Roland A-500PRO MIDI Keyboard Controller review

The A-500PRO is a discontinued 49-key controller in Roland's A-PRO family. It is aimed at a desk or stage rig where the keyboard is only one part of the surface: eight pads, assignable knobs and sliders, a display, pedals and a physical MIDI path all sit alongside the keys. This is an evidence-based assessment of Roland's US product specification and the shared English manual, not a report of personal use, testing or ownership.

What the 49-key configuration gives you

Roland specifies 49 velocity-sensitive keys with channel aftertouch. The product page describes the action as responsive but does not classify it as weighted, so the safe conclusion is about documented MIDI behavior rather than subjective feel. Forty-nine keys offer a useful middle range for lines and two-handed work, but they do not provide the span of a 61- or 88-key board. The A-500PRO's 33-1/16-inch body is only slightly wider than a strict 33-inch limit; plugs, cable bends and playing space make a true tight-fit installation a poor assumption.

The panel is the more unusual part. Roland lists eight Dynamic Pads, nine knobs, nine sliders, four buttons, transport controls, a two-line backlit LCD and a bender/modulation lever. The manual adds a pad-aftertouch curve that responds to pressure applied to the pads, separate from channel aftertouch on the keys. Those details make the A-500PRO a stronger match for a control-heavy workflow than its key count alone suggests.

Control maps matter as much as the control count

Roland describes the knobs, sliders, buttons and pads as assignable. In practice, a large panel does not automatically provide the right mapping for every instrument, DAW or plug-in. The A-PRO Editor and control-map system are part of the documented workflow; they may also be the least appealing part if the target computer is not supported by the available software. Check the precise driver and editor version for your host before relying on it. The current Roland US page lists A-PRO drivers for named Windows and macOS generations, but that is not proof of compatibility with every newer operating-system release.

The shared manual documents upper/lower keyboard parts and split/dual controls, so the A-500PRO can be configured for layered or divided performance. The available range remains 49 physical keys, and an arrangement does not expand that range. Its eight pads have their own pressure-response setting; they should not be confused with key aftertouch or treated as a guarantee of any particular pad feel.

USB, DIN and standalone operation

The controller offers USB computer MIDI and a separate MIDI IN/OUT pair. The manufacturer image shows a square USB Type-B port and full-size MIDI DIN sockets; USB bus power is supported. With the MIDI I/F switch in the interface mode, Roland's manual describes passing computer MIDI from USB through MIDI OUT to an external sound module and returning MIDI IN to the computer. Roland's support instructions describe using the alternate setting for direct keyboard-to-hardware control without a computer. That is a real distinction: whether the external instrument receives the keyboard directly or computer-routed messages depends on setup.

For a USB-hosted session, the connected computer powers the controller. For a hardware-only session without that host, Roland lists an optional AC adaptor. Neither arrangement makes the controller a sound source. The product specification documents a MIDI controller and MIDI I/O, not an internal synth or audio output. The connected computer or external module has to produce sound, and its own audio output must reach headphones, speakers or a mixer.

Compared with the A-500S and other sizes

The A-500S also has 49 keys, but it is a distinct, simpler model. Its documentation lists one rotary VALUE control, octave and program buttons, a three-character LED, one MIDI OUT and no pads or key aftertouch. It adds four-AA-battery power and 12 velocity curves. The A-500PRO is more capable as a control surface and has MIDI IN/OUT, but no manufacturer source here documents an AA-battery option. The A-300PRO has the same broad A-PRO control concept in a much narrower 32-key body; the A-800PRO has 61 keys and a longer chassis.

Used-model checks

Roland marks the A-500PRO discontinued, and neither its current product page nor this review establishes a live price, seller stock or condition. Verify that a listing is the A-500PRO rather than the A-500S, then inspect the 49 keys, pads, knobs, sliders, display, pedal jacks, USB and DIN connectors. Ask whether the included USB cable, AC adaptor, original software media and serial card are actually present; historical package documentation is not a promise about a used box or transferable licenses. Finally, confirm the present host supports the selected USB-driver or generic mode and control-map workflow. It is worth considering when the expressive control surface is a requirement, not merely because its product page counts many controls.