Shreddy
04-19-2004, 12:56 PM
Well I was at the local Guitar Center and I spent about 2 hours checking out some boards. I messed around with the Motif ES, Triton Extreme, and the Fantom S88 and X6. They didn't have an X8 on the floor so here is my initial thoughts of the X6.
Build: Roland has always made solid items, the large color screen being angled up shouldn't be a problem provided your using a good case with protection. If you don't have a hard case I wouldn't put anything on top of the board when transporting it. The semi-weighted keys didn't feel all that great, compared to the Triton Extreeme's plastic keys. Its definitely playable though, not the worst, not the best.
Layout: the layout is pretty clean for the most part. It took some time trying to get used to the display interface, still didn't figure out a few things. The pads are on the right side, not sure if I like them there or on the left. I could see using them to start sequences or samples for song intros, sound effects, or operatic vocal lines. Let me tell you that color display is smacks you right in the face, its pretty awesome.
Tones: Being used to my XV loaded with expansion cards (4000+ patches) I was feeling a bit let down by the overall number of patches but then again this board was not expanded. The quality of the tones were rather nice many of them were using updated samples such as the new piano patch which uses over 350 samples (4 per key). The COSM effects always please the ear. I spent more time going through the interface and gadgetry of board rather than the tones, there is only so much time you can spend at a Guitar Center.
Extras:
The color display, where to start. Well I found a screen where you could import a BMP and set it as your background which was really freaking cool. When you select a category of instruments there was a color picture of that instrument. When your in the effects you get pictures of a rack effects proc. In performance mode you have a full view of the 16 tracks with sliders, its almost like looking at your screen in Sonar. The use of colors really impressed me because so much additional information can be displayed, peak levels (red) on meters, selected items highlighted, etc.. There was a very cool option for live performances. You set up a live parameter and it allows you to import TXT files to display on your screen. I could just think of putting down notes to songs, info about patches or have it say "my bassist is a dork" etc..
Controllers:
Standard controllers, assignable knobs, the stick was ok didn't feel as good as my XV88 but then again this was the 61 key version not the 88. The Pads are like the Karma pads linked to samples and other stuff, there is a bit you can program to them. One patch had a drum pattern linked to the D-Beam as a Start / Stop, which opens up lots of cool things.
All in all I want one even though there are other boards out there with the same options (almost). If I was to get one it would probably be a X7 to save on the weight, dunno depends on how much more the X8 weighs compared to my XV88.
Build: Roland has always made solid items, the large color screen being angled up shouldn't be a problem provided your using a good case with protection. If you don't have a hard case I wouldn't put anything on top of the board when transporting it. The semi-weighted keys didn't feel all that great, compared to the Triton Extreeme's plastic keys. Its definitely playable though, not the worst, not the best.
Layout: the layout is pretty clean for the most part. It took some time trying to get used to the display interface, still didn't figure out a few things. The pads are on the right side, not sure if I like them there or on the left. I could see using them to start sequences or samples for song intros, sound effects, or operatic vocal lines. Let me tell you that color display is smacks you right in the face, its pretty awesome.
Tones: Being used to my XV loaded with expansion cards (4000+ patches) I was feeling a bit let down by the overall number of patches but then again this board was not expanded. The quality of the tones were rather nice many of them were using updated samples such as the new piano patch which uses over 350 samples (4 per key). The COSM effects always please the ear. I spent more time going through the interface and gadgetry of board rather than the tones, there is only so much time you can spend at a Guitar Center.
Extras:
The color display, where to start. Well I found a screen where you could import a BMP and set it as your background which was really freaking cool. When you select a category of instruments there was a color picture of that instrument. When your in the effects you get pictures of a rack effects proc. In performance mode you have a full view of the 16 tracks with sliders, its almost like looking at your screen in Sonar. The use of colors really impressed me because so much additional information can be displayed, peak levels (red) on meters, selected items highlighted, etc.. There was a very cool option for live performances. You set up a live parameter and it allows you to import TXT files to display on your screen. I could just think of putting down notes to songs, info about patches or have it say "my bassist is a dork" etc..
Controllers:
Standard controllers, assignable knobs, the stick was ok didn't feel as good as my XV88 but then again this was the 61 key version not the 88. The Pads are like the Karma pads linked to samples and other stuff, there is a bit you can program to them. One patch had a drum pattern linked to the D-Beam as a Start / Stop, which opens up lots of cool things.
All in all I want one even though there are other boards out there with the same options (almost). If I was to get one it would probably be a X7 to save on the weight, dunno depends on how much more the X8 weighs compared to my XV88.