From http://www.awarenessengine.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=243

Two new arranger keyboards: the EXR-5 and the EXR-3 are to be available soon in Mainland Europe. They are being advertised already, but are not on many official Roland sites yet. Look to fit in to the range somwhere around the low to mid EM series area.

* Improved quality of sound (8 times more wave memory than the EM-25)
* Wave samples specially prepared for this keyboard include the stereo piano samples from the FP Series
* 64 voice polyphonic
* 510 GM2, GS and XG compatible sounds
* 61 touch sensitive keys
* Modulation/Pitch Bend lever
* More than 100 new styles
* Innovating Cover function for SMFs and Styles - similar to Discover5
* Digital Bass Enhancer to give to body and consistency to the sound in low frequencies
* New high quality loudspeakers
* Interchangeable styles and songs in flash memory. (User area of 1,5 MB)
* Connections via USB and V-Link
* Music Assistant
* 16 track sequencer
* 3.5" Disk drive (only in EXR-5)


Any information about them?


[This message has been edited by Bluebird (edited 10-09-2003).]

from the Spec you mentioned, looks like Roland's answer to the PSR2000/1000 and the KN2600!

Still no vocal harmonizer...

I also doubt it is near as user-friendly as either the KN2400 or PSR1000 (against which the disk-drive model would compete).

I think these arranger keyboards are not in competition with PSR2100 or KN2600, because its price, because its screen (same EM-25) and because its general look.
EXR5 is priced 590 euros. PSR and KN are 1200 euros.European prices, of course.

But ... it seems as Roland want compete only in low range keyboards. Whyyyyy???



[This message has been edited by Bluebird (edited 10-09-2003).]

The EM25 has 1 meg of wave ROM, same as the EM10, and have 225 voices. I own an EM20 which has 8 megs of wave ROM at 320 voices. The quality of the voices on the EM20 is superior to the EM10/EM25. Their specs that say 8 times more wave ROM. "Don't impress me much" (Shania Twain). I know this doesn't always work out correctly: 8 megs wave ROM/320 should have a higher quality then 8 megs wave ROM/510.
XG compatible??? Doesn't XG have 480 voices?
That doesn't leave much for GM and GS.
My EM20 is no match for the PSR2100 voices.
Lookin forward to hearing it none then less.
I'm glad there not doing that 3000 voice stupid thing. This might be a good upgrade for me if the price point is below the PSR2100 (the PSR2100 is out of my budget range).
Starkeeper

Yes, it seems EXR-5 is a improvement for EM-25.
Perhaps its voices will be no so good as you EM-20.
But EXR-5 has another gadgets.
For example:
"Innovating Cover function for SMFs and Styles - similar to Discover5"
What is it???

It would be an upgrade to the EM20:
More polyphony, more voices, more styles, better loudspeakers (EM20 have 7 watts/channel), 16 track sequencer, and disk drive. I hope there is a good flute voice. They don't say anything about DSP's. The EM20 has two excellent B3 voices, one with slow rotary and one with fast rotary. No DSP to spin up and down. Arr.
Maybe Fran can explain what these cover functions are.
Starkeeper

Look for more (official) info on: http://www.rolandmusik.de/seiten/produkte/produkte_2003/EXR-3-5/EXR-3-5.html

Translation (Using online translation tools):
Exr-5, Exr-3 Interactive Arranger

Professional sounds at an entry level price!

You will not trust your ears, because with the two Interactive Arranger keyboards Exr-3 and Exr-5 gives it now for the first time trueful towering above sounding and Style quality, musical expandability and flexibility at enormously a favourable price. The 64-note tone generation system developed again for these instruments convinces among other things with the first-class stereo Piano sound Roland RD series and sound of organ, with which the Rotary speaker can be controlled via the pitch Bend stick. The Flash MEMORY for Songs and Styles keep the instrument always UP to DATE and owing to USB and v-left (fusion of audio and video) attached to the future. In addition to the Style Orchestrator now also the singular COVER function provides with the Music Styles for varied play passport and extends their applicability by a multiple. That digitally bass Enhancer provides for a particularly full sound of the internal amplifier/loudspeaker system. The Exr-5 has additionally still another one bass reflex loudspeaker system as well as 3.5 " a floppy disk drive. This quality equipment the inclusive 16-Spur SMF Players/Recorders makes the Exr-3 and the Exr-5 perfect instruments both for at home and music instruction and for professional applications and music productions.

The most important features in the overview:

61 velocity sensitive keys & pitch Bend/Modulation stick
And LC displays background-lit up clear control panel inclusive 10er-Tastatur
510 panel sound including stereo piano, 20 Drum sets + 542 XG sounds + 256 GM2-Sounds; 64-note polyphony
103 Music Styles (83 Preset + 20 user); Sync start, TAP speed, bass inversion, Arr. Chord, Arr. MEMORY
Keyboard mode: Piano/Arranger, dual, Split (also together with Arranger)
COVER function (5 types) for Songs and Styles; Style Orchestrator (for Styles)
Approx. 1,5MB memory for Songs (max. 99 Songs, 15 Songs in the scope of supply)
Music Assistant (100 presets) and One Touch (2 per Style)
Digital effects: Reverb (8 types), to Chorus (8 types), m-fx (47 types); Melody Intelligence (18 types)
16-Track Player/Recorder with four Easy record modes (All, Count-In, Single, Punch In/Out)
10 user memory places
Interface: MIDI In/Out, USB
Connections: Audio Out (L/Mono, R), 2 x headphone, Sustain, power pack (in the scope of supply)
Dimensions: 1,020 (B) x 355 (T) x 132 (H) mm
Reinforcement/loudspeaker Exr-3: 2 x 5W/2 x 12cm with digitally bass Enhancer
Reinforcement/loudspeaker Exr-5: 2 x 10W/2 x 13cm with digitally bass Enhancer and bass reflex system

So the piano is not taken from the FP series, and there are more voices (about 1328 I guess).
It doesn't say anything about the waverom, could be more than 8 MB (Considering it has the RD stereo sampled piano and 1328 voices).

These two keyboards seem to be pretty cool to me, Can't wait to try one out.

Greetz ,
Marcel

[This message has been edited by Wazza (edited 10-09-2003).]

You said:

8 Mb for 1310 sounds? Psssss..... I need listen it.

And what about style morphing? It seems Roland has discontinued this gadget... It is a pity.


[This message has been edited by Bluebird (edited 10-09-2003).]

Something for the financially challenged to get excited about. Will definitely have a listen when it comes in. No mention of the D-beam controller. The EM55 used the pitch bend as well to change the rotary speeds instead of the D-beam controller. (cost saving)
Has Roland hit this time, or struck out like they have in the recent past?
590 Euros = $691.47 U.S. or $925.62 Cdn.
Starting to save my pennies.
Starkeeper