5 comments about Elegance 61 Keys Full Size Electronic Keyboard.

1. This keyboard is very poor quality. It rattled when moved as if there was a broken piece inside. It only worked on batteries. The power cord did not work. There were no instructions included. Customer service was very polite and quick to respond to complaint which is why I give 2 stars rather than one. Do not order. If you return product even with defects you must pay for return shipping yourself. The product is worth $5 at most.



2. This product is horrible - complete crime that they're selling this. The quality of the sound is absolutely horrific - that is, if you can get sound. i owned this keyboard for a month before it stopped turning on - plugged in or with battery, the keyboard will not turn on, and there is no information for servicing this product. so buyers beware!



3. This keyboard is excellent value for money, but BEWARE::: The power unit being supplied by Austin Bazaar is incorrect and WILL RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE UNIT.
   Check that a 9V power unit is supplied and NOT the 12V unit. The latter unit will cause the keyboard to overheat and eventually burn out, rendering your money lost.



4. My granddaughter loved this keyboard. She said that it was the best birthday present ever. And I agree it is a great product at a reasonable price!



5. Product does not power on with the supplied adaptor or with the D batteries. Purchased as a holiday gift. Seller will not exchange or refund money. Item is junk and seller is NOT reputable. Just throw your money right in the trash rather than be frustrated.

3 comments about Roll Up Piano - Digital & Portable 61 Keys Roll-Up Piano Electronic MIDI Keyboard with 16 MIDI Output Channels Design.

1. I wasn't expecting great things when I bought this, and I was still disappointed.
   
   My main problem with this keyboard is that some keys have to be hit dead center or they will not sound, but other keys produce a sound at the slightest touch. This inconsistency makes it difficult to play anything but the most simplistic songs.
   
   The built in speaker leaves much to be desired. It's output was tinny and distorted, and there was a slight hissing sound while playing each note.
   
   I never got around to trying any of the MIDI functions.



2. Only good thing about this product is that it doesn't take too much space in the "junk closet".



3. I'm deployed in Iraq, and didn't want the hassle and expense of a cheap full keyboard that would have cost as much to ship here and back and taken up more room than I have available. I didn't want to spend all that time away from the piano either... so I got this. I unroll it onto my footlocker and it barely hangs off the edge, so it fits great, and I can roll it up and toss it under my bed. I can play simple songs on here- anything more complex than Greensleeves or just twiddling around and it's just too rough. Minuet in G is near impossible... I bought a midi cable thinking I could record and go back and edit, but SURPRISE, it's not working with Garage Band... The concept is cool, and it's a neat toy, but as a toy, it's way overpriced, even at the reduced rate. I wish I could have at least gotten it to work with garage band...

5 comments about Casio PX110 Privia Digital Piano.

1. I took piano (on an upright piano) for about seven years before I went to college. I got this keyboard as a birthday present in February 2007 (I had done the research and found it). It has lived in my college's on-campus apartment since then, and in a storage unit over the summer, and has experienced no problems. In the past year of use, it's been a great tool.
   
   Pros:
   Very nice, sleek look.
   Enough choices to have fun - different tones, recorded songs + songbook, etc - while still "professional".
   Pretty easy to adjust to weighted keys.
   Good sound.
   Comes with a free pedal!
   
   Cons:
   The sound of keys is very apparent while playing. You can solve this by using headphones or turning the sound up a bit.
   A bit weighty - I don't know what keyboardists lug around, but this one's hard to move around casually.
   
   Overall, I'd highly recommend it! A great value for the price.



2. Awesome, pretty close to a piano. We just love it. Great sound and very good looking :D. The price is a +.



3. The keboard plays very much as a piano with much less weight, space, and maintenance. My favorite aspect of the keyboard is touch response, which allows me to create different sounds based on how hard I hit the keys. This feature expands the selection of songs I can play, and improves the quality of my compositions. The multiple tones of the keyboard also allow me to have fun in experimenting with other instrumental sounds aside from the piano.



