Any Roland XV-5050, XV-3080 and XV-5080 experience?

[Rosie C]

I don't have a MIDI accordion at the moment, but I am looking at getting a rack-mount MIDI synth. Does anyone have any experience of synths such as the Roland XV-5050, XV-3080, XV-5080 or similar from that era? I'm trying to balance cost against features but don't really know whether the things missing in the 5050 are worth worrying about, given the lower price.

Of course as soon as such a device is instsalled in my practice room, a MIDI accordion is... inevitable!

 

[Ventura]

when you talk about basic MIDI and old time Midi Accordions,
i personally found that using multiple sound generators was
the easier and better approach

old time synths typically did something great, and most other stuff
just OK, so i had one unit for Organs/drawbars, another for Strings,
something else for General Midi, something for lead lines, and
something else for Bass

this allowed me to tweak the best out of units that were strong to
begin with in certain categories of sound, and also to have multiple
Volume Pedals (each audio feed through pedals into mixer)

in general, it is hard to beat a simple Roland Sound Canvas for
the basic GM sounds, (SC-155 is the handiest) and most any Korg
like an O or X is easy to tweak lead sounds out of.. there were ORLA
and several other brands for Drawbars, even new on Amazon ferrofish
drawbars are only $400, and the Waldorf Strings are the same price range..
all those are 1/2 rack size. Some of the newer era sound modules like
the Roland Sonic Cell also can playback some types of Media files as well
as having top notch Piano's and General MIDI soundsets

and rack stuff can be rolled to a gig

lots of the people here know how to do GM soundsourcing
from simple basic computers too with amazing sound quality..
some great Virtual Soundsets are shareware or public domain

for the MIDI accordion, while plenty of bargains are out there,
it is very hard to beat a used Roland FR3 or FR2 under $1500
usually as a basic MIDI controller, and with velocity keys, which
you will not have on an older MIDI accordion in similar price range,
and with a V-accordion you can just use the internal generated
left hand sounds (Bass, Tuba, etc.) and that is 1 less synth in the rack

the roland XV 5050 you mention i think also has a usb port and
can be used directly with a computer as a sound module/source ?
which might be handy, whereas the older synth modules need a MIDI
connection to interface with a computer

so a lot of this will depend on what sound families you want to have
and have control over, and if you want to blend multiple sound sources
in real time or if you just want one sound at a time for fun

 

[Jose EB5AGV]

I have both an XV-3080 and XV-5080 but not (yet) a MIDI accordion... As sound generators, they are quite nice

 

[Rosie C]

Thanks both! I must admit I'd not thought of a Roland FR series accordion - but that makes perfect sense.

My initial use is to set up a MIDI DIN daisy chain with a Roland drum pad, M-Audio Axiom 25 controller keyboard, iPad with MIDI file playing app, and a rack synth connected to our bands PA for live performance.

• adding a drum pad to the drummers existing small acoustic drum kit for extra sounds, e.g. bongos
• giving the option for a backing track played out from the iPad, e.g. oboe intro, instrumental break, bass drum beat when we don't want to carry a real bass drum to a gig, etc.
• the option for me to play short instrumental intros live on the keyboard (Oboe or similar voice). I've read reviews that "Oboe mf" is a particularly good sample, though I've not heard it yet.

Yes, rack cabinets with wheels! Gator do 6U and 8U with wheels and a suitcase style towing handle!

I don't see any SC-155's for sale in the UK, but I like the form factor. I can see that in a case with my controller keyboard.

 

[Ventura]

your statement of purpose helps.. clearly your "rack synth" mostly
needs an excellent GeneralMidi soundbank that has no weakness
so that any sound needed at any moment whether for keys, drumpad,
or MIDI file is good enough for Jazz

one of the problems i see is that newer (perhaps) better sounding GM devices
also seem to have less and less realtime access features.. you see why i like
those 155's with all the handy volume controls and each bank can have a
fave preset patch pre=selected by a dedicated physical button rather than
having to drill down in some menu for a setting

i would say select a half dozen MIDI tracks you like and audition
every rack synth by playing them all and letting your ear decide

so the drum pad(s) can be locked onto channel 10 for drum kits
mapped across the notes, or any of the other 15 MIDI channels
and selecting one of several percussion sounds included in the GM bank..
and which some of those are pitch dependant on the "note" sent/assigned
by the drum pad

the overall total polyphony of an older device might be a limitation,
while newer units are usually at least 64 note Poly

 

[Thomas N]

I had a XV-3080 when I had my Petosa Millennium Reedless accordion way back in the day. It's been too long for me to provide any useful information, however!