I can't help but rip on Roland products having suffered with more than my share of problems with them. Roland is one of the worst companies when it comes to support - look on any discussion group for Roland products and you'll find some angry people. Here's a good one to start with that covers everything from recorders to keyboards: http://www.vsplanet.com/. Roland's owners manuals are often poorly translated and while they may have a couple of innovations from the 90's left in stock, for the most part they are far behind the technology curve, especially in the arranger market. While new arrangers are popping up around us from other companies, Roland's next arranger is buried in maybe-someday-land. The VA-series keyboards are dated and no sequels are in sight. If I was investing new money on current technology, it sure wouldn't be with Roland.

I was looking for VA76, SD1 and 9000 pro.
VA76 has the best keys for my taste, but I think SD1 and 9000PRO have better sound and styles. Then I tested both keyboard and SD1 win 9000PRO in the styles, but in sounds they're very similar. I really prefer SD1 for live playing because of all the "direct" buttons to the functions needed. Even the SD1 Style control is easily reached with both hands because it's in the middle of the keyboard.
That's why I just bought a SD1.

Hello S330

You can go through an interactive demo of the VA7/76 here :
http://www.rolandmusik.de/shockwave/va-7/index.htm


One of the talented board members Dreamer has composed songs on his VA7 . He also has done songs with a Ketron...

The following songs on his site are done using the VA7 only.

Can't help falling in love
Michelle
A hard day's night
And I love her
Caravan
Here there everywhere
Mambo Jambo
Moonlight Serenade
New York State of Mind
Toussaint l'Overture
You don't have to say you love me

You can visit his site at:
http://andrearotolo.tripod.com/dreamer/id1.html

Roland fan,
thank you for the "talented", but I am sorry to say that I had to remove some of the songs you mentioned from my site, to make room for other songs. The songs removed are:

A hard day's night
And I love her
You don't have to say you love me

However, I think that the remaining ones give a good idea of the VA7 overall sound quality.
Thank you again for your kind words.

You most welcome. My favourite song of yours is Cant Help Falling.... That sax is beautifully played.

I think Roland didn't do enough demo songs to show off the good instruments on the VA 7 the way Yamaha has done on the Tyros..hopefully on their next arranger they will.

Thanks Rolandfan and to Dreamer. I'm going to try a VA76, and an SD1 tommorrow (I have to drive 70k to see them but it will be worth it).

Ron

...by the way, among the new songs I have added to my site, "You are the sunshine of my life" is recorded entirely on the VA7.
On the other hand, Brazil, Guajira, Guantanamera, Hold on I'm coming and Route 66 are recorded on the SD1 only.