Roland EG-101

Big baby blue and gray, built like a tank cheap (solid but with much less solids) with a pair of amplified speakers and a motor Groovebox MC-505 reduced which was grafted a SP- 202 very amputated of its most interesting features.

It is a little response to Roland Yamaha DJX in a little more depth and less plastoc.
A solid machine for amateur performance but too little for a pro (dynamic output clamped functions, reduced controls more than basic sequencer).

Polyphony - 24 votes
Multitimbral - 11 shares
Drums - 12 Drum Kits
RPS sentences - 64
Real-Time Effects - Reverb, Ring Mod, Filter, Resonance, Cutoff
Memory - 448 presets,
Keyboard - 49 keys (velocity sensitive)
MIDI In / Out

UTILIZATION

The general configuration is it simple?
Yes. We easily made the little it offers.

Editing sounds and effects is it easy?
Very limited.

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?
I used six months and sold for next to nothing in the same year.
Bought in a shop that sold mostly guitars and which was one of the few keyboards in stock (they got on very long arms) to the side of a much more expensive pro and Triton.

Have you tried many other models before buying it?
I bought it as "first synth" after fiddled i5S Korg arranger for several years. I had in mind to use it as basic sequencer and make it fly expanders. Unfortunately I was very quickly able to offer me a Korg MS10 and a Novation Bass Station Rack and there I took a big blow. The EG-101 did not take the distance, is missing a chance and offered cheap sounds, short of the MC-505 that I bought to replace it. He left Consignment and sold in the week. Another beginner fell for its nice look and is certainly bitten fingers in turn.

What is so special that you like most and least?
I loved his neo-retro sound argument boils and all in one.
I regret that it is only a smokescreen.

How would you rate the quality / price?
I do not remember the price paid around 500 euros I think. By purchasing a MC-505 the same year for the same price I am used to realize the gap between these two theoretically relatives machines. Mc-505 is a good machine, the EG-101 is a nice toy.

With experience, you do again this choice?
Not. Regarding me this type of groove keyboard has no interest in what I do.
I had the opportunity to test the true GrooveSynth Roland JX-305, which is significantly higher in all.

If the EG-101 attracts you, try before cracking. Whether you go for it, but do not get your hopes up. Today this keyboard is old (released in 1999) and since many machines have arrived in the same niche (sequencer patterns, sampling, synthesis) with a much higher level of service. I do not want to discourage potential buyers of this machine anyway, it is quite nice to jam with friends (thank you integrated HPs).

GENERAL
Dynamic Keyboard 49 keys (4 octaves)
Screen 3 x 7 segment
Distinct Sampler Volume control
Output power 2 x 15 W
Bass Reflex system two-way
Operating system in Flash ROM

CONNECTIONS
Outputs (L / mono-R): RCA x2
Entries (L - R): RCA x2
Foot Switch (foot switch)
Headphones (headphones)
MIDI IN-OUT
DC IN (12V - 2A)

STYLES
64 styles in ROM (16 in Flash ROM)
Divisions: Intro, Original, Fill, Change, Ending, Basic / Advanced
64 style user programs
Effects assignable to the parties
Ettouffement real-time and part of drum
Substitution of range battery with a sampled phrase
Substitution of drum instrument with a sample

RPS
64 sets of 12 sentences each RPS
64 RPS sets user
Auto-Sync with loops of samples
Effects assignable to the last sentence Selected
Ettouffement TMPS in real instruments battery
Transposition RPS fast

SOUND GENERATION
24 voice polyphony
Multitilbral to 11 Parts
448 Tones, 12 Drum Kits

CONTROLLERS
D-Beam
Lever Pitch Bender / Modulation
7 orders
TAP Tempo

PARAMETERS OF DIRECT-BEAM
CUT-OFF RESONANCE +
TEMPO DOWN
AD LIB
(36 options)

EDITING FUNCTIONS IN REAL TIME TONE / TRACK / EFFECT
Cut-Off, Resonance, Panpot, Share Volume, Reverb Time, Reverb Level

