Roland's EXR-Series of Arranger Keyboards are updated to include:

-new cool dark grey body:
-Over 60 new contemporary styles in Flash memory
-Total 4MB Flash memory�@(about 2.5MB is used with pre-loaded style/song data)
-USB-MIDI function for easier connection to computers
-Portamento, mono modes for upper tone
-Re-Start Style function for unique performances
-Piano mode chord recognition
-100 user programs
-Sync start /Sync stop functions
-Separate volume control for each part in style/song

I don't know prices of these updated EXRs but perhaps are near to GW-7. And probably GW-7 is a better buy... although it has not speakers.

[This message has been edited by Artaher (edited 05-27-2005).]

hmm I know the exr-7 is bout $1000 76 note kb..

so quite a bit cheaper than roland g-70,,

I am confused is are u saying theres an update to these???
http://www.rolandkeyboardclub.com/v/prod_detail.php?id=209&selected=3&pagina=1

Where's the info on the new line? I just finished listening to the demos on the link provided by Timo1, and man I was impressed. I still think the EXR-7 is overpriced, but it sounds pretty damn good. I think the acoustic pianos (from the demos) sounded great. I was also taken by one of the "Super Tone: BlowAlto". Very impressive sax.

Squeak

http://www.roland.com/products/en/EXR-3s
http://www.roland.com/products/en/EXR-5s
http://www.roland.com/products/en/EXR-7s

[This message has been edited by Artaher (edited 05-27-2005).]

I have a Roland EXR-3 I had purchased back in October 2004. I enjoy the keyboard very much. I paid US$495 for it.

If you need music styles for free, go to the Roland Brazil website. They have tons of both original and also tons of Brazilian rythyms that are of the .stl extension which all work fine in the EXR series arrangers. The EXR's use extension ".STH" which the keyboard converts ".stl to .sth". Their are some keyboard styles on the internet that you have to weed thru to see what sounds good. Some are of lower quality and sound a little cheap, but I have about 500 styles on my computer of various types.

The only drawback with the keyboard is, I wish they had about 5 meg of user memory so you can load enough midis and styles. With the current memory, you can either allocate more for styles or more for midis songs. Also I wish they had the EXR-5 with a smart media slot instead of a old floppy drive. Floppies are things of the past. I opened the case of the Keyboard to see if there was a pig-tail hook up for adding a drive to th EXR-3 but could not find it. I will have to ask the Roland Brazil folks about this. They are extremely helpful. Here is the link for the music styles that are free on their website.
http://www.roland.com.br/view.php?page=down_styles

All in all I am very pleased with the EXR-3. Does almost everything I want to do with out spending a arm and a leg for a decent sounding keyboard.

Steve

Strange decision by Roland to update a line of keyboards that was released only a year ago. I like my EXR-7 nevertheless, and I don't need the new functions, but I still think it's a strange decision. Seems like they don't care too much about those who bought the EXR-line.

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Robert.