Sound:
I've used the Session, Orch 1, Orch 2, Pop, Super Sound Set, Keyboards of the 60s and 70s, and Vintage Synthesizer boards. These are all great sounding cards that can be used by anyone in any musical situation (be it Hip Hop, Techno, House, Jazz, Folk, Classical, Latin, Celtic, pop, etc.). The Techno board (however) is the first card in the SR-JV series that I find entirely useless. This is the most pre-processed, uninspiring, and inflexible bunch of samples and loops I've ever heard. Honestly, there is nothing here that I'd ever use. The techno library basically consists of a bunch of rhythm section loops and some over-the-top, distorted synthesizer sounds. These are completely useless in any musical genre other than techno and even for techno you'll find better sounds (and more variety) in the Vintage Synthesizer card. This type of card has such limited use that it's just a cash cow for Roland. Sure, a few misguided users will buy this not knowing any better, but come on Roland... you can do (and have done) much better than this. To those looking for sounds to make dance, techno, hip hop, and electronic music I say give the Vintage Synthesizer card a whirl. You'll have to do a wee bit of programming to tweak the sounds for a harder edge, but the results will be astonishingly better and more personal than what is offered by the Techno card. And later (unlike the Techno card), if you chose to play compositions in other styles, you'll find the Vintage Synthesizer card very adaptable.
Feature:
The features are the waveforms and patches and honestly, they are all awful - distorted, pre-processed, and entirely inflexible. If Roland had just included raw, un-treated waveforms, you could use these for Techno and for other styles. As it is, every waveform is so compressed, distorted, and slathered with effects as to be unusable - even in techno music.
Ease of Use:
The card is easy to use. Getting great sounds (or any usable sounds) is almost impossible.
Quality:
Roland expansion boards (like all Roland products) are very reliable.
Value:
The Techno card is not worth any price. In my opinion, this card is worthless. I never use any sounds from this card.
Manufacturer Support:
I've had great support from Roland. The company has returned phone calls, looked up old manuals for me, and provided spare parts.
The Wow Factor:
Like I said in the Value section, the Techno card is not worth any price. In my opinion, this card is worthless. I never use any sounds from this card.
Overall:
If my Techno card were lost or stolen, I'd never buy the Techno card again. The Techno card gets a big thumbs down from me because its waveforms and patches are so limited as to be useless.
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