I wish these companies that sell professional music equipment would ditch the peasant versions. If someone can only afford $200 for a controller, go buy a Casio or a Berenger. The cheapness in taking away key features makes it unusable for a home studio user or professional. Many people still use MIDI outboard gear with old style MIDI cables. The two things this machine needed as absolutely essential is a MIDI out and transport buttons that actually go back to the beginning, or simply back and forwards. It says to press the stop button twice to go back to the beginning, but this does not work, and these were the factory settings as recommended in the user guide. Furthermore, I tried to make changes to the preset editor, but the help page is not available!!! The web page does not exist! So I can’t even get the manual to check if my settings are correct. I constantly have to use the markers in my DAW as a way of getting around, which means I’m using the mouse instead of the keyboard. Let’s not forget that this is, after all, a controller! The Pro version should be standard, and this version should be ditched completely. Sadly, in my rush to buy a controller, I didn’t notice it didn’t have the features that I expected it to have, and I would have bought the Pro version had I known this. But now, I won’t even buy the Pro version, because the company’s focus is on trying to save money and cover all buyers. This is a mistake. I will not be buying anything M-Audio again, simply because of my disgust. It almost ended up in the creek, but my common sense prevailed. This will now be sold off on Facebook Marketplace. Message to Manny’s: I would love to return this to you for a refund, but I’m sure I won’t get it.
