I listen very carefully all recent comments (pros and cons) about new Rolands. Many forum folks post negative opinions. Yes XVs are far from perfect but what perfection really means to all of us ? More polyphony, better sounds, deeper synthesis method, more and more ifx, faster DSP & CPU, expansion..... ?
I must admit that i've bought two of them (88 & 5080) and i'm happy but not in love with them. They have the best (not only in my opinion) Roland sound ever made. I use Rolands fifteen years now as well as other synths. Sure XV are not the best of them but i cannot lister users told us that its sound is worst than JV or Triton. Try connect one of these synths to an audio spectrum analyzer and you'll see what it means noice floor. Roland has one of the best dynamic range among other current digital synths & samplers. Do you really know that XV are far better than EMU, KORG, YAMAHA even some Kurz on D/A conversion and noice filtering ?
I know that for a musician those mean nothing but when you record some parts or drive XV outputs via an external processor you'll notice the difference.

Someone wrote: "...Steel guitar is a joke"
I respect his opinion although i dissagree with him but did he ever listen better stees quitars from a S&S keyboard ? I agree with a friend who wrote: "...The steel guitars IMHO are sooo realistic if you play them thinking like a guitarist not a keyboard player"
Who has "BETTER EARS" ? I think both of them...

I digitally record some tracks using dry sounds compressed with a dbx and a Fostex hard disk recorder. The first track was XV quitar and the rest was some Fender and Yamaha real quitars. I played the master for some pro-class musician who didn't understand what was the real thing. That means something for me.

Other comments told about XV piano.
I'll not even dissagree with them. XV even without SRX piano card has the best piano sound. Did you ever heard Triton's honky tonky pianos ?

The question is simple. Do i work for Roland ? The answer: NO... I never like Roland sound (with the exception of D50). Roland always had the best S&S engine and some of the coolest sounds around but also had noisy output and poor pianos. That is the main reason (IMO) i like XVs and found them revolutionary.

I really understand those who don't like my opinion. Don't sell your jv, Triton or anything else. I think that anything has its personality as well as its role on a multitrack recording or live part. But the truth is that XV have the quality that most synths missed. And i mean sound plus built quality.

What about "CONS". I'm sure that many of you wait to post your comments against mine. I'm waiting for them because those negative opinions helped Roland and others to make their excellent synths.

"The only perfect thing is the nature"
Socrates

Okay, I'll give Roland some credit. One thing I love about there company is that almost everything they made over the past ten years is back compatible. This is great for people just coming on the Roland scene, or someone who has been with the Roland scene for a while and doesn't feel like having to re-program his/her whole archive because of a new sound set.

The only reason I dismiss the new XVs is because all of the new sounds on there have not debuted in the new XV but in Roland's 1998 SC880. If you listen to the tones on the SC880, you'll see that almost 75% of all the new sounds on the XV came from the JV and SC880. My thing was I didn't need another "copy cat" module. I love Roland. Everything in my studio is by Roland. But i have an XP60 and an SC880.

The fact that many of the sounds on the stock XV came from the SC, didn't make me impressed as I have the XV right inside of my SC and paid about $1800 less than the XV is advertised ($350). Trust me on that one.

The Infamous EPU.

Inray- I'm glad to see you treat me as a friend! That is really nice. I also greatly respect and learn from all your valuable posts- you really seem to know your stuff!!

Epu- You also know your stuff that's for sure!! However the argument you have above could apply to almost any other manufacturer. Many of the Korg Triton's sounds are Trinity, O1W, T series, M1 and even DW8000 sounds!!!!!!! All the waveforms from the old JD800 and JD990 have found themselves in the new XV units.
Yamaha recycled some of the better waveforms from the EX5 and put them in the new S80 and CS6X.

It could be argued that alot of this technology is 'repackaged' but hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it just improve upon it!!!!! You got an absolute bargain with the SC880!! I also got an absolute bargain with my U220 (which I've since sold) which had no filters but still contained one of the nicest acoustic pianos, that famous muted guitar sound and the best S&S trumpet sound of any synthe I've ever heard period- even better than XV factory trumpet patch!

