Concorde, I also use a Roland A88 mk2, and after updating firmware version 2.0, I noticed the same problem when playing trills as you did. Update 2.12 was recently released, but I don't think they fixed this bug. Could you please share firmware version 1.03?

Hi, sorry for delay, only just saw this -- does my URL trick work for you - see instructions in post #17 on this thread ?

Also regarding action being heavy (my original statement) - I have found that with Pianoteq's "Slow Keyboard" preset I get good playability. Although the (unchangeable) action is heavier than ideal, it's a good workaround and enjoyable to play.

I think a good balance (with "Slow Keyboard" on Pianoteq) is 3/6 or 4/6 on my A88MK2. With heavy velocity curve (5/6 or 6/6 on A88MK2 setting), I cannot reach above about 75/127 MIDI velocity with my hands.

I've had an A-88 MK2 MIDI controller for a year or two.

I've always found the keys very hard to press, especially for trills and fast playing. So I compensate with a light velocity curve. But this ruins my dynamic flow.

I believe it has the PHA-4 Standard keybed.

I just measured the weight required to depress a key fully, using coins. It's 87 grams.

Is this normal for PHA-4?

Do you think it can be fixed?

I'm not happy with the playability - any suggestions on what action to take? Thanks

I think you are supposed to choose the heavy velocity curve, not light.

They still haven't fixed the bug. (See posts 17 and earlier.)

I therefore sent another request to Roland, as follows:

Hi again -

1. BUG: Some months ago I sent a product support request here, regarding problems with firmware for the A88MKII. It is still the case. Firmware 2.10 does not fix the spontaneous loud notes when playing notes in quick succession. The issue makes the keybed unplayable. Hence I still have firmware reverted back to 1.03, which works fine. Please fix this. It is easy to reproduce the bug. Also, please make 1.03 available again - I have this version backed up fortunately.

You should be able to find my previous correspondence - it was also under this Roland account. I sent a screen capture video showing the issue very clearly.

2. FEATURE SUGGESTION: I think it might make sense for the Bank Select (1-16) buttons to change not only the Pressure Pads' messages, but also change the CC messages of the 8x knobs (R1-R8). This might give more flexibility for people who want to fine-tune more DAW parameters. And it would probably be best if the Pressure Pads' CC messages were different to the knobs' CC messages, at any time. (e.g. I wouldn't want CC10 repeated for Pressure Pad and Knob at the same time.)

Do you think that would be a good feature?

Please forward the bug report and feature suggestion on to Roland tech team.

Thanks in anticipation.

Obviously they need to fix the bug on 2.10 - but I'm curious what other A88MK2 owners think of my proposal (Feature Suggestion)?

Concorde, I also use a Roland A88 mk2, and after updating firmware version 2.0, I noticed the same problem when playing trills as you did. Update 2.12 was recently released, but I don't think they fixed this bug. Could you please share firmware version 1.03?

I therefore sent another request to Roland, as follows:

Obviously they need to fix the bug on 2.10 - but I'm curious what other A88MK2 owners think of my proposal (Feature Suggestion)?

Otherwise I like the keyboard once I dialed in the velocity curve.

The A88 mk2 is no where near as noisy after the StudioLogic Numa Piano that started making sounds like its falling apart after a few months of light playing.  I was told by the Distributor, since it still makes piano sounds and transmits midi there is nothing they will do.

If Yamaha could release someting like a CP33 MKII...

FIXED: I rolled back the A88mk2 software to 1.03 instead of 2.00 ; I no longer get these unwanted high velocity notes during fast play. I will contact their support again to see if they will fix v2.00 .

(I did this by downloading 2.00, then Copying Download Link, then modifying the URL to have "103" instead of "200".)

You're a scholar and a gentleman.

Even the new 2.1 update didn't fix this bug. Reverting to 1.03 did. Clever hack for getting the old file.

I kinda want my money back. "MIDI 2.0" was their main selling point. Bad enough you had to wait a few years for a firmware update... that broke it altogether.

Thanks everyone for your valued input.

