Roland JD-Xi

dutchcow · Post by **dutchcow** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:57 am

ExaJeff wrote: The guy is truly awful !
Almost as bad as the Akai guy...
He is ALWAYS showing the same thing and saying the exact same text.
So even if there's 50 youtube videos, it's like there's only one...

Right

Re-Member · Post by **Re-Member** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:43 pm

Here's a much better video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbXZgtW ... 1421914688

There's loads of extra editing features in the menus, plus it allows for pattern chaining for full song creation. If Korg doesn't release an update soon fixing all the bugs on the new Electribe, Roland is totally getting my money.

NickZoll · Post by **NickZoll** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:01 pm

Re-Member wrote:Here's a much better video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbXZgtW ... 1421914688

There's loads of extra editing features in the menus, plus it allows for pattern chaining for full song creation. If Korg doesn't release an update soon fixing all the bugs on the new Electribe, Roland is totally getting my money.

I hate all of these menus in Korg R3, I would never buy something like that again NO matter how powerful it is.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:20 am

This new Roland synth blows the Electribe 2 away big time. It's not even close.

Ted3000 · Post by **Ted3000** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:22 pm

supermel74 wrote:This new Roland synth blows the Electribe 2 away big time. It's not even close.

The Roland has 2 virtual analog poly voices, 1 mono analog voice, and 1 drum kit, vocoder, 4-part sequencer ,and effects in a mini-key 3-octave plastic synth format.

The electribe 2 has 16 4-voice paraphonic parts that can be anything from drums to virtual analog synth to PCM samples, 16 filter types, 16 insert effects, a master effect, audio input, direct output to Ableton Live, 16part sequencer in a backlit pad metal case groove box format.

So it's a little apples to oranges. If you like the Roland's format and features better, then it blows it away. If you like the Korg better, then the Roland is a toy.

One thing is certain - newbies and kids will flock to the Roland and the model will be associated with beginner demos on YouTube.

The electribe will retain status and cred.

The JD-Xi is a nice value but it does not offer the deeper synthesis that the MicroKorg XL or the Novation MiniNova has.

Ted3000 · Post by **Ted3000** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:00 pm

Here's something to puzzle about. I've watched dozens of NAMM demo videos about the JD-Xi. Dozens, I say!

No one ever bothers to ask if the analog filter self-oscillates, or even ask what filter circuit it is based off of.

Is it a Juno-like filter? Is it a 303 style filter? Is it 24db? A new and original design? Does it attenuate volume with added resonance? Does it cut bass signal as it approaches max res? Is it polite? Does the encoder have audible stepping? Is it smooth, dark, bright, shrill, screaming, mellow, or what?

Just a guy saying that the "warm" is when you play a sawtooth wave in the lower range, that you can add effects to the analog voice, followed by people asking basic MIDI questions. (Can I control it with MIDI? Are the drums triggered with MIDI Is MIDI a thing?)

If it's analog that has you excited, the filter behavior is of interest. There are bad and uninteresting analog filters out there too.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:30 pm

Ted3000 wrote:
supermel74 wrote:This new Roland synth blows the Electribe 2 away big time. It's not even close.
The Roland has 2 virtual analog poly voices, 1 mono analog voice, and 1 drum kit, vocoder, 4-part sequencer ,and effects in a mini-key 3-octave plastic synth format.

The electribe 2 has 16 4-voice paraphonic parts that can be anything from drums to virtual analog synth to PCM samples, 16 filter types, 16 insert effects, a master effect, audio input, direct output to Ableton Live, 16part sequencer in a backlit pad metal case groove box format.

So it's a little apples to oranges. If you like the Roland's format and features better, then it blows it away. If you like the Korg better, then the Roland is a toy.

One thing is certain - newbies and kids will flock to the Roland and the model will be associated with beginner demos on YouTube.

The electribe will retain status and cred.

The JD-Xi is a nice value but it does not offer the deeper synthesis that the MicroKorg XL or the Novation MiniNova has.

The Roland has 128 note polyphony, the Korg only 24. The Roland has true polyphony, the Korg is "pseudo-polyphonic".Roland counts the entire drum part as 1 track. If you count every individual drum as a part like Korg does then the Roland has many more parts/tracks. Mini midi jacks suck.Mini keys are better than drum pads for playing synth parts. The Roland sounds leaps and bounds better, even from crappy youtube videos and the filter is very smooth with no stepping according to the product demonstrator. Korg f***ed up BIG time with this new one. Unless it gets a complete overhaul there's no way in hell that the Korg is a better machine than the new Roland.

Ted3000 · Post by **Ted3000** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:20 pm

supermel74 wrote:Korg f***ed up BIG time with this new one. Unless it gets a complete overhaul there's no way in hell that the Korg is a better machine than the new Roland.

Sounds like you prefer the Roland approach.

Polyphony is great for a synth but less important on a groove box.

The electribe can have a baseline, a pad sound, a lead synth, a counter melodic synth part, a synth effect like a white noise wave, a riser effect, a stab line, and 10 drum sounds going at the same time, each with a different effect.

The roland can have drums, an analog part, and 2 poly synth voices (if you use the vocoder, you've eaten an entire virtual analog synth voice up) at once - that's it. That's enough for some music.

The Roland has less limits in some places, but the electribe will always be able to do more at once. It's why it can be the only piece of gear at a gig.