4. I just started taking piano a few months ago. As an adult learner I didn't want to commit to an upright until I see how successful I am at this new "hobby". This piano is the perfect compromise and I recommend it to anyone.
   Pros:
   It has pressure sensitive keys allow you to play as loudly or softly as you desire.
   It has a volume dial for keeping your practice quiet.
   There is a headphone jack for keeping your lesson completely private.
   88 full size keys as opposed to cheaper toy versions of keyboards make it easy to switch to an upright when you play on your teacher's piano for your lesson.
   It has some measure of portability, so it would be easy to sell on ebay if the time comes as opposed to an upright piano which would be harder to sell.
   
   Cons:
   Even the loudest setting is fairly quiet, so you would need an amplifier to play in public.
   It's a little heavy and cumbersome to take out and about.
   
   Since these are my thoughts as a new piano student, I thought they may be helpful. I often tell my husband that "I love my piano." So I guess that statement speaks for itself.



5. I got this piano for my daughters since they started piano lessons. It sounds and feels like a regular piano. For the price, it is a good buy.

5 comments about M-Audio AXIOM 49 Advanced 49-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller.

1. The M-Audio Axiom 49-key MIDI keyboard is a great device for someone looking to learn piano or keyboard. 49-keys is probably the minimum amount I'd recommend for learning keyboard/piano because any less would cause some problems going up and down octaves. If you've never heard of a MIDI keyboard before, it is powered and hooked up to your computer via USB. A program is then ran on your computer that lets you record and edit the audio. The Axiom has 8 drum pads, which are great for saved beats and a TON of customizable knobs and sliders. It is very simple to use, although many of the programs can be confusing. Overall I would recommend the Axiom if you are looking for a cheap MIDI input for your computer or you are looking to learn the piano or keyboard.



2. i am an equipment junkie and i end up owning a lot of keyboards. i have a fatar weighted controller. roland d-50, a roland a-20 that i bought on e-bay. this keyboard is nice to play. i use it for recording on sonar with reason as a soft synth. i am not very skilled using all the controls but it just plays well. i tried a smaller keyboard who can play piano on just 24 keys? i can't. you need some room to move. this keyboard lets you play.



3. I've had this for about three weeks now and I am very happy with it. I am using it with GarageBand and it works seemlessly with that program. The weighted keys are nice to the touch although they obviously don't feel like a real piano. The drum pads are a nice addition as well. The touch sensitivity works well also and is adjustable according to your style of play.
   
   My only compliant is that it looks like it would take a long time to program the controllers (knobs and presets) on this keyboard to work with the software program you are using. I haven't tried it yet becuase when i read through the manual i immediately thought (well i don't have time to go through all of this right now" It may be me, but I wish this process were easier.
   
   I would say this is a quality product for the price and seems like it has the potential to be used for more advanced settings if you get to that level.



4. GREAT PRODUCT!!!!!!! I can not say any more. The only downside is it is kind of heavy, but other than that, GREAT! The user manual could be a little easier to use as well.



5. The keyboard died after 1 year of very very VERY light use. It is my second M-Audio keyboard that let me down. I do not buy keyboards from m-audio anymore. If one needs disposable keyboard, there are cheaper alternatives.

5 comments about M-Audio Keystation 61es 61-Key Keyboard.

1. Easy to install.
   
   Great for an Audio-Midi home studio.
   
   Keys do not feel like a real piano, but better than most MIDI keyboards.
   
   It is perfect for chords, and easy runs with a MIDI sequencer.
   
   Worked just fine with my MS Vista 32 O.S.
   
   It would have gotten five stars if the Keys were not so "springy".



2. Nothing bad to say about this product. The key action is good and it has some nice programmable features. Works great with Session.



3. Yup, it feels a little cheap and plastic-ee. Yes sometimes the keys make an odd noise when they are pressed. Yes, Garage Band identified it immediately and I was able to throw down a quick bass and organ track to make loops I can practice to. I won't get to Carnegie on it but then I wasn't trying to. Perfect for what it is.



