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Roland XP-50

 

 

 

roland xp50 synth

audio demo Country: Japan
Weight: 9 kg
Dimensions: 1023 (w) x 384 (h) x 97 (d) mm
audio demo trend price : 200€
manual demo video comments

Roland XP-50 (1995)
Music Workstation

 

Workstation for mid-user range with internal sequencer and a standard canvas GM General Midi soundset.

Relative rackmount version is the famous module JV-1080

music workstation
edit function

info KEYBOARD 61 velocity keys with aftertouch.
Main panel features a 40 x 2 lines display, 58 buttons and a data encoder wheel. On the left side there is a modulation-pitchbender joystick, 3 sliders for volume and expressions.

Back panel terminal connectors:
- Midi interface
- main signal out
- headphones out
- pedalswitch input for damper
- 2 assignable pedal inputs.

 


 

editTECH main core is a RISC 32 bits (Reduced Instruction Set Computer HD6477034F20C) manages 64 voices polyphony or TONES, DAC is a 16/18 bits UPD63200GS-E2.
STRUCTURE a basic patch is composed by 4 tones or PCM samples with indipendent parameters:

edit function

- keyzone assignment
- pitch tuning
- panning position
- delay start time
- FXM oscillator (crossmodulation)



editWAVETABLE is a 8 Mb ROM (2x IC at 25 + 26) 448 PCM sampled at 44,1 kHz / 16-bits.

wavetable jv1080

The internal wave XP ROM is split into 2 macro families:

- 193 PCM percussive + one-shot chromatic
- 255 PCM instruments

More PCM can be added installing expansion cards




wave
EXPANSION the XP-50 is expandable using SRJ-V board (usual size is 4 or 8 MB) fitted in 1 of the 4 available slots. There are 21 SR-JV available with different instrument styles, here is the list:


SR-JV80-01 POP  
SR-JV80-02 ORCHESTRAL  
SR-JV80-03 PIANO  
SR-JV80-04 VINTAGE SYNTH  
SR-JV80-05 WORLD  
SR-JV80-06 DANCE  
SR-JV80-07 SUPER SOUND SET  
SR-JV80-08 KEYBOARDS OF THE 60's & 70's  
SR-JV80-09 SESSION  
SR-JV80-10 BASS AND DRUM  
SR-JV80-11 TECHNO COLLECTION  
SR-JV80-12 HIP HOP  
SR-JV80-13 VOCAL COLLECTION  
SR-JV80-14 ASIAN  
SR-JV80-15 SPECIAL FX Collection  
SR-JV80-16 ORCHESTRAL II  
SR-JV80-17 COUNTRY Collection  
SR-JV80-18 LATIN Collection  
SR-JV80-19 HOUSE Collection  
SR-JV80-98 EXPERIENCE promotional board.
SR-JV80-99 EXPERIENCE2 promotional board.





structure ALGORITHMS
the tones can be combined in 10 structures, partially inspired from prievious cult synthesizer Roland D50.

alforithms

These are pre-fixed audio patch that connects the 2 pair of tones into variable setups mixed with audio elements such as amplifier / filter and 2 digital processes:
- Booster amplifies the signal causing a distortion with new harmonics 18 levels of effectiveness
- Ring modulator.
TIP: click on LEFT for structure list diagram

 



multitimbral PERFORMANCE
the XP engine manages up 16 parts each with assignable parameters:

roland xp50 tech

- Midi channel assign
- zone assign
- stereo panning
- volume gain
- effect amount
- tuning pitch


TIP: A special GM (General MIDI) bank reads SMF Midi ensuring a total compatibility.

 


filter FILTER the TVF Time-Variant Filter offers 4 modes, in addition a filter keytrack function with +/- 200% harmonic content cutoff over octaves-

lowpass - lowpass
- bandpass
- highpass
- peaking: PKG emphasizes frequencies around cutoff value.
demo HEAR filter cutoff



Eg LFO
up to 2 delayed and syncalble modulators, they do provide 7 shapes (triangle, sinewave, sawtooth, trapezoidal, 2 random modes and sample-hold) with adjustable symmetry.

lfo demo HEAR LFO sample and hold



Eg ENVELOPE each TONE features 3 EGs:
- EG amplitude: 4 segments + 3 times, 8 velocity curves + key follows option
- EG filter : 4 segments + 4 times
- EG pitch 4 segments + 4 times, keyfollow + random pitch




sequencer SEQUENCER
quite similar to hardware MC-50 MkII, the xp50 manages up to 16 tracks at 96 clocks resolution per quarter note. Standard functions such as Overdub, Punch In-Out , Loop Parts, Quantizes and Copy-Paste.

sequencer TIP: Internal tool load function imports old format from MRC sequencers such as MC-500/ 300/ 50/ 50mkII and Midi files in format SMF 0 or 1.
demo HEAR internal sequence



FX EFFECTS
the DSP is split in 3 sections:
- EFX: 40 inserts algorithms e.g distortion, overdrive, phaser, EQ, Leslie, tremolo, delay, pitch-shifter...
- reverb: 7 classic algorithms (Hall, Room, delay, stage) with adjustable damp time
- chorus: digital chorus with variable rate, pre-delay, feedback and depth.
demo
HEAR internal reverb

