MusicRadar Verdict
A solid if unremarkable offering from Acorn.
Pros
- +
Decent build quality, comes with Presonus Studio One Artist.
Cons
- -
Light key action won't be to everyone's taste.
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
Acorn's debut product is a no-frills, class-compliant 49-note USB MIDI keyboard that's aimed at the first-time buyer (a 25-note version is also available).
It's very light, but well put together and reasonably sturdy. The key action is on the light side too, and this may or may not appeal, but it's smooth and playable.
Other features include nicely weighted pitch and mod wheels, four securely-fitted knobs and a volume slider. Assignments and other adjustments are made via the Edit button and presses of the keys.
There's a 3-digit LED display, though, along with octave up/down buttons and a sustain jack.
Overall, the Masterkey 49 is unremarkable, but when pitched against other products in its class, it stands up well in terms of playability and ease of use. It comes with PreSonus' Studio One Artist, too, to sweeten the deal.
“I wondered if I was insane for wanting to do this”: How Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen learned to play again after losing his left arm
“A unique octave bass fuzz with a built-in, 2-voice ring modulator”: The Maestro BB-1 Brassmaster is a super-rare bass octave fuzz from the ‘70s that sounds great on guitar, sells for $2,000+, and Behringer just made a $69 clone of it
"Coated with analogue warmth, and many a chunky nugget for the keen and avid listener to find": Röyksopp get even more Mysterious with new surprise reworking
