It was important to me to have a device that is simple, clearly laid out, and accessible. I also wanted it to feature endless rotary encoders, offer the ability to input short, simple melodies and chordsa, and take up very little space. The display is excellent, offering a huge amount of screen real estate and a clear overview.
Having owned a Nord Lead 3 for a long time, I was naturally curious about these Fatar pads. They are very pressure-sensitive, though the rubber feel isn't quite as soft as on the SQ. In that regard, I found the SQ perhaps a tad better—but only by a tiny margin. As for the layout, it works fine for me (I’m 172 cm tall with small hands). Of course, it doesn't replace a proper keyboard for a dedicated player—though I assume that goes without saying.
However, I have to be honest and say that I can't provide the kind of feedback you might have been hoping for. Due to several sports injuries (I was a goalkeeper in my youth), I unfortunately have a little finger that is completely unstable and sometimes won't go all the way down, as well as a middle finger where the tip doesn't press down properly due to a split. The other fingers on my right hand—except for the thumb—also have issues caused by extensor tendon ruptures and joint capsule injuries. Consequently, I was never able to become a skilled player; the hand surgeon deliberately chose not to operate on the little finger and warned me against a potential procedure on the middle finger, as it could result in worse pain than before. So, it would be better to ask someone about this aspect who was actually able to learn to play properly.
That said, I can tell you that while I usually struggled to press keys with my little finger on synthesizers, it was completely impossible on a piano. Even on a master keyboard, it was problematic because the black keys are higher—though the pain was least severe there. On the Motion, I only need to glide over the keys, which makes it ideal for me. I still would have liked to try a layout where the black keys were perhaps a centimeter higher. For me, they are well-spaced, and they shouldn't be any further apart. It is surprisingly good to play—better than the SQ. Overall, the build quality feels extremely high-end. Personally, I find the product design successful and well-integrated. Both the playing feel and the controls are very responsive. I hope this helps. I’m not sure how else to explain it. Please feel free to ask if you have any further questions.
*Translated with Google
studiooneforum.com
