8 KEYBOARD PLAYER ISSUE 305 IN-DEPTH ROLAND E-80 REVIEWroland-arranger.com/media/kunena/attachments/910/... · referring, of course, to Yamaha's course, either from Roland or from

ON E o f t h e m o s t buttons, some grey, some black and higher quality keyboard than you i m p r e s s i v e some translucent ones that light up. would normally find, more like the p r o f e s s i o n a l The panel layout is basically that of Fatar series found in some of the k e y b o a r d s t o b e the G-70, with the same big colour best synths and cont ro l le r launched in recent LCD screen with its bank of keyboards. Alas, the E-80 doesn't

years has to be Roland's G-70, well sliders/drawbars underneath. Of have this, but the Roland keyboard it it certainly impressed me! You can course the big difference is the fact does have is up there with the best find my original in-depth reviews in there are now built-in speakers at of the rest, featuring both velocity issues 285 and 286. The company either end of the rear of the main response and aftertouch. It feels then went on to update the panel. The addition of these has good and plays well.instrument quite significantly for its made the E-80 a rather deep Right then, time to start trying Mk II version, and this was covered instrument from front to back, and things out and it doesn't take much in Issue 298. It was referred to I'm not sure if you'll find a suitable to work out that the G-70 and E-80 colloquially by staff of some Roland carrying bag just yet. Don't worry are very closely related indeed. My dealers as being a 'Tyros basher', though, one will appear in due first thought, a slightly cynical one referring, of course, to Yamaha's course, either from Roland or from a perhaps, was that the E-80 is merely top-of-the-line keyboard. The third party like BCK. a G-70 with built-in speakers and a comparison is not quite fair as the G- The E-80 is also a rather heavy shorter, 61-note, keyboard. That 70 is very much a pro instrument, keyboard, so you'll need a sturdy actually isn't the case, but there's an with 76 keys and no amplification, stand to put it on. You could use a awful lot of common ground whereas the Tyros and Tyros2, good quality double-braced stand between the two keyboards, so although they have no amplification or, as in the case of the review much so that I'm going to refer you either, are intended more as home instrument, put it on Yamaha's stand back to my previous reviews for instruments. (Yes, I know they get made for the Tyros! I do happen to some of the nitty-gritty detail. Back used professionally as well, but I know, though, that Roland is issues are still available and the don't think that was the market producing a proper matching stand, articles themselves are also Yamaha was really aiming at.) which may well be available by the available for download from our

Now Roland has launched a time you read this. website www.keyboardplayer.com. new instrument aimed at bringing The Perspex music desk for the This article will be a bit of a recap, the sounds and features of the G-70 E-80 (a bit on the small side as but will concentrate on what's new specifically to the home market. It's always seems to be the case for any and different in the E-80.called the E-80 and, after a couple of manufacturer these days!) clips into Roland quotes the Wave ROM false starts, I finally caught up with, the rear of the keyboard. This is capacity of the E-80 as being 1 at Bonners in Eastbourne once quite usual for this class of Gigabit, a clever use of the 'giga' again. instrument but, given the front to prefix to give a big impression

The E-80 is an impressive back depth, it does put the music a maybe. There are eight bits to a looking instrument. It's big, finished bit further away than normal. byte, and that means that if you do in grey and silver, with plenty of The G-70 was blessed with a the maths, you get a figure of 128

8 KEYBOARD PLAYER ISSUE 305

ROLAND E-80IN-DEPTHREVIEW

Andrew Gilbert finds that Roland's new flagship keyboard, the E-80 priced at £2,499, not only looks

and sounds good but is user-friendly too

This review first appeared in Keyboard Player October 2006 and is reproduced here with permission of the publishers. For further information go to www.keyboardplayer.com

megabytes, compared to the G-70's 192. This is reflected in the fact that there are, according to the specifications, nearly 500 fewer sounds on board. Worry not, however, as the G-70 was intended to be backwards compatible with the e x t e n d e d G S s o u n d s e t ( p r e s u m a b l y t o p l a y b a c k professional MIDI files) and that accounts for most of the difference. As all of those sounds were quite 'old' in character and, in any case, the E-80 is still GS/CM2 and XG compatible, they're something that you won't really miss.

You still have some 1,100 sounds to play with on board the E-80 and a fair number of these are brand new. The first one you'll come across is the Natural Piano as it's the power-up sound. There was nothing at all wrong with the Fantom-X piano found on the G-70, but this one has an even better sound, and I guess that, in line with Roland's very sensible strategy of taking some of the best sounds from various instruments in its ranges and 'spreading them around', this one comes from its digital home pianos. It certainly wouldn't be out of place in that type of instrument.

