Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    Yes, it does sample (512K RAM), but it also has a bunch of ROMs burnt
    with various canned patches. 

    From what I understand, the sequencer is *not* an MC500 (less memory,
    sales blurbs read like it's more of a PR100 or whatever the little one
    is called).  The keyboard is 61 keys, and is (supposedly) *not*
    poly-pressure. 

    Also, it has that *stupid* Roland pitch level thingie instead of
    wheels.  I wish you could order the mod section to your liking. 

    Believe it or not, after all that griping, I have a deposit on one of
    these, and would like to firm up these points before I plunk down "biga
    bucks".  Anyone in the know?  Uncle Len?  You're the Roland guru.  What
    gives? 

-b

    
    RE -1 Funny you don't like the Roland pitch bender/mod thing. I like it
    much much better than wheels. The Roland is almost as good as Korg's
    joystick--my all time favorite!
    
    Mike D

I like the Roland thinging too.  Everything in one control.  The only real
problem with it is that it is "center-sprung".  That means you can't set the
modulation and leave it.

Chad

RE: .3

> The only real problem with it is that it is "center-sprung".  That means 
> you can't set the modulation and leave it.

Um.  And here I thought that one of the reasons for a modulation wheel is
to allow you to set it to override the modulation built into the patch...
Different strokes.  

(I *like* the orientation of the Roland thingy for pitch bend, however.)

Alex

    forget the joysticks and roland-thingies, you ought to get into
    Oberheim paddles.
    
    Speed and precision!
    
    	-Bill

          <<< Note 1984.1 by DYO780::SCHAFER "Brad - back in Ohio." >>>
                  -< I may even play one one of these days. >-

>    Yes, it does sample (512K RAM), but it also has a bunch of ROMs burnt
>    with various canned patches. 

Yes, it has 64 tones in ROM. It's the usual meat and potatoes stuff...
drums, perc, bass, strgs, polysynth, waveforms, etc.

>    From what I understand, the sequencer is *not* an MC500 (less memory,
>    sales blurbs read like it's more of a PR100 or whatever the little one
>    is called).  The keyboard is 61 keys, and is (supposedly) *not*
>    poly-pressure. 

It *is* compatible with SuperMRC and MC500 sequence disks. The functionality
is somewhere between the MC500 MRC and Mark II with SuperMRC. It does have
16 track capability, which is an additional feature. The sequencer is 15,000
notes.

The display is a 240x60 dot matrix LCD, so the S550 style menus are available
without purchasing an external CRT. It has 8 polyphonic outputs, a SCSI port
ready to go, 3 �" floppy drive.

It's basically an S330, MC500, and display combined into one workstation. The
price is $2395 at Wurly's.

enjoy,

dave

    For those who didn't get the Roland trade rag in yesterday's mail ... 

    The W30 is being billed as a combination S330/MC500 in-a-box-with-a-
    keyboard.  Well, it's not exactly a combination of these tools
    (although it does have a SCSI port, which is a nice thought). 

    For example, the S330/550 wavedraw function is not available on the
    W30. Step edit mode is not available on the sequencer, as are several
    other editing functions.  The keyboard is channel-pressure, splittable
    (internally only) and can only transmit on ONE channel at a time
    (grump).  It is not set up to act as a system controller keyboard
    (although I suppose that you could use the sequencer in tricky ways to
    do this).

    In other words, I'll keep waiting.  The W30 is a nice idea, but leaves
    a lot left out. 

    If they'd put an entire S550 in a box with a *real* MC-500 and a *real*
    A-50/A-80 keyboard, then we might have something.

-b

    
    Re: .7
    
    Why do manufacturers always want to leave out step editing features
    on built-in sequencers?  Is this revenge for those of us who never
    took piano lessons?
    
    

    re: .8
    
    No, I think it's because most of these devices with builtin sequencers
    have limited display capabilities and a step editor is one of those
    things whose utility is limited if you can't display a lot.
    
    However, I would say that a limited-utility step editor CAN be better
    than no step editor.
    
    	db

Hi! I need your thinking about my next synt choice:

   I was thinking at a Yamaha V50 or a Roland E20 but a friend of mine has 
said to me that there is a Roland W30 (used, but in very good condition)
 available at a bit more price. Now I've to decide something: what do you 
think? What you suggest to me?

I'm at an entry_point_like_musician.

Thanks a lot!

    
    
    Hi All,
    
      Does anyone know of a good, understandable book for the W30 ?
      I'm a midi-beginner and very frustrated with the Roland User
      Handbook I got with the product.
      Very...very, frustrated.
    
    Marc
    

SCSI port is an option....

Chad

    
    
    Well Because My akai sampler is on it's last legs and has now been in
    for repair for nearly 12 weeks my local store has lent me a W30 until I
    get the Akai back.
    
    Know what ?
    
    I like it. I've always wanted a "takeaway" system that I could stick in
    the back of the car for those "hotel room nights" (Hmmm good song title
    that ) and also for backing at the 3 times a year gigs I do. If I can
    get a good deal on this thing I might just hang on to it.
    The manual defies all sense and requires a brain surgeons view of the
    world (i.e. from the inside out) to relate it to want you want it to
    do. It was obviously written by somebody who new the machine and its
    workings well and who new what he wanted to say, but never put himself
    in the seat of the reader.
    
    I've always thought of doing a one night a month smokey room type
    residency, You know "Georgia" and " I can't stop loving you" sort of
    stuff, This just might be the nachine that drives me to it.
    
    Re -2 I think I could probably answer some user questions by now if you
    are still stuck, failing that if any body can tell me how to get it to
    do a "2 bar count in" I would apreciate it.
    
    
    					Paul. 

	I've got a used W30 (almost new, anyway...), and I've seen from the 
manual that in the accessories, it's included a MIDI GUIDE. I haven't it: 
could someone tell me if it's an interesting guide? (I mean useful in 
programming the keyboard) 

	2nd question 
	I've plan to buy a KW30 (SCSI option) to connect an HD to speed-up 
disk operation. Anyone has experience on this option? Any impressions?
is it Useful or useless?

Thanks a lot!
Luca

    
    Re -1
    
    The aforementioned "guide" is tha basic "introduction to midi" that
    Roland turn out with all there gear these days. I think I started
    throwing them out after the 3rd copy. I still have one somewhere I can
    mail it if you wish, but if you are anything more than a beginner then
    forget it.
    What are you using your W30 for ? I am using mine as a midi backing
    band for some gigs we are doing. I have an hours worth of sequences and
    the associated sounds if you would like them. Basic MOR /Dance stuff. 
    
    What I need is a killer Hammond sample. If anyone has one for either
    W30/S330/S550 etc.. please can we work a deal.
    
    
    					Paul.

    Could someone tell me :
    
    a) Are the W30 voices sampled (i.e. the 64 supplied voices)
    b) What is the keyboard split capability
    c) It is 8 channel multi timbral ?
    
    Thanks
    
    John

    
>    a) Are the W30 voices sampled (i.e. the 64 supplied voices)
>    c) It is 8 channel multi timbral ?
    
    Yes to both of these.  Caveat: there is no acoustic piano sample in the
    ROM set.
    
    						Brian

    
    
    I have aquired a PD sample editing program for W30. This is fairly
    unsophisticated and does not transfer VIA midi but does play back
    samples on the ST and seems to do Wave form editing. ST based of
    course. If anyone is interested then let me know.
    
    					Paul.