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Roland V-Synth V Synthesizer

The Roland V-Synth opens up a world of new sounds full of life and motion. Imagine a synth that combines multiple oscillator technologies with realtime control of a waveform's pitch, time and formant. Now add user sampling to create entirely new waveforms, powerful COSM filtering, a killer arpeggiator and a host of realtime controllers including the revolutionary TimeTrip Pad. That's the Roland V-Synth: a distinctive new instrument set to inspire those passionate about sound. Be sure to visit the V-Synth Website at www.V-Synth.com. Learn More...

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Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10

Feature:
The twin D-beams and the TT pad can't be beat. Great for live use. The best is being able to filter guitar or vocals through the board.

Quality:
Amazing!! Built like a tank. I haven't had many problems with it and I abuse it.

Value:
Now that the v-synth GT is out the original v-synth has gone way down in price. I thought it was worth the $2000 price tag, but now it is even cheaper so its definatly worth it.

Desirability:
Amazing!! Built like a tank. Whenever I bring it to a recording session everyone wants to see what they can create on it. Looks great on my top tier.

Sound:
If you can think of it you can create it. Some times the sounds that come out of it simply can't be understood they are so amazing.

Ease of Use:
I learn something new every time I turn it on but it is basically self explanatory.

Support:
Roland... love their products but hate their support.

Overall:
Center of my equipment. But it is not a workstation nor a traditional VA synth so it might not be for everyone. But it is sure fun to play.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Feature:
The d beam, time trip pad are amazing. It has all you'd want in a digital synth, plus a lot of powerful sound mangelling capabilities. Each OS update provides you with new stuff to play with like the super saw, tb303 filter, draw on screen modulation maps, powerful arp engine, extremly strong sampling capabilities, full range of effects processing, and various ways to route the patches truely make a unique powerful synth

Quality:
Its built very nice. This does not feel like a toy at all, highly responsive controls and the keys feel really nice

Value:
You compare it to other synths in the same range it is right up there with the big boys. Some have slightly more polyphony, but all the dsp trickery makes up for that.

Desirability:
I don't tell my friends to get one, cuz they are so unique and powerful I like having the cutting edge

Sound:
I have mine hooked up thru and optical port and believe me the sound is flawless. Really nice and crisp and digital. It also adds lots of analog capabilities, infact the d-50 card it comes with changes the sound completly. Whether you are going for bent out of shape harsh digital sounds or really euphoric pads, it accomplishes it easy.

Support:
Incredible community over at the v-tribe forum. I called tech support once and they couldn't figure out my issue, but I resolved it on the forum. They do know what they are talking about, it might be hard to assume how the synth is set up thru its extensive options.

Overall:
Best synth i've seen for a while. Truely new innovative product. Can do all the typical analog sounds, and also gives you a world of new sounds to explore, and the exploration process is rewarding and exciting

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
It isn't a workstation so don't compair it to one. Some guy was complaining about it not being able to sequence. ITS NOT THAT TYPE OF BOARD!

Quality:
There is a few pixles that are messed up on the screen but other then that it is solid.

Value:
I got it way below what they sell for. But even without any discounts it is well worth it.

Desirability:
Its big and black and has lots of things for the hands to tweak and press.

Sound:
If you can think it. It can create it. I do really crazy techno on my own and I play in a "jazz". Its just hard to not twist the nobs while playing in the jazz band. If I only did the jazz I wouldn't get this board but it is most righteous for techno.

Support:
Roland support is very good. Haven't had to use it for my v-synth but for my Fantom I have had to call them up a few times, but they were friendly and more or less solved the problem. (they replaced it) thats the fantom though. Never have had a problem with the v-synth

Overall:
Mind blowing. If you do any type of music that needs mind bending sounds look no further. If you need workstation buy a Fantom. Overall Roland is a great company and this is a truly unique board that makes me drool everytime I push down a key.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10

Feature:
Features are awesome- too many to list- time trip pad is sick- the only other thing I have ever seen like the time trip pad was in some software- but thats no god for hands on live use- and also the d50 card is cool- I know you cant use the v synths major luxerie functions when using the card- but I'd rather have a card handy than lug around a another keyboard to shows.

Quality:
Built like a tank. I don't know why this dude from ireland keeps bashing the board- nothing he talks about has been a problem on my board- this guy is on every sight I go to buy gear- I think he's looking for fualts and flaws- yeah the board is kinda beta- but it's cutting edge- nothing like it out so far- it's not meant to be a VA- it's meant to mangle and reverse engineer sounds- give it a break!

Value:
Worth every pennie- if you can afford it.

Desirability:
Sex appeal huh? hmmm- i bet it could get you laid if you showed it to some groupies- it's streamline and black and makes crazy sounds- lots of knobs to twist- very visually stimulating.

Sound:
it will mangle until unrecognizable- only limited to your skill of programming- I have caught it stairstepping once in a great while- but it's not a real analog- you can abuse any synth and make it step- over all this is the best sounding and most creative synth I have ever owned.

Support:
Im gonna give it a middle rating for support- I can't say that it is good or bad- i havent neede them- which I suppose is good.

