As usual at NAMM shows, there was a lot of excitement at the Roland booth, (or should I say ‘Roland Room’). First up was Roland’s new V-Synth XT; Named the “Synthesizer of the Year” at the 2004 MIPA Awards, Roland’s groundbreaking V-Synth now comes in a travel-friendly version. The XT is a portable new V-Synth that showed enough synthesis and audio-processing power to make our heads spin. It’s fully stocked with a potent array of synthesis types, including the V-Synth’s famous Elastic Audio Synthesis engine, plus analog-synth modeling, vocal modeling, and classic D-50 emulation. Add to that a rich lineup of COSM effects, external audio processing, a touch-sensitive color display, and eight universal edit knobs and you have an instrument that redefines rackmount/tabletop technology!
The V-Synth XT comes with a new batch of unique patches created by an A-list group of star artists and producers. The patches might sound classic at first touch, but they explode to animated life when modulated.
Physically speaking, the XT is the most flexible rack unit we’ve ever seen from Roland. It can be mounted in a rack, where it can be positioned flush or tilted and locked at an angle. Or, you can place it on a flat surface. Its angled profile is designed to make the XT work perfectly as a standalone tabletop unit.
Features:
- The V-Synth’s powerful variable-oscillator synthesis in rack/tabletop module.
- New patches by world-class artists, and Sound Shaper function for fast navigation through extensive editing parameters.
- Rhythm Sets for unique rhythmic manipulation.
- Multi-Step Modulator for incredible sound-design possibilities.
- Extended analog-modeled waveform set, including SuperSaw, Polyphonic Feedback Oscillator, and X-mod (cross Modulation) Oscillator.
- USB streaming-audio, MIDI, and file transfer for one-cable computer connectivity.
- VC-1 D-50 card and VC-2 Vocal Designer card pre-installed; live switching function enables V-Card application to be launched without rebooting.
- Color touch-screen and eight universal edit knobs for fast, friendly operation.
- Front-panel combo XLR/phono input for external audio processing.
