Posts tagged as ' Roland ' ...

Posted By andrew603

Dear Roland…

I would love a new amazing Roland Rack-Mount Synthesizer that is a true successor to the XV-5080 or Fantom XR.  My friends and I have written up some specifications for the ultimate Roland synthesizer.

I believe the current direction of the industry beginning to leave hardware MIDI synthesizers/modules behind in favor of crappy software instruments is a mistake.  The quality is not there, the "classic sounds" are not there, and in my opinion the simplicity is not there.

Anyway, the main idea/purpose of the unit is MIDI Performance playback / studio recording, not necessarily live/gigging use.  Essentially this one synthesizer would render about 20U worth or racked MIDI equipment I have redundant by providing a single powerful module that truly replaces that equipment sound for sound and adds new exciting functionality for the future.  I also believe the fantastical specifications listed below are achievable with current technology.  I would expect something like this to have a price point between $3,000 and $5,000, which I would happily pay.

So without further ado, here are the specs:

Roland Expanded Articulation Legacy Synthesizer (3U Rackmount)  "REALsynth" or maybe just Roland Legacy

  • Polyphony:    512 for Roland Legacy Engine;  ARX and RLX Expansions have independent and varying polyphony limits.
    • Roland Legacy Engine handles all XV, Fantom X, SRX, SR-JV80, U-110, and GM/GS sounds in any combination.
  • Effects:
    • Multi-Effects:    32 independent systems, 78 Types;  Chainable: up to 4 MFX per chain (IE: You can have 32 MFX for 32 Channels or 8 channels of MFX chains with 4 MFX each!)
    • Reverb:    3 systems to choose from 12 types total;  GM/GS Reverb Mode (taken from SC-8850), Fantom X Reverb Modes, A third all new Legacy Reverb Mode (Stereo Convolution Reverb)
    • Chorus:    2 systems to choose from 11 types total;  GM/GS Chorus Mode (taken from SC-8850) and Fantom X Chorus Modes
    • Delay:    10 types (Taken from SC-8850)
  • MIDI Channels:    64 for Legacy Engine when no expansions are in use.  Channels will get claimed as needed by each active ARX and RLX expansion instrument.
  • Audio Outputs:    Analog 10 TRS Balanced (5 stereo pairs); Digital: 1 Optical, 1 Coaxial, (44.1,48,88,96Khz)
  • Audio Inputs:    1 XLR, 2 TRS Balanced;  Reverb, Chorus, and Delay can be used.  1 MFX Chain may be offloaded to be used.  (XLR and Left/Mono TRS port can not be used simultaniously)
  • Audio Signal:    24Bit/96Khz (Actual sample frequencies vary depending on original waveform source)
  • Display:    320×120-dot Graphic Backlit LCD (Similar to the great XV-5080 display, I can read it from across the room!)
  • Front Panel Controls:    Preferably similar scheme to XV-5080.  Please no touchscreens, for accessibility reasons!  Roland rack units usually deliver in great controls so I'm not worried here.
  • Storage:    Compact Flash memory card (2 slots), perhaps Optional internal SSD option.
  • USB Modes:    MIDI/Performance Mode, Disk Drive(s) Mode
  • MIDI Ports:    2x In/Out, Thru.  In USB Mode, operate as additional MIDI Interfaces for other devices.
  • RAM:        DDR3 up to 8GB (2 Slots)
  • User Memory:    128 Performances per CF Card Up to 128 Patches in 128 Banks per Card (Shared with Compact Flash Sample Storage)
  • Sampling:    Up to 128 Samples and/or Multi-Samples in 128 Banks per CF Card (Multi-Samples Consume 1 sample space for each sample used, limited by CF Card capacity, shared with User Patch memory)
  • On-Board / Preset Sounds:
    • Roland GM/GS Synthesizer (SC-8850 Soundset)
    • Complete XV-5080 Waveforms & Patches
    • Complete Fantom XR Waveforms & Patches
    • Complete U-110 Sound Library (All Waveforms & Patches, excludes consolidated waveforms from the included  SR-JV80/SRX Romset)
    • Complete SR-JV80 Sound Library (All Waveforms & Patches, excludes consolidated waveforms from the included SRX ROMset)
    • Selected SRX Sound Library:  SRX-01, SRX-03, SRX-04, SRX-06, SRX-07, SRX-09, SRX-10 (All Waveforms & Patches)
  • Expansion Capability:
    • 6 SRX Expansion Slots
    • 4 ARX Expansion Slots
      • New Card: ARX-04 Ultimate Strings
      • New Card: ARX-05 Acoustic Guitar
      • New Card: ARX-06 Electric Guitar
      • New Card: ARX-07 Tonewheel Organ
      • New Card: ARX-08 Vocal Designer (Clone of VC2 Vocal Designer)
    • 4 RLX Expansion Slots (All new Roland Legacy Series Expansion Cards!  Complete Vintage Roland Synthesizers with full SysEx compatibility!  More than one of the same RLX Expansion can be used if desired.)
      • RLX-01:    TR-808
      • RLX-02:    TR-909
      • RLX-03:    TB-303
      • RLX-04:    Jupiter 8
      • RLX-05:    D-50 Linear Synthesizer
      • RLX-06:    MT-32 Multi Timbre Sound Module

As a matter of note, I personally could live without any of the audio input and sampling capability, "The Roland Sound Library" is what I am interested in and love!  Also, if it would be possible to include the entire SRX library on-board in the interest of simplifying the hardware (no need for SRX Slots then), that would be even more awesome!

