Roland E-66

Arranger keyboard 1994, 5 octaves, with dynamics.
Midi In / Out, Through in connectivity, it also has the OUTPUT L (Mono) R, sustain pedal input, Headphone out, floppy drive. No sound can be edited.
241 sounds and 56 styles. Reverb and Chorus effects.
No séquenseur. Recording a track directly on disk.

UTILIZATION

The configuration is simple yes.
The manual is as clear as those of the E-series.

OVERALL OPINION

I did not. I have his full notice on the other hand. He was in line with:

E-16,
E-36,
E-56,
E-86

He is the identical twin of E-36. On the latter, the builders had left the track for a floppy drive that it was like. This floppy drive has appeared on the E-66. on the other hand, they removed the card reader. For both, you have to go on E-68. In addition to the E-66, they removed a bank styles, those simplified.
No pitch wheel, not user programs, not séquenseur, no designer styles, no LED display. F sold 10,500 TTC at the time more expensive than E-56, they just did not care in the world. All because, as the floppy drive accepts the styles created by the E-86, the styles available on diskette, the SMF format. Not me, I would recommend the E-56 or E-68.

The preferred feature? Ah, well that's the magic I would say Roland! The quality of sounds, styles, excessive wealth at that level, and good setup by the "Keyboard Mode", the same as the available E-36.

Characteristics have already been given, however, can be added:

Most
twelve o'clock the connection complete
possibility to split the keyboard (which is always useful to support)
a bank's touching a little bit of everything (GM).

The least
- The affected purely synthetic plastic. (But hey, we do not buy this type of instrument for his hit)
- The inability to edit sounds ...
- The sequencer track .... hahaha

UTILIZATION

Configuration so easy and very intuitive (I opened the manual once: when I wanted to connect it to an expander).
Regarding the change in sound, it's very simple but it is not an option to edit or add effects. At most it was a touch on / off: Reverb and chorus.
The sequencer is pretty good since it saves a laugh track .... In fact, after reading this, it is impossible to play another sound exposure than the one selected by the sequencer .... Clearly, the "sequencer" is useless!
For sounds, it's pure GM. The quality is far from spectacular but good for a first synth, it passes.

OVERALL OPINION

I have eight years (I was 15). It was my first "synth" and I still made a lot of services to accompany music in choirs. The inability to modify sounds and a sequencer that he has a name, I quickly made aware that the time for making music, you had forgotten.
Today it is in its cover for the purchase of a real master keyboard. Sure, at its output, this synth was too expensive for what it was. Even now, I could see some opportunity to sell it in 400 euros ... to avoid! However, to start and play only the accompaniment, it can make many services provided to settle for 5 octaves ... I do not exceed 200 euros for resale ...