Roland • XV-3080
Roland XV-3080
The XV-3080 is a 128-voice professional synthesizer that picks up where the classic JV-series synthesizers left off. With a massive 128 voices, the XV-3080 is capable of extensive layering and multitimbral applications! There are true stereo waveforms per tone, expressive Matrix Control, expandability via new 64MB SRX (when converted into 16-bit linear format). The sounds include those from the JV-2080 plus many more new sounds and waveforms from the JD-990 and Super JD.
The XV-3080 has plenty of quality built-in digital effects including reverb and effects derived from Roland SRV-3030, V-Studios, and RSS technology. Programming the XV-3080 is in-depth but intuitive and well documented. There's a Patch Finder for quickly finding sounds sorted by type, as found on the JV-2080. Programming the new Matrix Control gives sounds an unprecedented level of nuance! It is apparent that Roland has packed the most professional features from their hottest synthesizers into a new and improved workhorse module - their "most expressive instrument ever"!
Roland XV-88
The XV-88 is essentially a professional keyboard version of the XV-3080. It has 88-note precision hammer-action keyboard with velocity and aftertouch sensitivity. It has 4 real-time control/tone palette sliders, D-Beam technology, and all of the advanced sounds, effects and Matrix Control found in the 3080. The XV-88 has been used by Rick Wakeman and Yes. The XV-5080 has an enhanced front panel with a giant JV-2080 style LCD display. The XV-5080 can also load and playback S-700 and Akai sample libraries via SCSI, can hold up to 128 SIMM RAM memory, eight channels of 24-bit R-Bus digital output, S/PDIF digital output and enhanced COSM effects processing.
I'm very impressed with this synth and after I first bought it for a tremendously good price, I picked up an exp board of Celtic sounds. I believe this is a very versatile keyboard. And I've many of the geat analog synths. I play out from time to time and altough it may have some weight to it. It's not nearly as heavey as my Hammond C3. So, I'd gig with it!
Also, if you get a box of this class, I personally recommend staying away for the SRX boards. They just don't seem to have as much effort put into them as the older SR-JV cards. This box accepts both.