basics on this keyboard. The keys aren't bad and they have touch response. But if you really want to learn how to play the piano I would recommend a digital piano or at least a keyboard with large and weighted keys and a minimum of 5 octaves.
@@KeenOnKeys thanks for the answer. The problem is also that i do not have enough space to put a normal size keyboard anywhere. What about these foldable keyboards with 61 regular keys ? Are they better for beginners in general…?
I don't understand much of the technical stuff, but it's interesting to see all the buttons and the magic of how they move without knowing why. 😄Apparently you can do a lot with it. But I'm only going to use the PSS-A50 to play the bass on the keyboard, because I'm going to use it to play the bass sound on the whole keyboard. That's not possible with other keyboards, like my Casio CT-S1. I only have one preset split point, so I only have one octave from the bottom with bass sound and I can't go further up because then the second sound comes. So now I have to buy another device to be able to play bass over two octaves without using a VST. Is there a possibility that you test the Casio CT-S1? But probably not. It has too few gimmicks and buttons, I guess. It's more meant for playing the piano properly. And that's what I bought it for. It's a pity that I can't play the bass over the whole keyboard without a VST, otherwise the S1 would have been enough for me. But the PSS-A50 seems like a good catch for the price. Even though I don't understand much of the technical stuff, I now understand a bit more because of this video. Something I never managed to do before. It's all so terribly complicated and technical. But when I have the PSS-A50, maybe because of this video I will play around with it a bit more than just playing the bass, which is what I'm buying it for. Because all the functions are very tempting. I probably won't get much out of it because I don't have a clue, but it's a toy keyboard after all. One shouldn't miss the chance to play around.
Jetzt habe ich das PSS-A50 bekommen und es ist wirklich ein tolles Teil. Aber ein Problem habe ich: Es ist extrem leise. Und wenn ich es an meinen Laptop anschließe, muss ich es in Reaper auf höchste Lautstärke stellen, damit der Bass durchkommt und genauso laut ist wie die anderen Instrumente. Kann man da irgendwas machen? Denn es rauscht gewaltig. Muss man ein spezielles Kabel haben, damit es nicht mehr rauscht und lauter ist? Oder gibt es eine andere Lösung? English: Now I got the PSS-A50 and it's really a great piece of equipment. But I have one problem: it is extremely soft. And when I connect it to my laptop, I have to set it to the highest volume in Reaper so that the bass comes through and is just as loud as the other instruments. Is there anything I can do? Because it's very noisy. Do you have to have a special cable to stop the noise and make it louder?
@@KeenOnKeys Well I got an SHS-300BU which has only 12 voices compared to PSS-A50 but has a rather more useful JAM feature that I can use with the Chord Tracker app or MIDI song containing Chord Data/Change SysEx, and it outputs stereo as well (notable from MIDI data though most voices are sampled in mono) unlike the PSS-A50 which outputs dual mono.
Great introduction. I tried once reaper but I'll give the mentioned DAW a try. Now, I love to be totally portable. To be play everywhere with the PSS A50 e.g. somewhere in nature, on a mountain top. To fulfill the capabilities, can you recommend a very portable Looper compatible with the A50?
Hi there l have a yamaha e463 but it bad at recording, if you set the repeat feather it mess up the recording, so you have to be a good keyboard player to hold it down for 3 minutes... I tried a DAW Ableton lite 11. but this keyboard is not feathered in there list. IN the manuel it says use A-b repeart after the recording but this not work that well.
This is probably a daft question but I'm planning on getting one of these for on the go singing lessons, mainly needing scales and chords etc. Does the standard tuning (ie without adjusting) start just under c4 then go through c5 and c6? Which octaves are default?
The default tone range isn't the same for all of the voices. For piano you get the three octaves right in the middle (from c to c'''), but you can transpose it 2 octaves up and down.
Please help me!! I've been trying to record with the pss-A50 on reaper and i'm getting a yellow line showing it's recognising the keyboard and it's even recording the midi data but it doesn't play back the sound of the keyboard? Can't find an explanation for this anywhere. great video by the way, I'm very eager to finally be able to put it to use!!
I am not familiar with Reaper, but there must be a way to assign the PSS-A50 to the track output. Check if the PSS-A50 (Digital Keyboard) is selected in the Midi settings as Midi in- and output, then go to the track inspector (or Track Editor, I don't know what it's called in Reaper) and select the PSS-A50 there as the Output for the track.
