SRX-98 or SRX-97 ?

[krakow]

I just want to use that free offer from Roland, getting which card makes more sense?

[halo7]

The SRX-97 (John Lord’s Rock Organ) contains 12 patches dedicated to only organs.
The SRX-98 (Analog Essentials) contains 78 patches using "new samples" which focuses on synths, pads, leads, strings etc..

Depending on what your preference is, I would go for the SRX-98 Analog Essentials.

[krakow]

thanks, I think I'll do that.

[Solitary man]

Krakow,
Please be aware that SRX-98's patches are geared towards the Fantom X series of synths and that not all patches can be played across the entire keyboard. On the plus side it does contain some great patches, just want you to be sure your making the right decision.

[krakow]

>>>not all patches can be played across the entire keyboard

what do you mean by that? that I'll be able to play let say only whithin one octave some pathes? doesn't it juno and fantom have same guts?

[Solitary man]

Thats exactly what I mean. Various patches are only playable within a 2 or 3 octave range. I have had a thought about my previous comment regarding only being fully usable in the Fantom X. I actually had my SRX-98 in my old XV-5050 which is a much older generation Roland synth, a scaled down XV-5080 and it worked fine.

I would ask Roland when you go to choose the one you want to make sure it is fully compatiable with the Juno-G. I'm not trying to put you off.

At the end of the day it's free and it does have some great sounds on it.


BTW I have SRX-97 and in my opinion it's pretty lame and not much to write home about unless you are really into your Rock organ sounds as they all sound the same to me.

[Yuzo]

No problems over here with limited octave ranges.

Maybe you need to update your OS?

I mainly used the free JL-patches and some I made by myself which are more powerful than the standard ones.

I hope I could help.

cheers
Yuzo

[wudsiba]

SolitaryMan,
Would you like to sell your 97?

[Jimknopf]

While SRX 97 (Rock Organ) and SRX 98 (Analog Essentials) are both available with new devices, there are some pros and cons for both:

- SRX97 cons
has *very* few patches (only 2-3 basic sounds in the 11 or whatever patches). At first listening it seems to be a nice distorted John Lord Rock Organ plus the soft "Child in Time" sound. *But* soon as you play it in a mix or in band context it will loose almost all of its charm: both no longer sound precise and rocking or soft, but "drown" in sound context.
- SRX97 pro
It is extremely sought after. Reason: Bad quality of gritty Fantom B3 Organ sounds, hope for solution from users. At Ebay I saw SRX 97 cards sold at around 180€!
Of course this will not last, the more SRX97 are sold, and the more users come to the conclusion that they are of very limited use.

- SRX98 pro
Bigger amount of additional patches.
If you like the sounds of the cards, fine
- SRX 98 cons
reselling value much lower than SRX97 at the moment (around 100€)
very mixed bag of sounds (no clear priority like analog synths, but a bit of this and that), which for my taste (I used analog when it was common) has been quite a poor choice: some more low quality epianos without much use for someone who has SRX-12 or even SRX07, some more saws without much character, some more "analog" basses which sound no better than those already available, some more muddy pads, some plastic sounding leads, in one word: this all sounds to me like second choice from previous sampling sessions with only few exceptions.
But the latter argument is subjective musical taste, and someone else might find something for his or her taste.

What is still missing are two kinds of dedicated SRX boards:
- one first class Hammond B3 board
- a series of dedicated srx-boards with sounds from famous analog synths. Like one Minimoog board with everything from basses to well known leads, one Prophet 5 plus Oberheim Board, one Roland analog synths board etc.
And if a series can't be done: one synth board with well chosen and really famous sounds from the analog era.

[Solitary man]

wudsiba,
Yes I do want to sell my SRX-97 as my FX is now fully loaded and its sitting in bubblewrap in my cupboard.


Jimknopf,
I second that. I totally agree with what your saying. I have to admit I was dissapointed with SRX-07 Ultimate keys board. Don't get me wrong it is good, just not THAT good. If Roland decide to make anymore SRX boards then they should make some dedicated to certain manufacturers, ie, Roland, Sequential Circuits, Yamaha, Moog, Oscar, ARP etc.

I for one would definately buy a board dedicated to the ARP odyssey as I think it is still as good sounding as the Minimoog and far more flexible sound wise. As these synths manufacturers are now gone then there shouldn't be any problems with copyright etc.

[wudsiba]

Solitary man...
E-mail me at wudsiba@yahoo.com

[Bill Lumbergh]

Have you actually run the SRX-97 in your XV-5050?

[Cronkston]

I have got SRX-98, and there are many good sounds on there. Agree with Jimknopf that some of the sounds are not much of an improvement on the existing. Might have been better if they had concentrated on one thing rather than throwing in a bit of everything.