You also get the RD Piano, from Roland's professional range, as well as a whole raft of electric and electronic pianos, my favourites still being the superb Wurlitzers and the twangy CP80 style electro-acoustic. Organs now include some really biting Hammond sounds like B3 Sermon, though the pipe organ sounds are a little on the weak side, which is a bit surprising given the Roland/Rodgers heritage.

The 'V-Guitars' of the G-70 have been replaced with some 'Natural' equivalents. It does seem a little curious that Roland has given some of its sounds identical names to those on Yamaha instruments, but maybe that's another piece of marketing strategy. In any case, these natural voices are very good indeed and better than the sounds that they have replaced. As you might expect, there are a lot of guitar sounds of all types on board and I have to say that they are all in the 'good to excellent' category, especially newcomers like Clean Electric and some of the Jazz Guitars.

However, there is, very surprisingly, still no pedal steel, no country guitar and no Hawaiian guitar. What are all the C&W fans going to play with the country styles,

KEYBOARD PLAYER ISSUE 305 9

Roland has launched a new instrument aimed at bringing the sounds and features of the G-70 specifically to the home market

I have to ask? Although the E-80 has even a 'version 1' at all! Why not two expansion slots for voice cards have all the trumpets, trombones, like the SR-G01, which does feature saxes etc all grouped together. an excellent pedal steel guitar, I'd Having spoken to a few dealers and have thought that, given the fact staff, they agree, so it's not just me that Roland has changed the getting on my soapbox! instrument's voicing elsewhere, this You can, like the G-70, layer up sort of oversight would have been to three sounds on either side of a corrected. user-definable split point or, if you

Moving on, we find excellent don't use the split, up to six sounds sounds in every category, though it at once. Either way, it adds up to has to be said there are quite a few some very power fu l , deep more bland sounds as well. None ensembles and 128-note polyphony that are ever remotely near 'poor', means that you won't have any but just weak in comparison with the problems in that area.best on offer here. I made the same The styles are the other main observations with the G-70 and, area that's had a real makeover, given the 'home' nature of the E-80, both in the styles themselves and in it's perhaps a pity that Roland didn't the way that they work. Okay, you take the opportunity to borrow some might think that the inclusion new of the voicing from the Atelier series styles per se isn't that dramatic, organs at times here. The String perhaps, but when you listen to the sections include the powerful Stereo standard of the newcomers you Strings and an excellent Strings plus abundant synth lead and pad might just wish to think again! As Choir combination but is let down by sounds, or the drums and SFX. well as what I term 'generic' styles, the absence of a soft violin or a good Trust me when I say that there are Roland has taken the opportunity to cello. The X-Violin is just too zingy some superb sounds here too, with almost customise some styles for for anything other than classical plenty of newly voiced drumkits, particular tunes.'fireworks' or maybe some lively some deep, rich 'moving' pads Just read the name and hit the j azz . Cho i r s abound , w i th (rather like Korg's) and some intro (you always have a choice of newcomers including 'Fem Mm', i.e. powerful lead solo synths. Names four, from very simple to very female humming! It's a good sound, are not so meaningful as with complex) and you'll often be in no as is the main Stereo Choir and traditional voices, but there are doubt as to what's coming up. Roland's trademark Jazz Scat clues in the names of some of them Sunshine Bossa and Sunny Pop? sound. that give away their origins. Think Stevie Wonder! As for Angel

Not much change in the big Of course the E-80 has the Ballad, just think of Robbie Williams band section, I'm pleased to say, same 'Harmonic Bars' as the G-70 and so it goes on. The sisters in with all my favourites like Blow Alto and with nine real sliders, properly Sister Pop are the Pointer Sisters still there! Alas, Roland hasn't taken colour-coded as per Hammond's and Radio is of the Ga-ga variety for heed of my advice to take a few drawbars, any players who, like me, all Queen fans. Dark Rock will more samples on voices like are organists at heart, will be delight all Darkness devotees and Romantic Trumpet. All of the delighted with the sounds that can Countdown Rock is definitely 'the trumpets that feature naturally be created and the way that the final', if you get my meaning.sampled vibrato suffer from the fact drawbar system works. You can add On the lighter side, Blue Pop,

nd rdthat the vibrato is incredibly slow in despite its unusual intro, seems to percussion at 2 and 3 harmonics, the instruments' lower ranges, settle neatly into Neil Diamond's add the old B3 style vibrato, and rendering them almost unusable Song Sung Blue and Breaky Pop is then add a very good rotary effect, there. Given the quality of the perfect for Achy Breaky Heart (pity controlled by an on-screen 'leslie sounds themselves, that's a great about that missing country guitar half-moon' switch or an assignable pity. then!). There are plenty more to panel button or even a footswitch