Is it possible to trigger the ARP on this keyboard using external MIDI? I'm sending MIDI to the device and it is playing the onboard sounds but when I turn the arp on it doesnt change anything, just continues to play the MIDI chords sent to it. I'd like to send External MIDI Chords to the keyboard, trigger the ARP with it and then recapture the ARP MIDI.
Only you, Keen, would call that 20-minute, full-fledged A50 review - quote-unquote - “a bit too short” and append it with a step-by-step, free, extensive guide on making it work with a DAW. Wow. Thank you so much for the New Year gift.
This is, by all means, the most comprehensive crash course on understanding MIDI, using DAW and Sound Interfaces.
Bloody well done !
Dude... I was trying to teach midi to my son... He never understand a sh** But with this video... He learnt easily!!! Tnks!! you're amazing!!!
Thanks! You solved the mystery of program changes function to me.
I've watched several videos on your channel, all very hi quality videos; but with this one sir, you earned my lifetime subscription. I mean, this one goes way beyond "hi quality", it left me speechless!
After viewing both of your Yamaha PSS-A50 videos the 4th time - today I have ordered one. Even knowing all the complaints you have made, i think it's a good value for the money to buy such a entry level machine with midi. If it's not my thing, no huge lost of money is the result. Thank you 1000 times for that detailed and edutaining video!
May I just say that I bought this keyboard because of YOU. GOOD WORK WITH YOUR VIDS KoK
I am truly impressed by the quality of the videos from the channel. Simply outstanding!
I found the solution for the Yamaha keyboard MIDI problem that I've been trying to solve for years here. This is also an incredibly good MIDI and DAW usage tutorial, even audio effects... Excellent explanation. Thank you very much.
A good explanation and demo of how MIDI works. Most of the other videos are talking about computers, gadgets, boxes, cables, protocols etc. without even a simple demo - thank you!
Dude, most clear explanation of midi on youtube. This little keyboard can Def be a master keyboard to your daw, thts crazy...just picked one up for $80 on Reverb. Pairing it with my new sp404mkll! People are sleep to the fact tht this is basically a cheaper yamaha reface!
so many years using synths just either as standalone instruments, or as controllers to send input to vstis, but never thought about sending midi info back to the device for it to play. And I found this video researching about the pssa50 to get it for my 7yo daughter ! thanks a lot for such a complete information !
Excellent tutorial! I now am motivated to buy a Yamaha PSS-A50 and apply your instructions in a DAW (Logic). Thank you very much! Your images and audio recordings are good, your editing is concise and to the point and your voice is nice to listen to. Subscribed :)
I recently purchased a PSS-A50 as my first keyboard to learn on, and was surprised by how easy it was to connect it to my iPad Pro and begin using it as a controller for GarageBand. Literally just plug and play.
can the ipad pro provide enough power? i connect to my normal ipad it says need additional power.
@@PhoonBucgeneMY same here
@@PhoonBucgeneMY try putting on batteries when connecting to midi
@Static Klingon try putting batteries inside the keyboard when connecting to midi
I’ve been watching your videos for quite some time and I think you’re criminally underrated
Yup
debated for 2 months almost, and finally got an A-50. Excited for it. Thank you Keen for the excellent videos! I am ready to dig into MIDI like never before! very inspiring video!!
So glad I found your channel. I like the way you make things seem very easy. Your video and audio quality is also exceptional. Thanks! I just ordered a Yamaha PSS-A50 based on your videos about it. Even though I have a ton of other MIDI controllers both large and small and a few Synths already. I think this will work well for when I'm traveling and want to work on some ideas and to practice.
Iam buying it after watching this video, all though the keys are small for my hands but I just want a midi controller which also is a stand alone and this one seems perfect to me ( (in this budget) after watching the 2 videos of your on it. I must say you are really precise, great command over everything, I'm inspired, sir. Thank you
Awesome Video. Got the A50 for the nieces and nephew as a present from my cousin. Glad i picked such a cool keyboard. Messed with it to show them how cool it is and was impressed especially since it only cost $108.
This channel and @AudioPilz represent Yin and Yang for a very specific topic.
Wow ! What a demo and tutorial ! At last we can see the PSS A 50 controlling a computer. Most useful, thanks
Wonderful Tutorial......
