The XP30 ranks extremely high on the sounds-for-your-dollar chart. Amazing sounds are really what this little beauty is all about. With the XP30 you've got the exact same sound set as on the renowned XP80 workstation, plus all the waveforms from the Session, Techno, and Orchestral expansion boards. That's over 1,400 sounds at your disposal with 64-voice polyphony! Somebody figured that might not be enough sounds for you, so they added a couple of expansion slots so you could add even more. (If you shop around, you'll find that many keyboards in this price range are not expandableÖwhat you buy is all you get!)
And we're not just talking run-of-the-mill stuff hereÖdial up "Raggatronic," for example and be transported into the arpeggiating Future Sound of India! Speaking of arpeggiators, the XP30 has one that's derived from the amazing arpeggiator on the XP80. Four assignable sliders for realtime control of patch parameters, MIDI, 40 excellent effects, and Patch Finder and Phrase Preview functions round out this 61-key powerhouse. If you're an electronic musician of any level and you need a keyboard with great sounds for live performance or as the main controller/sound module for a MIDI studio, this is an excellent and affordable choice.
If you're willing to sacrifice aftertouch, expandability and a lot of sounds, you can save around 50% with the Roland XP10. However, the XP30 is a keyboard that won't be quickly outgrown, if ever. And we think it is the better value of the 2. If you need a sequencer onboard, check out the XP60 or XP80, but if you just want tons of XP sounds at a great price, look no further.
Features
Ý 61-key performance synth with velocity and aftertouch sensitivity
Ý 64-voice polyphony
Ý 1,406 Patches, including all sounds from the "Session," "Orchestral," and "Techno" wave expansion boards
Ý 28 Rhythm kits
Ý 2 expansion slots for installing SR-JV80-Series expansion boards
Ý Advanced Arpeggiator capabilities derived from the XP-60/80
Ý Reverb, Chorus, and 40 multi-EFX
Ý Serial port MIDI interface
Ý 4 assignable Sound Palette sliders
Ý Patch Finder and Phrase Preview for quick navigation and sound selection
Ý SmartMediaÈ card slot provides additional storage
Technical Info
Keyboard: 61 keys (with velocity and channel aftertouch)
Parts: 16 (Part 10: Rhythm Part)
Max. Polyphony: 64 voices
Effects:
EFX: 40, Chorus, Reverb (8 types)
Preset Memory
Patches: 1406 =128 x 5 banks (same as the JV-2080, including 128 GM compatible patches) + 255 from "Session" + 255 from "Orchestral" + 256 from "Techno Collection"
Performances: 64 = 32 x 2 banks, Rhythm Sets: 26 = 2 x 5 banks (same as the JV-2080, incl. 2 GM compatible sets) + 8 from "Session" + 8 from "Techno"
User Memory
Patches: 128, Performances: 32, Rhythm Sets: 2
Wave Expansion Capacity: SR-JV80 Series Wave Expansion Board: 2
External Storage Media: SmartMedia(tm)
Display: 40-character, 2-line backlit LCD
Connectors
Output (L/Mono, R), Phones, MIDI (In, Out, Thru),
Computer IF (Mac/PC-1/PC-2), Control Pedal, Hold Pedal
Power Supply: AC 117V/230V/240V
Dimensions (W x D x H): 39-13/19 x 11-3/8 x 3-1/2 in.
Weight: 17 lbs. 4 oz.
Accessories
CD-ROM, SmartMedia(tm) Card Protector
Options
SR-JV80 Series Wave Expansion Boards, S2M-5/S4M-5 SmartMedia(tm) Card