Again, the 'V' series voices, choose from in all categories. Add option. Don't forget that you can add taken no doubt from the earlier VA these to the best of what the G-70 these organ sounds to some of the series keyboards, have been had to offer and you're almost spoilt already good organ voices (or replaced with newer and better for choice. indeed to any other sounds) for sounds, like the new prime Other favourites for me include some great combinations.Trombone. Other woodwinds Cool Live Band, Big Apple Swing Overall, despite a few bland include the 'Folk' variety, with their (for New York, New York), Jimmy's sounds and some omissions, you'll lively natural vibrato, along with a Groove (for The Cat) and Mustang find yourself delighted with the great Jazz Clarinet (more Benny Blues (for Sally, obviously!). There's voicing on the E-80. What may Goodman than Acker Bilk!) and a also a 'simple' selection of very frustrate you, however, is the totally lyrical Flute Vibrato, but again there useable middle-of-the-road styles. random order that the voices are are tame sounds too, like the Oboe, These are deliberately styled not to found in. I've made this point in English Horn and Bassoon. be tune-specific or fancy. In these several Roland reviews now and I'd Compare them with some of the days of no-frills airlines and even really love someone to answer it. wonderful winds to be found in the cruises, these could be thought of Why are the sounds so mixed up? In Ethnic section, for example the as no-frills styles. If you want a basic some sections there's a 'version 2' amazing Uillean Pipes. waltz, for example, then Simple of a voice a couple of screens before

I won't go through all the Slow Waltz is the one for you.'version 1', and in others there isn't

Any players

who, like me,

are organists

at heart, will be

delighted with

the sounds that

can be created

and the way

that the drawbar

system works

10 KEYBOARD PLAYER ISSUE 305

Whatever style you choose, you stand out more prominently in the will change notes to follow and you can't help but be impressed with the mix. All the E-80 styles have been can play in a finger-picking style by way they've been programmed. 'studio mastered', meaning that simply tapping the notes relating to Roland has employed a team of these features have been applied the desired strings. It's brilliantly experts for this task and it certainly already in the factory, but having the simple and simply brilliant! The black shows. You get eight-part, high freedom to alter things makes the keys in between these notes add in quality arrangements all the way style section even better. some basic chord strums, as well as and, like all the best styles around Chord input can be in Fingered, giving instant access to the root and these days, they simply wrap Single-Fingered or 'Intelligent' fifth notes of the chord.themselves around your playing, modes, this last one being similar to The keys to the right of these partly a result of what Roland calls the Lowrey/Kawai system. One 'strings' add a selection of strumming Adaptive Chord Voicing. This relates finger gives you a major chord, effects, again all based on the chord

rdany chord played to the previous one being played and its inversion. adding a minor 3 makes it minor, th thand smoothes out unwanted jumps These vary from very simple down or adding a 7 makes it 7 and so on.

in accompaniment lines. up strums, to down and up variations This is a great stepping-stone Now I mentioned that there were that are keyed when you press and between single fingered and

some differences to the way that the release the keys. There are slow fingered chords, as it offers the best styles worked and this has to do with strums, muted strums and even of both. There's a button, duplicated what you can do when you start 'knocks' to choose from. Again, this is with a footswitch option, that plays a tweaking them a bit. I'm not talking all just brilliant. It takes a little thought bass line or line based on the lowest r e - a r r a n g i n g t h e p a t t e r n s to get the very best out of Guitar note of the chord played, but no themselves, though that is, of Mode, but even a novice will be 'artificial intelligence' mode, as per course, possible assuming you have playing 'virtual guitar' to a good Yamaha, that allows for more the required musical abilities. No, standard in a few minutes. You can unusual chords and inversions to be what I'm talking about is revoicing choose between electric and played with anything between two and rebalancing the existing styles, acoustic guitar sounds and there are and five fingers.something that Roland terms Style plenty of adjustments to get the exact I'm pleased to say that the E-80 Make-Up. The E-80 has three effect that you want. Although it was has the fantastic Guitar Mode of the dedicated DSP effects units that can perhaps a feature aimed at the semi-G-70 MkII so let me recap on this be applied to certain tracks on each pro, it's worth its weight in gold for the quite innovative feature. Guitar style, shown in the Style Make-Up home player who likes guitar as well Mode transforms parts of the melody screen. So, if that guitar needs a bit as keyboard.section of the keyboard into a virtual of tap delay echo or you want to Controlling a keyboard like the guitar. Six of the white keys thicken up that brass section with a E-80 is all-important, and the immediately to the right of the split touch or chorus, it's easy to do and instrument has the same bank of point now represent the strings of a the keyboard can, of course, presets as the G-70. There are eight guitar, the notes that they play being remember what you've done. panel memories and multiple banks determined by the chord you're

