Hello forum! I'm excited to learn about the new V-Synth and the V-Synth XT. I really want an XT with the lil Edirol keyboard like in the pic I saw on the V-Synth site. This setup appears compact, powerful and sleek.
I've owned a Roland JD-800 for about 15 years and it still looks and works like new, as I've barely used it. I wasn't serious about music aspirations until this year and I also feel the need to learn to play the keyboard.
Now that I'm at that point and wanting to do serious music recording, I'm looking at new options for a keyboard.
I'd like to stick with a Roland because I really admire their company and products. However, I want the same flexibility with being able to tweak the sounds greatly with a new board. The V-Synth seems to give that option.
Can anyone here who knows the JD-800 well give any advice as to whether or not the V-Synths will allow me to tweak to my heart's content?
If not, can you recommend any other Roland synth that's newer and will give that option?
OMG, I can't believe you said GITER DUNN!!! You had me CRACKIN' up!
Ok, so I asked an easy question and I kinda thought I could tweak it...
What I'm needing to know most is, what significant features am I losing, aside from keys, sliders, multitimbral feature and sounds native to the JD-800 if I 'replace' my 800 with the XT?
I would also want to use a software sequencer to record from an XT if I make the purchase (like Ableton Live 4 under Mac OS X Tiger). I would also want to be able to send other sounds to the XT and tweak them as much as desired.
Please excuse any ignorance in my questions, as I'm still learning about keyboards in general and what different features do. With me not maximizing the use of my current JD-800, I may find that I shouldn't be in the market for a new keyboard and should use what I have starting out. But, if I'm going to sell my JD and buy an XT in building my small studio, I don't want to regress with my gear, I want to progress.
In reading about the VS/VS XT over the last day and looking at the demos over and over, I've gotten a bit frustrated in the way Roland showcases their gear sometimes. Their product demos seem to target a specific market or give the impression the gear works better for particular genres of music which seems to pigeon-hole the product. This is just my opinion.
I know that I am a creative individual but at the same time though, still being "green behind the ears" about various gear, I can be quick to rule out that a product may work for my needs. This is mostly due to going off of what Roland shows me about the product. I want them to show that gear can be applied to various types of musical environments. I will make that suggestion but they generally don't have a "Contact Us" email available on their sites, so I suspect a phone call is in order.
Just to give a quick example of what I mean - I'm feeling like the VS caters to the Electronica genre from the patches I've heard in demos (when I say "demos" I mean the ones with people playing the VS). I believe it can be used in House, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock, Pop and other genres. It's just that I'm not hearing "how well" it can from the current crop of demos.
Thanks and I await feedback from anyone on my questions and feelings on the demos.
Well, for me it's very strange to hear that some synth can be oriented at this or that group of music styles. First if it's a decent synth it can give you any sound, and second is that the same synth sounds can be and are widely used in very different genres.
I never had a chance to take a tweak at the JD-800, but as of the specs, V-Synth includes everything the JD had, plus a lot of other things which are really hard to describe. It's new technology, new way of looking at a synth. If you haven't tried working with one, I really suggest you to do so. It's a very capable machine, with clean, deep and punchy sound, and it's very flexible. Our main site (http://v-tribe.info/) includes lots of info on the V and XT, you can read it to get the picture of it's main features.
from the patches I've heard in demos, I believe it can be used in House, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock, Pop and other genres. It's just that I'm not hearing "how well" it can from the current crop of demos.
.............................................................................................................................................................
u know, a month after owning the XT, I got rid of all the factory patches...they're still in stored in rom, but the point of gettin that machine is to make your own sounds.. If I'm gonna use factory patches, I might as well use the X6 for that..
Not that the patches are bad just that they're not mine...and anyone with a vsynth can spot-hear vsynth patches a mile away....sometimes what I do Is Ill import a factory patch and get rid of the partials and add my own just to see what there tweaks will sound with my sounds..it's hit or miss,,sometimes it sounds awsome and other times not, so Ill still have to tweak some more to get it right....
Artemio, I will contact the Sam Ash and Guitar Center within driving distance to find if either has one in stock for me to demo, possibly this weekend. That's what I need to do. Thanks for sharing the additional demo link, I've already started checking out some of the sounds! I also found a couple of other demos on the Roland site after the previous post that I didn't find before. So, that let me see the XT in a different light.
Septimo, I can see myself doing what you did - not using the factory patches and just completely creating my own. Also, I agree that people who know boards & their native sounds can spot them in songs. I can spot my 800 too. Most times I smile because I like hearing that people still use that board in songs...other times it's like, hmmm, if I'm using the same board, how can I tweak it so know one recognizes it?
I really appreciate the help and suggestions in learning more about this synth!