If the SC880 does it for you, that's great- you shouldn't have to upgrade to new gear just because something new has come out- I learn't the hard way doing this mistake!!!!

Korgasm hi...
Ofcource i treat you and everyone here as friends. I have my (maybe wrong) opinion as anyone. I just hate listening people who post their opinion without first check the subject we talk about. I could tell that i like x-synth because it is like an old y-synth i had once and its sound must be great because it reminds me my x-wife. I'm not a great musician or super-eared but i try judge the gear i test, using true FACTS. In case of XVs the truth is that they are redesigned 100% using new CPU, DSP, d/a converters, sound circuitry and they use new or resampled sounds for compatibility. The piano sounds (onboard and SRX) are multisamples of the most rare quality piano ever made in Europe and i listened people telling that the piano sound is poor. Did they ever hear a true wood grand ? When someone judges an imitation, even sampled of a sound he must first have experience of the original. Yes i tell it again. The new Rolands are far from perfection. But XVs are (IMO always) the sound exception in the plastic age.

BTW i liked a lot JVs but they are outdated compared with S80, Korgs, and other new stuff. It's time for Roland to bring new gear for our wish lists.

PS: This summer Roland will introduce new keyboard workstations, based on XVxx using new LCD screen, new and fast SEQ, SRX expansions and better editing than XV88 or older XPs. After some days i'll have more info about them.

The best to all of you folks...
and remember that when something is good for someone it is bad for another

[This message has been edited by Inray (edited 05-08-2000).]

Hey Inray! I hope I don't fall in to that category of those who don't research subjects.

I've had Roland's for many years. it's to the point that I can almost easily tell if a sound on a record was derived from a Roland synth or not. I AM a musician who has been bought up studying Classical and Jazz (Julliard (while in High School) and various other institutions). I DO know what rare European pianos sound like.

My point is not that the new XV's suck. I just don't have the need to upgrade to them in the way that a D50 user might. The reason for this is because I noticed that a lot of the "new" sounds are already present in some of Roland's other modules and synths on the market today.

As for the new CPU and DSP, that is apparent. I'm not surprised by that. I have no need for it though. People talk about latency problems, and I haven't really experienced that yet, and I write BIG arrangements on my XP.

With all that said (drum roll), if Roland comes out with XV workstations, I'll be one of the first to save up and get it. The SRX boards are very appealing. - Oh yeah, with all of that background, I still choose to compose Pop and Hip-Hop tracks.

The Infamous EPU.

EPU hi...
I really enjoy your answer post. I agree with you that new Rolands are far away from the revolutionary D50. I think that you must keep your XP if it's really usefull for you. Also i don't like people run to buy any new synth when it hits the market. But we must be as objective we can when we judge new things. It doesn't matter if we like manufacturer or ... color or name etc. When we speak on electronic musical instruments the sound & synthesis engine it that counts.

On XVs now. Last year, as you know, all big manufacturers introduced new gear. Korg Triton, Yamaha S80/CS6, Kurz 2600 and other. All of them try to bring us the best realistic sound the can. I send many posts with my opinion on some of them i tried in my studio. I bought two of them just for their piano sound and clean output. But what a dissapointment for me when (February) Roland invited me to try XV. I must say that it has the best realistic sound in par with K2600 that costs twice. I also checked XV using a Tek audio spectrum analyzer and found that its output is full of music harmonics but not noice over spectrum. The dynamic range is thirty percent better than K2600. Thats my point when i post my opinion.

I have Classical & Jazz background and i'm keyboard player the last twenty five years. But mainly i'm an electonics engineer and i judge synths testing first their sound but also their tech characteristics.

The best to you and all the friends here...

Wow - great input from all of you. I am glad I joined this forum before I take the plunge and purchase the XV-88. From what I gather, at least for me, the XV-88 will be a good choice.Even though some of you sound a bit dissapointed my guess is that it will be a big step up the ladder from my current synth.

