Designed to exchange the JV1010 as Roland's entry-degree synth product, the XV2020 is diminutive, reasonably-priced, and filled with those fantastic XV sounds. however what's it like to use?
Roland's XV2020 is an inexpensive spin-off from their flagship 3080 and 5080 pattern-based synths, providing the same class of outstanding additive synthesis in response to interior ROM sampled waveforms, and additional tonal enlargement via a pair of SRX growth slots. in lots of ways, the XV2020 mirrors the manner the JV1010 was derived from the JV1080/2080 machines, because it shares the identical 1U, half-rack packaging, and is in accordance with presets with very little front-panel editability, besides the fact that children a software sound editor is covered which can also be run on each Mac OS and home windows machines (OMS or FreeMIDI are obligat ory to be used with a Mac, but each are offered on the CD-ROM).
just like the JV1010, the XV2020 has most effective stereo outputs, and the front-panel monitor is numeric only, but it also contains a USB interface, in addition to universal MIDI connectivity. while the JV1010 could accommodate just one wave growth board, the XV2020 can take two (notwithstanding simplest SRX-classification playing cards), accessed by the use of a desirable-panel plate (proven beneath).
when you are a fan of JV/XV sounds, you are going to likely enjoy the XV2020, because it comes packed with the forms of sound that made these earlier machines so prevalent. In all, there are 1083 ROM waveforms, 768 equipped-to-go patches, and 17 comprehensive rhythm sets that consist of most of the basic Roland analogue drum sounds, in addition to extra standard acoustic drum samples. The complete results area offers 40 multi-consequences moreover separate refrain and reverb. Polyphony is 64 voices, although this can on occasion be less than it appears, as Roland base their polyphony determine on how many Tones can be performed back at anybody time, now not on what number of voices. An XV2020 patch contains between one and four Tones layered together per voice, so if you go for a four-Tone sound, the polyphony comes right down to 16 voices.
The XV2020 offers stereo outputs handiest, however on phonos in addition to jacks, and surprisingly for a recent finances Roland product, has a hardware MIDI thru socket, not a soft-switchable Out/thru.A bank of 256 GM sounds (the 128 main sounds plus a range of GS class model tones) is also blanketed for multitimbral sequencer operation. since the GM sound set is a standard, this set can not be edited or modified in any means, and the drum half is at all times set to MIDI channel 10. Multi-results can't be utilized in GM mode, however reverb and chorus are available with adjustable stages per part. The sounds are organised in an identical fashion to those on the JV1010, with one financial institution of consumer patch recollections followed with the aid of 4 preset banks (A to D), the GM financial institution and two further banks that entry the SRX expander cards if equipped. the entire banks grasp a full 128 patches aside from the GM set, which contains extra 'alternative' sounds.
power comes from an external PSU, and all connections other than the headphone outlet and the USB socket are to be found on the lower back panel. The audio outs are furnished on both jacks and RCA phonos, and there are In, Out and thru MIDI sockets.
On the face of it, the entrance-panel controls appear reasonably simple, but there are a couple of hidden surprises, because the extent and value knobs have constructed-in push switches which, when used together, get you into an edit mode for modifying Patch, efficiency and gadget settings. To the right of the quantity pot is the half/Patch MIDI receive control used to set the receiving MIDI channel(s). youngsters, most of these services are greater readily accessed by way of the enhancing software, and no patch modifying will also be undertaken from the front panel; when you are into enhancing, you'll actually need to make use of the protected software. To be useful, most clients will doubtless stick to the sequencer template efficiency and then without problems fireplace in Patch and bank exchange commands from their sequencer.
The XV2020 can take two (even though handiest SRX-classification playing cards), accessed by way of this excellent-panel plate.In ordinary use, the value knob is used to scroll via something price the window is presently showing, however its push swap is also used to step through the 4 main operation modes: Patch, performance, Rhythm and GM. These are indicated with the aid of LEDs to the correct of the reveal window. The remaining knob controls a rotary change used to select which banks of sounds are to be played back in Patch mode, but it additionally contains seven class sections marked in blu e where the patches are grouped into kinds organised as Piano, Keyboard, Guitar/Bass, Orchestral/Brass, Synth/Pad, Ethnic and Rhythm/outcomes. This makes it convenient to audition patches as does pressing the extent knob, which causes the presently chosen patch to be performed. there may be additionally a small preference of demo songs that blow their own horns the diversity of the sounds and styles obtainable.
Roland appear to have a penchant for the use of different bank alternate command protocols for his or her gadgets instead of sticking to a common system, and the XV2020 is not any exception. Naively, I anticipated it to observe the JV1080 or JV2080 financial institution-alternate gadget — but no such success! instead, I had to enter the applicable LSB and MSB values for each bank into my sequencer's customized financial institution message editor to get things relocating (these are listed on page 40 of the consumer's manual).