Comprehensive.......
Voice Over really equates National Geo.....
Congrats Keen ..... Keep Going .......
Sweet. I got this over summer. It's a great way to introduce kids to music and at the same time get a controller adults can use, too, at a reasonable price.
As an owner of this small bright machine, I'm glad to see this depth on the review, not just a basic features overview. Of course, there's a bit more deep features by using sysex/NRPN's with an XG editor, but that's diggin too much under the hood, and not really useful as voices can't be saved & recalled easily that way.
mate your a legend, music production stuff was super confusing using ableton and now this video has made it easier for me to have fun with my keyboard!
so now you can do this in ableton as well?
Amazingly good video but I would have to wach it at least a dozen times to grasp everything! Midi is just so complex, to me at least! Getting a PSS A50 fro Christmas on the back of your review, seems the perfect choice for noodling anywhere and getting ideas down - Great video as is your full review of this keyboard Mr Keys! Will we see videos for the Yamaha Reface series any time soon? They have been around since 2015 but I cannot seem to find any reviews on your channel... Thanks for all your hard work in producing these amazingly useful videos!
Thanks! I have none of the reface models and I don't plan to buy one, but you'll never know.
@@KeenOnKeys The Refaces are so expensive but they do seem to get a lot of praise too! As I said, I am getting a PSS A50 as a portable keyboard that I can use anywhere but having just watched your excellent demo of the Casiotone SA-50 I am now wondering if that might be a better option for my needs... as well as being significantly cheaper! Too many choices! What would you recommend for a very small portable keyboard just for working on ideas on the move? I'd really appreciate your advice! Many thanks again for all your hard work, we all appreciate it! You are also a total master of the keys too! Wonderfully creative playing! Cheers.
@@FlowerdyPilllow The SA-50 has a couple of nice tones, but it can't beat the PSS-A50. The arpeggiator is great.
@@KeenOnKeysThank you very much! I will go with the PSS A50. All the best to you.
I have used midi since 1988.. 100% old school! It was how I made music for recording. Loved it!
PS - New subscriber! You explain everything very well! My first Midi instruments were. Yamaha PSS-480, Yamaha QX-21 two track sequencer, and Casio MT-240. I got a Casio VZ-1 in 1990! Still use it in 2021.
Have you ever heard of the Brother PDC-100 Disk Composer? 32 tracks + 64 macro Sequencer? It was a fabulous piece of Midi equipment.
I only know the Brother GX-151 Keyboard (same as Baldwin DS-50). My first sequencer was the Roland MV-30
It's one of the most interesting and important video about music i have seen. I think this lesson should be learn at school. And your channel should be traducted in all langages. It's really helpful, full of simplicity, humility, it show how far we are gone with our world of consumisme.
Yes arpegiators were invented since a long time, and yes it makes a long time they are many voices in digital piano who this days cost nothing.
But now they sell you this little thing and many other as an option and at very expensive price when they only add them as new invention in just a master keyboard and making by that climbing upper the prices. But in that video we learn that we can use an old casio better than the new keyboards they try to sell us. I have share this video to all my musicians friends and my family. Wonderfull video i keep it to my list👍👏😉
Excellent video. I’m chuckling at how great your productions are. Equally informative and inspiring. Thank you!
I've had Cubase for ages, and totally intimidated by it, so this might help me with music creation. Thanks for the great video xx
Where should I start... I've briefly used Cakewalk Demo in the 90s before buying Cubase, and stuck with that. But I couldn't stop watching all your explanations, even though they were not new for me. Just so well done, maybe a little fast paced for a beginner at some points. And thanks for the info that Cakewalk is free now, I may try that again then.
Some awesome work and content on all videos in this channel! Thank you.
Looking at subs, totally underrated there... wishing you it will take off soon!
Happy 2021!
Hello Keen on Keys. I really like your videos. Currently I have a problem : my PSS A50 is recognized by Cakewalk as a digital keyboard in and out that I checked and confirmed in response Cakewalk answers me with the absence of a midi device. Yet my PSS A50 is recognized by Ableton lite with the same connection cable. Thank you for your providential help.😎
Hello i like very much your videos. Now i have a problem and I need your help : no connection with Cakewalk midi although digital keyboard in and out checked with my PSS A50. I'm surprised because midi works well with Ableton lite. Thanks a lot for your help.