I am rather new to all of this,and not at all savvy concerning all the synths you folks have knowledge of. I am a guitar player that is venturing into a new realm. To get my feet wet, so to speak, a year ago I purchased an Alesis QS6.1 ( apparently not a synth that deserves mention in this company - sorry for mentioning it ). I also bought a new computer and set it up as my digital audio, and midi work station.

I am teaching myself to play the keys - and wanted to upgrade to a full 88 key, fully weighted keyboard. I started looking around for just a digital piano but then I caught wind of the XV coming from Roland and thought it was worth looking at, since I would gain both the full keyboard plus additional synth capabilities.

I wish I could actually play one before I buy it, but no stores around here have one,nor do they anticipate ever having one on display.Roland isn't even shipping until May 20th according to the latest info I have. So I am relying on what I hear from you who have actually got your hands on one and your comments.

Thanks again.

KenDuesenberg hi...
I'm glad if we can help you decide your next buy. But keep in your mind that even if all forum members agree that a synth is the best around there is always the posibility your next buy been the worst choice for you...

Listen carefully all posts here and on other web forums, read as many reviews you can, buy magazines and after that ... forget them all including our opinions and listen yourself and trust your ears

BTW before you buy XV88 or another keyboard think twice if you need a true multisound master keyboard or a workstation with sequencer, sampler, vocoder, floppy drive or even television Sometimes a full featured all-in-one workstation solution is the best choice for a single keyboard setup.

"...Always think before your next thought"
Aristotles

I forgot to tell you folks that Roland developed two new SRX cards for XV series. One with vintage all times classic keyboards and organs with many first class sounds (like the original moog multisample) and another with realistic brass and woodwinds (sampled using the best digital audio gear). These new SRX are full 64MB stereo samples cards and as i know they will be available in a month or two.

Hi Inray- Where do you get all this valuable info re- Roland gear? Geez I'm excited at the prospect of the new vintage/organs card. This would be absolutely wild for me!!!!! Have you any other info about future cards????

I'd love them to do a 64MB orchestral card, ethnic card and/or bass&guitar card.

However, I think the 64MB drums card will be definetly on my list!

Inray we all owe you for your valuable information. I am very interested in the new Roland workstations which will be coming out.
(I presume these will replace the XP60/80) What information do you have? Roland reps will not talk. I am sure that comparisons with the Korg Triton will be inevitable. Will this use the 3080 or 5080 engine? How many expansion slots? etc. Thanks.

------------------

Korgasm, nowayout and all good friends here hi...
As you know from prevous posts i never post rumours as i hate 'em. I don't work for Roland or other firm but i'm on pro electronics audio business in a way i can have some "inside info".

BTW Korgasm the drum SRX is really excellent and has some of the best samples i ever heard. The vintage organ SRX has some very rare (today) sounds sampled not only using state of the art gear and software but also in one of the best studio in the world. I think that this is the Roland's secret on SRX excellent audio reproduction.

nowayout
Yes the new workstations will replace XP series. The only info i have this moment is that most of them will use 3080 synth engine (due cost) but with onboard seq and FDD. Roland will introduce one with large LCD (like 5080) and ability to read CD samples. I really don't know if this one will be based on 5080 or on 3080 engine. As you know both of them share most of their internal parts so it is easy for them to create hybrids. The real problem for Roland is the cost. If you are involved with microelectronics you already know that their new circuits use some of the most expensive IC parts and difficult to develop algorithms. These excellent electronics produce excellent results but cost too much.

I have no more info this time but stay tuned.

PS: SRX cards are not just replacement of older JV cards. Are new or resampled sounds using new algorithms, gear and studios. The media also is very expensive as the capacity is 64 MB. I've heard that new onboard sounds and SRX ones cost Roland more money and development than synths themselves

See you soon...

I am interested in additional information on the XV-88, if you wouldn't mind?

Does Roland provide PC software to interface with the XV? I understand they use something called a smart card media storage on the XV to store user stuff. Would that include sequences and samples?