Sincerely,

A Dedicated Roland User

Posted By andrew603

Some Nintendo Remixes and More!

Here are some remixes I just recorded today.  Enjoy!

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  1. Mario Kart 64 – Mario Raceway SRX
  2. Mario Kart 64 – Battle! SRX
  3. Super Mario World – Ghost House SRX
  4. Super Mario World – Castle SRX
  5. Killer Instinct 2 – Saberwulf Theme SRX
  6. Duke Nukem 3D – Grabbag SRX (The latest version at time of writing!)
Posted By andrew603

Some quick VG Remixes

Here are a few quick remixes I’ve done over the last few weeks…

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King’s Quest 4 Introduction

Rise of the Triad –  Fish Polka

Duke Nukem 2 – Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry

Posted By andrew603

Jaws Vs Pirates of the Caribbean!

I meant to finish and release these two tracks back for Halloween.

Unfortunately, I’ve been really busy with a crazy work schedule and various personal commitments.

Anyway, enjoy!

Special thanks to my friend Gary for the original arrangements, be sure to check out his website!

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Jaws SRX!

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest Medley SRX!

Posted By andrew603

Duke Nukem 3D Revisited

I am slowly working on more of my remixes of the Duke Nukem 3D soundtrack.  I am calling it Duke Nukem 3D Revisited, akin to my remixes of the Doom soundtrack.

The first track that’s complete is the title theme ‘Grabbag’.  This track uses some new electric guitar patches that I created on the Roland XV-5080 from scratch using waveforms from the World Collection SRX board.  The background synth sound is one of my Roland D-550’s.  The drums are from the SRX-01 Dynamic Drums expansion board.

Enjoy!

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Posted By andrew603

Always Bet On Duke!

In honor of Gearbox Software’s acquisition of the Duke Nukem license and the fact that Duke Nukem Forever will finally be released next year, I have started remixing the original Duke Nukem 3D MIDI Soundtrack!

Here is a draft of the title theme.  Come get some!

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Posted By andrew603

A Brief Update…

It’s been pretty busy for me lately, with the MIDI Music Adventure Show! and work, I havn’t had much time to post much new stuff here.  But don’t worry!  I am slowly but surely working on some new Synth-Studio content.  So check back from time to time!

Oh, here are some new-ish recordings for your listening pleasure!

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MP3 Downloads
Joe and Mac SRX
Super Mario RPG – Forest SRX
Super C
Sombaddy Kall Tha Docktuhh!!!
Yamaha MU128 Song Arfy Sent Me!

Posted By andrew603

Some Random Sound Canvas Comparison Recordings

This post is in response to a favor somone asked me at the QuestStudios.com forums.  Here are some recordings for comparison between the Roland SC-55mkII, SC-88 and newer Roland Sound Canvas synths.

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Doom:
1) Doom E2M2 – Roland SC-55mkII
2) Doom E2M2 – Roland SC-88
3) Doom E2M2 Remix – Roland SC-8820

Space Quest 5:
4) Space Quest 5 Soundtrack – First 5 Minutes – Roland SC-55mkII
5) Space Quest 5 Soundtrack – First 5 Minutes – Roland SC-88
6) Space Quest 5 Soundtrack – First 5 Minutes – Roland SC-8850

Space Quest 6:
7) Space Quest 6 Theme – Roland SC-55mkII
8) Space Quest 6 Theme – Roland SC-88
9) Space Quest 6 Theme Remix- Roland SC-8850

10) Space Quest 6 Orion’s Belt Bar Part 3 – Roland SC-55mkII
11) Space Quest 6 Orion’s Belt Bar Part 3 – Roland SC-88
12) Space Quest 6 Orion’s Belt Bar Part 3 Remix- Roland SC-8850

13) Space Quest 6 Roger’s Place – Roland SC-55mkII
14) Space Quest 6 Roger’s Place – Roland SC-88
15) Space Quest 6 Roger’s Place Remix- Roland SC-8850

Posted By andrew603

Tin Star – Gallop Stages SRX

Here’s another SNES song remixed Roland SRX style.  The horse-ridding levels from the game Tin Star.  Enjoy!

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Posted By andrew603

Donkey Kong Country 2: The Enchanted Wood SRX

This is inspired by E3 2010 in a way, and Nintento’s announcement of an upcoming new Donkey Kong Country game for Wii.  Nintendo’s stuff for E3 this year is amazing!  God, I can’t wait to get a Nintendo 3DS some day!

Anyway, here is a remix of a really cool song from DKC2 MIDI done up on my Roland XV-5080 and Fantom XR.  Enjoy!

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