A versatile and powerful workstation
Written: Oct 03 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Awesome usability, great sound library (especially w/ expansion cards)
Cons: Not much memory for song storage/no cd-rom storage cabability
The Bottom Line: A powerful tool for both performing and recording.
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| mgewecke's Full Review: Roland Xp-80 Workstation |
I have been using my XP-80 for 4 years, and I love it! Whether playing a club gig or doing home recording, this unit provides a wealth of sound patches and allows for easy sequencing. I don't even use a PC-based mixer, and I still get great results in conjunction with a VS-880 hard disk recording system(Roland).
The keyboard feels great, as it has touch sensitivity that rivals even a digital piano's. The sound patches that come from the factory are pretty good (although not quite as pretty as the Korg Trinity's). The expansion cards (about $200 each) give you an almost unlimited sound library. The cards range from hip-hop to orchestral. The XP-80 can hold 4 cards, and mine is loaded! The factory presets and sound cards also have patterns for easy sequencing.
The sequencer in this machine is powerful and simple to use. I got the hang of it after about a week, and I think it is one of the best-designed sequencers on the market. You can either program rhythms, or perform real-time patterns. Either way, you have full control over rhythm, sound and song editing. I typically use about 10 tracks per sequence, and the sound never gets cluttered or dirty. The only complaint I have is the limited amount of memory the machine has. You must always back up your sequences to disk if you want to do extended work on the machine.
Live, this is an outstanding performance instrument. You can set your sounds for easy access, and the sustain pedal works well. I have had great success with the piano and organ patches live. I don't care for the horn patches so much, but the electronica sounds are first-rate.
I usually record at home with a VS-880. I will arrange a full song on the XP-80, then direct out record to 2 tracks on the HD recorder. This allows me plenty of room for vocal and instrument overdubs. Quite honestly, for the money, I get pretty awesome results!
I don't really have anything negative to say about the machine, except that editing single sound patches (for effects, etc.) is somewhat cumbersome. I recommend this unit for any musician who needs a solid and versatile workstation.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mgewecke
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Member: Mark Gewecke
Location: San Jose, CA
Reviews written: 95
Trusted by: 3 members
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