4. Keyboard is a really nice and a great value. Delivery was promised in 5-9 days and was backordered for 30 days. I would have ordered from another vendor had I known.



5. For the money, I think this is a fair deal; although it didn't completely meet my needs. After I bought I decided that I should have gone with the 61-note Axiom model instead. The things I needed that I don't get are 1) spilt-zoned keyboard and 2) a volume pedal jack (for swell in organ and live volume control with everything else, additional controllers (drum pads etc.). Hey, I bought it, so the lack of these features did not detract from the rating which I gave it; i.e., I didn't use the lack of these features to count against it.
   
   I can only give this keyboard 3 stars and here is why. It's mediocre. Does what it does... no more no less. The keyboard feel is not especially great, but not too bad either. It 'gives' too much and the resistance is not at all like that of many Roland/Yamaha/Kurzweil instruments I've played, but it's not bad either.
   
   Again, you get what you pay for and I suppose this would be a great keyboard for some other folks. I think that all-in-all, it's a fair price. 3 stars.... if you need more, pony up for the axiom 61 also sold here on amazon. I wish I had done so... I will soon.

5 comments about M-Audio AXIOM 61 Advanced 61-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller 9900-51413-10.

1. New to MIDI and keyboards (just learning piano too) so take this with a grain of salt. Overall a pretty good controller, but i have problems with some of the faders/knobs not working all the time. this is probably an issue with the preset software which i do not know how to use yet.
   
   another bigger issue, is the latency. there is a slight delay ~ 90 milliseconds before the keys/triggers i hit actually respond. this isn't too bad for me to learn how to play the piano, but a little frustrating getting the timing down when using it with Reason. i have used the Axiom 61 on 3 computers so far all with more or less the same results - they are not brand new, but still relatively quick.
   
   i'm not fond of the drum pads, they do not seem to respond the way i had hoped they would - again this could be 1) the latency problem, 2) the fact i have never used a stand alone drum pad trigger.
   
   finally the software, Reason (which it does not come with) is fairly intuitive, Ableton and Enigma are NOT. a month after I bought this, i still have yet to get it to make any sounds with the Axiom in Ableton. Enigma also is pretty counter-intuitive, however, i am not one for manuals and do like to figure it out on my own.
   
   in conclusion, i do like this controller and have quite a bit of fun using it. if everything worked as i think it should, i would like this about 10 times as much. seems like a very solid unit although i do not plan on dropping any time soon. if i had to do again, i would buy a cheaper controller to learn on, then maybe move to something more fancy like this.



2. Keyboard has great features but, unfortunately, it is coated with painting that contains lead. Lead is known to cause cancer. This is specified in the user's manual but not on the box. I think any prospect buyer should be aware of this fact.



3. I use this keyboard with and Imac, Garage Band and B4 II. I like the action and generous controls.



4. I first had the Axiom 25 and loved it when I used Garageband. When I got ProTools (all of them Mini 2, LE, and M-Powered) I moved up to another brand. When I got Logic Pro and Logic Pro Express I got the Axiom 61 and never looked back. I have a double rack and the Axiom 61 gets used constantly and I think that says it for me.
   
   P.S. I didn't know there was a"lead" issue with the paint on the Axiom, but again I don't play on the paint, or have small children, or dogs or cats, et al.



5. MIDI controllers are often a subjective choice because not everyone uses them for the same purpose or has the experience of playing on weighted keys such as your normal piano.
   
   I purchased this after having started with a 49 key M-Audio Key Studio which was an entry level controller with plain, non weighted keys and no extra control beyond the standard pitch & mod wheels and octave buttons. I wanted something that would allow comfortable "piano style" two handed play without getting into actual 88 key units. If you are not experienced with actual keyboards/workstations (the ones that have sound and sequencers on-board like the Fantom, Motif, Triton) then you will likely be surprised with the weight of the unit. It is not heavy per se, but if your prior experience is with a small drum pad or controller with non-weighted keys the 11 pounds will be something of a shock.
   
