Improving aftertouch sensitivity on the A-Pro keyboard series
Yes, the aftertouch sensitivity really sucks. As some others have pointed out, though, it is adjustable. Here is the process in more detail.
1. Don't do this unless you're reasonably confident with pulling things apart. If you're not sure, better to have a repair shop do it for you. Any local computer repair shop could do this in minutes, following these instructions, and they're used to pulling stuff apart.
2. Use a couple of books on either side of the unit to keep the knobs, sliders and joystick from experiencing pressure when you undo the screws. Place the unit upside down and undo all the large screws and JUST the small screws along the front of the keyboard. Don't unscrew any other screws. You do not need to pull the caps off the knobs or sliders, either. Screws bounce a long way on hard surfaces and get lost. Be careful when turning the unit back the correct way that you capture all the loose screws before they escape. I spent five minutes hunting for one after it bounced off somewhere.
3. Carefully holding the top and bottom of the case together, place the unit back on the floor or table you are using, without the books of course. Ensure there is clear table or floor space behind the unit. You need this to rest the top onto, in the next step.
4. GENTLY lift the top up SLIGHTLY and then ease it forward a little so that the plastic front clears the keyboard. Then - do NOT lift it at the rear any higher, GENTLY tilt it back and let the back rest behind the base. There are several delicate ribbon cables you do not want to dislodge or damage, so be careful.
5. There is a small circuit board with a bright yellow pot. It's the only one, so you can't miss it. Using a fine point permanent marker pen, place a small dot on the body of the pot and a matching dot that lines up on the yellow adjustment part. This shows you where it's currently set, should you need to reset it to that point.
6. Using a small philips screwdriver that actually fits the cross-slots on the pot - i.e, not too big and definitely not too small - gently turn the knob fully clockwise.
7. Replace the top and then carefully turn the unit upside down again and place it back on the books.
8. Screw in the large screws on each corner first and gently snug them down. Check that the top and bottom of the cover are correctly aligned with no gaps and then fit the remaining screws.
9. Voila. Aftertouch is now nice and sensitive. Why Roland shipped these keyboards adjusted so badly is a complete mystery, it'd be like stringing a guitar with all the strings an inch above the pickups or something.
10. If you want to check how sensitive it is, and possibly back the pot off a little, you can always do this before putting the screws back in. However I found that fully clockwise was just about perfect, you still need some pressure but a lot less than previously.