Need advice selecting a module

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lambo
  • Start date Start date
L

Lambo

Banned
Hello all! I have just sold my Quadrasynth and would like to purchase a module and a Roland A-37 controller to replace it (I have $1100 to spend). I have narrowed the module selection down to two, the Kurzweil PC2R and the Roland XV-5050. My problem is, with Mars Music closing it's local store, I have no way of auditioning either module. I was hoping to get some insight from you folks who are familiar with these two. My music genre includes everything with exception of Jazz and Hip-Hop. Neither piece will leave my studio so I am not looking for anything road worthy, just dependable and offer the best bang for the buck. I've never owned a Kurzweil so I'm tempted to go that way but I've read mixed reviews about the PC2 series which unfortunately is all I can afford. I have only read/heard good things about the Roland XV series engine. Please weigh in on this and help me decide.:confused:
 
i've got the xv-3080 and it is great. the sounds are clean and the fx are very good.

i added the JV orchestra card (before the new XV cards came out) so I've got a ton of great quality sounds.
 
I have the Roland XV-5050 and love the sound. It has tons of good piano, strings, and pad sounds as well as all that techno sort of stuff that I don't need. It has more drums kits than you can shake a stick at...assuming it's a small stick and you don't shake it very hard...

It has multiple outputs including SPDIF and can be triggered using USB and MIDI. I have it connected to both SONAR (via USB) and a MIDI keyboard, it has no problem accepting commands from both interfaces simultaneously.
 
Thanks crosstudio and Phyl for the feedback. The Roland XV series engine is hard to beat. I can do without the Techno stuff as well, but do the XV-3080 and/or the XV-5050 have any choir patches?
 
I've run across a couple of patches like "Choir Ahhs" or "Choir Oohs". Some of the other patches also seen to have the "ooh" or "ahh" sound appended after the initial sound dies away.

One of my favorite patches is a piano sound that decays into a sort of string pad thing. I've been using it way too much.:D
 
The XV series doesn't have anything that matches up with the Take Six vocal samples on the Kurzweil, so you have to ask yourself how important that is to you.

On the other hand the XV machines can be loaded up with all kinds of specific expansion cards and contain far more sounds than the Kurzweil, most of them really good sounding. I think Roland has some of the best string samples, as well as excellent electric pianos and clavinets. There is a really nice feature where you can audition just a specific type of sound (like brass, e.g.) - it will pick out all the brass sounds from all the different banks to easily compare and select the one you want.

Except for the vocal patches, i think the XV beats the Kurzweil in most areas.
 
Thanks again for all the feedback. It was a difficult choice but I'm going with the XV-5050. What midi controller do you use? I was going to get the Roland A-37 but having seen the reviews/ratings on the Zzounds website I'm not so sure now.

Phyl-I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Alternative composition you posted. Great job all the way around! I am looking forward to hearing the next one. Please post it when it's complete.
 
Thanks for the comments:D

I'm using SONAR 2.0XL with an Aardvark Q10.

BTW, I noticed you live in Michigan. I grew up in Traverse City.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top