Just a comment on the ‘thump test’. I don’t see where this is a valid test. Case in point, in the case of my keyboard anyway, the notes don’t even trigger the sound until the key is pressed 1/8" down. So here I would be hearing the click of my finger striking the key and there would be a delay to the note right from the gate.
On the other hand, if I record a track to the click and then double click it into edit land for a look, I can clearly see the midi note and where it sits on the bar line. It should be starting right on the vertical bar line on playback if you are playing right on the beat. And I can do this without a problem.
So the question remains, are all keyboards like my keyboard? Prolly not, maybe not, I dunno. So, considering this, I think that every player has a ‘thing’ that naturally happens, that you sense where your instrument makes a sound, and then you play the instrument to the beat. So looking at the recorded midi note - as it lines up to the beat - seems the best way to determine if your midi send is working properly. THAT SAID — if the player is playing along to the beat and it sounds correct, but yet when examined, the midi note is way off the vertical beat line, then I would agree there is maybe a midi timing issue. As to drummers (or anyone) playing ahead of the beat, well, it happens. It would be a shame to fret over midi timing issues when in fact it is the player, eh?
My .02.