The XP-80 was one of Roland's flagship digital Workstation Synthesizers. With extensive professional features, superb quality PCM sounds, sequencing, effects and more, the XP-80 could be the only synth you may ever need! Compared with earlier XP-series synths, the XP-80 adds a great 76-note semi-weighted keyboard for a realistic playing experience. A bright and large 320 by 80 pixel backlit display gives easy readability to any programming and sequencing you may do on the XP-80.

The XP-80 offers up 64 voices of polyphony and can send on up to 16 MIDI channels simultaneously. The sounds are all digital in nature and sound pretty good too! Though its strengths are the emulation of acoustic instruments, it can create synth-type sounds too. It comes with 16MB of ROM sounds, but there's room for up to four 8MB expansion boards that add Orchestral, Techno, Vintage Synths, World, Bass & Drums and other instrument sets (from the SR-JV80 expansion series).

Bringing up the 'Workstation' end of the XP-80 is a full-fledged on-board MRC Pro sequencer. With a 60,000 note capacity, 100 patterns, and 1 song position - you can create songs, patterns, loops or phrases with relative ease. Other features of the sequencer include Grid, Groove or Shuffle quantization and a built-in disk-drive. The XP-80 also excels as a Master Keyboard controller used to control other synthesizers and MIDI gear. A great Arpeggiator is also available. High quality internal effects are provided such as Reverbs, Chorus, Delays and Roland's EFX multi-effects technology. There are also digital filters (4-pole, 12dB/oct, HP, LP, BP, Peak) and a ring-modulator for analog-synth type effects, perfect for dance and techno music! A Modulation-Matrix provides up to two LFO-effects for adding motion and life to the sounds. In addition, there are 6 sliders for real-time control.

In a nutshell, the XP-80 is a pure digital synth. Its sounds are virtually the same as the JV-1080, JV-2080, XP-60 and XP-50 synthesizers. And the XP-80 makes a great all-in-one Workstation or Master Keyboard controller for any musical application. For a digital instrument, the sounds can be surprisingly expressive and the XP-80 is not reserved for any particular musical genre, other than top-quality music! From Carnegie Hall to warehouse Raves, the XP-80 has been used. If you don't require such an elegant keyboard, the XP-60 is the next best alternative. And if you don't need any keyboard, the JV-2080 or JV-1080 make the next best alternatives to this flagship workstation.

Kass

August 4, 2012 @ 6:00 pm

Have played the XP80 & VK7 for years. Need to ask you fine people where a poor musician can find the 60 & 70's expansion board cheap? Wouldn't care if it was used, as long as it works. The original XP's Rhodes sounds are horrible. Also, just had the weights fall off keys due to the heat. Made repair myself - not too difficult. Keep the keyboards our of your car & inside in the AC!

global goon

July 10, 2012 @ 7:17 pm

hi josh, welcome to VSE.
Check out the SPECIFICATIONS on the right side of the synth description.
Check under "Date Produced"

Orchestrator

July 4, 2012 @ 3:51 pm

2nd class sounds with 4 expansion possibilities for 1st class sounds you wanted in the first place. Sound is plastic and thin, and layering up thin sound elements helps - but each of them eats polyphony, so you may end with 16 poly! No full length keys, still quality is good. There are no replacement parts, LCD screen is hardest to find, original supplier Sharp does not make them for ages. Bad floppy is custom made. Good: Sequencer and bunch of control pedal outputs. Synth engine is deep. Good strings and e. organs, and that's all that's worthy. Pads are mostly variation of the same sound.

Josh

June 29, 2012 @ 4:42 pm

What year was this keyboard made?

Flo

January 27, 2012 @ 3:12 am

Hi there, this is a gorgeous piece of art. Great sounds, especially if you expand with the vinatage card.

BUT: Mine has problems with the middle "C": It does only contact sporadically and only if you hit the key harder than the other keys. Does anybody know how to fix that? Cleaning contacts perhaps?

Cheers!

<654321>

 

Post Comment!

Your Name: (Required.)

Email Address: (Required, not published.)

Image verification: (required)

Message:

 

Posting Rules:
Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

I have read and understand the posting rules.