I love this keyboard, it will be a future classic
Great explanation. Going to get this for my daughter and set her watching this video.
Oh wow, thank you so much for this, this seems to have some great pointers how to start. I bought a PSS-A50 a few months ago (partially because of you review and it having a MIDI interface), but I hadn't really had the time to do much with it. And I haven't played any instrument since 1992 and never played any piano/keyboard, so I should get around learning much of this stuff first. Oh and the later parts of the video make my head spin, but well, many of the stuff (mostly IT), I can do now in my sleep, did also do that in the beginning.
Wow this is very useful thank you so much you really explain a lot things i like to realize and it's nice and clear
Wow, thank you... this was a surprise! This was very informative and will be useful, as I hope to be able to produce some pleasant music. The PSS a50 is definitely one of my favourites and especially so, as I fixed a broken one I got for cheap. The only thing it could do with more of is synth sounds, so I am happy I can use other software instruments and of course the vintage instruments too.
Thank you for the video! I tested connecting the PSS A50 to an iPhone 11 using the camera connection adapter and it works as a midi controller for Garageband. :) I do wish the audio could pass through as well and I haven't tested sending the arpeggios yet, but it may work.
Eye opening !!! Thank you for taking the time to make this video. :) Helped me learn a lot about this great device.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and insight in using midi through Cakewalk, it has been very helpful to me!
Your video are clear and full off useful information. Thanks so much.
Great explanations! I had tu subscribe! 😁 This little keyboard is just amazing, i bought one! Even pro ones are not multitimbral or just two voices, but 16 sounds is just crazy!!! I bought one to playback one or two midi chords lines on live sessions with other synths, mostly mono 👌
Excellent video. Is it possible to connect it to another keyboard through regular or usb midi in? How do you do it?
You have to connect it to your computer first.
Only now on my front page!
I'd like another video like the Behringer cat. Not with new gear like most youtubers, just newish synths that are unpopular.
Perhaps the wasp? Your cat video was insane and made me buy one.
I love this thing, and I love this video (and the other one, too). These videos, and this keyboard, have ruined our lives. Really, this was the first keyboard that entered this once beautiful home. We now have Too Many Synths. Way Too Many Synths. But this video came up on my RUclips recommendations, I watched it again, got out the A50 - I still love it and it's still one of my favourites. Yes you heard that right, Microfreak. That new Ronald Compact Aira synth is a bit similar in some ways, by the way. And it's really small …
Ruined, this house is. Can somebody please comfort me by revealing the secret to syncing this to an external drumcomputer with 5-pin MIDI? Is there a box? Do I need a computer? Life would still be ruined, but syncing this would make it all worthwhile. Well, that and an affordable JVC KB-800. Thanks.
Awesome content, thank you! Is this a good keyboard to learn how to play and then use as a midi? My goal is to ultimately produce music, but would like to polish my playing skills now. Thank you in advance!
If you don't mind the small keys, it will do just fine.
@@KeenOnKeys thank you so much, really appreciate it!
Thank you for the information on the Surrealistic MG-1 Plus! You just saved my bank account! I will eventually have to find a real instrument but for now I have this and will be using it.
I’m hoping Santa will bring me one of these, and I have Cakewalk, so this was perfect for me. Thank you!
Everyone i show your videos to really likes them. The chord progression at 29:20 is from a movie i used to like but don't seem to be able to recall atm- maybe you know?
I got no idea. I just played some chords without thinking about it.
Thanks for the Surrealistic MG-1 recommendation. Cherry Audio is a fine source for synth instruments! I have it working in Cakewalk and now Ableton LL using a bona fide MIDI control surface (M-Audi Oxygen Pro MINI). Just keys working at the moment - no maps.
Hi, thanks for a great video. Do you know if this keyboard is suited to be used as a controller (not sure if it's the right term) for a keyless synth like the Roland JU-0A? This video made me buy my first keyboard and got me into producing songs, which seemed pretty daunting before.
What an excellent video - thank you so much sir!
Really nice video! Does anyone know what would be the cheapest keyboard controler with standard Midi jacks? I don't care about the pads, the knobs or built in sounds. All I need are mini keys,. It also needs to be accessible since I'm blind.
Thanks for posting this video. Are there other similar keyboards you suggest? This one isn’t widely available.