Also is there Roland or other software that provides a GUI to tweak with the various parameters on the Synth? This is always preferable to having to scroll through an LCD display?

Thanks

KenDuesenberg hi...
Roland doesn't have yet any kind of released software specifically for XV. As i understand you mean an editor-librarian. I don't think that Roland will introduce this kind of software soon. But soon or later a third party maybe do that.
On XV88 smartcards hold user sound patches and not samples. On XV5080 you can save preloaded samples on its smartcards.

Anyway if you need more info take a look on Roland's web sites though information on them is limited to a few pages only.
http://www.rolandcorp.com/worldwide/products/NAMM2000/XV-series.html

Hi all,

That URL has changed, so try:
http://www.roland.co.jp/worldwide/products/NAMM2000/XV-series.html

Tons of useful info. on the XV stuff.

Regards,
Chris

Have any of you actually played the XV-88? If so I envy you. You must not be in the U.S. or something. I'm in the states and all the music stores around me don't even know when or if they're getting one. Anyway.. some questions about the XV assuming ya'll have seen them up close. Does anyone know what kind of jacks it has? Number of pedal outs... line outs..... headphones, etc, etc. I'm trying to decide whether it's worth waiting for the XV's or if I should buy a Yamaha S-80 right now. And if anyone HAS played it... how's the action, does it feel like a piano?

p.s. What does S/S keyboard mean?? Synth and Sequencer????

The japanese roland site seems the most thorough of all the online xv-88 information I've seen. I played an xv-88 at Sam Ash music in the Chicago area a week ago. It has a very nice action. I didn't check ins/outs etc. No, there is no sequencer on this model.

S/S or S+S means Sample+Synthesis. This means that the synth uses a sample as source for its sounds, and shapes/processes it through a traditional synthesis like in an analog synth...

Stig

Hello folks...
feefer the URL you wrote is just an alias of what i wrote.
Nate_Straight i have XV88 and one 5080 on my desk. For more information read older posts in this forum. I've posted much of them so you can search or browse and read about XV88.
BTW XV is far better than Yamaha S80 although S80 is also excellent value. XV88 feel is exactly piano weighted and somehow better than S80's feel. The real case is if you need the Roland or Yamaha sound. Synth engine in two keyboards is similar but Roland always had deeper synthesis with much more control on various parameters. Take a look for example in matrix mod, cross mod, insertion FX etc.
As stigf says S&S means sample & synhesis. The S&S synths are just playback samplers using internal or plugin sample waveforms and many modulations editing options to shape the sound but not the samples themselves. Most of current synths are S&S and they differ in editing method, algorithms, FXs, and quality of internal samples. These are where Roland XVs shine.

The XV88 has a great keyboard action for an 88 note controller IMHO. I love the D Beam controller and the other real time control features. Also I like the fact that it's not so big (the S80 is also a good size) unlike the Korg Triton ProX which is just too darn big IMHO.

I'm slowly paying off my XV3080. I'll be a very happy man when it's sitting in my rack!!!! Cheers to everyone!

I'll ask here since this is a XV forum, not general discussion. I just looked at the specs for the XV's piano plugin board. It looks great with 64Mb of memory devoted entirely to pianos.... one question though. It says all samples were taken from one piano... does this mean all the patches will sound basically the same since they are, after all, from the same piano? Or can Roland really digitally edit them to sound different? Also, does anyone know if there are any E. Pianos, Harpsichords or Clavinets on this board.

Is this XV 64meg piano will sound much better than Yamaha's 30meg sample that they use for their midigrand? I love the sound of the midigrand. The same one that the Eagles used in their concert.

Inray, as you own a XV5080, you could clear up some missunderstandings:
Are there more than 1 simult. MFX-sections in performance mode? And how is the EQ used, that is only featured on the 5080? Does every Patch in Perf Mode have its own EQ (like the JD-series)?
The answers would be very important!