 

memroy MEMORY:
- 640 ROM patches (including GS MIDI kit)
- 96 ROM performances
- 128 RAM performances
- 32 RAM performances
- 100 patterns
- 20.000 notes
- 99 measures





memroy STORAGE
whole data memory can be saved to built-in 3.5" Disk drive Teac FD-235HF to either 720 Kb or 1.44 Mb density

disk drive TIP: It is also possible to store SONGS made by sequencer for a maximum of 99 Songs (or 180.000 notes) on a single 1.44 Mb.






midi
MAINTENANCE there are 2 common issues:

- LCD is well-known to have some technical troubles as the display writings disappear from the display, and this problem just get worst after a while! generally the nearby capacitors could have leaked and need replacement..

display replacement There is a TUTORIAL about display, but I did personally replaced relative capacitors and it worked.

 

- BUTTONS another frequent issues are contacts on the mainboard, tact switches need to be replaced soon or later as they get difficult to push.

tact switch repair

 

mrmory EDITORS some computer-based patch softwares:
- Soundquest
(MAC/PC $$)
- JV-1080 editor (MAX MSP beta)
- Changeit (old PC OS free)


xp50 editor

 

 

midi RELATED FAMILY:

roland jv1080 JV-1080 is more or less the Xp-50 rackmount version
Roland XP-80 XP-80 flagship 76 keys- enhanced version with bigger display and better control functions
Roland XP-60

XP-60 same as xp80 but with 61 keys
video

Roland XP-30

XP-30 no more sequencer but 2 built-in srjv ROM
video

Roland XP-10 XP-10 older budget version, less features and 28 voices XP-50 kontakt

 

 

effet VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION there are some free and commercial samples set:

EFM Oddse

XP-50 kontakt

XP-50 kontakt

Should be a free release but I cannot figure this out. Surely NOT approved by Roland anyway, so it cannot be legally sold.



demo AUDIO DEMO

demo factory demo 1
demo factory demo 2
demo factory demo 3
demo factory demo 4
demo factory demo 5
demo factory demo 6
demo Full demo 1 *
demo Full demo 2 *
demo Full demo 3 *
demo Full demo 4 *
demo Full demo 5 *
demo Full demo 6 *
demo Organ: weird
demo Organ: Hammond
demo Guitar: acoustic
demo Guitar: ambient
demo EP: Rhodes 1
demo EP: Rhodes 2
demo EP: Rhodes 3
demo EP: Rhodes 4
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demo Bass: Moog D
demo FX
demo pad 1
demo pad 2
demo pad 3
demo pad 4
demo pad 5
demo pad 6
demo pad 7
demo  
demo *kindly sent by Federico Pasiecznik

video do you have some nice XP50 demos you want to share in this page? Upload'em!

 


video VIDEO SELECTION

Roland XP-50 - Sounds Xp50 demo Roland XP50 Sequencer tutorial
Sounds demo Sequencer tutorial




Company: Roland
Model: XP-50
Class: Synthesizer
Keyboard: 61 keys
Dates: 1995
Price: 200€
Synthesis: PCM rompler
Resolution: 16 bits
Sampling rate: 44 kHz
N.waves: 448 PCM
Polyphony: 64 voices
Multitimbric: 16 parts
Algorithms: 10 models
Filter: LPF HPF BPF Peak
LFO: 2 modulators
Envelope: 3 EGs
Effects: 48
Sequencer: 16 tracks
Resolution: 99 PPQ
Sync: Midi clock
Midi: IN / OUT / THRU
Memory: 128 ram patches
Storage: FD 1,44 Mb
CPU: RISC 32 bits
DAC: UPD63200GS-E2
Demo: 34


manual
MANUAL

manual
SERVICE MANUAL



wavetable jv1080
DOWNLOAD

Free 1000 xp50 patches


reset
Factory reset

1) Press DISK/UTILITY.
2) Press #4 on the 10-key pad to select “SOUND.”
3) Press #5 on the 10-key pad to select “PRESET.”
4) Press ENTER, then use the VALUE DIAL to select “Memory Protect OFF.”
5) Press ENTER twice

 

reset

testmode

Press the power on button while holding down the RPS button, M.SCOPE
button and RHYTHM buttons.
Keep on pressing these 3 buttons until the display in appears.
(approximately 10 seconds.)

 

side

 

Roland XP-50 FOR SALE
Roland XP-50 FOR SALE
CHECK OUT EBAY OFFERS

 

side

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sequencer lfo triangle xp50 main

awardSPECIAL AWARDS:

solid solid
unreliable Classic Digital
comment

REVIEW "it's another classic JV rompler workstation, not the best of the series. Pay attention to frequent issues."

manual manual
- pads - frequent issues
-cheap
-disk drive storage
-sequencer some PCM are old
   


" The XP-50 Music Workstation sets the standard in synth workstations, featuring Roland's ultra-fast 32-bit custom RISC chip and incredible user-expandability". Roland Manual


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Roland XP-50 Roland XP-50 Workstation Synthesizer
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