Unfortunately not. There are not many small home keyboards with USB midi on the market at the moment. And I have not tried the larger ones yet.
Reface series?
@@elierosenberg9852 That really is the best option that I was able to find when I was shopping, but it’s also much more expensive. Also, keep checking for the PSS-A50. I don’t know what country you’re in, but they are available in the US, just backordered on some websites right now because of the holidays.
Very helpful, thank you so much for your work.
Great video! I'd like to play my PSS A50 or any midi synthesizer keyboard in midi mode real time and hear the music playing back multi-timbral as I play because many keyboards have this capability but the local keyboard controls aren't there to do it. I haven't found any video which shows how to do this, I'm trying to get the most out of my portable keyboard when I'm traveling with a small laptop with a DAW like Cakewalk.
I'm looking to do this realtime, not use the DAW to record or create separate tracks that can play back a multi-track polyphonic multi-timbral composition.
If you know of a way to play my PSS A50 or other keyboard and have it echo back to different midi channels simultaneously different instruments and effects I select
from my DAW please provide a link or explain how to do it or a how to video would be great.
I setup a Cakewalk project based on this Keen on Keys video to select instruments and effects on the PSS A50. I'm trying to setup the PSS A50 or any midi synthesizer and have echo back to multiple tracks so I could for example play something and have it play back multi-timbral like strings, piano, flute, and french horn real time, and have independent control of effects on each instrument. I started with this Keen on Keys video and was able to get the PSS A50 to playback multi-timbral piano and strings as I played the keys and can control reverb, sustain amount, portamento speed, etc on one of these only using local on for the piano sound probably on midi channel 1, and midi mode for the 2nd string sound I set for midi channel 2 in Cakewalk, but if I add more tracks with different instruments it doesn't add them multi-timbrally when I play the keyboard even if I assign to different midi channels.
Any suggestion for a keyboard with similar capabilities that is more oriented toward adults/semiprofessionals?
Great explanation, thank you!
please tell me how you can do this in ableton, I mean how to incorporate a-50 sounds in Ableton and record its sound as midi.
Amazing. Simply and easy
Wow! I feel like I just got a big brother hand on tutorial on how to do this!
I downloaded Cakewalk and working on it now!
Thank you for mentioning that Calkwalk is free now !
Hi keen, I have watched almost every video you have released. I love them and find them very helpful. I am a beginner getting into the synth world and want to play dawless. Is there a way to use this keyboard as a master keyboard in a dawless setup? Cheers from Sweden ❤
You need a USB Midi Host (not a USB midi interface!) to convert the USB in and out to standard DIN Midi in and out. I've seen some from Kenton or Miditech, but they aren't cheap.
@@KeenOnKeys Thanks for the insight good sir, i might go with the keystep then!
Good choice!
This is amazing. Just wish I could use it since I have a mac, but I still learned a lot.
You should be able to use it with mac in a very similar way, with GarageBand, for example. The Surrealistic MG-1 is also available for mac.
@@KeenOnKeys I did not know the surrealistic mg-1 was also for mac, thank you! I am already on garageband, but cakewalk looks like a more full featured program, it's a pity it's not for mac. Do you have other suggestions for mac software? 🙏 Thank you for the wonderful in depth videos.
@@diddlybop SoundBridge and Waveform Free are for mac as well. Check out the bpb website (link in the description)
Well, I have now watched ALL of your videos (within a couple days).. I am so looking forward to some review of one of the analogue sounding Bontempis amd many more videos.. Retro/kid/home keyboard lover from greece. Do you intend to do anything in regards with circuit bending?
Thank you! I usually don't make modifications other than adding an output, but I will definitely do a Bontempi review this year.
@@KeenOnKeys Love those bontempis, I think they are some of the best sounding keys from the era and that sound. I have circuit bent two of my Casios (MT-52, MT-45) only to imporove of their sound/features, thus not adding stuff that makes them go noisy, like many circuit benders. Especially MT-52 was problematic as chord section was too quiet, the whole thing was too muffled by the filters. Essentially you can use potentiometers to unmuffle the filter sounds of chord/bass/appregiator section separately, making the sound cheesier and adjustable, sort of pseudo-filter effect. Another typical bent possible in all MTs is the mute on/off of the cymbals, which is pretty useful.
Hello ! Can I use the A 50 as a midi out , using the batteries as power supply or generally?
