Has anyone had any experience with this board or the EXR5? Soundwise, how would you rate it? How do the keys feel? Looking at the features and specs it seems like a great board for the price. I'd be upgrading from a Casio WK-3500 and the problem I've encountered is, the polyphony is a little low for me. And there's other little things I'm nitpicky about. The EXR3 seems like something I would be happier with.

Another thing I wanted to know, does anyone know if there's an online version of the manual. Roland doesn't seem to have it on their website.

Hello,
I had the EXR7s and thought it sounded great. If you call Roland and talk with the keyboard technical dept, they will email you a PDF. Good luck.
zuki

Hi Ryan!
I think that EXR-5 is a nice mid-level arranger keyboard.
If you don't expect to have a professional instrument you will be satisfied of key feel and sound set.
Regarding the user manual you can refer to E-200 that you can find at http://www.rolandus.com/support/product_manual.asp?Letter=E since it is the American/British brother of EXR-5.

[This message has been edited by o3bor (edited 09-13-2005).]

[This message has been edited by o3bor (edited 09-13-2005).]

I realize with a price that low, you can only expect so much quality. But knowing Roland, even their low-end products probably have better quality than the Casio WK-3500 I own now. Does anyone know where I might download/listen to some sound clips of the EXR-3/5?

Something else I just realized. Can the EXR3 transmit CC80 and CC81? I neeed this for the Roland VK-8M organ module. CC80 is for fast/slow toggle and CC81 is for brake mode. I'd like to either use the modulation/pitch bend stick or the footswitch to do this.



[This message has been edited by RyanS (edited 09-13-2005).]

Ryan,

1.Go to the ROLANDUSA website
2.Put EXR7s in the 'product search' area.
3.That will take you to a video demo link from the recent NAMM show.

I can tell you that the demo sounds are exactly what you would experience.

I think it is a great sounding board with a terrific keybed - the very best keybed (IMO).

zuki

That is awesome! I'm very pleased with the piano sound along with all the other sounds that were demoed in the video. I think I'll be putting in an order here at the beginning of the month.

I'm still concerned about the control change thing, and that is the only thing that might make me hesitate buying this arranger.

What do you mean by the control change thing?
zuki

On my Roland VK-8M organ module, the rotary speed change for slow/fast is Control Change 80 (CC80) and the control change for the brake function is 81. On my WK-3500 I am able to use the mod wheel for both control changes depending which function I have it assigned to. I was hoping to either assign the footswitch or the mod lever on the EXR-3 to use for rotary speed on my VK-8M.

[This message has been edited by RyanS (edited 09-13-2005).]

Oh...over my head

No, you can't assign a CC number to EXR controllers.
I don't know if you can change on VK-8M the CC numbers that control leslie speed.
If yes, you could assign them to Modulation (CC01) or Footswitch (CC64) and obtain what you want.


[This message has been edited by o3bor (edited 09-14-2005).]

Unfortunately no, there is no known way to change the CC# for leslie speed on the VK-8M.

You know the other keyboard I was looking at is the Yamaha S03. It's a little more expensive, but if I'm reading the manual right, you can assign certain controllers (such as the mod wheel or foot pedal) to perform assigned functions. Anyone here ever use that keyboard? It's actually a pretty light weight keyboard (12 pounds). Normally that would make me wonder what kind of keyboard I'm getting, but it looks like it can do quite a bit.

Only problem is, you get no rythyms whatsoever, lol. I guess you win some and you lose some.

[This message has been edited by RyanS (edited 09-15-2005).]

The S-03 is a basic budget synth that sells for $499.00 It's not bad sounding. Contruction is good, pitch and mod wheels are large and good quality, screen is so so, keyboard action and quality is another story. Personally I didn't care for it. Even though it doesn't have a sequencer, or styles it ships with XGLite software for computer recording. In some places it advertised as a "budget synth for midi recording". Basically to get newbies started.

Squeak

The only way I know to get the best of both worlds (buy the EXR3 and use the mod level for leslie speed control) would be to buy a MIDI solutions event processor. Those little buggers are expensive too!!

[This message has been edited by RyanS (edited 09-15-2005).]

Ryan have you checked out the Alesis QS series? The 61 key version is only $599.00 and is way ahead of the Yamaha S-03 in sound and features. This may serve your needs. Also look at the Roland XP-30. I still see some sites selling it every so often.

Squeak

Yes, I have even used an Alesis QS7 at one time. And I own an Alesis NanoPiano...the sounds on this unit are taken right from the OS series models. So I'm not really interested in the Alesis models. I haven't checked out the Roland XP-30, I will look into it though.