Being plastic, it weighs next to nothing a mere 4.6kg, barely more than two bags of sugar.
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The Graphite is of all-plastic construction, with a distinctly retro appearance reminiscent of transistor radios from the 1970s. Connections on the back panel consist of a USB port, a 9V PSU input, a sustain pedal jack input and a MIDI Out socket for communicating with old-school hardware devices. Five additional transport buttons provide remote control for DAWs, although these can also be reassigned to other functions if desired. Graphite features nine sliders, eight rotary encoders, 16 buttons and four pads, all of which are assignable.
SAMSON SOUND DECK REVIEWS PORTABLE
It can also be connected to an iPad using Apple's Camera Conversion kit (which also supplies the Graphite with USB bus power), forming the basis of a truly portable app-based mini-studio. The Graphite is USB bus-powered, and can optionally be powered from a 9V, 300ma PSU (not included). Its well-appointed collection of sliders, knobs, buttons and pads seems quite generous in this price range, yet there is actually more control power than meets the eye, as we'll see in due course. The Graphite is aimed at the musician who wants hands-on control over their arsenal of MIDI instruments and devices, be they of the software or hardware variety, but who doesn't wish to break the bank to get it. The Graphite 49 and Carbon 49 keyboards represent Samson's first foray into a burgeoning market of MIDI controllers, and it's their flagship Graphite 49 that's under review here. Samson are a company usually associated with sound reinforcement: PA systems, microphones, mixers, amplifiers and the like. The Graphite is Samson's first foray into the world of keyboards - and it's an impressive debut.