Otherwise - this is a wonderful way to double the effects and polyphony of your JV/XP. Responds to SysEx edit commands coming out of my XP-80, lovely for filter tweaking. Stop bitching about the noise already ... if the music is good, people won't notice it.

For me the Roland JV1010 is the best synth I've tryed (and owned)( have tryed a lot of comparative synths ) for under $ 1,000.

It is comparative to JV2080, it got all the original sounds of the module exccept the 2 extra FX-busses. The sound is exactly the same, but the noise level isn't as good as the JV2080 and it don't have seperat outlets for the mixer . It doesent have more than 1 expansion-board, but it is allready expaned with Session-board.

You simply get lot of sound for your money, when you buy this module ! The only thing I would like is SPDIF

I would recomend the new version XV2020, this module got the same sounds as XV3080.

About the JV 1010, I can say JUST BUY IT, it has on board (inside the engine, not a card) all the sounds of the session expansion board, just think, how much does that card cost? well that card cost as much as a second hand jv 1010. You need a computer to get a full acces to the engine. I tested it whit a friend that bought cakewalk and you can manage it with a studiopanel made especially for this module. this studio panel contains a lot of sliders for each voice considering that each voice could contain four voices, besides you can control the fx sliders too

polyphony 64 voices but consider that some voices are made with four voices, so this means that you can use only 16 voices at the same time , for example if you use a junopower pad, this contains four voices to sound like that, but other pads like echo drops pad this one only contains 2 voices so if you think that you are using only two voices (juno power pad and echo drops pad)at the same time thats not the truth , because you are really using 6 voices

Fx: 3 at the same time this means you can combine a chorus, reverb (8 types) and one of the other 40 efx at the same time. some of the other 40 efx are: gate-reverb, stereo-delay, distortion-flanger, overdrive-delay, fbk-pitch-shifter etc and the good part is that you can handle the parameters of each effect like for example distortion-delay the parameters are:

-distortion drive -distortion pan -delay time -delay feedback level -delay hf damp -delay balance -output level

User memory 128 patches performances 32 rhythm sets 2

wave expansion board: only 1 (you can buy a patch disc, ther´s a lot of pages that that sell patches .

you can go here to find some links for that

http://roland.host.sk/ http://www.btinternet.com/~synthfood/

midi in, out, thru computer connector mac, pc1, pc2,

you cannot use pc conector and midi conector at the same time, but I conect my keyboard to my computer with midi cable to the sound card and the module to my computer with a serial cable that I made (the manual contains the diagram to make the cable)

The manual for me is toooo bad to understand the module.

you can use cubase too to manage the module, go to steinberg.net

you can use it with fruity loops too. ask a fruity loop owner.

The volume is low , but I can live with that.

If you want to use the module to manage it without computer I dont recomend you that because its too limited, or if you want it as a midi player i think its better to buy the virtual sound canvas it sounds fine and its cheaper

almost all sounds are great for me, I just dont like the violin, it sounds too ugly, if you have a violin patch that you can (regalarme) to give to me I will preciate that.

You can go here to download a free editor and some patches for this module: http://jv-patches.onlinehome.de/index2.html

Well thats all folks.

You can skip the next comments

If you live in the USA or in Europe, well you can work a little bit an buy a tritón or karma synth, but if you live in México where the minimum salary is like 140 dollars per month, well, what can I say just buy a jv 1010. I studied the equivalent of the college, I studied administration in México city and I got an offer to work in an World wide Editorial, but they offer me 450 dollars per month minus taxes so I decided to buy a JV 1010 and enjoy my life composing music and singing my songs.

If you dont have the money, well you can do what I did before i bought the jv 1010, I started composing my songs (actually all my songs are composed with this software) with a freeware called AXS, you need a soundblaster isa card to use this software, this is the best software I could find, it has a sampler, a 16 chanel sequencer and a synthetizer, you can play 7 synth sounds at the same time plus 9 sampler sounds with a low pentium 233 mhtz, well you need to configure the ini filie first and set to 22000 the sample rate to avoid clipping. If you have a better computer you dont need to do that. it sounds great, well at least for me. the site is: http://resolutionaudio.nl

but you can download it from here:

http://www.soundtrackers.de/trackers.html

has anyone else had this problem?

As some have stated, it is not aimed to compete with $1000-2000 units, but it provides some of the best value for its price. It contains all of the patches from the 1080 and 2080 units, the only advantage of the other two being that they offer more expandability and easier front panel control. I can control it well from the front panel or from Cakewalk, using the *.ins files from 'lilchips systems website.

Overall, a great module for its price- I use it for Jazz, orchestral, etc., and am hoping to try it out with the orch1 board.

I was concerned that getting it to fully intergrate w/ my system would be problematic, but was pleasantly surprised to find out how easy it was.

I was able to get all the banks to show up in Digital Performer (and work!). I was able to get Sound Diver to work (had to use OMS though) and instantly set up performances. And it has that effect besides reverb/chorus which is a real bonus ( which I was able to use to eq some wimpy drums to sound quite decent!)