   The key action is exactly what I was looking for. It gives you enough resistance to feel the play style without actually being heavy enough to wear out your hands like a piano can do. The adjustable velocity curves let you pick how hard you want to have to press a key to achieve set input level which is a nice way to customize the board to how strong your fingers and hands are. I found the action to be smooth and not as sloppy as the thin non-weighted keys I was used to.
   
   The sliders feel slightly flimsy, think hollow plastic, but they ride on a slider bed that offers some resistance so they don't flop around. Not a big deal unless you are used to working with metal sliders. The endless rotary knobs have a good feel to them and look to be very useful.
   
   The drum pads have a soft feel to them but they use switches under them that require fairly centered strikes to trigger the pad. I also own a KORG padKontrol that I use for my pad needs and it is a much better unit, with pads that don't require a direct center hit to trigger and also have a surface which is not as prone to letting your fingers slide. The KORG though is a $200 unit that has only pads and is focused around their use. The Axiom 61 has pads as more of an afterthought or convenience, they are not either numerous enough nor of sufficient quality to be a feature for this unit. They are handy to trigger things while playing the keyboard but not as a drum pad, which is what some folks believe they are getting.
   
   The LCD display is very clear and bright making reading it no problem. I'd prefer if they would have inclined the face of it about 10 degrees towards the user though for even better reading ease.
   
   The included software was of no use to me, I use Logic Studio 8. The lack of a printed manual was disappointing considering that you really need to read through it to understand how to use the various functions. It will typically be plug and play for the keyboard, pitch and mod wheels but the sliders, knobs and pads will require some assignment in almost all software.
   
   Overall I am pleased with the Axiom 61. The keys are very nice as long as you understand they are not hammer-action piano keys. Between the sliders, knobs and pads I would say the knobs are the best implemented "accessory" feature with the sliders and pads coming off as usable but not anything to brag about. If you are getting started and want a good all-in-one solution wither this model or the 49 key Axiom will fill the bill nicely. The controls function properly but as mentioned above if you are into drum pads I'd only use these until you can get a stand alone unit.
   
   I can see how someone who is not really sure what they are getting, could give it a 3 for the lack of a manual and the so-so accessory MIDI knobs/sliders/pads. I only wanted the 61 semi-weighted keys so everything else was not a deal breaker for me. If the knobs/sliders/pads had blown me away with their quality and there was a printed manual I'd have given it a 5 but I'm going to stick with a 4. It does what I bought it for very well and the extras work and do not detract from it.

3 comments about Casio LK100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package.

1. This one has a 3-step Lesson System to teach you how to play songs. There's a built in Song Bank of about 100 songs. The only thing is, they may not be the songs you'd like to learn how to play. This one has Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, Aura Lee, etc. I wish there's a way to buy and upload songs we do like to learn to play.
   
   There are MIDI files (songs) for this, but the keyboard needs to have a disk drive so you can upload it. This one doesn't have that.
   
   It makes it a good deal that this package includes a headphone, a stand, etc.



2. I was in a Electronic store and noticed our 7 year old was missing. I saw a girl hunched on this keyboard playing the keyboard. The girl was playing very well and music sounded great.
   
   That was our child!
   
   Purchased from Amazon for their package deal pricing and accesories. Free shipping. The electronic store was slightly cheaper but did not include even the AC adapter and that's basically a hassle and extra cost. And kids do need the other accessories included with this product on Amazon.
   So Amazon was the lowest cost option at end of the day.
   
   MOST IMPORTANT: Due to the Advertised Features, ease of play, and sound quality of this product - our daughter loves to go play on this keyboard for at least an hour every day! That's what you wish for when you go looking for your first keyboard for children.



3. The Casio keyboard was the "best" present for my 3 grandchildren, ages 11, 9 and 5 1/2. They can all play it. Plus they don't need any accessories as they felt it had everything they needed. Super gift.

