All user reviews for the Roland XP-80

The Roland XP-80 was one of the main keyboards that Roland produced when it came out. It has 3 effect processors with over 40 different effects. Most of the main effects that liked were distortion, reverb, and ring modulation. You can use this keyboard as a MIDI controller too. This keyboard is great for electro music, dance, and even some techno. It has a built in arp that you can do wonders with, I loved working with the arp and effects; I was able to get some really cool sounds. There are over 500 presets on the XP-80 right out of the box.

UTILIZATION

The keys are velocity sensitive on the XP-80; they feel well made and will hold up for a long time. Most of these units that are still being sold online still look great even though they were made over 10 years ago. You can save up to 128 user patches and 2 drumkits on this keyboard.

SOUNDS

The XP-80 has 64 voices polyphony and 4 oscillators per voice. It has over 100 patterns are loaded that you can use to play along with. All of your sounds are easy to go through and can be manipulated quickly and easily. This keyboard has great sounds that will fit many different styles of music. Using this synth is simple as well, it does not take along to figure it out and start using it like a pro.

OVERALL OPINION

All of the sounds are pretty realistic, there are a few that make you kind of scratch your head and wonder who really would use it. But with some effects and patience you can pretty much use any sound to your advantage. I have always loved getting vintage keyboards because they still have great potential and you can get them for a great price; a price that people would have loved to get them for when they first came out.

Everything has been said about the characteristics.

UTILIZATION

Once grasped the concept of tone / patch / performance, and understood that the recording project was via the method performance in "single", so good.
Editing sounds is really complete. Not easy but thorough, and actually quite well thought out.
The sequencer from the MC80 is really well designed. When it comes to go to other brands, we regret it one bit. Ability to edit each parameter (velocity, note length), track (eg I can reduce the velocity of 10 points on grades between F3 and C4. The beach can be reduced to a single note. Can be traced all notes from one track to another channel, duplicate etc.. Quantification quite effective.
The pattern mode allows for very fast loops and recording step is very ergonomic: selection of the duration of notes and insert silence via the keypad (similar to what will Sibelius). All this is fairly intuitive once we spent a few hours dessus.Architecture very full of what remains the highlight of the XP80. The internal resolution might be more accurate, but this is a very intuitive tool.
Four pedal jacks, two pairs of outputs, an output click, there's something to do ...
Effects correct, but it is not to die either.

SOUNDS

Sounds pretty general, not bad for its time, but they may lack a little extra something. From the JV1080, but the converters and the effects are they the same?
The pianos are very typical, the synth sounds (especially the bass) are very good (lots of samples juno, jupiter in the box. The strings are frankly excellent. Mixed to have achieved true great textures.
on the other hand I think there are a lot of aliasing occurrence of unwanted harmonics (this means a great deal about the extinction of sound) on some programs that can get pretty nasty when superimposed.
Many expansion cards, which are not quite the same tone and (perhaps self-suggestion), however I see a tiny lag between the sounds (including drums) SR-JV cards and those of the internal memory. Psychological?

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since 1998. I did not try before you buy it, but I wanted this sequencer, which made me innumerable (countless) services. (And that makes me even for that matter).
I wish I had sound out of this world, but coming from a Yamaha PSS51 (I had my XP for 15 years), it was a notable advance.
With hindsight, it is the sounds that I like least, but a few need to know magnify.
For the time it was a very good machine, which lacked only the sampling. I spent days on it, and I copy the songs disks starting to age (very badly to my great regret).

At the price where it is found used, I think this is a good choice for projects entirely inside the machine or so for the live (many metalheads have used this keyboard, especially for the strings I guess). Otherwise, choose a computer with plug-ins. Less intuitive, but it will sound better.

Kisses

Trs enjoyable touch to a synth (76 keys)! Connectivity level is impeccable: the twelve o'clock clbre trio is present, 4 + assignable pedals made for the famous 'Hold'! Stereo outputs 'Mix' (with effects) and outputs Stereo 'Direct out' (no effect)!

