SRX-98 and SRX-97

[wodeh]

I've currently got both of these boards in for review.

SRX-97 Jon Lord's Rock Organ Collection - 12 organ patches sampled by Jon Lord himself in 2007.
SRX-98 Analogue Essentials

They are promotional boards, a choice of one or the other is available with new purchases of the Fantom X6/7/8 and Juno-G. I've also got confirmation that both will ultimately be available at retail; but no idea when yet.

I would like to know if there's anything specific you guys want to know about them, so I can make sure I'm actually writing something useful.

Additionally, does anyone in the UK want to buy Jon Lord's Rock Organ Collection? I'm considering letting it go to get Complete Orchestra instead.

[JazzXR]

I'm in Italy, but I'm interested in buying the J.Lord SRX

[James_S]

Very interested in the Jon Lord card, as those are exactly the sort of sounds I'm looking for, and so far have fallen short in trying to create

[wodeh]

I think I'll most probably stick it up on ebay. Despite my issues with its use of MFX to create the illusion it has more proper patches than it actually does it's still a fantastic set of organs- the distorted organs DO sound good regardless of how they are produced. Still, there's no way I'm ever going to use it enough to justify holding onto it.

SRX-98, however, is just plain fun. Got to love synths!

So ebay it is! I have to finish my review(s) first, however, but that shouldn't take long.

Excuse the absurd file sizes, but here are some pictures of Jon Lord's Rock Organ Collection: http://www.dxdec.com/wod/music/fantom/

[James_S]

The over the top distorted organs are what I really want one for - try as I might, I just can't get *that* sound, and I'm pretty sure this card is going to be much closer - obviously I'd love to gig with a proper B3 and leslies, but thats never going to happen

I'm really interested in getting one of these, so let me know if you change your mind about ebay - I'll look out for it on there though

Cheers
James

[James_S]

Having just looked at your photos - I noticed that the SRX97 is only supposed to work in the X6/X7/X8/XR and Juno G.

Now I have an XA, so naturally I'm curious if it would work - does the SRX97 use some internal sounds that are not present in the S/ XA etc or is there some other reason I can't think of that would stop them working properly?

Surely that would be a first for an SRX card?


Cheers
James

[wodeh]

I, too, noticed the limited compatibility stated in the SRX-97 manual, however I've asked Roland about it and am waiting for a response which I'll obviously be including in my review/coverage of SRX-97 and SRX-98.

If you want to buy outside of ebay (providing it works with your XA) I could probably do that; it would ultimately save us both the hassle and as you're in the UK it makes it simple.

I keep finding myself playing with orchestral sounds on my Fantom- (who can help re-creating the Halo 2 theme?) - and even Analogue Essentials is getting neglected. I'm tending more toward wanting Complete Orchestra, World Collection and a shiny new V-Synth GT.

Yes I'm a directionless would-be artist who likes expensive shiny things that make noise!

[James_S]

Thanks - I'd be very interested to hear Rolands response to that one - it does seem unusual to only work with limited models.

Buying outside of ebay would be fine - we just need to sort out a price.

It sounds like you have plenty to buy in the near future, but making noise is always a good thing!!

Cheers
James

[wodeh]

Bad news I'm afriad.

SRX-97 was manufactured specifically as a promotional board for the Fantom X6/7/8 and Juno-G (which is based on the Fantom architecture) and not as a true addition to the SRX line. It was, unfortunately, not engineered to work with any other products that have SRX expansion slots.

I'd still try it if I had any other Roland products available, but alas I just have the Fantom.

[James_S]

OK - thanks for that - a real shame - although I always thought the XA had basically the same hardware as the X6 etc, just with less ROM.

I'd still be interested in your review of what the sounds are like though - it might inspire me to create better ones

It would have been nice to get hold of the sounds even as samples - I've yet to find any samples that are quite as overdriven as Jon Lord uses.

Cheers
James

[Oleq]

James,
have you tried an SRX-07?

[James_S]

well I've got one of those, and I was inspired last night to go beyond the presets a bit, and came up with a half decent hammond, but it really isn't overdriven enough for what I want.

The Gimme Some SRX isn't too bad, but that sounds more like a hammond thats very noisy, than one being overdriven within an inch of its life.

I guess I need to play around more in performance mode, where I can chain the MFX together and overdrive the sound a bit more, and still have the rotary as well (I still find the VK rotary muffles the sound a bit too much, though, but sounds far better than the standard rotary to my ears).

I tried the B4real too, but that didn't quite get me where I wanted either - which is why I picked up the SRX07.

If anyone has any suggestions / patches / performances, they would be gratefully received.

Cheers
James

[wodeh]

Anyway for you Fantom X6/7/8 and Juno G owners out there- Jon Lord's Rock Organ Collection is still up for grabs.

[SteveePre]

How did you get our SRX-97.....

[wodeh]

It came with my new Fantom X8