5 comments about M-Audio OXYGEN 61 61-Key USB MIDI Controller 9900-41394-10.

1. I've been playing my Oxygen 61-key for a while and I've been very impressed with the quality of the keyboard. The keys are weighted well. Not too stiff and definitely not loose, giving them a realistic feel. The controls are easily mapped to your virtual instrument. The modulation and pitch control wheels allow fine tuning of the sound.
   
   I've used many MIDI controllers, including other M-Audio products and I think this is the most realistic feeling controller I've played.



2. I'd been looking for a MIDI keyboard to control my virtual instruments in Cubase, and this one seemed to have the most features for the price Amazon was offering. I was not disappointed- the keyboard is solidly built and has just the right amount of features. I downloaded a Cubase profile on a third-party site and instantly I could use the 9 faders to control 8 tracks and the master volume. The same went for the faders, and even the transport controls (Loop, Rew, FF, Stop, Play, Rec) worked flawlessly.
   
   The pressure sensitivity on the keys is adequate, but may not be enough for a more accomplished piano player. I just use it to bang out accompaniment for the guitar and bass tracks I'm writing. I also use it to program drum tracks, and am able to get different drum velocities by varying the pressure on the keys.
   
   This keyboard includes pitch and modulation wheels (both excellent), programmable buttons/panners/faders, octave up and down (up to 3 octaves in either direction), extra MIDI in/out ports, and a USB interface.
   
   If this keyboard had motorized faders, it would jump up to the next class of controllers, but would probably weigh and cost a bit more. As it is, I just have to remember to zero out the faders and panners before loading an existing project, then carefully match the project track levels. This could wreak havoc with saved mixes if you don't pay attention.
   
   Also, the keys sometimes don't register a hit when playing very softly- but again, I'm not a piano player so this may be a user problem. In other words, it's likely that below a certain threshold, the keys aren't supposed to activate. I don't feel like it's broken, and I think the sensitivity can be modified but I haven't felt the need to.
   
   Finally, although a wide range of preset profiles were included, I had to find a Cubase profile myself, and Cubase is pretty common recording software. Still, the Internet provides where companies do not.
   
   Overall, I am very pleased with this keyboard and it suits my needs. It didn't break the bank and I can do 90% of the things I wanted to do with it. In the future I may buy a Behringer motorized mixer and let that handle the mixing functions that this keyboard really wasn't intended for anyway.



3. I'm starting a little home studio and this is the perfect tool to start making music in your pc or playing live using any sound you like from a multimedia library. It has all de gadgets you'll need to control the different aspects of the effects on the sound your playing. For the price there's nothing like it and M-Audio runs with everything. Is a plug-and-play hardware for pc or mac. If mine broke down I'd buy it again.



4. I used many different brands of MIDI controllers, and was given an OXY 61 by M-Audio to review in my new book: Composing Digital Music For Dummies. Composing Digital Music For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
   
   I've found that it works great with almost all software, and has some built-in settings to help interface with programs like Reason and Ableton, which help speed the learning curve. I've found it simple to use, yet it supplies a lot of advanced features, the best combination.



5. This keyboard does everything its supposed to do. It's also relatively cheap compared to other brand. Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase.

5 comments about M-Audio PROKEYS 88SX 88-Key Lightweight Stage Piano with Semi-Weighted Action.

1. I'm using this piano for two purposes -- regular old playing and also as a midi controller for use with Propellerhead Reason 4.0.
   
   As a piano, it's a good full-sized keyboard for the price. It's a light unit (17 lbs) which is good for convenience sake, but sometimes it's nice to have something a little more substantial. The action on the keys is fine -- it's not like a real piano but for 300 something dollars, it's not bad. The action on this piano is lighter (keys push down more easily) than on some of the other M-audio keyboards I've tried, btw.
   
   As some reviewers have noted, in order to hear the piano, you'll need to buy either a pair of headphones with a 1/4" jack or external speakers.
   
