Roland JD XA

[Jan1]

I do not understand why u so exated about another hardwear digital synth. All guys what u ask for hardwear synths are alread in software world. And even something what might look like an alien tech in digital hardwear synth some of that are already awailable in software form.

Ofcause i do understant thouse people who pay thouthends dollars on Moog Modular or Oberheim SEMs or buy vintage analog synthesizers for cazy money because modern software comes close but still not yet in the same level as high end analog synthsizers can offer even with it's own obvius limitations but for me looks totaly stupid to buy modern hadrwear digilat synthsizers because all of that with much higher quality and more are awailable already in software form.

And if sombody say it is for live usage, i still see zero problems preventing me to use desctop computer in live situation hoked to midi controler and audio interface. It is still much more portable then gutarist one 4x12 cab with amp head and one guitar.

I cannot understand why someone would want to buy an overpriced Mac when you can have a Windows equivalent at a much lower cost. Still, there are people swearing by a Mac, and if that is what makes them productive, then all I can say is 'go for it'.

And no, you cannot have a V-synth on your computer, or many of the other hardware digital synths, because they have a unique sound to them besides the aspect of playing a musical instrument vs working with a computer.

Bachus makes a clear distinction between music producers and musicians, but you will find that many musicians are also into music production, and they don't like the traditional unmusical interaction with a computer and the logistic aspects of it.
Add to this the issue of stability and all the hassles involved with software run on a generic operating system, and you have a reason why currently there is a trend of making music away from the computer by means of individual hardware components.
Although I have to add that lately more companies (Nektar, NI, Akai) try to 'draw the software out of the box' by means of their new controllers, which is a good thing.

[jimknopf]

And no, you cannot have a V-synth on your computer, or many of the other hardware digital synths, because they have a unique sound to them besides the aspect of playing a musical instrument vs working with a computer

+1
Many people think that software sounds better or has higher usability by definition, just because there's some really good software out there. But that's not the case, and I find myself regularly returning to some of the same hardware sounds, which I use live, for recording. Add haptic and integrated workflow of hardware on one side, and the comfortable choice of complete track settings and the like in software, and you will decide from case to case:

There definitely is no general "better" between hard- and software up to now, and I doubt it will ever be, because hardware is becoming more and more software-based itself.

[Bachus]

And no, you cannot have a V-synth on your computer, or many of the other hardware digital synths, because they have a unique sound to them besides the aspect of playing a musical instrument vs working with a computer

Currently there is no such thing as a V/synth in VST´s


But if Roland decided to transfer the code of the V/synth to a VST, then it would be available.... The only difference between a VST on a Computer and todays digital Workstations-synths is that they run on dedicated hardware.. But in the end both are software programs

This dedicated hardware is both their strength as well as their weakness, because except for the Kronos (tough its still slow compared to PCs), all other synths and workstations run on much less stellar hardware then currently available in PC technollogy. And so have to work with smaller samples, less advanced algorythms or just have way less voices. However in the end, there is no difference defined in Quallity between a hardware and a software solution.

The strong point of hardware is its dedicated user interface, that is as much part of the instrument as its sound source, when you look at the V-synth again, it has all those many knobs and buttons that allow you to operate it very very intuitively, and thats where current software based solutions will allways fall short.

The strong point of the Software solutions is that you can run many different synths in a single box, switching between them and combining them with eachother or those nifty effects. I would love to use some VST's output as the input wave/sample of my V-synth.. and then rout it back to the VST effects.

I the end, the interface of a hardware solution is for many people a reason to go that way...

The future in my opinion is the full integration between a hardware synth and those software synths. And what really hurts me is that the hardware manufactorers currently dont seem to realise this.






Now back to the Roland JD XA, this one is very special as it does not only have a great looking dedicated interface, but also something thats not possible at all on PC's. It also has an analogue soundsource. making it something really special, combining the strong points of analogue with the strong points of digital/software...

I still think we need to hear it first and know more about it before we can decide how special this instrument is..

[jeremykeys]

I agree in that we really all need to hear the new Roland before we can have any kind of opinion about it. It still looks to me to be a little small for a "flagship" though.
I do know people bring laptops and computers to gigs but I'm surprised to find that not that many people use Muse Recptors. I thought the "soft synth crowd" would be totally all over them.
Myself, and I can only speak for myself, prefer hardware synthes. I need the "Hands-on" thing. I also need a minimum of 61 keys although I do jam at a friends house who has a Little Phatty. I don't mind playing that but I've programmed a few cool lead and bass sounds into it and since it's monophonic I don't feel the need to have both hands on the keyboard.

To each their own, I suppose.

[EvilDragon]

Receptors are too expensive for what they are, and you can't put just any plugin on it, they have to be "receptorized". For the same price you can get a general purpose laptop that is more powerful and can run any softsynth without the need of being "receptorized", etc...

[Bachus]

Receptors are too expensive for what they are, and you can't put just any plugin on it, they have to be "receptorized". For the same price you can get a general purpose laptop that is more powerful and can run any softsynth without the need of being "receptorized", etc...

