RE: Korg X5 DR and Roland JV-1080

> From: "Andrew L. Kaye"
> Subject: Korg X5 DR and Roland JV-1080
>
> 1) Does anyone on the list have experiencing using the Korg X5 DR? It
> is selling for $399 at Sam Ash. The module has several different
> present scales (pelog, "Arabic", just, etc.) and the ability, so I'm
> told, to make your own microtonal scales, not limited to the 12-note
> octave. True? Easy to use? Fine tunable? I'd appreciate any reports,
> advice.
>
> 2) There was also a used Roland JV-1080 for $799. It seemed a bit more
> complicated to make user-defined scales. Anyone out there with
> experience with this module? Thanks again...
>
>
Check my Microtonal Synthesis web site at http://freeweb.pdq.net/jloffink to
answer these types of questions. I don't have personal experience with
either unit, but generally Korg equipment is limited to 12 note scales with
+-50 cents range per note, while Roland equipment is limited to 12 note
scales wtih +-63 cents range per note.

John Loffink
jloffink@pdq.net

>Jeff Lofflink wrote:
>Ensoniq pitch tables. As far as I know, though, you cannot update
>them except by sending a whole pitch table, that is, you cnnot retune
>"one note" at a time.

I don't claim to have used much SysEx stuff to my Ensoniq gear, but I
seem to recall that it implements a "virtual keypad" interface, meaning
that SysEx messages simulate fingers hitting keys of the keypad. If so,
then in concept I would think that you could retune some note by virtual
keystrokes, then extrapolate (duplicate in all octaves, or whatever
interval) it.





>Since most of my pieces are in non-12 based tunings, I have found
>the Korg and Roland synths almost useless. The Yamaha's (like the
>TX81Z), the Emu's (like the Proteus modules) and the Ensoniq
>samplers are all roughly equally capable.

So then they to have completely arbitrary pitch tables (any key may be
assigned any pitch without regard to how any other is assigned)?