Then I found out how easy it was to dump my performance as a sys ex, which is how I like to work w/ my other gear. And it sounded great.

So in one afternoon I was able to feel comfortable with this unit, which really does pack a lot of punch for the money, especially considering the fact that I got it used w/ the orch 2 board for $300!

As an old midi guy it's hard for me to understand why people are so critical of this unit. After fiddling about with the Jv-80/880 for the last 10 years I for one appreciate double the polyphony (880 has only 32 voices) and the added effect, which you can use well in a performance to add a defining element to a prominent part. And you can record properly effected patches to an audio track if you need to get just the right effect in there.

And noise...well it certainly sounds better than the 880 on a first listen. Again, I don't know what people are hearing, but I always turn the volume on the front panel to "11", then all the parts all the way to 127. To balance then out I have found it best to do that with controller #7. When i did that, I could hear no noise of any real consequence. certainly no more than the 880, and way less than the old workhorse synths of the 70's & 80s.

The only thing that bugs me is that sounds are at noticably different levels. The stereo grand (which needs tweaking anyway) is much softer in volume than the other parts I chose for me first experimental sequence. I'm going to see if it can be made louder in the editor. And yeah, it has a weird cross velocity that causes it either to be very muted or loud with very little in between. Maybe that can be smoothed out.

Anyway, compared to my other pcm piano sounds, it has a lot more potential.

I kind of think some people are unrealistic in their expectations of this little unit. i went into it not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised by what I found, and the potential is there if you're not afraid to xplore the software.

Haven't got the Soundiver editing package to work with it yet which is frustrating, but seeking advice!

Volume levels certainly vary more than most synth modules, but not a problem with a mixer. Sounds cleaner than Roland SC880 which I also use.

Sounds also best when there aren't too many midi channels being used... once the number creeps up they start to weaken.

My unit has a habit of getting confused and failing to respond when I'm knob turning manually, requiring a power on/off and having to re-set everything which is a real pain.

Not bad for the money, but the Soundiver people rely need to get their act together and make it user friendly if its a product that's going to survive.

P.S. Still using a Roland JX3-P that's 20 years old and with the original internal battery (replace after 5 years) functioning. Don't make em like they used to!

The JV1010 fared well, much better than I expected. These are not the most inspiring sounds you'll hear but they are useful if you need tradtional sample playback sounds.

For $399 it's a good deal. Pianos, strings, pads, basses are all useful. The guitars are a mixed bag, some of the brass is useful as are reeds. It's not primarily built to be a techno/electronic box which is a pleasant alternative to almost everything marketed today.

The realtime user interface is fairly intuitive. It worked fine with Logic, Cubase and Cakwalk for multitimbral use. This isn't meant to create the next studio recording you do although the sound quality is a bit quiet but acceptable.

Perhaps some like the editor but that is the one area that kills this synth as far as I'm concerned. I hate working with it and don't. That makes it hard to be original. I have several compatible patches from an XP50 I once had but none address the session samples. 3 stars on that issue but sound quality and quantity of useful basic sounds a 4. Maybe one day I'll learn sound diver's implementation. Maybe one day I will speak in tongues....

The key is to create uniques sounding instruments - in my case I love the Electric Piano's - and use them in recordings which will give your recordings a unique flavour that no one else has - because after all - you created the sound.

Be creative and the 1010 will inspire you daily

I have found the Soundiver editing software to be a huge pain in the ass to use but editing without it would be an even huger pain in the ass. Most of the sounds are pretty crappy in my opinion: too thin, high noise, and low/inconsistent volume.

I regret not saving up more dough and just getting a higher quality module (Emu or top end Korg/Roland). I find the JV1010 to be of limited use unless I need sweeping strings, synth basses, or make-due piano. I will be putting this thing on Ebay in the near future- I'm over it.

well we all know the bad points of the jv1010. But it has all the sounds of jv1080 and jv2080. Pitty it just has 1 EFX unit and 16 ad/da convertors. But hey .. nothing else comes close in this price range.

Big Will****

Well, just my opinions. But for the money it is kick ass allarounder for the studio.

So you get 4 tones per patch, 4 filters, 8 LFOs with 4 modulation destinations per LFO, an additional Mod Matrix with 3 sources and 4 concurrent destinations for each source, 10 structures with ring modulator and booster functions, 40 effects types, etc.

Yes it is clearly digital. But it's not a preset machine. It gets a 4 because of it's user interface.

Cheers,

Jerry

I am a hobbyist and therefore have limited everything but I know a good sound when I hear one and believe me this unit has loads of 'em.

My only dilema is which extra board do I by next -it will probably be the Orchestral one.

I paid £399 which may seem alot buy American prices but it was this or the sw1000xg sound card (which is about £25 less)

I wish it had a digital output so that I could work solely within the digital domain. This isn't asking a great deal as the sounds start off digitally anyway. I also would appreciate a built in power unit.