Wow who knew, thanks Keen.
Hi. Based on my conditions at the moment, will need to practice with headphones on almost constantly. Could you tell me please, based on that, which keyboard will be better for me - PSS A50 or PSS F30 ?
Thank you.
You can use both with headphones. I recommend the A50, but if you need more voices and the classic accompaniment, try out the F30.
@@KeenOnKeys Thanks a lot.
I really need to watch this and use my A50...
great videos man! i am planing to buy one for my son (maybe a little for me too :)) so i am interested, what is the adapter you use for the phone connection? and does it take phantom power from your phone battery? (lets say if the AA batteries are inserted)
Hello, wonderful and informative video. Regarding the MIDI, would it be possible to utilize a USB MIDI Host to connect to equipment other than a computer such as the kenton or midiplus host?
Cakewalk has a great drum kit. But there is no Cowbell, Tambourine and so on. So my accompanients are missing of that percussion. I was searching for free possibilities but couldn't find any cowbells or full drum kit. I actually like that on the PSS-A50. And it is complete with anything a rythm section needs. How can I use the samples of the PSS-A50 Drumkit for existing Midi Tracks?
PS: I was hoping to find some website to learn more about your person and background infos. I like your style a lot.
Great! Thank you for sharing
Good toturial
Brilliant !!!
Very interesting what you can do with the motion effect button, but I still want to know if we can assign it for pitch bend or modulation
You can choose between 34 Motion FX presets. Some include pitch bend or modulation FX.
@@KeenOnKeys thank you very much for the information! Now I'm even more interested in it. Your channel is impressive
sweet video! my PSS-a50 headphone jack is really noisy. there's some hiss when notes are triggered. Did you eq it out somehow? I assume if one records 5-6 stems, all hissy - thats gonna be lotta hiss, right? How did you get away with it?
The noise is not that bad on my model. I just recorded everything at maximum level.
on my model as well, from the aux, it's like some ground noise, even without playing. Actually I can hear the hiss noise also just from the embedded speaker, when my ear is close enough...
@@zwang2778 try a different cable when plugged into the interface. Short with big yes jacks makes a world of a difference
@@vechirni_anbernic Okay, thanks a lot! You mean, still using 3,5 mm jack, but with short cable with thicker neck? Btw. do you use headphone when you are for example outside? I can not change the cable of my headphone so easily..
@@zwang2778 I record though a short 10cm guitar patch cable, into a focusrite solo interface - with sane gain levels there's no audible hiss. For headphones and stuff - no idea if there's a way to fix it, my friend
Hello, I have a question about the buttons on the keyboard while using Logic Pro X. If I add a software instrument track instead of an external MIDI track, how do I enable the sustain and motion effect buttons?
Thanks for these helpful videos. I really want to learn piano, I am 38 years old though ;-) Is this keyboard ok for this? I like the small size and the usb power input. Bit how about the small size keys? Is it ok for learning basic stuff?
Surely you can learn the basics on this keyboard. The keys aren't bad and they have touch response. But if you really want to learn how to play the piano I would recommend a digital piano or at least a keyboard with large and weighted keys and a minimum of 5 octaves.
@@KeenOnKeys thanks for the answer. The problem is also that i do not have enough space to put a normal size keyboard anywhere. What about these foldable keyboards with 61 regular keys ? Are they better for beginners in general…?
Wonderful
I don't understand much of the technical stuff, but it's interesting to see all the buttons and the magic of how they move without knowing why. 😄Apparently you can do a lot with it. But I'm only going to use the PSS-A50 to play the bass on the keyboard, because I'm going to use it to play the bass sound on the whole keyboard. That's not possible with other keyboards, like my Casio CT-S1. I only have one preset split point, so I only have one octave from the bottom with bass sound and I can't go further up because then the second sound comes. So now I have to buy another device to be able to play bass over two octaves without using a VST.
Is there a possibility that you test the Casio CT-S1? But probably not. It has too few gimmicks and buttons, I guess. It's more meant for playing the piano properly. And that's what I bought it for. It's a pity that I can't play the bass over the whole keyboard without a VST, otherwise the S1 would have been enough for me. But the PSS-A50 seems like a good catch for the price.
