Selling three small pieces of gear I'd just about explored totally, I wanted a really good 'total solution': something capable of bringing back the 'wow factor' I felt had been missing with the sample-based synths I'd owned and able to handle almost anything I could throw at it.

I'd previously owned a Roland SC-55 Sound Canvas which is a GM unit. As the 1080 has all 128 of the SC's GM sounds, I've been able to reproduce anything the SC did on the 1080. As well as the GM bank it has three banks of presets (128 patches each), a PCM bank and a user one. I've also got two expansion boards inside it; the Experience II one which is a mixed bag and the techno one. Both of them are awesome and really show off what the beast can do.

If you only had a laptop, the 1080 and a mixer, you could still turn in excellent stuff as this bugger has almost everything you need. Loads of original and classic basses - many from vintage Roland gear - great strings, pads, effects, leads, etc and the much sought-after complete TR-808 and 909 drum kits along with 707,727 and CR-78 sounds round out a total solution for sequencing, especially for dance music I'd say. The logical layout means that all parameters are easily accessible.

Some of the loops on the techno board are superb and I don't even use loops in the stuff I do! It's easy to see why the 1080 is an invaluable workhorse for many studios the world over. A real winner. If you see one at a decent price - especially if it features one or more expansion boards - buy it because you won't be sorry.

To get around it, i downloaded the latest version of a freeware program called ChangeIT version 2.11 released sometime in 2003 - re-written for Windows XP.

Using ChangeIT and setting your performance and Patches in RealTime makes using the module makes your work simple.

There is still one thing i would like to learn is how to setup a patch and use the tonewheel in my case a toneball and modulate the pitch or breath say for an instrument like PanFlute.

I have about 3 expansion boards with the module:Orchestra, Asia and Bass&Drums. The possibilities are endless, and the fact i have an arranger keyboard, playing the Roland Unit thru my arranger keyboard with Built-in 16 track sequencer is a plus.

The sounds on the Roland Unit is marvellous , much better than my WK4 keyboard.

thank you