Roland really confuses me at times. For the life of me I can't understand why Roland has left off such basic features on some of their arrangers that can be found on Casio's costing $299.00

Who in the hell at Roland decided that the most basic ability to adjust your volume and pan after recording a user song "isn't" important?

Currently (since the newer E series isn't here in the US yet), I can only think of one arranger Roland has that does these simple yet basic things, and that's the G-70.

Neither the EX 3/5/7-3s/5s/7s, E-09, or even the GW-7 can do it. Fortunately the newer E series (E-50/60) will have these features, but what that means is that Roland STILL TO DATE will not have an arranger keyboard for under $1,000 that will do post song editing, or even style recording.

Thankfully they listened to users and added these features to the new E series, but still--one has to shell out what $1,200-$1,300 to start?

That's where when it comes to "features" I think Yammie has had the edge on Roland for some time in the arranger market--(I feel Roland has had the better build quality though). Hell even lower (and I mean lower) budget Yamaha's have more options for song recording than some or Roland's arrangers costing twice as much.

What gives Roland? When are you guys going to compete with arrangers in the $1,000 and less market and give users options they can really use?

Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 07-11-2006).]

Squeak not true..At least the EXR series, you can go to the "Function menu", select volumes, and song 1-16 is available as are all the arranger and realtime parts..

I believe this is also available on the GW-7..I will check when I get the time..

Really, I don't recall seeing that in the manuals.... Hmmmmmmm I do remember others complaining of this as well. If you can go under "Funtion" and make these changes can they also be saved? Or do you have to do this every time?

I'm going to go back and take a look at the manuals again. I remember the sequencers being "straight shot".

Squeak

Squeak for sure the EXR will..You appear to be right with the E-09 and GW-7[primarily arranger playback units]..you can change volume levels within styles on all the models..

Fran, (you're right) I did find reference to this in the EXR-7's manual on page 103. I wonder if other users overlooked this section. I didn't see anywhere that stated you can also adjust the (pan) of your songs tracks as well.

Strange that others who own the EXR series and even the GW-7 have complained about the inability to peform this task. It's odd...

Squeak

Page 103 in the EXR-7 manual

Squeak they are entry level keyboards...maybe most of the users you mentioned are also entry level[ nothing wrong with that, you have to start somewhere].

Those Roland E models should be here soon.
I agree with you Squeak. Roland's marketing department has run a muck. Rolands marketing strategy has even kept Fran from demoing the G70. Roland should have allowed the closest distributor to Fran's home to sell the G70. If Fran bought the G70 he would NOT need: NI B4 and Dicover 5. (All included in the G70)
Starkeeper

[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 07-11-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 07-11-2006).]

Starkeeper,
Their marketing is screwed up with the arrangers, but their synth line is alright. It's the whole Roland/Boss price setting I guess. Their arrangers are always higher than the competition and offer less features, and their Boss drum machines are also fairly expensive when compared against other makers such as Zoom.

Squeak

Tomorrow...Donny and I will play the G70..
Don't be surprised when Donny "part changes" his Tyros2

Starkeeper..Roland is coming around a bit...MI stores can now sell the G70 and most likely the new E series..

Just think how many deals they lost to Yamaha and Korg, by their marketing ideas!!!

Woo Ho. Looking forward to both of your reviews.
Starkeeper

Donny had to cancel the road trip.Maybe in a couple more days..

But the first post in this thread is part of the problem that Roland have brought upon themselves..........

By making the keyboards so hard to find and demo, members here like squeak can post away with any silly rumor they might have heard as fact, instead of being able to pop into the local Roland MI dealer and FIND OUT FOR THEMSELVES..........

There's probably only a handful of members here that have even played a G70 in a store, and far too many of them were from when the G70 first came out and had some horrible balance and reverb problems that have since been corrected.

Yet that doesn't stop anyone from posting negative comments about a keyboard they haven't played, or read the manual! The misinformation about the G70 is legion, here, but at least more and more players ARE getting the chance to play it (despite Roland's marketing [lack of] strategy) and are starting to put the rumors to bay.

It is a FINE, professional instrument with a superb action, incredibly easy navigation (unless you are blind), the best SMF and Style editing in the business, and sounds that are competitive with anything else out there.......... Yes, Yamaha have some better voices in their Tyros2, and some worse. As do all arrangers.

HD recording and sampling are features that few will use (sample load time is glacial - WHEN are keyboard builders going to start using USB2??) and most realize FAR more effective with a computer or laptop. (16 bit recording - how 90s!)

Styles are a matter of taste, and Yamaha get the edge, but there are about 70 more styles coming (from the E80 set) that may redress the balance, and, as I said earlier, editing imported, converted and older styles is easier on the G70/E80 than ANY other keyboard out there, so you are more likely to do it!!

But anything you read here, you've got to ask the poster 'Have you ever played one, and when?' before you assume they have any real knowledge........... It's strange, you don't get too many Roland users posting about how, if you play Gm7b9 the Tyros2 will lock up........... probably because it's not true!!!


CHECK YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU POST.............