The XP-10 was an entry-level Workstation synthesizer. It's a digital synthesizer that uses sampled sounds and waveforms stored on ROM chips. Basic envelope and filter settings can be manipulated to tweak the sounds, but that's it. The sounds themselves are preset and not very tweakable. Though its filter is digital, it is resonant and sounds ok. There is also basic reverb and chorus effects. However, the LCD display is narrow and programming can become tedious, if not boring and the interface is often reported as being 'buggy'.

However, its sounds can be anything but boring at times! Standard GM-set and SR-JV80 type sounds include great acoustic instruments (pianos, strings, winds, percussion and brass) and a lot of nice synth-type sounds (303 lines, sub bass, noise, leads, pads). It is quite capable of creating dance music or symphonic performances.

As a workstation, the XP-10 provides at least a starting point. It has an arpeggiator with several preset patterns (but no user patterns). There are two programmable sliders for real-time control of some of the editable parameters like the filter cutoff. Another feature called "X-Dual" mode layers two sounds which can be panned and mixed independently to create a new sound. Today, the XP-10 makes an ok back-up synth for quality but basic sounds, but it still leaves much to be desired.

davideo

May 29, 2011 @ 10:34 am

Anadyomene, I would like to make the same modification (backlit LCD) to my XP-10. Could you please elaborate on the greater changes? For example, how do you power the backlight? The display in the XP-10 only has 14 pins. The power for the backlight comes on pins 15 and 16. How did you accomplish this exactly? Thanks.

Gene

May 10, 2011 @ 1:19 pm

I bought a new XP-10 back in '97 and have played in the same band (10thleper.com) ever since then using this keyboard. I absolutely love it and if anyone wants to get rid of one gathering dust, I'm interested!

I've played a few newer keyboards and have yet to find any that offer the sound quality and/or variety that I have with my XP-10. My very favorite is the "Saw Wave" which is a hard synth sound with solid bass. I also use the Honkytonk Piano, the Bass & Lead, and the VSW Distorted Organ. I also add variety to all these sounds using a Korg effects pedal. It's a GREAT keyboard!

Stevie P

March 24, 2011 @ 10:18 am

This is a wonderful synth and one of my faves in that it is easy to use, has wonderful sounds - and these days not too bad on the wallet. I even bought one for a dear friends child. It may not be as fancy and have as many features as top level synths, but it is friendly and in quick order one can be off and running with it. Some of the sound patches are absolutely wonderful and soaring on it and can hold their own against others on more expensive synths. For what it does, it does exceedingly well and has a wonderful warm charm about it. It's a keeper. :-)

JPJ

January 17, 2011 @ 12:25 pm

@Anthony Bennet: are you serious? I own this keyboard..... worst piano & organ sounds ever heard on an entry level! Keyboard is quite good, but programming is almost inexistent. Only good thing is the arpeggiator and the palette modulation (digital filters). I used it as a master keyboad years ago, now it's olny collecting dust.

Rib

December 22, 2010 @ 1:37 pm

Rompler, pure and simple. Bad filter, psuedo VCF envelope etc. but then again that's fairly standard nowadays.
Good sound though, if you like presets you could find yourself paying a lot more for no reason whatsoever.

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