Roland SC-880

The Roland SC-880 sound module is what I call "magic". By having one, you can make nearly any keyboard sound "professional". I remember plugging a PSR-275 on it in 2006 and making people impressed with that
The sounds are very 90's dated, but since this module was manufactured in, I believe, 1997 or 1998, this IS the case. I personally like 90's Roland Sound Canvas library, mainly the strings, choirs and pads. And this module does them extremly nicely. I confess that I'd like to get a new unit - if I could ever find one...

I have the roland sc880, and I want to say that this machine is wonderful!
First, it is a machine simple to use, light and handy!
In addition it includes the heads really mixes sounds, ranging from a stunning range of pianos, a powerful synthetic sounds!
I was looking in particular sounds of piano, string and voice!
Ben and I was served!
The machine can merge them with the sounds of delay etc. .... which brings a huge sound!
I am very happy, but sometimes it is necessary to separate of what you love when you need money .....
if you want details I am available at your ... a +
September 1 ss abuse!

UTILIZATION

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SOUNDS

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OVERALL OPINION

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Sound module parts 32 to 64 voice polyphony. 1U 19 inch rack

Sound:
1117 sounds (tones), 256 User Sounds, 256 of which 128 User patches
42 kits rhythms, 16 User Kits rhythmic
(See below for details)

Effects:
64 multi-effects presets and 64 User Multi Effects
Reverb: 8 "macros" (1 2 3 Room, Hall 1 2; Plate, Delay, Panning Delay)
Chorus: 8 "macros" (Chorus 1 2 3; Feedback Chorus: Flanger: Delay, Panning Delay)
Delay: 10 types
A 2-band EQ

Performances 8 preset and 8 performances User

No editing software is supplied with the instrument, however, the SC-880 is compatible with the software GS Advanced Editor comes with SC88 PRO Sound Canvas SC8820/50

No slot for expansion cards

Connections:
MIDI:
MIDI IN A IN B, MIDI OUT / trhu unique assignable
Serial port connection (TO HOST) with RS-232 cable (not supplied with the instrument) (PC / MAC)

Audio:
2 independent audio outputs OUT1 6.35 Jack L / R OUT 2 L / R
1 audio jack 6.35 L / R practice to connect another instrument

UTILIZATION

The LCD is large enough without editing software.
The items organized into "pages" accessible by pressing the scroll wheel "value". In the same vein, the search of sounds is pretty easy though this expander does not have "patch finder." This function is also not very useful here in that the sound card SC-880 is the standard GS

The French manual is very well designed (despite some small oversights * any * translation!. The management and editing of multiple effects is explained with examples. The first part of the manual is (as is Roland used) devoted to taking control of the expander.

SOUNDS

The SC-880 is a general expander.
It is also an expander "turnkey" in that it is not possible to intervene directly on the waveform as is the case for modules of the series JV or XV.

It contains all the sounds (tones) and rhythm kits modules SC-55, SC-88 and sounds specific to the SC-880 (I think the same happens to the SC-88 PRO). It should be noted that the SC-55 sounds are not of extraordinary quality.
It is possible however to edit the tones by intervening on the filter and the envelope and store the audio edited in memory 256. But the recall, it is not possible to intervene on the waveform itself: for example it is impossible to reduce the "decay" of a violin sound. In fact, the change in the sound varies depending on the characteristics of tone edited.
Given the price, sound quality is very good, including pianos, organs and synths.

The SC-880 can also store 16 User rhythm kits (2 for the SC-88 Pro). The kits are generally of very good quality (best in my opinion that some kits internal XV synths!) The SC-880 features including sounds groovebox TR-808/TR-909, CR-78 etc. . ... kits "ethnic" and "Asian" are very realistic.

The SC-880 has 256 "patches", that is to say, sound configurations: one or more tones in Split and layer effects + systems or insert. You can store 128 of these patches. A patch can contain up to 6 tones in layer or split.

Performance 16 (including 8 User) but the mode "performance" is ultimately of little use here because it is possible to use the 32 matches in "patch"

The multi effects are of very good quality: a single multi effect can be used however, it is possible to obtain two insert effects using different effects in parallel (steps in the manual)

OVERALL OPINION

I now use the SC-880 in combination with the XV-5050 and I must stress that the sounds of these two modules marry quite well! For those just starting, I'd recommend buying a more Sound Canvas (SC-8850 is now one of the successors to the SC-880) instead of a JV or XV whose parameter editing is more advanced.

Pros:
32 parts
Easy Edit settings
Manuel well done
Patches of good quality
Good value for money (to start) - If you already have the job but not a big budget!, Opt for a JV-1010 or XV-5050

Cons:
Part of the sounds is to my taste "useless" (sounds SC-55)
Unable to divide and allocate voice polyphony between the parties.
One acting as a MIDI OUT / THRU (This eventually insignificant if we use the computer connection)

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