Thread: Roland Music

We use Roland's V-synth, and MC-808, among other things...Roland has really nice equipment. Expensive as hell, though.

Originally Posted by SolSkye

We use Roland's V-synth, and MC-808, among other things...Roland has really nice equipment. Expensive as hell, though.


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Yes. Expensive as hell. The V-Synth is the best out, maybe that's why it costs almost five grand... I knew it... I might start with the SH lol. (I'm learning) Though if I do, I'll have to get external speakers, do you think they'd put up a good bargain for both the synth and the speakers (there is no inbuilt speakers), like as a discount or something? Maybe I should just stay with headphones...



So have you, or anyone else, used any equipment from other brands before, such as Nord?

5000$? its only about 2600$ here in Japan. *shrugs* Roland is a Japanese company afterall.

About the speakers, I would get high quality headphones because those are more versatile

Hey thanks for the replies. And by the way does the V-Synth XT come packaged with the V-Synth? Not that I will be able to afford them...

No, the XT is basically a rack which you run through a midi controller. In other words, a toned down version of the V-synth. Still, I believe it's significantly cheaper if you get that. We have have the regular V-synth.

Don't be so hasty to get a lesser synth. Sometimes it's better to just hold out for the better synth, rather than invest in something limited. Personally, I'm holding out for an Access Virus next. That way I can sculpt organic pads, synths, basses, arps, and what not. Go ahead and check out some of the Virus's sounds... HERE


Just look at it this way, the higher the synth that you hold out to get, the higher the quality of sounds available and your style will become that much more unique and professional sounding.

Remember: Anyone and everyone can get themselves a microkorg and call themselves an artist (LOL... and most do). However, it's those that take the big financial risks, and go deep that find the true rewards. You can never be disappointed with high end hardware. Well, not exactly true. Look around first.

I know what you're saying, and I agree with you, but because I'm a beginner, I'm not going to get the best of the lot to start with. For I have never used a real keyboard-synth before (only soft-synths), and so I think it's best for me to get the SH-201, as it is described as a fun synth for n00bs. And because I have never used a synthesizer before, I don't actually have one at the moment (I have a cheap keyboard). I want one NOW lol, and so I probably won't be seeking the most expensive one to get me started, and be saving for it for a long time you know?

By the way, I have just another question: A patch is a sound/sample, right? Or is it the parameters or settings put up, to give the sound?

EDIT: Virus sounds pretty awesome, where did you find Access? I have never heard of them.

Well, I only started making electronic music at the end of 2005. At that time, I jumped right in getting a super large loan with the Mac store getting, a 17 inch Mac PowerBook, with Logic 7 Pro (among many other superfluous things like; carrying case, stand, etc), and soon found the Ultrabeat sculpting tool, which is coupled with Logic, a bit lacking and bought myself a MC-808 for crisper, more solid beats. I suppose, my personality is to go all in with everything. Whether or not it's economically viable at the time isn't really on my mind. I'm pretty reckless when it comes to these things. When I first got my turntables back in 2000 I maxed out my credit card and bought the best needles, coffin case, mixer, record bag, etc...LOL.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not Johnny Cash. I guess, my style isn't to be somewhat interested in something. If I find a passion I vest all interest without worry or regret. Maybe the kamikaze style will bite me in the @ss in the long run but so far it hasn't.

Anyway my point is, I still recommend going all in even if you are a beginner. Why not? The way I look at it is, there's no use wasting your time on half-@ssed equipment that will only limit your musical development.


Technically, all sounds on a synth are samples, either sculpted from a simple tone wav or already uploaded into the synth fairly structured to begin with. About a patch, yes, it is a completely new sound/sample that has been sculpted in conjunction with the parameters of that particular synth. For example, I ripped a sample off of a movie I liked using the V-synth and layered it with a beat and effects, etc. If that movie sample I took were official and coupled in a Roland patch update, that's pretty much about all it is, someone that took the time to find and make a cool sound. We were pretty lucky and got a big artists patch flash card with the V-synth when we bought it. Kind of a promotion thingy at the time. It had sounds from artists like; BT, Chemical Brothers, and many others... Of course, a lot of the sounds sucked big time but you could see how they sculpted it so it was like a quick tutorial.

PS. I've known about the Virus as long as I can remember about equipment. It's constantly winning awards in sound production so it's always in some magazine. Only problem is, that the Virus is an import for me being in Japan so it's list price with no discount. You can imagine being in Japan, Roland and Yamaha equipment are pretty cheap since it's not import.

Originally Posted by SolSkye

About a patch, yes, it is a completely new sound/sample that has been sculpted in conjunction with the parameters of that particular synth. For example, I ripped a sample off of a movie I liked using the V-synth and layered it with a beat and effects, etc. If that movie sample I took were official and coupled in a Roland patch update, that's pretty much about all it is, someone that took the time to find and make a cool sound.
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Yeah sorry (I'm n00bish), more questions:

So do you think you could rip a sound from the computer to work from on the synth? Like a patch, but that means it has to be a certain filetype to work on it, right? Or can you only download patches from the updates on the web? How would you create your own, would you just use a seperate program altogether?