UTILIZATION

The BTE is not easy to take control of it ... It takes a long time and know it to make sure to master the craft is perfect for the XP80 ts complete! The large manual can help beginners if they have patience and take the trouble to understand (not always obvious ...)! Finally as with any need to linger a while to understand how it works in both edition edition of the sounds effects ...

SOUNDS

The sounds of many bases suitable trs (mostly) to use 'all styles' (balls etc ...). APRS is s'quiper expansion cards for it to become more 'srieux' and if you make a style of music (I also advise the card "60's & 70's" for the sounds of Rhodes and Hammond!)

OVERALL OPINION

I use it now for about 7.8 years (more precisely, I dunno maybe more ...) and it always makes me wholesale services by The variety of sounds (thank you expansion cards) At the time of its release WAS j'trouve the top and he is doing a lot today! Now I will surely one day to the new technology (Kurzweil K2600, Korg Triton ...) but do not separate myself from my XP80 so far!

A touch of enjoyable trs 76 notes. the keys are sensitive but easy to replace ...

UTILIZATION

The ingnieurs of Roland are probably a little crush headphone It's been ages since we know how ergonomics, intelligent, logical and user-friendly but not at home!
you have to work a lot to digest their Systm when one is not accustomed to ...

SOUNDS

The sounds become ralistes bluffing on expansion cards!
no major default of the ct ...
effects correct expression of the perfect keyboard ...
sounds tend to miss just personality (this is also what allows them to be "boilerplate")

OVERALL OPINION

It is possible to find a workstation 76 keys ultra complte a sound point of view of a dot squenceur interresting to the extent that it allows the squence enchantment! (No need to load the intgralit a floppy disk that immobilizes the engine for 30 seconds).
trs good machine scne amount of points (click output for drummers, squenceur, change of sound that does not mutate the Previous !!!....)

Small general remark:

I find certain quotes, from which the ARGUS is calculated, are too low for a workstation of this caliber ....

Note: I have a XP50 and, given the differences between the two models in the range, it will be wise to get your little one bargain price. However, I know you have the right to sell your hardware at the price you want.

Thank you.

It is a synth for the composition (both full sequencer for recording interpretation, arrangement of songs, editing settings).
The connection is sufficient for a set of medium-expander-type keyboard sustain pedal and company ....
The screen allows for easy editing of settings (sounds, movies ...). The polyphony is sufficient.
The range covered by the keyboard is suitable for keyboardists scenes (it's relative !!!).

UTILIZATION

Connoisseurs note 10/10. You have to know the synthesis Roland, for me, is an alternative to other types of synthesis (FM, subtractive).

Roland manuals are pretty clear, it is still necessary to spend a little time! (There are no free lunches!).

SOUNDS

The sounds are correct, they adapt to any style. However, as the synth is a little dated, consideration should be given to supplement the sound from another machine (expander + specialist + realistic !!!).

OVERALL OPINION

Most:
the sequencer.
Synthesis.
The keyboard (for keyboardists!).

The - (They are related!)
The expansions (but he can be a paste, or, it could easily controlled expander).
Sounds (same as above!)

+ The General of the workstation is that you can dial in an autonomous manner: playing on the keyboard, an idea comes, there was a small track or pattern, we add a track or pattern of support / agreement, once the battery and the piece comes ....( This may not be popular but hey ....).

@ +

76-key synth with 16-track sequencer, the sounds of roots are those of JV 1080, can add four expansion cards of the series srjv. We find these cards in hand for about 150 euros and there are twenty.
are the original are generalists, there is a multi effects processor + reverb and chorus

UTILIZATION

I bought it in 1996, is a great workstation, the sequencer is re complete control and I with all my other synths.
This is my key instrument in my home studio in almost 10 years, I have always used a variety of ways.

