Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
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Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
Hi !
I'm new to this forum. I'm looking for a new synthesiser. My budget is about 330 GBP max for synth really. I'm compete newb to keys. I play guitar for over a year. I'm interested in sounds of other instruments, like strings, pads, pianos and typical synth sounds which can be modulated as well. I would like also to connect the synth with a laptop and use software (I assume synth comes with some bundled software) I read many reviews and watched videos and it still does not make my mind clear...
I consider:
- Roland SH-201, really knobby,simple, good for beginners ?
- Roland Juno D, more keys than SH-201, more patches and sounds, less possibilities for modulation
I considered also Yamaha MM6 but it looks c**p to be honest and I read many opinions about plastic sound of it...
Alesis ION was my favourite at the beginning but I couldn't find any second hand ones
I'm new to this forum. I'm looking for a new synthesiser. My budget is about 330 GBP max for synth really. I'm compete newb to keys. I play guitar for over a year. I'm interested in sounds of other instruments, like strings, pads, pianos and typical synth sounds which can be modulated as well. I would like also to connect the synth with a laptop and use software (I assume synth comes with some bundled software) I read many reviews and watched videos and it still does not make my mind clear...
I consider:
- Roland SH-201, really knobby,simple, good for beginners ?
- Roland Juno D, more keys than SH-201, more patches and sounds, less possibilities for modulation
I considered also Yamaha MM6 but it looks c**p to be honest and I read many opinions about plastic sound of it...
Alesis ION was my favourite at the beginning but I couldn't find any second hand ones
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
That's the Juno-D. The SH201 is a virtual-analog (VA) synth that gives you direct, hands-on control over shaping sounds, but cannot produce realistic-sounding pianos, organs, etc. The Juno-D does not give you as much control as a VA, but it has an excellent palette of sounds, with some really good pads and leads. It has some front-panel knobs that give you control over filter cut-off, resonance and LFO. The Juno-D doesn't have USB, but it does connect to your computer by MIDI -- you'll need to get a USB-MIDI interface.Mateusz wrote:I'm interested in sounds of other instruments, like strings, pads, pianos and typical synth sounds which can be modulated as well.
At the end of the day, I think the Juno-D is a good choice. It's a solid ROMpler at a great price.
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
And that's a hard choice though... more sounds or less modulation capabilities, I would want to have 2 in 1 but it's not this price range... I heard many good things about Korg X50, it costs more, over my budget, unless I would delay purchase of speakers for this synth, I don't know wether is worth or not
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
How do you plan to use the synth? What style of music?
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
I will use the synth at home
Music ? As I wrote before, typical synth sounds
something like that http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=bXV4RsEy8b8
and some sounds of instruments like pianos, pads, strings, maybe basses ?
Where I want to use th sounds ? Some heavy stuff (Rammstein) and some metal where you can use strings or pads for example, piano just to play sometimes some classic melodies and practicing too
Typical synth sounds I will use in some dance-likeishstuff, trance, pop-rock
Music ? As I wrote before, typical synth sounds
something like that http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=bXV4RsEy8b8
and some sounds of instruments like pianos, pads, strings, maybe basses ?
Where I want to use th sounds ? Some heavy stuff (Rammstein) and some metal where you can use strings or pads for example, piano just to play sometimes some classic melodies and practicing too

Typical synth sounds I will use in some dance-likeishstuff, trance, pop-rock
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
Well... like I said, you won't get pianos and organs and realistic strings from a VA.
***What Follows is All Opinion!!!***
I've owned both the SH-201 and the Juno-D. They're quite different synths. the 201 is a knobby VA and the JD is an entry-level ROMpler. Of the two, I would own a JD again, but not a 201. It's not that the 201 is such a bad synth, but there are better-sounding and better-built VAs out there, though I think the 201 has a very well-designed and intuitive interface. On the other hand, there is not, in my opinion, a better budget ROMpler, for the price than the JD. Basically, in my opinion, the JD is a better apple than the 201 is an orange.
I only played the X50 when shopping for my first ROMpler a few years ago. I didn't buy it because it didn't impress me as much as the JD, either in build quality, interface or in the kind of acoustic sounds I wanted the ROMpler for. Keep in mind that that's hardly a well-educated opinion, but it was my shopping rationale at the time. The X50's USB is a nice feature, but I wonder if it adds any more functionality than connecting the JD to your computer via MIDI using a USB/MIDI interface.
Consider that a used Juno-G sells for about the same as a new X50 and about $150 more than a used X50. In my opinion, the Juno-G is the best budget ROMpler that I have played, and includes a whole suite of workstation features, like audio recording and sampling and a 16-track sequencer. I have never tried the Alesis Fusion, which is in the same price range as the JG, and has a lot of fans. I have some, but limited experience with the MM6. I had one in my home studio for a few weeks.
***What Follows is All Opinion!!!***
I've owned both the SH-201 and the Juno-D. They're quite different synths. the 201 is a knobby VA and the JD is an entry-level ROMpler. Of the two, I would own a JD again, but not a 201. It's not that the 201 is such a bad synth, but there are better-sounding and better-built VAs out there, though I think the 201 has a very well-designed and intuitive interface. On the other hand, there is not, in my opinion, a better budget ROMpler, for the price than the JD. Basically, in my opinion, the JD is a better apple than the 201 is an orange.
I only played the X50 when shopping for my first ROMpler a few years ago. I didn't buy it because it didn't impress me as much as the JD, either in build quality, interface or in the kind of acoustic sounds I wanted the ROMpler for. Keep in mind that that's hardly a well-educated opinion, but it was my shopping rationale at the time. The X50's USB is a nice feature, but I wonder if it adds any more functionality than connecting the JD to your computer via MIDI using a USB/MIDI interface.
Consider that a used Juno-G sells for about the same as a new X50 and about $150 more than a used X50. In my opinion, the Juno-G is the best budget ROMpler that I have played, and includes a whole suite of workstation features, like audio recording and sampling and a 16-track sequencer. I have never tried the Alesis Fusion, which is in the same price range as the JG, and has a lot of fans. I have some, but limited experience with the MM6. I had one in my home studio for a few weeks.
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
Thanks for a detailed explanation
I will not be able to afford Juno G, second hand one, over here in England...
But at least my mind now is a bit clearer and I'm more likely to choose Juno D
Well it has features which I'm looking for, these simulations of other instruments
Lack of USB is not a problem at all really, MIDI/USB interface will sort it out.
I found Juno D for £307.99 (approx. $458), I am guessing it is a good price for new one
But can also patches be programmed in Juno D like in SH-201 on computer ?
It will be my first synth anyway, so I shouldn't worry too much, after gaining some expirience I will be able to decide wether I want to qo in direction of classic analog synths or stick with modern workstations