If I were specifying the design of an instrument like the XV2020, which is going to be used chiefly by means of sequencer users, i'd have put a button on the entrance panel labelled Sequencer, which locked the computer into multitimbral mode and disabled any MIDI efficiency exchange recreation. on the very least, i might have put the sequencer template performance correct on the head of the checklist, but as a substitute, the performance menus (which range counting on even if user, financial institution A or bank B are selected) include layers, keyboard splits and sound units designed for are living performance. The sequencer template clocks in at number 046 in the person efficiency menu, and MIDI channel 16 seems to be reserved for sending performance exchange messages, so is premiere averted. The guide provides few strong clues as to how to install the XV2020 for sequencer use, or even distinct explanations of what the Performances are set up to do, however once you've cracked t he equipment, or not it's handy — just change to the person bank, go to performance mode, opt for performance 046 and then ship each half the required customized financial institution message and software quantity.
The dedicated software editor for the XV2020 offers in-depth handle not purchasable from the entrance panel, comparable to handle over a patch's sign routing (see the significant screenshot) and pleasant handle of the entire constituents in a multitimbral efficiency (the third screenshot above).until you are using the utility editor or a sequencer sending precise-time control information, the extent to which that you may adjust sounds is pretty a great deal restricted to level-altering, panning and consequences level. then again, the XV2020 comes loaded with a massive latitude of sounds with the distinctively heat Roland character.
The user bank looks to be stuffed with an assortment of sounds taken from the current ROM banks, and Preset financial institution A comprises a huge array of piano, keyboard and guitar sounds, most of which gave me that 'heard-it-all-earlier than' feeling. it truly is not to assert they don't seem to be good or musically beneficial notwithstanding, as such sounds are the strong of many a pop composition. Preset bank B also treads commonplace floor with basses and synth sounds, but there may be a whole lot for the dance composer as smartly because the pop author. Preset C moves into just a little more adventurous synth territory, as does Preset D, which comprises some very fine dance, techno and acid jazz patches. also covered are ethnic sounds, choirs, evolving pads and a few vintage synth sounds, so there is something right here for everyone.
and naturally the true beauty of the instrument is that you've the choice to add up to 2 growth cards featuring sounds within the genre you opt for. As you could possibly are expecting, the sound is akin to that of the old XVs, and not vastly distinctive to that of the JV1080/2080, however the GM area is a cut above what you normally expect during this area, with some in reality advantageous diversifications. The drum sounds are also extraordinarily invaluable, and range from customarily Roland-sounding acoustic kits to basic artificial drum sounds, many in keeping with old Roland instruments.
whereas the multi-effects part is terribly effective, this is most constructive if you happen to're using the laptop in Patch mode, because the multi-outcomes part has to be shared between all sixteen constituents working multitimbrally — you can not have a special multi-effect on each part. lots of the time, a bit light reverb and/or chorus is all the patches deserve to convey them to lifestyles, so this isn't too restrictive. even though some results adjustment is possible from the entrance panel, the editor utility makes it an awful lot less demanding and allows full-depth editing of effects, patches, drum kits and performances. most of the 'ordinary' changes to a patch may also be made on the main editor page, but additional windows or 'additional aspect' panels can also be opened for when more depth is needed. unlike previous editors, that have been based on Emagic's Sound Diver software, this one appears to had been written primarily for the XV sequence of machines and has a extremely high-quality seem to be and consider, complete with an on-display keyboard for trying out patches. there's additionally an on-line help part, which is basic studying when you are to get the greatest out of the editor.
in lots of cases, i think the XV2020 might be used as a preset laptop placing off a sequencer, and in this position, it offers a effective array of 'inventory' sounds as well as a lot of drum kits and an enormous latitude of splendid synth patches and textures. Its polyphony limit potential that you just'd have to be very careful using it for playing again 16-part epics other than GM information, nevertheless it would be practical to predict it to handle between four and eight pretty advanced elements devoid of getting too upset. The protected editor is extremely comprehensive and labored reliably all through my assessments (by way of USB the use of OMS) and it really works neatly for each casual tweaking and in-depth sound design — you only have to go as deep as you need to.
My handiest dislike is the manner during which sequencer use (arguably the predominant utility for this desktop) is virtually disregarded via the guide as an afterthought and isn't dealt with as elegantly because it may well be. You need to get worried in customized financial institution message programming to make it work, and i'm not certain what number of users will think comfortable with that.
every little thing has to be weighed up in response to can charge and performance, and even handled as a preset-simplest desktop, the XV2020 brings 3080-fine sounds to the mass market at an affordable rate. The inclusion of well-designed editing software adds to the appeal as does the expandability, so regardless of a few minor irritations, the XV2020 represents a value-constructive formula of including an enormous library of outstanding sounds to your MIDI gadget.
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