You also have independent EQ of these can be stored to the playing. Depending on the inversion on every track of a style, handy for keyboard's internal memory or on to and position of your left-hand chord, giving the drums a bit more punch or a floppy or memory card. There are you'll select a low or high version of for making an accompaniment line dedicated Up/Down buttons to step the guitar chord. The virtual strings

12 KEYBOARD PLAYER ISSUE 305

through these, as well as the ability was a USB B connection for a host to do the same thing with a PC or Mac, there was still no USB A footswitch, and the keyboard will, if socket at the front of the instrument desired, step from button 8 in one for a memory stick or pen drive. At bank to button 1 in the next and so the back of the instrument there is a on. PCMCIA, or Cardbus, socket and

Then there 's the Music you can connect a micro-drive or Database, where you can choose Mark Jenkins looked at last month. SmartMedia card to this, albeit via from a large number of song titles, T h e n t h e r e ' s t h e an adaptor, but this route is one, a some real, others slightly cryptic sequencer/recorder, which is a full tad expensive and two, a bit of a (though not as cryptic as Yamaha's) 16-track unit that can operate either pain due to the socket's location. It's and have the keyboard instantly set as an easy to use Quick Recorder or alright on a pro instrument, perhaps, itself up ready for play. Examples on as a fully featured system with but not so hot for home use.the review instrument included comprehensive editing facilities. It's Lastly, I come to the audio Bridge Over Water, White Pale and easy enough to operate and the only quality of the instrument. The output Are U Lonely Night, which are pretty real drawback is that detailed track- is stated as being 35W + 35W plus much obvious! I unfortunately can't by-track editing is carried out in list 12W + 12W, in a bi-amped system. give you any more firm information edit mode. The E-80's sequencer That means that the treble and bass on the actual contents of this will also play SMFs, of course, and speakers on each side are driven database, as this instrument was Roland's well-tried DisCover independently. Added to that, the factory-set for 'International' use. 'rearranging' options are available bass speakers use a bass reflex Roland UK was just finalizing the to tweak, bend or totally transform a system. You also have Speaker required software for the UK version song. A new twist on this is that if you Modelling, whereby you can as I carried out the review, and this tweak an SMF using DisCover on simulate various amp and speaker should be ins ta l led in the the E-80, you can write the changes combinations, everything from a instruments by the time you read back to the SMF, so you can play the 'boom box' to a transistor radio, if this. In any case, Roland dealers will new version on other equipment. you like. You then have an electronic be able to quickly update any E-80 Karaoke style lyrics can be bass enhancement system to go that hasn't been supplied with the shown on the screen and, with the physical bass reflex UK data. The software update, remembering that there's an RGB system. incidentally, also applies to the four video output for a TV or monitor, With all this going on it's One-Touch settings for each and karaoke nights are back on the surprising that I have to say that, every on-board style, and many of menu! Having mentioned this, I'll tell although the audio quality is always these have been tweaked to better you that, given the E-80's large crystal clear, it's not as loud as I suit the UK market. I've been told by inbuilt colour screen, Roland has would have expected given the people at Roland that they're taken the chance to equip the power ratings and, more importantly confident that these updates will keyboard with a complete Text and perhaps, there just isn't enough further enhance the performance of Image Viewer. The keyboard is able bass response. I turned the volume the E-80 for UK customers. to import and show both and image up, altered the EQ, speaker

