Roland JW-50

The JW-50 is a 61-key synth engine incorporating the Sound Canvas <a rel="nofollow" href="/sound-module/roland/SC-55/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=SC-55" target="_blank">SC-55</a> (not the <a rel="nofollow" href="/sequencer/roland/MV-30/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=MV-30" target="_blank">MV-30</a> as I read on another review) it&nbsp;has a&nbsp;sequencer an internal one System&nbsp;similar to an arranger, and a floppy drive to save the compositions, and save or import midi-files. It is part of the family of workstations. On the right side of the machine are all the buttons in DDIS sequencer (playback, recording, etc. ...). In the center below the LCD screen, it&nbsp;has 8 faders that&nbsp;allow one to&nbsp;easily mix while in the sequencer. These faders can also be used to control custom settings of a VST plugin for example (this requires transforming the message volume (CC 7) DIFFERENT midi channels in the other messages, via a program like midi-ox, for example, to have the output of the Controller DIFFERENT for each fader.

UTILIZATION

I did not sufficiently consider the functioning of the machine to be able to advise on the use of the JW-50: - Edit the sounds, the effects - The sequencer - The method "arranger" Because I use it as a PC keyboard connected as Master, to control software instruments. The manual is very complete, each function is explained, I suppose it must answer all questions that may arise.

SOUNDS

The sounds are those of the original Sound Canvas (<a rel="nofollow" href="/sound-module/roland/SC-55/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=SC-55" target="_blank">SC-55</a>). In other words, these are General Midi sounds clear and clean, as Roland knows it. So, it may be lacking in personality. The effects are relevant, clean and efficient, but nothing amazing (in our era). [the digital age]?The keyboard is responsive and the VLOC aftertouch, there is a lever / knob&nbsp;which supports&nbsp;both the pitch bend and modulation. The sounds are good programs and&nbsp;respond well to the&nbsp;the Controller. The sounds&nbsp;in themselves&nbsp;are not overwhelming, but in a composition they blend well and the&nbsp;rendering is honorable.

OVERALL OPINION

I have had this synth&nbsp;for ten years&nbsp; (I bought it used), and is professional&nbsp; in the sense that it is robust and well&nbsp;resists aging.&nbsp;It always seems new.&nbsp;At it's current price, it can be an attractive alternative to a low-end keyboard controller used in the MAO, in that it is tough, and once disconnected from the computer, you can still play with the internal sounds, record directly into the sequencer, and recover everything on the computer via floppy disk by the midi-files.