Roland A-300 PRO 32 Keys MIDI Keyboard Control.

Professional complex live looping/sampling/performing/vocal FX/ableton live electronica setup here.
Story: I searched and researched extensively all over the internet through all the main brands for the right small (29 or 32 key) MIDI controller with the maximum number of knobs and faders to be versatile for my quite demanding performance and MIDI mapping needs. I use a different interface (Push 2) to trigger my Ableton session scenes so mostly need a good keyboard which allows me to program as much as possible and be sturdy responsive (don't need a Novation Launchkey for instance). I've just started playing with the A Pro 300 and I can confirm I love it because:
- the best selection of encoders (9), buttons (13), pads (8) and faders (9) out there
- very responsive, nice toggle and latch modes for CCs that work great
- feels really tough and high quality, the cable reliably keeps it on with bus power, no jogging and sudden turn offs, not too heavy, not too wide, just right
- 32 keys makes the extra difference over 29 for versatility (personal reflection)
- all buttons can monitor on/off of their respective CC message with a backlight and do so very reliably, no skipping the cycle or inverting accidentally
- great selection of split keyboard modes, haven't fully explored them yet but should make it really effective for controlling multiple instruments
- once you install the drivers and get the midi editor app on your computer it's very straightforward to program and relatively quick, only thing is you just need to overwrite the preset control maps on there, and might want to back them up for future
- lovely combined pitch bend and mod wheel, interesting and versatile
- it has a dedicated limitless clickable encoder for navigating and editing settings which makes this easy, clear and doesn't interfere or confuse with buttons/knobs for performing
- love the sleek shiny black colour, suited my set up nicely (I don't usually comment on aesthetics!)

Reflection on competitor: on the surface the M Audio Code 25 looks like it's a close rival because it has the XY pad and 16 drumpads which can cycle through colours which could be cool for monitoring what settings are on/off... BUT all the reviews of the XY pad say its useless, it has less than half the encoders and faders, and I've read lots of reviews that it's low quality machinery. If harnassed correctly, I'm sure the pitchbend/mod wheel combo on this Roland could mirror the functionality of an XY pad to a great extent

Notes:
- it IS USB bus powered, but it doesn't come with its own AC adapter in case you wanted plugin power as a backup option
- DO READ THE MANUAL before getting frustrated, should go without saying, but yeah, it isn't completely intuitive first time like some simpler controllers or ones with more dedicated edit buttons
- doesn't support HID messages (like programming it to send keyboard commands like ctrl + S for save or command + S for save on a mac) only thing I know is some other brands offer even more functional software out there so if you need incredibly complex specialist messages to be sent I recommend you watch up on youtube tutorials of people software editing the MIDI controller you're looking at to confirm it offers all you need... that said, this controller offers the full range of MIDI messages and some simulators too (which I don't yet understand)
- manually editing mapping on the keyboard itself is a bit long and clunky, but to be fair I think this is the same for any midi keyboard this size
- if you wanted a separate traditional mod wheel then this won't cut it, but then essentially you could use an encoder for the same functionality, so I prefer this versatility
- no limitless encoders, all are min/max

Hope this review is useful to any pros out there!

Its a five star controller perfectly maden, with very good material. Best issue for this money.
It also could be a controller for Your DAW.
It has a disc with drivers but there wasnt for Win8, No problem! Open Roland website and download it. Everything working.
Joystyc for pitch and modulation is very fun to use!
Highly appretiate this device!