No problem, ask away. Everyone has to learn at some point.

A high end synth should have 1/4 inch cable inputs which you can run from your sound card and do whatever you want with. That is, if the synth allows sample editing. I sampled vocals from part of a dvd playing on my computer to add to a drum and bass track. Then I clipped it, sped it up, timed it, cleaned it up, and added effects afterwards. If you were to hear it I doubt you would notice it from the original movie. It's pretty amazing what you can do these days. The sky's the limit.

Nah that won't be possible, I will only have: USB (MIDI+Audio Streaming), DC IN, L+R IN, AUDIO OUT, SUSTAIN, MIDI OUT, MIDI IN. I don't think you can record directly from the Audio IN.

So I'm guessing that I can use a seperate program to create/record samples, and convert it to a patch. Like you said, the sky is the limit.

Samples are supposed to be small in length/size for CPU and looping reasons, right?

Well it depends on how high quality of a sample you are trying to make and how much on-board sampling ability you have. A sample is just a recording afterall

Thanks for your help.

let me argue that roland sucks and korg is a much better choice. The workstation is pure brilliance.

Different strokes for different folks...

The motif series are good for different reasons. I had a motif 6 workstation before and now have the rack. They are pretty good. By no means the best. There is no end all be all synth. That's the catch... they leave features off of all them on purpose.

they are like pokemon... You gotta catch 'em all...

motif is yamaha... not korg.

Originally Posted by SolSkye

they are like pokemon... You gotta catch 'em all...
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Haha, well said.

Originally Posted by Artelis

motif is yamaha... not korg.
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LOL... oops, you'll have to pardon me. Don't know why I thought of motif for a second there. Personally, when I think of synths korg hardly ever comes to mind. That, and it was about 5AM here in Japan and I posted right before bed.

I've always thought of korg as cheap synths for the masses...The mini korg... kaoss pads... and the like are pretty useless. I've been misfortunate enough to have been able to use those in my early days. Absolute wastes of time and money if you ask me.

Well, I know the Korg Oasis and Triton are really good, but personally just because of my previous experiences with their products Korg isn't the first company to come to mind. I know I'm probably just being biased but old habits die hard...

Originally Posted by SolSkye

LOL... oops, you'll have to pardon me. Don't know why I thought of motif for a second there. Personally, when I think of synths korg hardly ever comes to mind. That, and it was about 5AM here in Japan and I posted right before bed.

I've always thought of korg as cheap synths for the masses...The mini korg... kaoss pads... and the like are pretty useless. I've been misfortunate enough to have been able to use those in my early days. Absolute wastes of time and money if you ask me.

Well, I know the Korg Oasis and Triton are really good, but personally just because of my previous experiences with their products Korg isn't the first company to come to mind. I know I'm probably just being biased but old habits die hard...
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Korg made the first synthesizer. Ever.

Most of their products are top of the line.

No, I mean don't get me wrong I respect Korg big time. Hell, my band member loves Korg. I just created this preconceived notion with myself. I realize it's biased but it's hard to shake, you know?

It would be like if you didn't like this band for whatever reason and then they release this amazing song but you refuse to buy or download it out of principle...silly, I know. I'm sure I'd get over it if a Triton were sitting in front of me, though.

It's just Korg's low-end stuff....*bleh*

Originally Posted by SolSkye

No, I mean don't get me wrong I respect Korg big time. Hell, my band member loves Korg. I just created this preconceived notion with myself. I realize it's biased but it's hard to shake, you know?

It would be like if you didn't like this band for whatever reason and then they release this amazing song but you refuse to buy or download it out of principle...silly, I know. I'm sure I'd get over it if a Triton were sitting in front of me, though.

It's just Korg's low-end stuff....*bleh*
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haha, I suppose you're right. Every good company needs low end stuff to sell to the noobies, though. But, eh, the microKORG is actually a very nice piece of equipment priced only at about $350 american. We still use it at the studio I work at.

Really? I thought the vocoder on there was pretty useless...Any studio software is better.

Originally Posted by SolSkye

Really? I thought the vocoder on there was pretty useless...Any studio software is better.
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Depends on what you're doing with the equipment. There is a lot more functionality with the hardware than there is with a lot of software. We've used it a ton with direct sound input on the vocoder.

say.. isn't this you?


what is that crazy looking synth thing there in the background?

Oh, wait.

I guess if you use a high end synth and run it through the input on there it wouldn't be so bad, right?

You can't tell me those keys on there are convenient, though. That is unless you play piano with your pinkies...LOL

uhm, you can run plenty of things through it, not just another synth. Also, I'm a studio producer, not a performer. I generally run it through a sequencer, and if I do play the keys live it's just a simple riff. BUT, I do have it, and several other small key'd synths hooked up with an 88 key weight sensative midi controller.