No Roland keyboard would be files, in .txt and .bmp formats modelling and bass enhancement complete without the D-Beam respectively, and by connecting it up and it still didn't do it. At this stage I controller, and the E-80 is no to that external monitor, can easily decided to make a couple of 'real exception. A Roland exclusive for display text, lyrics, photos and life' comparisons, just to ensure that many years now, it uses an infrared slideshows. the Mk I ears weren't going flaky! beam of light and a sensor. You pass At the back of the E-80 you'll First, I compared the audio with your hand through the light beam to find a plethora of connections. We'll another keyboard in the same class control various effects triggering start with quarter-inch stereo audio of instrument, also on its own anything from DJ sounds, like outputs and outputs, stereo line speakers. No contest, for the other scratches, cuts, and vinyl noise, to inputs, a mike input (using a instrument was both louder and its var ious sound e f fec ts and combined quarter-inch jack and bass much more pronounced. instrumental riffs. It's a fun feature to XLR connector) and audio output for Secondly, I hooked up the E-80 to a use, but takes a fair bit of trial and the vocal harmonist. Then there are small Roland system comprising a error to get right. the MIDI ports, a USB B port, and subwoofer and two satellites. What

Let's briefly recap on some of effects and sustain pedal sockets, a difference, all that 'missing' bass is the other features carried over from plus that video output. The floppy actually there in the keyboard's the G-70 to the E-80, starting with drive is at the front along with the sound itself, so it must be the actual the Vocal Harmonist. This takes the headphones sockets. amp and speaker setup that's

lacking somehow. I doubt if this is mike input or line input, then When it comes to data storage, something that's going to be processes it, adds all sorts of extra the Flash Memory on board common to other E-80 keyboards; harmonies and finally adds DSP (described in the blurb as a Solid it's much more likely that there was effects. You can select the gender of State Disk) is actually more some sort of fault with the review the input voice and then choose generous than the G-70 at 64MB, model as it's very, very unusual to from a wide range of small or larger though 24MB is taken up with find anything like this sort of problem vocal ensembles. You can then factory-loaded data. That should be on any Roland instrument. All I can pitch-correct and add vibrato, if enough for a heck of a lot of user say is that you'll have to check this needed. You can build up ensemble settings, styles and edited sounds. out for yourself when you test drive effects and even make the more As for external storage, I was the keyboard at your local dealer.robotic vocoder type of sounds that surprised to find that, although there

KEYBOARD PLAYER ISSUE 305 13

The E-80 takes all that was good in the G-70 and then adds some

more for good measure

Summing up time, then. The E- and easy-to-use operating system, the bigger Korgs, perhaps, but if 80 takes all that was good in the G- is great too. There aren't too many you're after a keyboard of this 70 and then adds some more for negatives, just the odd bland sound calibre, you simply must make sure good measure. The list of positive or style, that crazy, haphazard to put the E-80 on your list.points goes on and on. The sounds ordering of the voices and the lack of are, on the whole, very good and a USB stick socket, really. some are just stunning. As for the As for the overall sound you can Roland UK Ltd, Atlantic Close, styles, they're some of the best produce, it's up there with the best, Swansea Enterprise Park, you'll find. The way the keyboard despite my reservations about the Swansea, West Glamorgan SA7 works, with its colour touch screen, bass-light audio quality. It's firmly up 9FJ. Tel: 0845 1305909 (brochure music database, panel memories against the likes of the Tyros2 and line). Web: www.roland.co.uk.