Even though I don't understand much of the technical stuff, I now understand a bit more because of this video. Something I never managed to do before. It's all so terribly complicated and technical. But when I have the PSS-A50, maybe because of this video I will play around with it a bit more than just playing the bass, which is what I'm buying it for. Because all the functions are very tempting. I probably won't get much out of it because I don't have a clue, but it's a toy keyboard after all. One shouldn't miss the chance to play around.
Jetzt habe ich das PSS-A50 bekommen und es ist wirklich ein tolles Teil. Aber ein Problem habe ich: Es ist extrem leise. Und wenn ich es an meinen Laptop anschließe, muss ich es in Reaper auf höchste Lautstärke stellen, damit der Bass durchkommt und genauso laut ist wie die anderen Instrumente. Kann man da irgendwas machen? Denn es rauscht gewaltig. Muss man ein spezielles Kabel haben, damit es nicht mehr rauscht und lauter ist? Oder gibt es eine andere Lösung?
English:
Now I got the PSS-A50 and it's really a great piece of equipment. But I have one problem: it is extremely soft. And when I connect it to my laptop, I have to set it to the highest volume in Reaper so that the bass comes through and is just as loud as the other instruments. Is there anything I can do? Because it's very noisy. Do you have to have a special cable to stop the noise and make it louder?
Ayyyyeee awesome 👏🏻
hey do you need a driver for the midi connection
Could it be that we can get pipe organ sounds via a DAW software and PSS A50?
Yessss!
You plan to get the SHS-300 to compare the sound with the PSS-A50?
No, not at the moment.
@@KeenOnKeys Well I got an SHS-300BU which has only 12 voices compared to PSS-A50 but has a rather more useful JAM feature that I can use with the Chord Tracker app or MIDI song containing Chord Data/Change SysEx, and it outputs stereo as well (notable from MIDI data though most voices are sampled in mono) unlike the PSS-A50 which outputs dual mono.
This was awesome.
Are you a professional composer and producer (for me it looks like that) or is it just a hobby?
I am a professional musician, but addicted to small keyboards.
Great introduction. I tried once reaper but I'll give the mentioned DAW a try.
Now, I love to be totally portable. To be play everywhere with the PSS A50 e.g. somewhere in nature, on a mountain top. To fulfill the capabilities, can you recommend a very portable Looper compatible with the A50?
You mean like a stomp box? I don't have one, but I guess any will do, cause they are using the audio signal.
Hi there l have a yamaha e463 but it bad at recording, if you set the repeat feather it mess up the recording, so you have to be a good keyboard player to hold it down for 3 minutes... I tried a DAW Ableton lite 11. but this keyboard is not feathered in there list. IN the manuel it says use A-b repeart after the recording but this not work that well.
This is probably a daft question but I'm planning on getting one of these for on the go singing lessons, mainly needing scales and chords etc. Does the standard tuning (ie without adjusting) start just under c4 then go through c5 and c6? Which octaves are default?
The default tone range isn't the same for all of the voices. For piano you get the three octaves right in the middle (from c to c'''), but you can transpose it 2 octaves up and down.
@@KeenOnKeys great thank you
Please help me!! I've been trying to record with the pss-A50 on reaper and i'm getting a yellow line showing it's recognising the keyboard and it's even recording the midi data but it doesn't play back the sound of the keyboard? Can't find an explanation for this anywhere. great video by the way, I'm very eager to finally be able to put it to use!!
I am not familiar with Reaper, but there must be a way to assign the PSS-A50 to the track output. Check if the PSS-A50 (Digital Keyboard) is selected in the Midi settings as Midi in- and output, then go to the track inspector (or Track Editor, I don't know what it's called in Reaper) and select the PSS-A50 there as the Output for the track.
Is it possible to trigger the ARP on this keyboard using external MIDI? I'm sending MIDI to the device and it is playing the onboard sounds but when I turn the arp on it doesnt change anything, just continues to play the MIDI chords sent to it. I'd like to send External MIDI Chords to the keyboard, trigger the ARP with it and then recapture the ARP MIDI.
Suddenly Casio Cz-101 ❤️
Now Cakewalk is for Mac too!
How use this on LMMS?
🎉
Wow thanks for the explanation.
Seems to me thiy Yamaha is as agood as mpk mini play.
I was hoping to get one of these and found out that they are evidently discontinued. I need help.
Hi!!The MIDI function is not working, it seems that my laptop doesnt recognized the device, any idea to solve this? Thank you!!