Receptors are for those that dont want to have computers on their stage... The receptor then just works like any module, you choose your sounds with midi commands from lets say your Kronos..

Offcourse having a laptop is cheaper and easier to use.... But thats not the point behind the receptor... Receptor allows you to bring all your VST sounds on stage withouth having to worry about them..



Personally i think receptors will soon be a thing of the past, as the way the Akai advance works is much more exciting and ellegant, and you can still keep your computer under your desk...

[JPWC]

I read these arguments and come to ask one question,

Are you collecting specifications or making music?

(I collect specification & styles all the time, but I try not to get it confused with actually playing/creating music. The bad musical instrument or tool is the one you don't use. And use can be as simple as setting it up in your living room and taking pictures of the flashing lights.)

The best tool is the one that gets the job done.

I still want the JD-XA. (but am settling for the JD-Xi)

I don't make music on a computer, I only edit music on a computer, but then again, many of my keyboard are computers hiding inside a keyboard anyway.

[EvilDragon]

Receptors are for those that dont want to have computers on their stage... The receptor then just works like any module, you choose your sounds with midi commands from lets say your Kronos..

I know that, cpt. Obvious

Personally i think receptors will soon be a thing of the past, as the way the Akai advance works is much more exciting and ellegant, and you can still keep your computer under your desk...

Agreed!

[jeremykeys]

Thanks for all the info. I never really looked into a Receptor. It was never something that I thought I could use live onstage. I've always figured that I could creat the sound that I wanted for pretty much any particular song if my synth didn't have it as a preset. A piano is a good example for that.

Don't get me wrong here. I'm not knocking anybody who brings a computer with them to play live at a gig. I just prefer to keep my rig as simple as possible. The less equipment, the less that can go wrong.This has kind of been my mantra the last 10 year or so. It's a fight though. I love having a Rick Wakeman sized rig onstage! It's just that my back doesn't allow for it anymore.
So will somebody hurry up and invent anti gravity lifters for those of us who don't have roadies?

[Michael Robles]

Here's some new hi-res images of the panel with more clarity and detail of the controls.

http://www.midifan.com/modulenews-detailview-19301.htm

A of bit fun to dream of what sounds may be capable.

[MortenJ]

I going to Frankfurt Musikmesse hope to see and hear it

What I have read

it can also run Digital part through analog filter or even mix it with analog osc.
So Supersaw waves through analog filter

look at Ring Mod in Analog Osc 1 not only to use Analog Osc 2 but also via Aux Digital part,Noise or mic

I not 100 % sure but that Analog filter will have 3 lowpassfilter types
1.is the Classic Roland filter
2.transistor ladder MOOG-type Lowpass filter
3.and new special lowpassfilter

it also have Highpass filter before multimode filter and Drive

[Bachus]

I going to Frankfurt Musikmesse hope to see and hear it

What I have read

it can also run Digital part through analog filter or even mix it with analog osc.
So Supersaw waves through analog filter

look at Ring Mod in Analog Osc 1 not only to use Analog Osc 2 but also via Aux Digital part,Noise or mic

I not 100 % sure but that Analog filter will have 3 lowpassfilter types
1.is the Classic Roland filter
2.transistor ladder MOOG-type Lowpass filter
3.and new special lowpassfilter

it also have Highpass filter before multimode filter and Drive

I highly doubt this, because with each A/d and each d/a conversion you loose soundquallity...

But i guess we will know the answer at The Muiskmesse..

I will be there to.. Like i am every other year.. Its a day well spent.

[Hugo]

The jd-xa looks totally awesome! I fear, however, that the price tag will be too high for me. So I might settle for the jd-xi instead, especially if I can hook up a dedicated controller for it.

[Bald Eagle]

The jd-xa looks totally awesome! I fear, however, that the price tag will be too high for me. So I might settle for the jd-xi instead, especially if I can hook up a dedicated controller for it.

My first thought was to maybe go for the xi but it is so different than the xa in so many ways. It doesn't even seem like they should have similar names. I mean if you consider the JP50 is a scaled down JP80, the xi does not even seem close to the xa.

[MortenJ]

I going to Frankfurt Musikmesse hope to see and hear it

What I have read

it can also run Digital part through analog filter or even mix it with analog osc.
So Supersaw waves through analog filter

look at Ring Mod in Analog Osc 1 not only to use Analog Osc 2 but also via Aux Digital part,Noise or mic

I not 100 % sure but that Analog filter will have 3 lowpassfilter types
1.is the Classic Roland filter
2.transistor ladder MOOG-type Lowpass filter
3.and new special lowpassfilter

it also have Highpass filter before multimode filter and Drive

I highly doubt this, because with each A/d and each d/a conversion you loose soundquallity...

But i guess we will know the answer at The Muiskmesse..

I will be there to.. Like i am every other year.. Its a day well spent.

FutureMusic has been to a demo of it
They also say Digtal part can go through analog filter

https://www.facebook.com/RolandAUS/phot ... 47/?type=1