Advice on buying gear please (Roland JV)

new2gear · Post by **new2gear** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:05 pm

Hi, i've just recently brought a Roland JV1010 sound module and i would like advice on other products that would compliment it well esp for someone new to production looking to have fun.

For example would it be worth getting the TECHNO Sound Expansion Board SR-JV80-11 and Feyfax PhatBoy midi controller. Or are there alternatives worth considering. I've seen a CME UF6 61 Key - Midi Master Controller Keyboard which maybe worth getting.

I already posses a Roland SP808ex sampler and Roland TR626 which were given to me a few years ago but have only now decided to make full use of them. Although the TR ain't great with sounds it will do for now. Plus i've brought a casio midi keyboard as a controller for the JV to get me started.

Any advice/criticisms would be fully appreciated

Post by **Dano** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:39 pm

A MIDI controller keyboard such as the Evolution MK-361C works great with the JV-1010 because all the basic parameters (e.g. filter cut-off, resonance, attack, release, etc.) can be tweaked in real-time with dedicated knobs making the JV-1010 a lot more hands-on. They key is that all 4 layers get tweaked together this way.

I had ordered an Encore Knobby as a way of making the JV-1010 more hands-on but even though it has a JV-1010 template, the Knobby's knobs only control parameters on 1 layer at a time and most JV patches have at least 2 layers and can have as many as 4 layers. I'm guessing that it would be the same with the Phatboy but I don't know that for a fact. If a person were good with MIDI and had the ambition then it would be possible to assign multiple layers of a parameter to a single knob on the Knobby but it would have been more of an undertaking than I wanted.

For a good expansion card choice, it really depends on what kind of music you want to make. IMO, although there are some good waveforms on the Techno card, there are other cards I'd choose before the Techno card for the single expansion that the JV-1010 allows. The Vintage Synths card or the Orchestral I card would be a couple good bets depending on whether you were looking for more synthy waveforms or more acoustic instruments respectively.

new2gear · Post by **new2gear** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:32 pm

thanks for your reply Dano.

reading a further review of Evolution MK-361C and the points you mentioned does makes this controller appealing. do they come up regularly for sale? i live in the UK and have done a few searches put no luck. certainly will have to keep an eye out.

also whilst searching i found a list of sound files on the techno card, going through them exhaustively i can see your reservations. there's more bad than good, although having the drum kits would be good.

i'll have to take a break before going through the other two you mentioned. the Vintage Synths could be the one.

once again, thanks for your help

http://www.youtube.com/user/JMPSynth · Post by **JMP** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:43 pm

new2gear wrote:although having the drum kits would be good.

IMO the Techno and Dance cards do give you the best JV drum kits. If you like the sound of the JV, consider getting yourself a JV1080 to replace it in the future. Usually around £150, will give you four expansion slots rather than just the one I think the JV1010 does.

BTW, the Vintage board is a good choice from the range.

new2gear · Post by **new2gear** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:42 am

JMP wrote:IMO the Techno and Dance cards do give you the best JV drum kits. If you like the sound of the JV, consider getting yourself a JV1080 to replace it in the future. Usually around £150, will give you four expansion slots rather than just the one I think the JV1010 does.

if i'd known more about the equipment and expansion boards beforehand, i probably would of brought a JV1080 as i'm more interested in using hardware than software. thanks for the price guide, it's most definitely worth considering at a later date.

crystalmsc · Post by **crystalmsc** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:11 pm

new2gear wrote:the Vintage Synths could be the one.

that is one of the best card for the JV. coupled with the right controller it will sounds even better. but mind you that it didn't have any drum kit.

new2gear · Post by **new2gear** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:09 pm

crystalmsc wrote:
new2gear wrote:the Vintage Synths could be the one.
that is one of the best card for the JV. coupled with the right controller it will sounds even better. but mind you that it didn't have any drum kit.

i've been listening to the mp3 samples on the Vintage board and they do sound great. i can get the drum kits later if i upgrade to the 1080. for now it's about getting as much fun possible out of my gear whilst i'm still learning.

new2gear · Post by **new2gear** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:46 pm

crystalmsc wrote:coupled with the right controller it will sounds even better.

what controllers should i keep an eye out for? the Evolution MK-361C has been mentioned and i've seen a Keyfax Phatboy available at the moment. are there any others that will work well with the JV series and other modules?