   I'm using this keyboard as a midi controller with Reason, and it's worked perfectly well. The software and drivers are easy to install, and it's really just plug & play. Very simple.
   
   One last thing, this unit comes with a sustain pedal, so don't make the mistake I did and order a sustain pedal, b/c you'll just end up returning it. You should, however, probably buy a keyboard stand (I bought the World Tour Single X Keyboard Stand which is working great) and music stand.



2. Anyone who purchases a $400 piano expecting it to perform with the touch and sound of a Steinway is terribly naive or bluffing. No electric is fit for playing Liszt, Chopin, or Rachmaninoff--even the fully weighted and graded (heavier touch on bottom, lighter on top) models at ten times the price of this M-Audio. A keyboard like this one is OK for use with computer programs, midi work, and learning something about the lay of the keyboard and how to "flesh out" a lead sheet. You don't require more than 76 keys for jazz and pop music, or 61 for computer programming (88 keys is to impress the consumer). By all means pass up the keyboards with built-in rhythm sections, several hundred instrument sounds, recording capability, pre-installed songs and styles, auto-accompaniment. They're counterproductive. (You may as well play your stereo.)
   
   As for touch, if you're a jobbing musician, you'll soon be all too happy to sacrifice weighted action in favor of the lightest, most decent -sounding keyboard available. Unlike an actual piano, you learn how to let the electrical contacts of the keyboard do the work and to use "finger" technique (instead of deriving power from the weight of the arm and shoulders). Moreover, if you occasionally want to use an organ voice, weighted action will simply drag you down.
   
   For those expressing disappointment: never buy a keyboard without trying it, and don't expect it to sound the same at home as in the store--or on the job as at home. (So much the better if the seller has a return policy.) A previous reviewer is partially right in insisting touch is all that matters--but only because 50% of an electric's tone quality is dependent upon the amp. I've been looking for many years for electric keyboards that come close to delivering what they promise (above all, a musician wants to have a sense of "control" of his instrument at all times), and I can't say we're closer to the goal (Kurzweil was almost there in 1988 with the K1000, but then the company was bought out by Korean giant Young Chang). Just be patient, stay with it, and don't let the "gear" become more important than the music. And bear in mind that electric keyboards are merely a "necessary evil" for us lowly, week-end jobbers. The real pros--from Oscar, Ahmad, and Bill Evans to Jarrett and Mehldau would quit music before playing a concert or even a 30-minute jazz set on an electric.
   
   Warning: Amazon advertises this instrument as being capable of splits and layering. I frankly don't recall it having that capability (check with the manufacturer). Even so, a mere seven instrument sounds would make either feature pointless unless you were midi-ing the keyboard with a another keyboard or an external tone generator. Still, at Amazon's current price, this 20-pound instrument is a useful and affordable controller, computer accessory, and even occasional jobbing ax (e.g. big band dance jobs, where the pianist, at most, gets a couple of Basie fills or Peter Duchin arpeggios).



3. playing this is close to real piano, and price is very reasonable. Sounds it has isn't that great but I should say it's fine unless you get some from other instrument.



4. Purchased this keyboard wanting to learn how to play the piano. However, on the inside cover of the instruction manual there is a big sticker saying there are chemicals used to make this keyboard which cause cancer and birth defects "so please wash hands after using". Is this for real?!?!? I cannot believe Amazon would sell such a product.



5. You don't need a pedal for this keyboard -- it's perfect for someone like me in an apartment -- now with my headphones on I can practice 24 hours a day and never disturb my neighbors. The sound is very realistic.

3 comments about KORG KO1 KAOSSILATOR Pocket Sized Synthesizer.

1. The Korg Kaossilator is billed as a `Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer' and if you want phrases to loop and make your own creations, this is the machine.
   