Key Fumbler wrote:

Hi Concorde,
I guess the forum members will need to have knowledge of your frame of reference? [. . . . ]
Are you seated high enough above the keys?

Well I've tried several upright pianos in a store, as well as having more freely used a Steinway grand and another upright of some brand. When I played all of these I was quite shocked at how much easier the keys were to press than on my A-88 mk2.

Also I get the impression from reading that most real life pianos have a required touchweight of 40-60 g -- and to reiterate my A-88 mk2 keys don't move of their own accord till ~87 grams.

Your point about being seated high enough is interesting. My computer chair I sit at is 20" high and my arms are slightly greater than 90° at the elbow. So I think I'm OK in this regard.

I'm not an advanced pianist by any means - although I'm a lot better than when I bought the unit.

DEZ wrote:

The difficulty arises when you don't allow yourself necessary time to get accustomed to said 'action' / 'feel' and continually hunt around for the perfect whatever

Fair - although I have been playing this keyboard most days for about 2 years.

I acknowledge this could be a "me" problem - although 87 grams doesn't lie.

I have an FP-10 with same PHA-4 action.  I always thought it was common knowledge that this action had a heavier feel and that it was somewhat clumsy for quick playing like trills.  On the other hand, it does have a good piano-like feel to the keypresses.

Regarding weight required to depress you could check out this (four year old) video comparing key actions and touchweights on four well-regarded inexpensive dp's, including PHA-4 on the FP-30.  You might want to check that measuring weights the same way as he is.   At the very least, this illustrates that with graded weighting, the highest keys at rightmost of keybed should respond more easily than the lower keys at left of keybed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChMHi2auG_c

Well I've tried the A-88mk2 on both MIDI 1.0 and 2.0 modes and it has the same problem.

I've noticed the unwanted high velocity notes tend to happen when there are multiple NoteOn's without a NoteOff on that note in between.

However, I just did a test where I deliberately did 10x NoteOn's on one note slowly without any NoteOff's between, and they didn't show any cumulative feature (i.e. no unwanted high velocity notes).

FIXED: I rolled back the A88mk2 software to 1.03 instead of 2.00 ; I no longer get these unwanted high velocity notes during fast play. I will contact their support again to see if they will fix v2.00 .

(I did this by downloading 2.00, then Copying Download Link, then modifying the URL to have "103" instead of "200".)

There are many digital piano brands that feel heavier than acoustic ones. I experienced many of them when I taught my piano students. Some of my students are also complaining about feeling fatigue after playing for more than 20 minutes. I think this is not good for the long term.

I have a few solutions that I already taught to them, and it works like a charm, including myself. Let me explain:

*Try to lift your knuckle when playing piano.*

All you need to do is lift your knuckle each time you hit the key; that way the key doesn't feel heavier anymore. It definitely needs some practice. That's all.

Ok, good luck and keeps on making the world singing with your fingers.

I've noticed the unwanted high velocity notes tend to happen when there are multiple NoteOn's without a NoteOff on that note in between.

However, I just did a test where I deliberately did 10x NoteOn's on one note slowly without any NoteOff's between, and they didn't show any cumulative feature (i.e. no unwanted high velocity notes).

I don't see how the fault could come from a software...

Well I hadn't really done trills much before on the A88mkii - and now I'm learning a piece of music that has trills in it. And this change coincided in time with the upgrade to v2.00.

So yes, v2.00 may have nothing to do with it.

I suppose the A88mkii may have a limitation for playing very fast notes. Hard to believe for a 1200 USD item.

On another topic - I am finding since updating the A-88MK2 to software version v2.00 , I'm getting sporadic higher-than-expected velocity notes in Pianoteq, especially during trills.

As in, for a trill in the velocity range 40-70 out of 127, I'm getting occasional 127's.

It's very much repeatable.

I contacted Roland and they were very doubtful that v2.00 had a flaw.

I'm sorry for Roland, but I don't see how the fault could come from a software...

As in, for a trill in the velocity range 40-70 out of 127, I'm getting occasional 127's.

It's very much repeatable.

I contacted Roland and they were very doubtful that v2.00 had a flaw.