Hello forum friends...
The new SRX-02 Piano expansion card contains multisamples taken from an excellent and rare piano. These samples have been digitally edited by Roland to have natural feel, feedback, sound detuning across keys, realistic wood random harmonics and in general is one of the best piano digital reproduction. I've made some digital studio recording using it and compared the result with Yamaha S80 + PLGPF, Kurzweil 2600, Korg SG-PRO/X and studio's Steinway. All these keyboards and pianos also recorded using the same digital gear and using dry sound and no external or internal FX or compression. My results were that Roland SRX is excellent and in par with Kurz 2600 but somewhat more metalic than Steinway
Listening the master two famous in my country pro piano players could not understand what is sampled and what not. That's a good sign. Unfortunately i have not Yamaha midigrand to compare it with the rest.

The EQ in 5080 work on per output basis so if you route your sound on different outputs you can have different EQ settings. The whole EQ works as an FFT algorithm on output DSPs so its quality is far better than those work on OSC/FLT DSPs.

On 5080 there are three M-FX (1-3) sections just like 2080 and the same FX routing. But when you use some combinations (like COSM) there are some limits due to DSP overload. In general you must think the 5080 as a far better sounding 2080 plus new COSM MFXs that are just algorithms but unfortunately need much of CPU power. BTW there are not exist any "clicks" or delays on FX processing and the s/n ratio is excellent, better than 2080 or anything else. Also the legent FX algorithms like reverb and delays are all new and they have more realistic feel than older ones on 2080. The 24bit D/A helps here.

PS: By the way i live in Greece so forgive me if i make some mistakes English is not my main language.

Cheers...

[This message has been edited by Inray (edited 05-17-2000).]

This is an interesting discussion.

In order to evaluate the piano sound in the xv-series, you have to compare it with Yamaha P80. Almost every musician who listened to P80 was impressed. I am waiting for a person who will compare both sounds.

sk880user hi...
You're right. That would be nice comparing XV piano and P80. I really like P80 sound and i believe that it's near authentic piano. Unfortunately i didn't found one for a test side by side with an XV. Anyway SRX02 piano board has excellent sound and i would like to see that sound and SRX01 drums not on plugins but onboard on Roland's future gear...

Hi folks...I'm notorious for not being right on topic, so forgive me. But I hear so many people raving about Kurzweil's pianos, but I had a PC-88mx for awhile, but I hated the pianos! I'd much rather have a JV-1010 piano than Kurzweil piano. I'm I crazy for thinking this? Also, for those who swear by the Kurzweil pianos, do you like the the XV better?
Thanks all...love your comments!
Josh

Hello everybody
I'm new in this forum and i want to thank Inray and others for the valueable info on new Rolands. Inray you're my man
I was ready to buy S-80 but after reading your comments i finally bought XV88 and i'm very very very happy. In one word:
EXCELLENT KEYBOARD

Many many thanks to everybody here...

Hello,

I also posted this question in another forum on synthworld,..

THis question is for the XV5080 owner.. Well other than the fact you'r lucky,... could you tell how you have one so early?

I run an XV5080 site with general needtoknow information, yet everyone tells me the device isn't out untill july....

Was there a first production already that made it to select stores?

Greets

CD

On the SRX cards: WOuldn't it be extra cool if roland came up with an enhanced vintage synth card, with lots of "lore" kind of effects, and creamy synth pads..

That, and a card entirely dedicated to accoustical breakbeats would be real cool

greets

CD

..hello,

Now we're on it anyway... Could I ask for someone to allow a potential XV librarian to be put on my site?

it's www.5080land.com, and This board (especialy inrays info) could bring up more interesting stories for me to post there...

THanks,

CD

Cosmic Dreamer and the rest folks hi...
I've tried the above link but it seems dead. If you ever need any help post us a note in this forum.
XVs (88,3080,5080) are already on stores but back ordered here in Europe. I preordered my 88 and 5080 on February and got them late April. I listened many friends of mine told me that in US are in limited quantities but i know nothing about it.
As i post earlier Roland has under developement two new SRX cards. One of them has some (not many) of the best vintage keyboard sounds of 60's and 70's. When i have more info about them i'll post you a note.

