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Description

Step into the world of dynamic performances with the Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal, a versatile companion for musicians who need to keep their hands free and their creativity flowing. This 13-key pedal board is your gateway to unleashing full orchestration at your feet. With modes that span from bass and polyphonic to drums and sound effects, the PK-5A empowers you to explore new musical dimensions without missing a beat.

Crafted with a sturdy steel case and rubber backing, this foot controller promises stability and durability, ensuring it stays in place even during the most energetic performances. The velocity-sensitive pedals respond to your touch, letting you express nuanced musical phrases with every step. Designed for seamless integration into your MIDI setup, the PK-5A offers full MIDI implementation, including In, Out, and Thru, alongside the ability to send MIDI program changes.

Whether you're a solo performer wanting to expand your sound or part of a band looking for innovative ways to enhance your music, the Roland PK-5A is an indispensable tool. Its programmable functionality allows for personalized configurations, making it a must-have for any serious musician.

Key Features:

  • 13-key pedal board with full octave range, transposable through 9 octaves
  • Sturdy steel construction with rubber backing for stability
  • Velocity-sensitive pedals for expressive control
  • Full MIDI implementation with In, Out, and Thru connections
  • Operates in five modes: Bass, Poly, Drums, Sound Effects, and Controller
  • Programmable for personalized setups
  • Powered by batteries (included) or optional power supply (Boss/Roland ACA120 not included)

Product specs

Brand Roland
Model PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal Controller
Finish Black
Year 2006 - 2012
Made In Italy
Categories Foot Pedal MIDI Controllers

FAQs

What kind of MIDI functions can the Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal control?

The Roland PK-5A can control MIDI functions such as program changes, note on/off, and continuous control messages, allowing musicians to switch sounds, trigger notes, or control effects hands-free during performances.

How many pedals does the Roland PK-5A have, and what is their primary use?

The Roland PK-5A features 13 pedals, primarily used for triggering MIDI notes or commands, making it ideal for bass lines or controlling MIDI-compatible devices without using your hands.

Is the Roland PK-5A compatible with all MIDI devices?

Yes, the Roland PK-5A is compatible with any device that supports MIDI input, enabling it to integrate seamlessly with various synthesizers, sound modules, and digital audio workstations.

Does the Roland PK-5A require an external power supply?

The Roland PK-5A can be powered by batteries or an external AC adapter, providing flexible power options for different performance setups.

Can the Roland PK-5A be used to control DAWs?

Yes, the Roland PK-5A can be used to control DAWs that support MIDI input, allowing musicians to trigger samples or control parameters within their digital audio workstation.

Andy Pobjoy

Andy Pobjoy

Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal

Video thumbnail for Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal by Andy Pobjoy

Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal

Andy Pobjoy

Andy Pobjoy

Video thumbnail for Sawlon "Roland PK-5A Dynamic Midi Pedal Demo" by Sawlon

Sawlon "Roland PK-5A Dynamic Midi Pedal Demo"

Sawlon

Sawlon

Video thumbnail for Roland PK-5A eBay Demo by AtomicMusicStore

Roland PK-5A eBay Demo

AtomicMusicStore

AtomicMusicStore

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal.

Comparisons

  • The Keith McMillen Instruments 12 Step is noted for its USB connectivity and compact size, fitting easily on a pedalboard, as an alternative to the PK-5A.

    Source
  • Unlike the Keith McMillen 12 Step, the PK-5A is part of a setup that includes a Roland JC-120 and Magnatone amps, indicating its compatibility with traditional amp configurations.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Some users find the Keith McMillen 12 Step expensive without hands-on usage to justify the cost.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • It’s been observed that musicians like Brutus' bassist and Brian Cook use similar setups for live performances, although specific models weren't confirmed.

    Source
  • The Roland PK-5A is used by Nick to trigger piano parts live, as seen during performances of "Eternal Summer," indicating its reliability in dynamic live settings.

