Roland XP-80
Encyclopedia
The Roland
XP-80 is a music workstation
that combines an updated version of the JV-1080
synthesizer
engine with the sequencer capabilities of the Roland MRC-Pro sequencer
. The model was introduced in 1996 and is now discontinued.
and 16-part multi-timbrality. The XP-80 includes the 128 General MIDI
instrument set, as well as 384 additional preset instruments ("patches" in Roland parlance), for a total of 512 preset patches. Additional user memory is provided for making copies of up to 128 patches, allowing the user to edit patch parameters and save them in memory. There are 8 preset percussion instrument combinations (called "rhythm sets") and 2 user configurable rhythm sets. The XP-80 includes 64 preset combinations of up to 15 existing patches and 1 rhythm set. These patch and rhythm set combinations are referred to as "performances" in Roland parlance. There are an additional 32 user memory locations to store user configurable performances.
The onboard sequencer is capable of storing up to 60,000 notes of recorded musical performance and has a clock resolution of 96 parts per quarter note. It's capable of storing up to 100 patterns and 1 song at a time in memory, but can also load and play music sequences directly from floppy disk
using the built-in floppy disk drive.
The XP-80 includes 4 user accessible expansion slots (located under a removable cover on the bottom of the unit). Each slot can accommodate one SR-JV80 expansion board. A total of 21 SR-JV80 expansion boards were released by Roland. Nineteen were sold (SR-JV80-01 through SR-JV80-19), while 2 were given away as demonstration expansion boards for various promotions (SR-JV80-98 and SR-JV80-99).
A built-in 3.5-inch floppy disk drive provides removable data storage for up to 1.44 MB of music sequences, sequence chain-play playlists, groove quantize settings, additional patch, rhythm set, performance and system settings storage.
External connections include 2 unbalanced 1/4-inch "MIX" (left and right channel) and 2 unbalanced "DIRECT" (left and right channel) TS connector jacks. Sounds are normally routed to the MIX outputs but can instead be routed to the DIRECT outputs when required. There is a 1/4-inch stereo headphone jack, a 1/4-inch jack for the sustain (hold) pedal and a 1/4-inch jack for sequencer click output, useful as a metronome when playing along with the sequencer. Four 1/4-inch control pedal jacks have configurable functions, including the ability to adjust patch volume, patch cutoff frequency, effects levels, organ speaker rotation simulation, stepping through patches, and so forth. There are three 5-pin MIDI
ports (IN, OUT, and THRU).
This product is no longer in production. Similar capabilities can be found in newer Roland Fantom series music workstations.
to record his Sessions 2000
and by The Beastmastas team.
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
XP-80 is a music workstation
Music workstation
A music workstation is an electronic musical instrument providing the facilities of:*a sound module,*a music sequencer and* a musical keyboard.It enables a musician to compose electronic music using just one piece of equipment.-History:...
that combines an updated version of the JV-1080
Roland JV-1080
The Roland JV-1080 is a Sample-based synthesizer/sound module in the form of a 2U rack design.-Features:...
synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
engine with the sequencer capabilities of the Roland MRC-Pro sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
. The model was introduced in 1996 and is now discontinued.
Specifications
The XP-80 has a 76-key semi-weighted keyboard. A smaller 61-key variant, the XP-60 was introduced shortly afterward. The synthesis engine is capable of 64-voice polyphonyPolyphony (instrument)
Polyphony Instruments that are not capable of polyphony are monophonic.-Synthesizer:Most of early synthesizers were monophonic musical instruments which can play only one note at a time, and are often called monosynth as opposed to polysynth...
and 16-part multi-timbrality. The XP-80 includes the 128 General MIDI
General MIDI
General MIDI or GM is a standardized specification for music synthesizers that respond to MIDI messages. GM was developed by the MIDI Manufacturers Association and the Japan MIDI Standards Committee and first published in 1991...
instrument set, as well as 384 additional preset instruments ("patches" in Roland parlance), for a total of 512 preset patches. Additional user memory is provided for making copies of up to 128 patches, allowing the user to edit patch parameters and save them in memory. There are 8 preset percussion instrument combinations (called "rhythm sets") and 2 user configurable rhythm sets. The XP-80 includes 64 preset combinations of up to 15 existing patches and 1 rhythm set. These patch and rhythm set combinations are referred to as "performances" in Roland parlance. There are an additional 32 user memory locations to store user configurable performances.
The onboard sequencer is capable of storing up to 60,000 notes of recorded musical performance and has a clock resolution of 96 parts per quarter note. It's capable of storing up to 100 patterns and 1 song at a time in memory, but can also load and play music sequences directly from floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
using the built-in floppy disk drive.
The XP-80 includes 4 user accessible expansion slots (located under a removable cover on the bottom of the unit). Each slot can accommodate one SR-JV80 expansion board. A total of 21 SR-JV80 expansion boards were released by Roland. Nineteen were sold (SR-JV80-01 through SR-JV80-19), while 2 were given away as demonstration expansion boards for various promotions (SR-JV80-98 and SR-JV80-99).
A built-in 3.5-inch floppy disk drive provides removable data storage for up to 1.44 MB of music sequences, sequence chain-play playlists, groove quantize settings, additional patch, rhythm set, performance and system settings storage.
External connections include 2 unbalanced 1/4-inch "MIX" (left and right channel) and 2 unbalanced "DIRECT" (left and right channel) TS connector jacks. Sounds are normally routed to the MIX outputs but can instead be routed to the DIRECT outputs when required. There is a 1/4-inch stereo headphone jack, a 1/4-inch jack for the sustain (hold) pedal and a 1/4-inch jack for sequencer click output, useful as a metronome when playing along with the sequencer. Four 1/4-inch control pedal jacks have configurable functions, including the ability to adjust patch volume, patch cutoff frequency, effects levels, organ speaker rotation simulation, stepping through patches, and so forth. There are three 5-pin MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
ports (IN, OUT, and THRU).
This product is no longer in production. Similar capabilities can be found in newer Roland Fantom series music workstations.
Trivia
The Roland XP-80 has been used by Jean Michel JarreJean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
to record his Sessions 2000
Sessions 2000
Sessions 2000 is an album by Jean Michel Jarre, released on Disques Dreyfus and distributed by Sony Music in 2002. It was released in the U.S. in early 2003. It is his eleventh overall studio album....
and by The Beastmastas team.