Hello inray,

Well I guess the link seemed dead because I was so dumb to include a . in the adress, I guess you can't do that here,

It's or: http://www.5080land.com or www.5080land.cjb.net If these 2 are dead try www.cosmicdreamer.com/5080 ..

Anyhow, to brag on about the release dates. It's kinda curious that while you got them in april, I was in frankfurt 16th april on the musik messe and the people there told that it couild last 3 months untill the device is out, and well I found it fair because when you tried to edit things, it wouldn't work .

i wish... hehe

CD

Cosmic Dreamer
I didn't notice the extra fullstop in your URL but now i saw your site. Nice try to put all your info in a single place. Be prepared to make more and more .com registrations because Roland is going to introduce new gear (see above posts) on September
Do not believe what Roland distributors say to you. I made the same mistake some years ago. Roland keeps it's secrets very well. It's the only way to sell their old stuff stock.
First time i try XV was fifteen days before NAMM2000 and as you told it was just a preproduction model. After twenty days Roland took my money and preorder for me those nice boxes. When i delivered them i thought that i was the first one atleast in my country. But a customer of mine came to my studio to try his new Roland 5080 He he he...
On april SRX02 piano board was not available here (Greece) and they (Roland) told me that it was under developement yet. After some phone calls i ordered it from a Roland distributor in (!) Cyprus and he sent it to me in a week.
As you can understand Roland can deliver limited XV quantities yet and they are too good in marketing tricks
Do you know that in Japan there exist many pro studios who have XVs almost six months now ? Roland is like some software manufactures and uses the beta test method to develop their new stuff.
In general these forums here (all in synthworld) gave us more info on new gear, not only Roland's, than the manufacturers themselves. Keep your ears open and post your info in your site and here as we do.

Cheers...

boeschm,

When it comes to features and price, I agree with you: GEM PRO2 is unbeatable. But how about the sound quality compared to Yamaha P80?

I played PRO2 for very short time and at that time I compared it to Yamaha P200. I thought P200 sounded better than PRO2. I compared P80 with P200 and P80 was superior, lighter and cheaper.

Do not mistaken me, I love GEM products but I do not like the sounds of their pianos. We are discussing XV and if XV can give you better or comparable piano to P80, I will buy one right away. *S*

Hello Inray (and others)

Well, hmm seems Roland kinda smells like sony and nintendo (they always do that kinda trick with their game consoles aswell).. I'll definitely have to update my site in that regard..

Yet I can't understand the patern.. Why do they tell me that "software is finished and will go into debugging" . They told that last week to me, and I was sooo enthousiastic that I knew it right because it comes from Roland ppl.. Although I wrote with it, that I didn't trust them 100%. Lol, I think i'll receive alot of hatemale about having a crappy info site, as release dates and megabytes of ram seem to tumble up and down.

I'd like to apologise for this kind of little things.

Does anyone know wich will be the EXACT amount of sample ram wich is on the xv5080 as a standard?

Will the SRJV80-04 vintage synth card show its 2 (JV and JD) banks on it?...

....when will the thing really be out ...

These are the questions I still like a real answer on. ..

If anyone is interested in making an XV pc librarian that he/she wants to put on my site (www.5080land.com) Please let me know..

Great regards

CD

Hello again...

XV5080 uses a 32 bit CPU actually addressing 1 GB or memory space. Due to hardware MMU limitation and operating system resources the real space is 512 MB shared between RAM and ROM. As you know most of that memory space is ROM-only.
64 MB for onboard samples
320 MB for SRX & SRJV samples
128 MB for SIMM addon RAM

There is some 8 MB onboard RAM that share its address with the last add on card's rom when it's inserted. Actually this space of 8 MB is useless for anything but SCSI sample read buffering. So the 128 MB simm addon memory is a must if you really want to use s700,s1000,AIFF,WAV samples.

The rest of onboard memory (mostly ROM) is used by OS and FX/DSP software algorithms.