   Dynamic = The X-Y touchpad surface allows for limitless real time manipulations of patches. Phrase = This is a phrase machine. Each preset is a sound/phrase. Other Kaoss Pads had some synth and drum sounds, but were also effects processors; the Kaossilator is all about sounds and loops and making its own noises, rather then manipulation of others; hence no inputs on the Kaossilator.
   
   The Kaossilator looks similar to the other member of the Kaoss Pad family, this time in yellow. About 4 by 5 by 1 inches; 4 `AA' batteries power it and free it from AC supplies. Front panel has the touch pad, knob for selecting patches, and three buttons for controlling record/play, scale, tap tempo, and other parameter. RCA outs on top next to the AC jack.
   
   Fans of the Kaoss pads should love it. This fills the void for Kaoss fans used it mostly for making sound, as opposed to the former Kaoss pads, which were more about the manipulation of another instrument's sounds. Kaoss pads have some wonderful sounds and drums, but a limited number. The Kaossilator has 100 distinct patches.
   
   Patches are grouped as follows: 20 Lead, 10 Acoustic, 20 Bass, 10 Chord, 20 SE [Special Effects], 10 Drum, and 10 Pattern, 100 total. You will become a scrolling machine navigating the 100 selections, it makes for sometimes busy work, but that's part of what makes it an actual instrument that you play. Yes, I'm talking to you, Guitar Hero.
   
   So how do you play it? With no piano keyboard or guitar frets for navigation, how can you stun the masses with that riff in your head? The touchpad is set up such that sliding from left to right will give you two octaves of the patch. Notes? This is where the Kaossilator shines; over 30 scales to choose from to break out of your riff rutt. Ionian is the default, so if you play the first patch at power up; L00 Ambient Lead and scroll left to right, it sounds like someone playing two octaves of the C major scale. Chromatic and Dorian and Phyrigian are in there of course, but also Raga Todi, Arabian, Japanese Miyakobushi, and Major and minor blues scales, or turn it off and go completely microtonal.
   
   A button on the bottom lets you select diff types of gates and arpeggios, taking you out of the lock step of strict 4/4 time. A card is included that lists the 50 diff gate arpeggiator patterns on one side, and the scale list on the other. The categories for patches are givenon the card also, but you'll need the users manual or your brain to retrieve the specific names of the 100 patches. Again, it being a real instrument, faves phrases will soon stand out and burn into your head; the Power Chord patch 55 is one example, adding sorely needed guitar distortion to de-sterilize a loop.
   
   It's all about timing when stacking sounds, but the Kaossilator makes it easy enough; just dial in a patch, preview it, hold the record button when you want to add it to the loop. Drum patterns and drum sounds may be reach for first, then stacking bass, accents, rhythm, and then you can solo over the whole thing. It's easy to get stuck in the preset techno patterns for starting your loop symphony, but just as easy to create your own rhythmic loops using any of the preset sounds.
   
   The AC Adaptor is not included, but that will just weigh ya down, the battery power option is huge plus and sorely needed; a set of small self powered iPod-ish Speakers and you're a mobile one man Kraftwerk.



2. Took me all of about 30 minutes to master the button combos needed to build, save, and edit some very satisfying multilayered loops. Those who haven't really put one to good use may dismiss it as a toy, perhaps because it's so easy to use and appeals to more than just trained musicians. But it's an extraordinary little device, particularly considering its portability. I just want to mention one unexpected benefit that I've realized: it's a great tool for meditation. Something about slowly building loops (starting with a thick, swampy bassline for example, or just a string of distorted, echoing phrases), and hearing them go round and round and round in your head . . . it becomes like chanting a mantra. At the end of a session, I feel as if I'm waking up from a deep, hypnotic trance. If you work for a living, include about 15 or 20 minutes of Kaossilator in your lunch hour. Great stress reliever.



3. Give this to a kid 3 years or older, put on the earphones, show how to turn the knob to get different sounds and the kid will be occupied for quite some time. Next time show the kid how to record, loop and add loops. It may be hard to get it back for your intended purpose!
   
   Much better time waster than video games.