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#255411 - 02/01/09 09:18 AM Just picked up a Sound Cell for $500......TO or keeper.
Kingfrog Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 03/24/08
Posts: 1099
Loc: Myrtle beach SC
Been looking for a module to work with Sonar on my notebook. Thought the M# would be a good choice but I did not want to spend days in a manual and even then I would probably only use 25% of it.

I put a $500 bid on a whim a few month old one and won it to my surprise. I thought it was a glorified Sound Canvas (which is not that bad). I need a good module for some older sequences and non arranger music where I can cherry pick off the T3 and the Module
and mix and print CDs at work at Recording clinics.

Sooooo. Anyone use one of these. I have not received it and wondering if it will be quick TO on Ebay LOL. If anyone has one what are the best voice and those that are DIFFERENT then the T3.
I know Roland Pianos are great (RD700 here) IF they are the same which I doubt in a module.

I did do a search on the board and found quite a few "new" owners. After a year how do you guys feel about it? If I remember right. the Playlist was a problem for Don but he said he was keeping it.
Any "tricks" Any "gremlins" to watch out for?

Thanks in advance.



[This message has been edited by Kingfrog (edited 02-01-2009).]
_________________________
Yamaha Tyros 4
Yamaha Motif XS8
Roland RD700
Casio PX-330
Martin DC Aura
Breedlove ATlas Solo
Bose MOD II PA

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#255412 - 02/01/09 09:43 AM Re: Just picked up a Sound Cell for $500......TO or keeper.
Eric, B Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 12/15/99
Posts: 2029
Loc: Ventura, Ca, USA
I had it for about a week and returned it.
First off the sounds weren't on par with the T2. kinda week IMHO.
But the biggest thing was that MIDI.
Even though I talked to Roland and Yamaha at length I couldn't set it up so that I could easily call up the sounds I wanted via registrations or otherwise.
It was really a pain in the butt.
Some sounds were nice, but only a hand full and I couldn't justify the price for a couple of sounds.
Didn't like the Piano at all.
I hope you have better luck with it.
Eric

[This message has been edited by Eric, B (edited 02-01-2009).]
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Genos, PSR-S970, TC Helicon VoiceLive3, Mackie 802-VLZ3 Mixer, 2 Bose L1 Pro16, Electro-Voice ZXA1 Subwoofer

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#255413 - 02/01/09 09:51 AM Re: Just picked up a Sound Cell for $500......TO or keeper.
Dnj Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 09/21/00
Posts: 43703
Kingfrog talk to Fran Carango ( Roland Expert)......he will enlighten you on the Sonic Cell unit

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#255414 - 02/01/09 10:22 AM Re: Just picked up a Sound Cell for $500......TO or keeper.
leeboy Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 10/09/04
Posts: 2580
Loc: Ocala, FL USA
Eric,
The reason you could not get the sounds to call up the way I think you wanted was not a fault of the Roland. The Yamahas do not have any good way to do MIDI bank/program change based on settings in the unit.

When I asked Yamaha support why they did not support that pretty standard MIDI feature, they said this is a (PSR) home keyboard and home player don't need it.

If you want to do those kinds of things you may want to look at a PRO arranger.

Kind of reminded me of the way the US government treats us these day.

Lee
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Lee S.

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#255415 - 02/01/09 11:44 AM Re: Just picked up a Sound Cell for $500......TO or keeper.
Kingfrog Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 03/24/08
Posts: 1099
Loc: Myrtle beach SC
Quote:
Originally posted by Eric, B:
I had it for about a week and returned it.
First off the sounds weren't on par with the T2. kinda week IMHO.
But the biggest thing was that MIDI.
Even though I talked to Roland and Yamaha at length I couldn't set it up so that I could easily call up the sounds I wanted via registrations or otherwise.
It was really a pain in the butt.
Some sounds were nice, but only a hand full and I couldn't justify the price for a couple of sounds.
Didn't like the Piano at all.
I hope you have better luck with it.
Eric

[This message has been edited by Eric, B (edited 02-01-2009).]


Thanks. MIDI will be strictly DAW based. I am keenly aware of the Tyros limitations in the MIDI area and have found some workarounds. I use a RD700 as a Master though the T3 is a "module" MIDI receiver and transmitter to the DAW. I send MIDI FROM the Tyros to the DAW and then send MIDI to the Module..IF I like some of the sounds or they have a different "flavor" then the Yamaha. Thats a rub with me. I don;t like ALL tracks coming from one Brand if Possible and even a blend would be better in some cases.

As far as voices go. I did not think the Sound Canvas was all that bad although marginal for use on a CD. This has to step over the marginal line..I hope...Otherwise back on Ebay and take a few dollar loss or even gain. Just sold a $1099 EBAY bought VG for $1285 I had for 8 months. Buying used has its benefits. LOL

The wife sees a great use for it as a Playback machine for her Gigs though. The portability of it working with a notebook is a feature I liked I could not get with an M3 or XS.
_________________________
Yamaha Tyros 4
Yamaha Motif XS8
Roland RD700
Casio PX-330
Martin DC Aura
Breedlove ATlas Solo
Bose MOD II PA

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