The XP-50 is not just another synthesizer workstation, it's basically a JV-1080 with a built-in keyboard and a 16-track sequencer! It is a digital synthesizer using sampled ROM waveforms. Superb sound quality capable of emulating most any instrument imaginable plus totally fat analog synth type sounds and loads of percussion! It has 64 voices of polyphony and is 16-part multitimbral. The XP-50 makes a great beginner's pro-quality workstation.

It has 8MB of sounds and it also offers a lot of expandability with 4 expansion slots and 2 data card memory slots. You can get up to 42MB of sounds by adding any of the popular SR-JV80 expansion cards suited for Techno, World Instruments, Orchestral or Synthesizers. There's also plenty of multi-effects, reverbs, choruses and filters for creative flexibility, motion control and extensive MIDI implementation.

Some of the features the XP-50 brings (to the JV-1080) are a standard 61-note keyboard with velocity and aftertouch. The MRC-PRO 16-track sequencer which features 60,000 note capacity and can hold 100 patterns and 1 song. Several recording features (loop, step, realtime), quantization and editing features are available too. A built-in 3.5 inch disk drive facilitates storage of your sequences and MIDI data. With a 'bang for your buck' value the XP-50 still makes a great keyboard alternative to the JV-1080. That means you get some of Roland's best sounds in a performance workstation that is as affordable as 'pro-quality' can get (beyond which come the XP-60 and XP-80 mega-synths). It has been used by The Cure.

Charles Wieland

June 24, 2012 @ 4:53 pm

Paul,

I got one of these used and I had to reset it back to factory defaults after putting in a new battery. I'm not sure if this will help with your problem the steps to do this are as follows:

Turn on keyboard
Press Disk/Utility button
Choose 4:SOUND from menu
Choose 5:PRESET from menu
Press [ENTER] to confirm

Paul Bennett

June 20, 2012 @ 4:11 pm

Someone please tell me, that's not unfair? I came online for specific instructions and directions, follow them from Roland, and follow their tech's advice after mentioning the possibility of what I heard about losing the program, and he told me to do it and don't worry about losing the program. I did it and now the XP50's a piece of scrap! Nothing! After being diligent about following Roland's advice this happens and I'm left, by Roland and their tech, out in the Sahara Desert, abandoned, left for dead! ???????????????????
I'm astonished! That is fair? Even gave me his location and phone! Grr

Paul Bennett

June 20, 2012 @ 4:04 pm

I contacted Roland after I heard/understood that changing the battery should be done by a tedhnician. I read online here the "how to" change and this is a Roland site, no? I followed the manufactureres reccomend and contacted THEIR listed tech in Leland N.C. and asked for HIM to change it. He advised me to simply change the battery without consequences, he advised! I did. The Roland lost all programming, kaput. "The capacitors leaked out" one said. They don't make the board! I followed their advise to the "t" and I have a piece of scrap. Thank you Roland! Pays to follow mfg's advice?

Ed

June 13, 2012 @ 8:16 am

The display fades away frequently and stays off for some time. It sometimes comes back, but goes away. It is bad, since it makes it impossible to browse through the menus. Any tips on what I could do? Thanks a lot

Arik S.

May 31, 2012 @ 12:36 am

Man, battery change on Roland is the easiest thing to do. It a standard CR2032 button battery, anywhere from $1.67 to $4.99, depending on brand and store. Flip the synth over, place on something soft like blanket, so you won't mess up keys and bender. Remove all screws, bottom panel will come off easy. Everything is mounted on the top cover, so bottom is justt a piece of metal. Look at the printed boards, battery is usually on main board in the middle. If not, sometimes it's mounted on other side of the board, you'll have to remove it too to access the battery holder.

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