Sample player (sampler)
Sampling according to the technology R-DAC (Roland Digital Audio Coding)
Pads 4 X 4 Banks (16 Memories), triggering directly via keyboard or pads
4 MB Flash ROM
Up to 32 sec. (128 sec as LO-FI)
Auto Sync with Styles and RPS
Effects of samples: Pitch Shift, Time Stretch, Ring Mod, Filter
MIC-IN + Effects

ARPEGGIO
Range (Octave)
Grid (Quantification)
Type (High - Low - High / Low - Random)
Real-time control of fall time
Synchronized to the global tempo

PORTAMENTO
With monaural Rate Control

RECORDER

DIMENSIONS
835 (L) x 377 (D) x 192 (H) mm

WEIGHT
11.1Kg

UTILIZATION

The use of EG 101 is very easy, the main functions are mastered in a week using the manual, all functions are very convenient to access.

OVERALL OPINION

I use the EG101 for over three years, the most remarkable are the modern sounds, many effects and controller dbean which is very useful especially when dealing in the world of the stage, the least on this object is the sampler that're a gadget which one tires quickly of the fact that am limited.
The price is very attractive since it has a keyboard synthesizer, a sound generator, an amplifier it all with an external sequencer to create pieces of profesional qualities.
If I redeem it again occurs because there opened my mind on the possible composition étandue when I bought it I had no amp, no computer, no matter what may be, since I bought a computer and an amp MC-505 Roland pushes me to want to now share this synth with a midi keyboard master (remember that the EG101 possesses essentially the same as the MC505) is more myself a piano keyboard 4 octaves is a bit limited.

This keyboard is an arranger, not a synth! Of course, we add effects and edit sound settings 2.3 (resonance, reverb etc. ...), but not working the sound itself (not editing).
It comes with 480 sounds on two banks (A and B) to know ... a lot of his drum in the bank B (a little unnecessary in my opinion).
Level connectivity: Midi In and out (no through), a microphone input (for the sampling function and Karaoke hehe! (((But hey, it amuses my little girl))) 1 audio input and output (Kinch) practice to connect a mixing desk or even a simple audio recorder, a headphone jack and still sustain an entry (if I'm not mistaken?).
At end, one can use the D beam, but personally I prefer to use the knobs.
Level sequencer, recorder Bhen There's only a single track (rec / play), however, it also saves your changes sound change in sound, tempo, etc. ...
It may well save a line with a style "x" and then change the RPS RPS style reading ... everything can change in reading.
The keyboard also features an arpeggiator (not extraodinaire, but better than nothing), a bender and a modulator with adjustable portamento.
Sounds, Bhen There's drinking and eating ... some really nice sounds coming from juno and Jp and other not so good (but overall ok for the price now!).

UTILIZATION

The keyboard is a cinch to use, except TFW for the sampler that I quibble with the manual to use it 100%.
The manual does not do really good pub on the keyboard (it seems to read the manual for a toy ball 5, which is not quite the case), however, it is well written and clear enough .

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since 2000, I unfortunately bought new at full price (+ - 740 euros).
What I like least are the phrases and RPS Arranger (there's not a lot of good stuff) ... plus you can not change the sounds of words (just add or remove some effects) -> necessary be read by another synth sequences.
In addition, the bass lines sound "kid", Roland would have made an effort on this one!
There's sometimes missed when changing ptits note (in the public RPS) ... shot a lil kick in too, a lil break ... Dunno maybe my camera has a problem??
Roland Corporation noted in its manual that an update of styles is possible ... juqu'à
To date, nothing is available yet unfortunately.
That said, I did terrible things still with the camera, but I advise you to use it via midi with another synth to enrich the sound.
At noon, it is quite limited (transmission ok, but ... blah reception Mod 1,2,3,4 a simple function that enables or disables certain functions such as the recorder, keyboard, etc. ...), I ' I never got to use one of the 11 drums kits with a sequencer
external power or change the sounds in my own way when using an external sequencer!
on the other hand in transmission is ok (so you can inject a phrasing RPS on another device, but do with ...)
The touch keyboard is not very great, but acceptable.

What I like most: Bhen when one does not have much stuff, you know connect to another device on it, it is amplified (speakers) and sampler (though it is very limited) is of good quality and practice to run loops.
With experience, I would go for this model, but I bitterly regret to have bought at full price (especially when I see the opportunity now price).