I will not be able to afford Juno G, second hand one, over here in England...

But at least my mind now is a bit clearer and I'm more likely to choose Juno D

Well it has features which I'm looking for, these simulations of other instruments
Lack of USB is not a problem at all really, MIDI/USB interface will sort it out.
I found Juno D for £307.99 (approx. $458), I am guessing it is a good price for new one

But can also patches be programmed in Juno D like in SH-201 on computer ?
It will be my first synth anyway, so I shouldn't worry too much, after gaining some expirience I will be able to decide wether I want to qo in direction of classic analog synths or stick with modern workstations
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
I definately suggest the Juno-D aswell. A synth like the 201 would most likely confuse you more than you'd like, since you're brand new to synths. The easiest way is to get a synth with all those sounds you want already in there.
You'll get a filter and effects also. And IF you wanna delve deeper, you can get a different synth later with more "synth" possibilities. But starting at the "deep end" is just off-putting to most newbies.
You'll get a filter and effects also. And IF you wanna delve deeper, you can get a different synth later with more "synth" possibilities. But starting at the "deep end" is just off-putting to most newbies.
Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
And Roland GW-7 is not a synth, right ?
It has not appregiator I think

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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
I have never used, or even seen, a GW-7 in the wild. However, it is a synth. It belongs to a family of synths called "arrangers." These range from glorified home keyboards to sophisticated all-in-one keyboard studios. Typically, they focus on acoustic sounds and tend to have pretty shallow sound-shaping controls. The arrangers I've seen [a friend's EXR-46 and a Casio WK-3300] didn't impress me very much in terms of playability, though the Casio offers great bang for buck [I wouldn't call it a pro synth, though].Mateusz wrote:And Roland GW-7 is not a synth, right ?It has not appregiator I think
The JD does come with patch editing software. I never used it, so I can't comment on how much you actually can edit the patches. If it's anything like the Fantom or JG, there could actually be a fair bit that you can do in software.
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
To be honest I have downloaded Juno D editor to look how it looks like, it seems ok, many options but it looks kinda plain at the same time, and should be full screen too
GW-7 has price around Juno D range... I have a feeling that GW-7 focus more likely on music production and stuff like that rather than synthesis and focusing on narrower sector.

GW-7 has price around Juno D range... I have a feeling that GW-7 focus more likely on music production and stuff like that rather than synthesis and focusing on narrower sector.
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if there's a midi keyboard, for around the money, something like the sonic cell would be a good way to start recording at home.Mateusz wrote:I will use the synth at home
you can plug the guitar to it and start recording, even using the COSM based fx (MFX3) plus other (input, chorus, reverb, mastering) as a live input fx. It also came with the company's Sonar LE software with a plug-in style editor which looks way better than the older editor.Mateusz wrote:I play guitar for over a year. I would like also to connect the synth with a laptop and use software (I assume synth comes with some bundled software)
Mateusz wrote:piano just to play sometimes some classic melodies and practicing too
It has more voices (128 polyphony) for a dense piano part. later you might opt for an 88 keys controller for this task. or add a specific expansion board for piano or dance materials. also in addition to the USB audio/midi interface, there's a separate midi I/O which can be used to control another device.
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
How is it supposed to work ?
A keyboard controller and special software with some simulations for the computer ?
A keyboard controller and special software with some simulations for the computer ?
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
Sonic Cell is a hardware sound module, which can be connected to the pc by a USB cable (functioning as a midi/audio interface) and controlled by a plug-in style editor it comes with. In can be controlled by a keyboard controller from the midi in.Mateusz wrote:How is it supposed to work ?
A keyboard controller and special software with some simulations for the computer ?
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Re: Roland vs Roland ? Eh ?
It is over my budget
Same as Korg X50
It seems like my choice will be down to Juno D or SH-201 eventually...
What about Arturia Analog Factory, seems to be a interesting thing

Same as Korg X50

It seems like my choice will be down to Juno D or SH-201 eventually...
What about Arturia Analog Factory, seems to be a interesting thing