CONTACT

14 KEYBOARD PLAYER ISSUE 305

Keyboard: 61 keys velocity sensitive with aftertouch level (Min Max). Harmonic Bar effects: Rotary, Vibrato, Sound Source: Polyphony: max. 128. Tones: 1,100 Overdrive. Registrations: 8 sets panel tones, 54 Drums kits, dedicated EQ for each Vocal Harmonist: 4 Modes: Talk, Voice-FX, Auto Pitch, Oscillator (on Realtime/Style/Song parts) and for each Singer. Programmable Harmony: 3 Types (30 Small, 30 drum instrument on Styles and Songs. SRX Expansion Ensemble, 24 Vocoder). Control possibility: Realtime, on Board slots: 2 (for SRX series and SR-G01). Multitimbral 16-Track Sequencer, via MIDI IN parts: 32. Realtime Effect Processors: 12 Reverbs, 6 Music Assistant: unlimited number (approx. 580 as Chorus, 84 Multi-FX; Mastering Tool section: Parametric preloaded factory data), programmable. EQ, Multi-Band Compressor. Harmonic Bar section: User Program registrations: unlimited number, 144 Rotary, Vibrato and Overdrive; External Audio Input: 84 User Program links on each set effects; Mic Input section: Noise Gate, Compressor, 9 Data Storage: FDD: 3.5” 2HD/2DD. Internal SSD (Solid Reverb, 9 Delay; Vocal Harmonist section: 9 Reverb, 9 State Disk): 64MB (approx. 24MB as preloaded factory Delay, 9 Chorus. Style/Song Effect Processors: Reverb: data). PC Card Slot: 1 PCMCIA slot for: Microdrive (1inch 8 Reverb; Chorus section: 8 Chorus; 3 x MFX section: 84 hard disk dr ive)*,Compact Flash*, Memory Multi-FX; Mastering Tool section: Parametric EQ, Multi- Stick*,SmartMedia**using Card adaptor*the E-80 Band Compressor. Compatibility: GM2, GS, XG Lite system manages up to 4 GBytes of the above storage Styles: Presets: more than 350 in 12 families. Style Media. Type of files managed: Style, Song (.mid /.kar Variations: 4 Main, 4 Intro, 4 Ending, 6 Fill-In, Break Mute files), User Program, User Program set, MIDI Set, Play on ASSIGN SW. Sync Start/Sync Stop. User Style List, File.txt, File.bmp Composer: 8 Tracks with Micro editing, Piano Roll Other functions: Guitar Mode for Acoustic and Electric editing, Guitar Mode Programming, SRX tones selection. Guitars, with Stereo Doubling function. Finder: Song, Direct Media Link. One Touch Setting: 4 for each style Style, User Program. Easy Setting: Arranger, Organ, with customization Guitar, Piano. Chord Alteration System: Adaptive Chord Cover: For Songs and Styles, 30 All, 18 Drum, 24 Bass Voicing. Melody Intelligent: 18 Types, Melody Intelligent Makeup Tools easy editing: For Songs and Styles with 2nd Tone customization. New dynamic split function (two SRX/SR-G01 tones selection; Makeup Tools Freeze modes). Tap Tempo. Transpose with Singer Key Adapter Data function; Independent 3-band EQ (with Q) (-6 ~ +5). Song Chord Extractor. Fade In/Out management for each instrument (including each drum (programmable). Assignable SW: 2 programmable with instrument); 3 dedicated MFX for each Style/Song. Break Mute selection. V-Link. Updating system on Flash. Panel Controls: 9 Multi-function sliders; Rotary Encoder Connectors: USB/MIDI: 1 USB socket for File transfer, with push switch; Cursor (Inc, Dec, Up, Down, Right, MIDI In, Out, Thru sockets. Audio Output: Main (L/mono, Left); Pitch Bender and Modulation; D Beam (4 modes); 3 R)‚ Metronome Output; Audio Input: External Audio Input dedicated knobs for Master Volume Keyboard, Accomp. (L, R), Vocal Harmonist Input (XLR / TRS, Phone Balance, External Source Volume; Keyboard Part/Part balanced/unbalanced). Jacks 1 x Hold Pedal, 1 x Assign Switches (Upper1, Upper2, Upper3, Lower1, Assignable Switch, 1 x Expression Pedal, 1 x FC-7 Lower2, Manual Bass); Colour Touch-screen with Control Pedal. Video Output for Lyrics and Chords (2 selectable beep types),Text and BMP files viewer. Phones (2) Player/Recorder: Mark/Jump (4 locations for each Internal Amplification: Speakers: 2 x 13 cm (woofer), 2 Song); 16-track Sequencer, with Micro Event List, Piano x 6.6 cm (tweeter).Rated Power Output: 2 x 35 W, 2 x 12 Roll editing, Vocal Harmonist control track, Guitar Mode W (with Bass Reflex system). Dedicated speaker off programming, SRX Tones selection, SMF to Style switchConverter; DigiScore; Lyrics Display with automatic Others: Owner's Manual, Power Cord, Music Rest, Chord Extractor and Text Import/Export possibility; bundled CD-ROM (containing E-80 backup data image, Viewer for .txt and .bmp files USB-MIDI driver for Mac/PC, Database Manager Harmonic Bar: Virtual ToneWheel technology with 9 software) bars(16', 5-1/3', 8', 4', 2-2/3', 2', 1-3/5', 1-1/3', 1') for Dimensions: W x D x H: 118 x 49 x 20 cm / 46 x 19 x 8 Upper1/Lower1; 2 bars for (16', 8') for Manual inches (approx.)bass. Percussion: On, Off, 2-2/3', 4', Slow, Fast. Leakage Weight: 22.5 kg / 49 lbs.10 oz.

ROLAND E-80 - SPEC CHECK

This review originally appeared in Keyboard Player October 2006. Copyright Keyboard Player 2006