You can do that with the roland but you've hit some big limits right away - only 4 elements at once. Electribe has 16.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:36 pm

Ted3000 wrote: You can do that with the roland but you've hit some big limits right away - only 4 elements at once. Electribe has 16.

but on the Korg the drum parts will typically eat up about half or more of those 16 parts and about half the available polyphony. If your drum track requires 13 parts the Korg is left with 3 parts and maybe 11 notes of polyphony. The Roland is left with 3 parts and still over 100 note polyphony. What if you need 16 drum parts or more? You're SOOL with the Korg. If you're going to use the Korg as a groovebox you need to count each drum as a part. If you do that on the Roland you have at least 26 drum parts (going by the pics I've seen) plus 3 synth parts for a total of 29 parts. 29>16

FTR, I've always preferred Korg's "groovebox" concept to Roland's. With these new devices however, Korg screwed it up and Roland nailed it.

Ted3000 · Post by **Ted3000** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:18 pm

supermel74 wrote:
Ted3000 wrote: You can do that with the roland but you've hit some big limits right away - only 4 elements at once. Electribe has 16.
but on the Korg the drum parts will typically eat up about half or more of those 16 parts and about half the available polyphony. If your drum track requires 13 parts the Korg is left with 3 parts and maybe 11 notes of polyphony. The Roland is left with 3 parts and still over 100 note polyphony. What if you need 16 drum parts or more? You're SOOL with the Korg. If you're going to use the Korg as a groovebox you need to count each drum as a part. If you do that on the Roland you have at least 26 drum parts (going by the pics I've seen) plus 3 synth parts for a total of 29 parts. 29>16 FTR, I've always preferred Korg's "groovebox" concept to Roland's. With these new devices however, Korg screwed it up and Roland nailed it.

Here's a resonable real-world kit: A kick, a snare, closed hat, open hat, clap, ride cym, crash. That leaves 9 electribe synth parts. Nine.

Korg did what they wanted to do, so how does that equal a "screw up?" I don't feel limited by the structure. I have some issues, but they are with some effect voicing and filter behavior.

What you're saying is that you prefer another piece of gear. Great! You're free to buy what suits you best.

Korg brought out a groove box with more advanced synthesis than you usually get in the groove format. Roland brought out a synth with more drum and sequencing than you usually get in that mini synth format.

Everyone wins. But the electribe is not a failure, even if it disappointed some disproportionately vocal people.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:27 pm

Unltil all the bugs are sorted out the Electribe is a colossal failure. Even though some functionality was added over the previous Electribes, just as much was dropped. The new Electribe should have been capable of doing everything the previous version did and a lot more. If Korg gets it sorted out I think the Electribe Sampler would compliment the Roland nicely.

Ted3000 wrote:
Here's a resonable real-world kit: A kick, a snare, closed hat, open hat, clap, ride cym, crash. That leaves 9 electribe synth parts. Nine.

.

a reasonable kit for straight up rock music but very limited for other styles

Ted3000 · Post by **Ted3000** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:38 pm

supermel74 wrote:Unltil all the bugs are sorted out the Electribe is a colossal failure.

You think the JD-Xi won't have any bugs or shortcomings?

It's not even out yet. The rep couldn't answer straight questions when grilled by a Gearslutz interviewer. Roland stuff also undergoes post-release firmware revisions. Does that mean the TR-8 is a failure?

I get what you're saying, but you're taking your highly subjective opinion of the electribe 2 and then making a factual-sounding announcement.

It failed you, it didn't fail me. You're in the minority. Most think it's great with some issues to be worked out. Just like every piece of gear.

NickZoll · Post by **NickZoll** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 6:03 pm

Guys, the roland synth does more than other synths for the price. Korg e2 is glichy but it's still one of the most powerful grooveboxes ever made. Yes, both devices have restrictions but what you expected for the price less than 500$? If you want all-in-one machine which is really powerful just buy Korg Kronos. Not ready to spend such money? My advice just try to adapt with what you have.

supermel74 · Post by **supermel74** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 6:16 pm

NickZoll wrote:Korg e2 is glichy but it's still one of the most powerful grooveboxes ever made. .

Not trying to be argumentative but I don't agree with that at all. It has good synthesizer functionality for a groovebox but to say it's one of the most powerful ever made is a stretch. In many ways the EMX is more powerful. The E-mu Command Station is more powerful. Almost all of the Roland Grooveboxes are more powerful. The Elektrons certainly are as is the Tempest and the Spectralis and the Yamaha RS8000 and RM1x. Apples to oranges for sure but in terms of "power" I'd say the Electribes are naer the bottom. That being said I still prefer the Electribes to most of those other machines. Ease of use and workflow matter more to me than sheer power. Price is also a major consideration too.

dutchcow · Post by **dutchcow** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 6:21 pm

Using IFX on the e2 also eats in to the paraphony as well as the type of OSC and filters used.

MAX. 24 voices (The number of simultaneous sounds in entire pattern depends on the type of Oscillator, Filter or Insert Fx.)

I would like to know more details on that, hope Korg will add that to a parameter guide 2.0

24 voices becomes very little if using a filter also counts as a voice. A kick with a filter and effect could take 3 voices? That can't be right but why would it be mentioned in manual?