After a sneak preview at the January NAMM show by US distribution partner Yamaha Corporation of America, CME officially announces the VX Series Keyboard Controllers. These powerful and flexible controllers are the first of their kind to include DAW integration features like motorized 60mm faders and a modular expansion bay. The VX series Keyboard Controllers are designed to provide the ultimate in control for the demanding lives of today's musicians. A solid, all-aluminum chassis make these units extremely durable and sizes from 49 velocity-sensitive semi- weighted keys to 88 professional graded hammer action weighted keys make them ideal for studio, stage, or mobile use. The VX Series feature 64 different types of programmable controllers including motorized faders, knobs, trigger pads, a ribbon controller, buttons, pitch bend and modulation wheel, transport controls, pedals, and a breath controller. These flexible keyboards have an amazing array of uses such as controlling a DAW and virtual instruments in the studio, triggering patterns and controlling sound rigs on stage, and recording audio into a laptop while on the go. The VX Series include a built-in USB audio and MIDI interface, eliminating the need for an extra audio interface when used for computer recording. The VX internal memory can hold program data as well as PadStyle? MIDI songs and patterns, complete with loop variation and chord change, which can be triggered from the unit's onboard pads. The VX's built-in expansion slot allows for expanding your VX with current and planed modules such as a FireWire audio interface, a sound module with sampling function, an analog synthesizer module, and a digital mixing console module. Key Features: Built-in 32bit CPU Built-in USB Audio and MIDI interface Multi-function expansion bay Graded hammer-action weighted (VX8) or semi-weighted keyboard (VX5/6/7) Initial and after touch, velocity sensitive keyboard PadStyle? MIDI songs and patterns Interactant mode to improve skill of your performance Multi-scale mode for ethnic music U-CTRL function for easy software integration 9 60mm motorized faders 12 programmable velocity sensitive trigger pads 8 knob controllers (potentiometer) 9 knob controllers (endless encoder) 1 ribbon controller 1 pitch bend and modulation wheel 27 function and number buttons Transport controls 1 data entry encoder Music software control templates with user bank memories 2 x 16 characters LCD display Firmware upgradeable via USB 4 MIDI out, 1 MIDI in 2 universal pedal connectors, full compatible with switch and expression pedal Breath controller input, compatible with YAMAHA BC3 2 mic/line input with gain control 2 line output 2 headphone outputs with volume control USB Audio and MIDI, class-compliant with Windows XP and Mac OS X USB hub, USB bus-powered The VX Series will be available in July 2006 at the following prices: VX5 (49 key) - $899.99 US MSRP VX6 (61 key) - $999.99 US MSRP VX7 (76 key) - $1199.99 US MSRP VX8 (88 key) - $1299.99 US MSRP Musikmesse Frankfurt am Main: Hall: 5.1 Walkway: B Stand: 54. For more information, visit products-list/product-vx.html