Before I get overly excited, am I going to have a difficult time finding a new XT in the US, moreso difficulty finding a demo within driving distance?
I called a Sam Ash in Raleigh NC to see if I can play with a demo, they said the XT is discontinued and to get a Fantom. However, they said they might be able to order one.
Of course, that's not the advice I was seeking as I want to try out the XT.
My other option is to call Guitar Center in Charlotte NC. Both Raleigh and Charlotte are 1.5 hrs away from me, so I have only 1 more store to rely on for a possible demo.
Anyone else having such an issue finding a unit in NC to demo?
Hold on, let me make a couple of clarifications....
The Raleigh NC Guitar Center was the store that said the V-Synths were discontinued but they can order.
I called Sam Ash in Charlotte NC about 20 min before closing, was told none in stock, no demo available, they can order but could give no pricing. I didn't push the pricing knowing they were closing.
So now, I have the GC in Charlotte to call and the Sam Ash in Raleigh to call, both on tomorrow.
This is one reason that I need to relocate from NC...No music stores in the area to touch or feel anything!
The V-Synth and the JD-800 are two different beasts and I'm not sure one can replace the other. The reason for this is, the JD-800 is a sample playback board with four osc>filt>amp
layers. The samples are played back in the same conventional fashion as other SPB boards: static.
The V-Synth excels more at esoteric and specialized types of tones by allowing the playback characteristics of wav file samples to be manipulated in real time.
The V-Synth is to Roland what the Wavestation was to Korg;
more out-of-the-ordinary sounds.
Given this, if you're looking for something to directly replace the JD, something from the Roland Fantom X-series may be a better fit with what you are trying to accomplish however, if you can fit the XT into you're budget, you can use the JD as a master controller in addition as a source for more conventional sounds.
Also, when you were told the XT was discontinued, they probably meant that they no longer stock that product, not that the company stopped making it.
When a given product does not sell in large numbers, many
chain music stores will no longer stock the item, but will special-order upon request. Instruments such as the V-Synth
are more of a niche type product and don't move quickly as
items like Fantom, Triton, Motif, etc..
This doesn't say anything about the product, it just shows that music stores often reserve the gretest amounts of stockroom space for items that sell most quickly.
Good luck in your search.
I payed 1900 flat for mine, thru samash.com, to latter find out my local store would have given it to me for 1699 cash... but I needed the 15 months samash gives u thru the card, and my local store did not have that luxury..I tried askin samash for that price they said they would even go 1650 'IF' I put on one of my own credit card so I was out of luck as needed the time space with no interest, and no tax since it was out of state.
But if u don't ask, they'll try and stick it to u for a full 2300 bucks so be rude and ask...since it's your money....especially if it's cash or your card not their's.
tell em u have only 1700 bucks see what they tell u...
In going back to what soundman mentioned about keeping the JD800 for the conventional sounds, allow me to ask:
Can I copy conventional keyboard sounds/patches over to the XT to use as their original sound, or to tweak them?
In other words, if I sell my JD but save the sounds, I was under the impression that I can transmit them to the XT. That way, I would still have "some" of what I like from the JD to use.
" Can I copy conventional keyboard sounds/patches over to the XT to use as their original sound, or to tweak them?
In other words, if I sell my JD but save the sounds, I was under the impression that I can transmit them to the XT. That way, I would still have "some" of what I like from the JD to use."
Its not possible to copy patches directly from the JD to V because the architecture of the synths are different. Remember, the JD will play four samples, each fed thru its own filter>amp>controller combo, i.e, four layers like the D50 (only using all samples). The V-Synth will play two, each fed thru a separate or common processing chain.
You could patch the JD into the V-Synth and by opening the JD's lowpass filter all the way, sample the desired JD waves into the V-Synth, then storing as a wav file.
You should be aware however, that it still won't sound the same as it did in the JD because most SPB machines use multisamples, which are mapped across the keyboard. The V-Synth stores a single wav file and allows you to formant stretch it in the desired manner, but it has a different flavor than a multisample.
Again, the V-Synth doesn't replace a conventional sampler/SPB machine, they do different things, which is why many V-Synth users still have other samplers such as the Fantom X, Motif, Triton, etc..
Also, those portable midi keyboards, like the Edirol are convenient however, if you're trying to put together a small project studio, they are not the best choice as a central controller. They tend to be better for desktop apps (software plugins, etc). The most flexible thing for a central controller
is a full-size 61, 76, or 88-note controller, as they can be split into zones via midi and you can assign your other modules/synths to specific zones on those controllers. They also have a more tactile feel to them than the portables.
Finally, you may also consider the keyboard version of the V-Synth, as you'll be getting a V for probably a bit less than the rack, while at the same time having a full-out controller.