    Source
  • The PK-5A allows seamless integration with other gear, like the GR-300 synth pedal and GR-808 guitar synthesizer, without needing additional amplification, showcasing its versatility in complex setups.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The PK-5A is paired with a Roland KC-series amp for on-stage monitoring, highlighting its role in providing dedicated sound output for specific live tracks.

    Source
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 9 Ratings

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sonic_edwards

An essential part of my gig arsenal

I use this on almost any trio gig to fill out the sound beyond guitar, bass and drums. The ability to trigger samples or even play it as a polyphonic instrument means that I can expand a band to include organ, rhodes, strings whatever. Easy to use midi controller (and that's saying something, changing patches, octaves, mono/polyphonic even during a song).

V

Roland PK-5A

Roland PK-5A vintage midi controller I am not good enough to play with it.... but great piece of gear

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Squarepusher uses Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal

Squarepusher

Bassist, Music Producer

Squarepusher & AFX

...
Verified via The Creators Project

At one particular moment of this documentary (called "Meet Squarepusher", from The Creators Project), precisely starting on the 7:07 mark, Tom Jenkinson shows (as described by himself) the "current manifestation of his live setup". Along with rack pieces and expression pedals, a Roland PK-5A can also be spotted on it.

At first glance, there's quite a lot of doubt whether it's a PK-5 or a PK-5A. And even though there's tape everywhere hiding the brands (most notably on all of the Roland EV-5s), the PK-5A can still be distinguished by several factors: - The color scheme of the PK-5A is darker compared to the PK-5 one. - The font used on the PK-5A is significantly smaller than the one used on the PK-5. - The function chart on the top right portion of the PK-5A is extensively longer than the one found on the PK-5. Functions such as Transpose, Battery Check and Dump do not appear on the PK-5 chart.

See how Nick Beggs uses Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal

Nick Beggs

Singer, Bassist

ABC

...
Verified via Nick Beggs

On his website Nick Beggs lists this piece of gear as part of his equipment: "Touring foot peddles and switches with Steve Hackett".

See how Rick Savage uses Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal

Rick Savage

Bassist

Def Leppard

...
Verified via Photo

Instagram post showing how Rick uses the pedals in "Love BItes".

See how David Rosenthal uses Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal

David Rosenthal

Keyboardist, Music Producer

Rainbow

...
Verified via YouTube

David Rosenthal describing and explaining his rig, where he is explaining his touring rig for Billy Joel in October of 2014.

At 2:26, we see David explain his Roland PK-5A MIDI pedals. "And then down here, we have the Roland PK-5s, which is also a controller."

See how Garrett Gue uses Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal

Garrett Gue

Bassist

Deep Sea Diver

...
Verified via YouTube

At 11:11 of this video, you can see Garrett uses a Roland PK-5A MIDI pedal.

See how Donna Diane uses Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal

Donna Diane

Guitarist, Singer

Djunah

...
Verified via YouTube

In this Premier Guitar Rig Rundown interview, Donna Diane says:

In case you haven't noticed, this is a foot controlled bass synthesizer. It's actually split up into two components. On the right is a Moog Minotaur, which is like the brains of the operation. And then the Roland PK-5(A) I have is just purely like a midi controller for the synthesizer, so same as like a keyboard you would hook up. The idea behind it is it is supposed to be similar to a Moog Taurus.

Album Usage

The Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Roland PK-5A Dynamic MIDI Pedal, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Ampeg SVT-810E 8x10 Bass Cabinet
Ampeg SVT-810E 8x10 Bass Cabinet Bass Amplifier Cabinets
1
Korg MS-20
Korg MS-20 Synthesizers
1
Korg MicroKORG
Korg MicroKORG Synthesizers
1
Moog Minitaur
Moog Minitaur Tabletop Synthesizers
1
Ampeg SVT-VR
Ampeg SVT-VR Bass Amplifier Heads
1

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