For beginners, it can seem complicated. After one month you will get by.
The problem I had met at the very beginning it was mostly with the sequence with a headache because I wanted to built the "Performer" with "Patch" on the different sequence and I could not. Tip: Do not put that patch in your sequence and use performance for the live or not at all!

on the other hand when you turn the sequencer you will have the same séqencer of grouping with the computer (but more tedious)

SOUNDS

You get tired of the original sounds. Expansion cards sold separately will give you a lot. There are sound cards better than others. I had and sold many, but one we can not separate the orchestra are 1 and 2, and bass & drums

OVERALL OPINION

9 years that I use, I buy 13,000 francs. At a price that is OCCAZ do not hesitate to take you will not regret it.
I bought and sold a lot of synths, but the one I never sold it

Four connections pedal switch or expression, 1 sustain pedal connection, two programmable sliders above the pitch bend, 4 multifunction sliders. In short, there is something to control the sound in live conditions.

For the time, this synth was very complete. Now it looks like he misses the sampling, but many owners of Motif or Triton samplent do anything. I'm going very well. It's so full I give 10/10.

UTILIZATION

The sound editing and sequencing are very complete. It takes a few months of hard to begin to master the craft in my opinion. The sound editing is enormous, the number of adjustable parameters always impresses me, and all is well graded and clearly displayed on the screen.

For the sequencer, I have used the XP80 for years. I was going very fast because I used it for 9 years. It helps. However, to understand the basic configuration, I have a little gallery. Once the problem is overcome, everything goes like clockwork. Edition limited to each individual note if desired. Now I have 8 to control synths via MIDI, so I'm forced to use software.

I give "only" 9 / 10 because for someone who started on the XP-80 it can be intimidating. But if once you master it deserves 10.

SOUNDS

The sounds are those of the JV-1080 I think. The effects come from the Roland VS-1680 recorder. We have 3 sets of effects: Reverb, Chorus, and one that offers multi-effect distortion, eq, comp, flanger, phaser, etc.. It could be better, because in modern music, the effects are part of the sound design. But it is sufficient in most cases.

The basic sounds are a little older. The new generation (Motif and Fantom) is well beyond in terms of realism, but if you mix them well the instruments, one can have beautiful results. Expansion cards SR-JV80 are really essential for that.

The digital filters work well, but they do not sound as well as a JD-800 for example. They are very neutral. It is a term that I believe to be good enough sonic character of the XP-80. Unless it is in force to hear it every day ...

OVERALL OPINION

Nine years later, this synth for me is always the top of my collection. This is the first on and last off. I think the XP-80 is aging better than the Trinity, that I might have bought at that time if I had the means (61-key model was more expensive than the XP-80).

This is a purchase that I would do without hesitation. In 1997, it was really the best decision. If I had to buy a keyboard workstation nine today, I think I'd still rely on Roland and I would buy a Fantom X. And feel of the keyboard is a pleasure!

In conclusion, I would say that this keyboard is really a wonder, but take the time to learn the possibilities and the available settings. It is an absolute must for stage and studio. I have thought part with it, but I had to be in a period of extreme madness! If he dies one day, I bought one immediately. Or a JV-2080 and a keyboard 88 keys.

76 note synth ... ideal on stage, solid and indestructible as a bmw Brief fun ... live with other members of groups ...

With regard to the sound foundation you already have a lot, added the extension cards which cost nothing at all OCCAZ ...

My keyboard is covered with stickers for rellooking pretty cool ...

UTILIZATION

For stage, studio, the sounds are not clear enough ...

Super tope rehearsal studio, weight is a handicap cons ...

When you have the well in hand, switch between his al another child becomes a game plus you can add pedals for live.

If you are just avoided because the pianist has touched the piano sounds on this instrument are average.

I played with a lot of metal band he was impressed by the overall quality of the synth.

SOUNDS

The sounds are sampled but not good enough for the time it was on top ... the new synth is better quality sound.

OVERALL OPINION

Super I never resell, I've had against the glue that becomes keys and ensures that s true ...