Product Reviews

MIDI sequencing is still the best way to produce music with a PCwhen you haven't got access to a studio full of musicians. MIDI synthesisers can emulate anything from a piano to a gamelan orchestra. Today, software-based synths are much more affordable and powerful than their hardware counterparts.

Edirol's PCR-1 combines three functions to help you get the most from software synths: a MIDI keyboard for playing them, eight knobs and 13 buttons for controlling them without resorting to fiddly mouse control, and a USB audio interface for listening to the results.

The PCR-1 isn't the first device to combine these but it is the most affordable and compact to date. The MIDI keys are full-size but have a shorter travel than normal, which makes for an extremely slim device. A padded bag and power drawn from the USB connection add to its portability.

The MIDI keys and two-octave range won't please those used

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to playing the piano, but the keyboard is otherwise comfortable and responds well. The redesigned pitch bend and modulation controls, which are simple switches rather than continuous controllers, are less welcome.

MIDI, audio and power coexist on a single USB connection, but installation was still drawn-out and messy, although the manual got us through unscathed. From then on, setting up the keyboard and audio interface for use in Cubase, Ableton Live and other software was straightforward. The software responds to keyboard performances in just a couple of milliseconds.

Setting up the knobs and buttons to control software synths or mixer channels is less easy. A number of useful presets are supplied, but creating your own on the PCR-1 or via the supplied PCR Editor software is cumbersome. Those without a decent working knowledge of MIDI controller messages will have difficulties getting the knobs to work as they'd like.

The audio interface is simple, with a line input and output, plus a headphone and optical S/PDIF output on a shared socket. It supports resolutions up to 24-bit 96kHz, but a noise floor of -76dB in our tests means quality is no better than on decent 16-bit sound cards. The headphone output is also distorted above moderate listening levels.

Despite our gripes, the PCR-1 still adds up to a pleasing package for PC musicians, especially if they need something portable. However, M-Audio's Ozone has better keyboard and audio input options that are worth the extra £10.