Hi to all.
I read in Roland EXR-5 manual that its 510 voices are not compressed. But manual doesn't give information about how many Mb EXR-5 has for voices...

Others arrangers manuals (for ex. Yamaha) don't say if its Mb for sounds are compressed or not, but they say how many Mb have for voices.

In this confuse situation, I think that if Roland say its voices are not compressed, it is because it is a good characteristic to be noticeable.

In this sense, when an arranger manual doesn't say if voices are compressed or not, probably they are compressed; if they were not compressed, manual should say it (because it is something good).

Then, When a Yamaha or other kb announces 16 Mb for sounds, and doesn't say they are not compressed... Can we think they are compressed? Can we think there are not 16 Mb in the fact, but 16 Mb compressed (perhaps into 8 Mb or less)?


[This message has been edited by Bluebird (edited 03-18-2004).]

Too deep for me--I either like the sounds or I don't. I've found that a lot of the specifications from various manufacturers sometimes don't make sense. The true measure is achieved by using your ears.
A good example is the polyphony specs. You either run out of notes or you don't, regardless of what the maker says is the polyphony.
DonM

Bluebird,
I agree with DonM. You are over-thinking the voice ROM.
Yamaha PSR550, 8 megs wave rom with 700+ voices.
Roland EM20, 8 megs ROM with 325 voices.
EXR-5, 8 megs voice ROM with 510 voices.
The PSR550 has unbeatable sweet & cool voices, but other voices not that impressive. Roland EM20 has many very good voices and EXR-5 has more voices and yet has slightly better voices in some categories. They all have 8 megs voice ROM.
Starkeeper

[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 03-18-2004).]

I agree with both of you.
But my question was about compression.
All kbs you say, Startkeeper, have 8 mb for sounds. But EXR-5 manual say they are not compressed. Are Mbs of the others two kbs you say not compressed too? If we don't know it, it is difficult to compare Mbs...

About EXR-5, it has 510 panel voices and 256 GM2 voices. So, it has 766, doesn't?

Mercedes C200 Kompressor aint compressed now is it ?

LOL, it is if it gets run over by a big truck!

Tom

Guys [gals], you are confusing the actual wave forms[samples], that use the total ram[memory] with patches[voices]. Many patches use the same wave[pcm], but are edited[changed], the changes do not need a large amount of memory for storage. This is true with Roland and all the other guys..Roland pcm , if measured in lineral form will be doulbled the actual Roland specs.

Bluebird, I concur that it's strange why Roland would specifically point out that the EX-5's voices are 'not compressed', yet the topic of voice compression is never brought up with other brand/model keyboards. Roland appears to be alluding to the idea that might be some kb models or other keyboard manufacterers out there who may be compressing (ala MP3 type compression?) their keyboard voices. I certainly hope MP3 quality keyboards are NOT what's in the future for us.

Scott

Keep in mind that the amount of mb's to the voice memory is only part of the picture. It falls down to the core sample itself. Any keyboard can have 8mbs of sounds to 700 or so voices, but the quality of the sample makes a huge difference.. I've played keyboards that had 12-16mb's and still thought some of my acoustic instruments on my PSR-550 sounded better. I agree with Don too. It's your ears that tell the difference.

Squeak

Scott,
I want think no kbs may be compressing (ala MP3 type compression?) their keyboard voices without to tell it. It would be not honest, I think.