As good as the Fatar keyboard is, the real strength of this controller comes from its assignable controls. It includes a massive nine faders and nine rotary knobs, which is more than most competitors. StudioLogic is the finished products division of Fatar, so when it comes time to show off the finest keyboards they can manufacture, it makes sense to feature them in their own family of products. The SL88 Grand shines in that regard. The center console has an elegant 320x240px TFT color display, and the control knob is actually a multi-position selector and Enter key when depressed. The SL88 has memory for 250 Programs, and each program has four programmable zones for splits and layers of your instruments. As you can see from the image below of one zone, you can easily set bank select messages (along with program changes and MIDI channel) for each zone. Such a simple little detail that is overlooked in so many controller keyboards today, yet it is essential for sending program change messages to MIDI gear containing multiple banks of sounds. The SL Editor is a Mac/Windows software application that provides remote control over the SL88 keyboard and its configuration (though you can perform many of the software’s tasks via the hardware interface on the controller). Within the editor, you can create programs and save splits and combinations/layers, and organize them in groups, much like creating set lists in a workstation (think Korg Kronos) or plug-in host application (like Apple MainStage). You can make global changes, update firmware, customize key balance and velocity curves, etc. Usability

The Studiologic SL88 studio controller is a fantastic weighted 88 note keyboard for the money. It’s a great attempt at providing the feel of a hammer weighted keyboard for about half the overall weight of other controllers. The responsiveness flexibility is brilliant, and the software editor is simple, intuitive, and speeds the process exponentially. Setting the keyboard up is really easy with their PC/MAC software abit basic but good enough for my needs.The keys can be a bit loud if you play with higher velocity. The thudding sound will most definitely be an issue for a light sleeper in the same or even the next room during the quiet hours of the night Okay, I am not a serious piano player, but I have had an opportunity to play Steinways and high-end Yamahas. I wanted to replace my small midi controller with something that I could use to trigger various VST's that would help me avoid inadvertant triggers caused by my heavy-handed clumsiness. This keyboard is my solution. The action is much firmer than the typical plastic, spring-action keyboards and certainly cannot be mistaken for a cheap toy. I use it only in my home studio, as I no longer do anything on stage (that was only from the 60's through the 80's). We used to lug a Hammond B3 organ with a Leslie speaker to gigs, and while this is much less awkward, it is still heavy enough that I wouldn't want to drag it around. As well as coming pre-mapped to an excellent software bundle, it includes advanced transport controls for all major DAWs. The piano-playing experience may surpass even the Kawai VPC-1. The Lachnit offers a modicum more real-time control, and its appeal reaches beyond piano purists in at least one case we know: It’s the controller of choice for Microsoft Director of Sensory and Sound Design Matthew Bennett, who works on Xbox and the HoloLens VR platform. “After working with this keyboard for at least a couple of months now, I can say it’s amazing,” he told us. “It has changed the way I work and will make a big difference to any pianist who really cares about touch.” It's a quality construction and the action is more than adequate for any use. I'm using it now exclusively and haven't felt the need to switch to my stage piano to improve piano part performances.

It's such a pity I can't control my DAW with my 120 year old piano. The SL keys are much slower than my standing piano's, they feel plastic, you really need to hammer to get more then just a low volume, and they make much more noise when playing softly then the old piano, that has much and much more dynamic. Scott Kahn, Editor in Chief, was the co-founder and associate editor of Korg Connection, the first official user group publication for users of Korg musical instruments. During a decade of work in Silicon Valley, CA, Scott wrote professionally for computer industry publications including PC Week Magazine and NewMedia Magazine. Outside of work, Scott is an accomplished musician and producer with many independent CD credits writing, playing, and producing. Looking like a stretched RD-64 stage piano, the A-88 can be powered by USB or an AC adaptor, and supports true sostenuto and half-dampering when combined with the optional RPU-3 triple pedal unit. Connections are basic: Two continuous and one switch input, plus a single MIDI Out port to supplement the USB.The SL88 Studio has a fully weighted keyboard as well, but the plastic keys give it a slightly softer feel, with a slightly faster playability. It’s not quite an organ-like keyboard response (and certainly not synth action), but it’s also not quite as naturally acoustic feeling as the wooden keys of the SL88 Grand. When hit hard, you can just notice the memory foam at the bottom of the key throw as the keys almost dig into the keyboard itself. That’s not a complaint—just an observation of the feel. Overall, if you're someone that can play the piano and is looking for a professional grade master midi controller that feels like a real piano, this is a very, very good choice. And even if you can't play the piano but enjoy how a real piano's keybed feels, this controller will satisfy that itch. A huge bonus is Thomann's absolutely amazing customer service and prompt delivery. I'll definitely be buying more stuff from here. Last but not least the included soundware. NI bundles in Komplete Select, which comprises nine virtual instruments and soft synths—Massive, Reaktor Prism, Monark, The Gentleman piano, DrumLab, Retro Machines, Vintage Organs, West Africa, and Scarbee electric piano. An SSL-style bus compressor rounds out these goodies.

The software is a bit confusing and there's not a lot of documentation or tutorials on how to use it properly There are other great keyboards out there when it comes to the feel but what really impressed me was the accuracy of the touch to midi velocity, it really feels like I'm playing a good piano(after I adjusted the touch curve to my liking).Taking inspiration from some of the non-weighted M-Audio controllers, this model comes with 16 velocity-sensitive pads. The Hammer 88 Pro is also one of the few weighted controllers with fantastic aftertouch. It also features a built-in arpeggiator and new modes like Smart Scale/Chord. These controls all get smarter when the A-88 is connected to a Roland SuperNatural-based instrument such as the Integra-7 module or Jupiter-50/80 synthesizer, automatically mapping to key parameters on a per-sound basis as well as enabling sound selection directly from the unit. Since many unweighted Roland synths now offer a SuperNatural internal piano sound, the A-88 could be a great addition if you intend to use that sound much. One of the biggest attractions of the PK-88 is that it is literally its own flight case. Fasten the matching cover over the keys, and this thing is rugged enough not just to withstand getting tossed around by the ground crew, but also seemingly to be usable even after you crash on a tropical island whose residents include a smoke monster. The LMK series is likewise built, though we think the PK’s absolute simplicity makes it more resilient still. If you don’t need military-grade toughness, the Roland A-88 is a lighter schlep in a similar size profile. The rear of the SL88 provides straightforward connectivity. Two pedal inputs can accommodate typical sustain-type pedals, a third pedal input supports continuous controllers, and a fourth pedal input supports either continuous controller pedals or multi-functional pedals such as the optional SLP3-D Triple Pedal. The SLP3-D provides Half-Damper functionality on the right pedal, Sostenuto in the middle, and Soft on the left pedal. Clearly, the SL88’s available foot control can easily eclipse your ability to step on everything.