Hi,

Sierra many times i found your newsgroup dead or empty of message so i stopped posting there. About SPDIF the answer is no. Unfortunately Roland offers RBUS digital multi-interface only on XV-5080 and not on 88. I think that it's an odd omission as all modern studios have direct hdd recording now. Anyway you can connect analog outputs to your soundblaster with no problem as XV88's outs have excellent s/n ratio. I use XV88 driving a Fostex VM200 analog inputs and XV5080 spdif in digital inputs with no audible difference on output. You can do the same on SB and a mixer.

CosmicDreamer,
That's a nice thought. The problem is that new sounds have new multisamles mostly stereo ones that use a huge amount of memory so old cards cannot hold much of them. There is also the convertion issue as new samples use a new 24 bit algorithm format that doesn't exist on older synth engine. And finally new sounds are so good not only because are great sampled. The heavily use excellent 24 D/A convertion circuits found only on XV.

I also believe that Roland will stop make older cards (SRJV) although i don't like that. They are going to replace their whole synth line with new (XV based) workstations and sound modules using new audio format.


[This message has been edited by Inray (edited 05-25-2000).]