Hi all,

Excuse if this is a lame question, but I'm a non-computer guy: any idea on what it would cost to load a 5080 with simm memory? Would it have to be a Roland product, or could you get it elsewhere?

Thanks,
Christopher

Hey hope I can help..... it shouldn't cost that much too upgrade your memory. SIMM memory is pretty much out of date for PC's so if you can find it, it should be fairly cheap. And no, I don't think it would have to be Roland's product, unless they rigged their machine that way to get more money. Check the owner's manual.

feefer hi...

XV5080 memory upgrade is very easy. Simms maker can be anyone not just Roland who by the way doesn't make memory chips. The cost is very low and i wonder why Roland didn't put at least 64 MB onboard allowing that way to make use of samples without addon ram. Hmm cost barrier

Anyway take care of memory to be at least 60 nsec or faster.

Hello Inray,

You told about the ondie ram for buffering etc.. but how much ram is really delivered as standard when you buy the device out of the box.. I've heard 2 and 8 mb..

WHat i've heard is that they use 2 mb of ondie RAM , and if you plug in one simm (or 2) that 2 mb will be disabled, is that correct?

Other than the fact that it's rediculous 2 mb ! of ram) I think your right.. the korg triton has 16 mb at least. It's nto because the XV5080 is only a "sample player" that they should act as if no ram is needed, you can do some serious film scoring with a (for example) future srx concert card + Akai/roland s700 quality sample CD's.

I'm planning of buying a scsi cdrom + the full 128 mb of ram when my XV arrives

CD

Oh i forgot.... 2 important questions:

What's the big fuzz about matrix control anyway. I didn't really spend long time editing with the 3080 thats in the music store I always go to. I didn't really see something really different but i guess I'll find that out tomorrow, I finally will have time to test & record something on my portable MD (wich will be put on www.5080land.Com ofcourse )..

Another question (gee... I guess Inray is going to get bored because hes never allowed to ask any ) ..

Can you actually attach a zipdrive to the 5080? then load in a few wavefiles, keymap them internally and send them back to zip? as 5080 proprietary format ?..

Thanks

CD

Cosmic Dreamer...

I'm glad if i can help any friend here as many folks here helped me in the past.

When you get 5080 the actual free memory is about 2MB from 8MB available onboard. So don't expect to do anything with that. That's the reason Roland says you need the simm addon to read and convert samples.

About you second question. Yes when you add 128 MB the onboard memory (RAM) isn't addressable any more so you have only 128 MB total ram memory.

Triton has 16 MB onboard and it's also ridiculous as Triton is a sampler (or something like that) and not a sample-playback synth like XV. It's a shame for both of them (Triton and 5080) not having full memory onboard while memory cost is so low today.

I have not try an external scsi zip yet so i could not say to you about possible issues. I've tried scsi CD (Plextor) and scsi data access chain (XV <-> computer scsi) using adaptec 29160 controller with no problems accessing AIFF,WAV and AKAI/S700 samples on CDs and host computer. You can only read and convert samples but not rewrite them.

Matrix control is just a modulation reroute between source controllers and destination parameters.
For example you can use a source value like key position, aftertouch, TVF envelope, TVA envelope, bender etc to drive as input parameter the pitch, cutoff, pan, lfos, tmt, tva, mfx1,2,3 etc.

It's not too different from the old Roland editing method. It is very creative by the way, if you spend some time on (small) LCD.

In general XV has nothing extraordinary or inovative. XV's plus is it's excellent sound, fx, and SRX samples.

Hello,

Hmm seems that matrix control behave alot like the tritons AMS.

Ofcourse I always thought roland's editing was creative. If the XV5080 is going to be anything like JD990, visual editing etc.. thats pretty cool..

JD990 was such a good device but the reason I sold it in the end, is that it hadd a very bad LFO, (it would just ....do things out of tune and do things that you've not programmed). suddenly dropping from a sweap etc.. And well, the 24voices polyphony was rather distressing, I could hardly put 3 complex patches on eachother in a performance ..

I m sure the XV5080 will be the solution .. I think it will add greatly to my triton,

CD