I owned for the briefest time a VA7 when it came out,when I listen the G70 DEMOS, in the latin styles ALL the SAME as the VA series/unusable styles), it reminded me why I got rid of the VA7 after only 3 months, Roland need to hear what the professional arranger performers (like myself) play/need...
I even be willing to share a collection/research of MP3s of REAL Latin artists (what the people really listen), and even with matching SMFs, and in some cases some styles with alterations to fit needs, this critic is due because is like the cartoon caracter (Speedy Gonzales)would play and or how the latin music is been portrait, and by the way, this also concerns the Yamaha T2, in it's Mexican dance is to say the least, innacurate orquestration, instrumentation, mexican music DO NOT use CASTANETS, that is the FLAMENCO and SPANISH MUSIC, the tempo changes are wrong...the ugliest pattern ever made....border line insulting....those german/japanese style designers need to research much more and be careful/professional.
I do not know how designs the styles at Roland, but with the GREAT sound generation is such shame that the styles are a mis-match, they need to make more REALISTIC/NATURAL sounding styles (not the sounds)...like I said, sounds are top notch.
In the research I made with the MP3s, are also a list of the instruments used, tunnigs, history of the band (like what instruments are in the mariachi band, Banda, Norteņo, the diferent cumbia types, etc.), even tips how to use GM instrument sounds to emulate vihuela, Guitarron, Bajo sexto, etc....I did use in the 90's a ROland RA95 with my Electone EL90, it was a great match, but when I wanted to upgrade my RA.....I found the VA7....that became a Solton/Ketron X1 and later added an SD1.
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mdorantes