I really think the JV1010 is a modern classic and when I am fed up with it, I shall let my daughter use it as the basis of an electric piano.

Cheers from Old Blighty

People seem to think this thing can't cut the mustard with the sounds? Sheesh what do you want for 400.00 Bucks!? This is the best sounding synth module I've heard EVER in this price range...

A little noise? Big deal! People are still using old Moogs and noisy analog synths for "professional" projects...

I have six clients that I work with and the JV-1010 has never let me down in finding an awesome sound to use somewhere in a track...

And if you were SERIOUS about programming synths, you wouldn't be fooling with the chinsy supplier interfaces supplied with keyboards anyway... You'd be using a programming package like SoundDiver or something...

The 1010 is EVERYTHING the company says it is... A great sounding cost effective module for ANY use...

I find the sound of the JV-1010 to be on par with the JV-2080 with a Session card. With the computer doing everything for me (selecting sounds, editing them, etc.) there is no difference between the two save for multitimbral effects routing. I generally record one instrument at a time (and usually dry) so this doesn't affect me either. I got the guts of a $1500 synth module for $500. I bought an Emu Proteus 2000 with the remainder and had funds left over for cables etc. For the money-limited bedroom studio musician, this module is an excellent buy.

Also, I might add that even with its spiffy display, the JV-2080 is not the easiest thing to program from the front panel. Certainly not as easy as editing from SoundDiver. The SoundDiver editing experience is the same for both modules. Get over your computer fear, people. It's a useful tool. Learn to use it.

you cannot change performances on the jv1010 from the front panel. as explained on page 34 (i think) of the manual, they CAN be changed from a sequencer, as well as from sounddiver.

it's misleading becuase the section is entitled 'changing performance from an external midi device' or something, but doesn't indicate that it is the ONLY way to change performance #. i'd *presumed* that by setting the mode to perform and changing the value on the front panel, you could change the performance.. not so.

you need to use an external device, right.. so.. after owning this thing for a few months, i'm finally about to crack open the performances.. as soon as i find out the program change cc#, which they neglect to mention in the manual.

another case of jv1010 phenomena.. i really do like the sounds on this thing.. for $400.. you've got a damn powerful machine, enuff to keep you busy for years, but they don't make any facilitation for your bargain price.. both of the manuals are far, far too brief in explaining utilization.

so from here on, it's ghetto folks.. find someone who knows how to use it, which sohuld be me in a few hours (soon as i get my mannys back..)

as for what i said about rolandcorp and the venemous ass burrowing rats.. i'm not gonna retract that.. i might have figured out how to do what i want, but it's got too much shock value to take it back :)

okay. now for my review:

if you want to do electronic music, get osmethnig else first! this is too much of a bitch to use easily. if oyu're looking for a support unit to broaden your tones, this is your puppy.

the onboard synthesis stuff is fantastic.. i've gone through almost a dozen h/w synths and this far exceeds the modulation capacities of them all put together. with sounddiver, you can set the keyboard scaling using a graphic hinge type interface.. set the pivot, the degree of slope.. think you can do custom tunings.. just an example.. it's deep, once you open it up.

so from there, with it;s onboard pcm data, you've got a lot of capability. many of the presets are engrossing.. lots of deep, luscious surreal pads that you can get lost in for hours.

the preset strings and stuff aren't going to knock you over if you're elfman or whoever.. lots of the instruments have pretty obvious multisampling, obvious loop points, but there are lots that aren't so overt. and all of them are really going to be just fine if you'r eusing them with a few other osunds.. no one but a maven's going to bitch about your string loop points.. the presets are nice, with enough control to make the attacks and dynamics pretty convincing for most listeners.

if you're like me and you're saying to yourself.. i've got a few synths and stuff and i need osmething to give me insta-pianos to have a go at production for radio spots and stuff w/o worrying aobut crap hours spent multisampling, you'll be beaming with delight.. (until you start trying to take advantage of the multitimbrality.. whoever married midi with pcs ought to have some real damage enacted upon them..)

kay. odne saying stuff. email me for some urls of jv1010 music in a bit :) 5 for the sounds, bloody -1,000,000,000,000 for the interface.

Its definitely good if u just want to expand your system a little but don't want to shell out for a huge ass 1080 or 2080. I recommend it. Just make sure u have a computer to edit with.

i thought i knew what i was getting into.. a budget sound module that'd give me the sum of your general midi fodder sounds lacking some of the finer front panel editing. but it's just such a royal pain in the ass to use at all that i feel castrated. not a good feeling! the 'manual' (cdrom, not printed) is basically a useless list of features. i'm presuming you can't store performances, despite there being 32 (??) locations. if anyone's figured this out, *please* drop me a line.

really, it sounds great, and 64/16 for $400?? wow!! as soon as i figure out how to use two patches at the same time in my midi chain i'll be pleased. a real, major headache. thanks roland. put a store function on your crap huh? turn midi channels off? too much to ask? i think not. die eternally in hell with ass burrowing rats aplenty, you f*ckers.