I am trying to decide between buying either the xp60 or the xp80. What differences are there between the two besides the number of keys and about 5 pounds in weight?

Does anybody have any "I can't stand either one of them" sort of comments to add?

Thanks

Besides from the number of keys, the XP-60 and XP-80 are identical. There are (as far as I know) no differences at all.

I have a XP-60, and I am very happy with it. I bought the 60 because it was what they had in the shop, and I don't really need 76 keys.

StigF

Why do you want "can't stand either one of them" sort of comments?

I have ordered a xp80, it should arrive late next week. My reason for asking if there were "can't stand either one of them" comments was just to see what folks thought were issues that needed to be addressed by Roland, that way I'd know what to expect.

Thanks for the clarification about the (almost non-existant) differences.

I could have bought a used Xp80 and passed on it for the following:
Xv soundsets are improved and cleaner
more polyphony on Xv
Xp80 prices have not decreased enough
Xv modules (3080) are not overpriced
Xv workstations rumored to be coming out
dislike the Xp keyboard
Xv acoustic pianos are more natural
new or expansion for Xv at 64 meg should be
big improvement over old expansion

I'm a real impatient sort. I had an xv88 on order for nearly a month and just recently changed my order. I figure I'll eventually want (well, honestly I guess I want it now - hehhehhe, there's that impatience thing) something akin to the xv88 with it's hammer-weighted 88 keys, I also wanted a workstation but don't want to pay the price for something that has all those features. For a few months at least I'll be able to fend off the desires to get the xv88, or perhaps even the workstation model when it arrives.

As far as the sounds go, I haven't heard anything from the xv series so I'm unable to base any decisions on that. I'd love to hear an mp3 of any xv sounds if anyone has them, yet.

Thanks again.

I wouldn't go for either synth right now.


The xp-80 is still priced WAY too high. I got my Triton new for 1800$, and the xp-80 was selling for 1600$. Nada.


I would either get the xp-30 or wait for the newer Rolands, or try a Korg Triton.

Don't listen to anyone's shenanegans. Do you what YOU want to do. The XV series was very tempting to me at first, but I have the SC880 and realized that 85% of all the sounds
of the new XV soundset are already included in the 1998 Roland SC880 which I have.

The grunge noise in the XP60 is not THAT bad. It's tolerable, and Roland will change them for free if necessary. Good Luck.

The Infamous EPU.

I appreciate your sentiments epu, I think I'll be happy with my purchase. I haven't had a synth for years. About 10 years ago or longer I had a Korg M1, I liked it but the more I used it the more frustrating it was. I'm afraid that experience colored my perception of Korgs in general. I'm, at least in part, drawn to the fact that by getting a Roland product there's a wealth of peer-support online. There's really a lot of information, and commentary , available if you just look for it.

Thanks

You should be very happy with your XP-80. The last synth I owned prior to buying my XP-80 several years ago was a Korg M1 as well. The XP-80 can be learned quickly and navigated easily. It can be a little confusing at first, but once you get the hang of Roland's terminology and the basic way the XP-80 is arranged, you'll find that the 80's interface is very user-friendly. If you get confused or frustrated in learning it, check the support documents at www.rolandus.com and/or ask the friendly XP users here and at other BBS's.

Pick up a few expansion boards as soon as possible, too. (Check eBay...) Their patches are just delightful to play, sequence, program, etc. The Session, Vintage Synth, and Orchestral boards are, by far, my favorites.



[This message has been edited by Wilkes (edited 05-21-2000).]

I have a couple of expansion cards on order now. I probably should canel that order and just wait out a good deal on ebay or somewhere simular. I was planning on getting (after listening to all the great mp3 demos over at www.lilchips.com - which sadly, someone found them on the network here at work and thinking themselves the network gestapo decided to trash the mp3s ;( ) the first orchestral board and the session. They both sounded great. I'd like to have a great set of sounds if for no other reason than my own pleasure but I'm really looking forward to getting to work with this little band I'm involved with, it'd be nice to be able to add something more than /just/ piano... hence the xp80 purchase.

I really appreciate this board, it's a great resource.

There are a few buggy things, but basically, I love it. However, if I had to pick out one feature that I can't stand, it would be the user manual. I don't think that the people who wrote it have actually seen the synth. That's why I sought out this MB...

t "useless manual" dn

The manual is a bit confusing, but all the info you need to get started is basically there. You just sometimes have to search a little for it.

Besides the XPs are easy to use. Has anyone ever tried a home keyboard with a 3-digit display that can only show numbers? THAT is difficult! Programming the reverb unit demands that you have learned the keyboard's "secret language", and that you have the manual near.

The XPs are very stable synths. I have had my XP for more than a year, and it has not crashed one single time.

One more thing: People start comparing the XPs to the XV-88. Let us not forget that the XV is not a workstation. If you need an internal sequencer (like I do), then the XV is out of the question.

Stig

EPU-


I had the grunge problem and Roland refused to fix it. The customer support line was rude and unfriendly. They even went so far as to say that all online users were liars.

I told the other users have this problem online, and they said " who cares, those people are full of sh#%".

Arvon45..

I wonder why you are still hanging around this board..
I thought you are employed by Korg..
But I was wrong...
You are just too stupid to work for Korg..