Log in
Log in

or
Create an account

or
< All Roland sonic Cell reviews
Add this product to
  • My former gear
  • My current gear
  • My wishlist
Roland sonic Cell
Images
1/216
Roland sonic Cell
ssebs ssebs
Published on 06/17/08 at 02:19
Module 16-channel voice synthesizer 128 (called "shares")
See the website Roland https://www.rolandce.com for details.
What is interesting for me:
- Audio input and audio interface (via usb) to 24bits/96Khz (note the frequency is set by "hard" via a switch on the front).
- 768 256 sounds and 20 drum kits 9.

What is unfortunate is that there is an entry, it would have been cool to have a line input + micro (but hey you can not have everything at this price ...)

UTILIZATION

I use the sonic cell free pc to play with my piano (a Yamaha but I just ordered a 700 gx), for it is quite intuitive editing provided it uses the sounds without too much work. Editing is done with the click wheel.

I use a laptop to compose and record (with Sonar homestudio). The VST version of the editor is a little scary at first, like dashboard airbus but it's fairly normal given the number of editable parameters: this module is not misguided synthesis. For now I use a bit of potential, it must be said that the doc is a bit too minimalist and it takes time to get to test the effect of any parameter if n is not a program of synthesis. But at least the advantage is that you can change many settings.
For some graphics settings I would have preferred more meaningful than numbers especially for the velocity curves.
Latency (in Asio): ok when I do that recording the final tracks all morning. on the other hand, if I record MIDI tracks one by one, and especially the tracks from my RD700 (then plugged into the line input of the sonic cell), then it goes bad and I had to put the buffer fullsize -otherwise there were little "clicks". I have not succeeded in eliminating from bp in WDM.

SOUNDS

The acoustic piano sounds are varied, but are unclear on the attack for my taste (I have a very good headphone and I find that the attack sounds a bit too much like an electric piano), and this is worse than I ordered the 700GX example. The sounds are not upscale, but the advantage is their large numbers.
For synth sounds, I find too electro-oriented for my taste (not much to play the JM Jarre, for example)
I paid an SRX Symphony to compose and then a lot of rope out really well (special mention as the oboe very realistic).
The sounds of church organ disappointed me (and some not top quality), it is also much better with the 06 SRX.
The effects are numerous, they can be routed in many different ways (I have not tested all that).

OVERALL OPINION

I have the sonic cell since late December 07.

I like:
- The variety of sounds with their overall quality
- Major editing capabilities
- The fact that it is sound card via USB (no D / A conversion for recording)

I regret:
- Slow loading VST (sync with the sonic cell) at the opening of a project Sonar
- Max volume too low either for audio output or headphones (headphones really fair to use a good headset so with a high impedance). We can fix it via "system", "output gain" at a price of breath (and hum) ... obviously
- Too bad there is not a memory holding the last setup (in computer music must each start to activate "midi-> usb thru" menu "system" for example).
- Not enough memory "performance" (32 +32) for my taste: it's already just for me to play my partoches at home, so totally useless for someone in concert! Roland could increase the memory or it can be stored on a USB stick.