Overall:
I'll be satisfied until something else pushes the envelope farther- no pun intended.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Sound:
Awesome sound. Sounds unique and very bright and deep. Some presets are a tad cheesy but with a little tweaking...No regrets on my purchase.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Support:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10

Feature:
Still some Major issues to be resolved 1) There is no option create a new! blank project (currently NEW PROJECT only duplicates the existing project) Most real software would give you the following.. Save (save current file/project) Save As (save current file/project under a new name) New (create new blank file/project) the v-synth does not allow either. 2) When you load a project from flash or micro drive it uses up all available memory leaving no room for further editing by loading all patches and samples directly in to all available RAM instead of only loading patch currently in use. 3) Internal partials cannot be selected from any internal list even though they exist in ROM, your forced to load them all in to the limited ram of the v-synth before you can select them from any list, once again using up all available RAM of the v-synth leaving no further room for editing. 4) when you choose to WRITE PATCH, if this patch has been created using a newly created wav, the v-synth does not save the wav automaticaly so if you switch off after saving patch, when you come to load that patch, it will not work because the wav is missing. The following is also a VERY serious bug which renders the v-synth useless as a performace synth (i have sent to his roland uk) when you switch from patch to patch you would expect each patch to re-initialize the v-synth to accommodate the next patch settings. Logically, switching from patch 1 to patch 2 should initialize all controllers and settings to Zero and then read the current patch settings and apply these new commands to the vsynth. The vsynth is NOT! re-initializing all ctr commands in this manner when switching from patch to patch. The effect is a serious one, (explained in a momment) It means if a patch has sent specific ctr commands that effect playback of its sound in the current patch, these settings are not reset when you select another patch, which means your beautiful string ensembles, which you have just switched to on patch 50 after coming from patch 20 now sound like random noise. The following will recreat the bug mentioned... The best way to demonstrate this BUG rather than recreate the patch that causes the problem is to do as follows... find a nice patch, like strings or pads and play with it and remember how it sounds open the arpegiator using this patch and choose step record start playing a sequence until it is full now set playback mode for this arppegiator to phrase now select Real Record on the arpegiator. assuming knob 1 (C1) has been assigned a cntr command, start moving it from left to right you will notice these commands will be sent to the arpegiator window. when your happy with what you hear choose stop Using the up down cursor keys highlight the line where the CTRL command has been entered it usually has either 1 or 2 in the next row. highlight the next colum so the cursor is over the value 1 or 2 now choose hold on the arpegiator and press a key on the keyboard. the arpegiator starts playing and you see the play area move from left to right. Now start moving the Scroll wheel to increase up and down the value in the Note/CC colum and notice how the sound changes keep doing this for a few bars until the current sound probably does not make any sense or stops playing. Exit the arpegiator (do not save or write the patch) and try other patches some if not all, will no longer sound correct or as they should try going back to your original patch. Logic dictates that unless you have saved a patch after editing, moving from patch 1 which you have edited to patch 2 and back to patch 1 you loose all previous edits and patch 1 is now as it originally was with no changes. You will find that if you now go back to your original patch it too no longer sounds like strings. This all goes to show the V-synth is not re-initializing correctly on patch selection

Quality:
Well made yes

Value:
its comming down in price

Desirability:
my experience so far would suggest if i had not bought it i would wait till version 5 of the OS or mark-II

Sound:
sound is limited by your imagination

Support:
Roland do not have any user support or feedback port and also remove there forum that they had due to the bad feedback about the useless OS no multitiberal and no layering ir split key.

Overall:
Now that i have it i will use it untill something better comes along or if the OS has a major! overhall then i may change my mind.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Lots of filters and other progam features. For live performance, this thing is killer. For tweaking to get your own unique timbres, there is simply no contest with anything else out there. If you want to sound likeyourslef and no one else, this is the synth to get.

Quality:
Built like a tank.

Value:
Expensive but worth it.

Sound:
Lets you import any wave file you have and tweak the hell out of it. I love taking a drum loop and putting it into a patch that turns the drums into gitar sounds. I have not even scatched the surface of this synth and it has far surpassed the capability of any other synth I own (and I have several).

Support:
Roland is no better than anyone else as far as support is concerned. However, there is an active V-Synth web group and there ahve been several OS updates since I have owned the synth that have enhanced the valuse of the machine.

Overall:
I would have to replace this machin if it was stolen or damaged. Nothing else lets me so easily come up with sounds that are mine alone and lets me play them with a real keyboard.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Feature:
The interface is a gem, no doubt about it. It is the best, most intuitive I have seen. 24 note polyphony is better than one might suspect. The only missing component for me is the lack of layering. For others it might be its eccentric multitimbral implementation.

Quality:
Tank-like. Nice keyboard. Very supersonic looking!

Value:
A bit too pricey but it is innovative and well-built.

Sound:
This synth sounds great! It is NOT a traditional ROMpler and if you want emulative, imitative sounds, there are far better machines. If you want something new, however, this is a fine synth. The factory sounds are surprisingly weak but with any real effort, they can be vastly improved. If you want out of the box, maxi-pleasure, this is not the synth for you.

Support:
Weak website. Mainly a promo outlet.

Overall:
Not for everybody but a match will yield love and devotion.

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