Roland XV2020 64-Voice Expandable Synthesizer Module

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Half-rack size. USB port.

The XV-2020 64-Voice Expandable Synthesizer Module puts Roland's flagship XV sounds in a convenient half-rack design complete with USB. Expandable via 2 SRX-Series Wave Expansion Boards, it's like a powerful 'plug-in' synth with up to 192MB of sounds, three independent effects processors and intuitive editing software.

Features:

Half-rack synth module with 64MB of XV sounds and USB port

64-voice polyphony and 16-part multi-timbral operation

Presets include 768 Patches, 17 Rhythm Sets and 64 Performances

Expandable via 2 SRX-Series Wave Expansion Boards

USB port for easy MIDI connection and control via software

3 independent effects processors: reverb, chorus and 40 multi-effects

Stereo

Parts: 16

Maximum Polyphony: 64 voices

Wave Memory: 64 M Bytes (16-bit linear equivalent), Waveforms: 1083

Expansion Slot: Wave Expansion Board SRX Series: 2 slots

Memory Patches: 512 (128 x 4 banks) + 256 (General MIDI 2 Patches)

Rhythm Sets: 8 (4 x 2 banks) + 9 (General MIDI 2 Rhythm Sets)

Performances: 64 (32 x 2 banks)

User Memory Patches: 128

Rhythm Sets: 4

Performances: 64

Multi-effects: 40 sets

Chorus: 1 set

Reverb: 1 set (8 types)

Display: 7 segments, 3 characters (LED)

Connectors: Headphones Jack: Stereo

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 323-890-3700

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (65 ratings)
Submitted December 23, 2005 by a customer from aol.com

"The Roland XV-2020 is Composers and Performers gateway to high quality sounds at an entry level price."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
At $600, the XV-2020 will be alot of Performers, Song Writers, and Composers gateway to high quality instruments. I highly recommend the SRX expansions and especially the module itself. There are no better products than the XV-2020 for it's price range.

Sound
The core sounds on this module are pretty decent. The Guitars and Synths are the best, and the Pianos are the worst. For those who want very high quality sounds the SRX expansions, of course, have the best sound quality. If your into Pianos try getting the SRX-11 Ultimate Grand Piano Expansion and install it into the 2020.

Features
Pretty awsome features, more than enough to work with. The problem is in the software, though. It's really buggy and took me a couple weeks to get working on my Windows XP Laptop. Another problem is that you can only really control the synth sounds with a computer. Great for laptops if the software works.

Quality
Onboard effects are just superb as well as some great instruments. There's not much to break on this unit. I had some trouble installing an SRX card at first, but after the second try it worked fine. Overall wonderful quality.

Value
The next product on the Roland line is $1400. This is less than half that price, and you can install 2 SRX expansions. It's the most "worth it" product in it's price range. If you can afford to buy this and an expansion, you won't regret read more it.

Manufacturer Support
Here's a tip, don't let the XV-2020 break. You'll regret contacting the horrible Roland service. The Roland manuals, especially the XV-2020s' are just horrible, but most will be able to work around problems with the module without having to consult the 2020's manual.

The Wow Factor
The unit itself appeals very nicely to my studio and I'm sure it will to others ranging from beginning performer to professional composer. If your a composer thinking of getting a product like Gigastudio, which is the same price as the XV-2020, for movie scoring and classical work I'd say go with the XV-2020 and get the orchestral SRX expansion. If you like to compose or perform Pop/Rock or Ballad tunes go with the XV-2020.

Musical Background:
Composer

Musical Style:
Rock
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