Roland 880EX

This unit, as said by others has a steep learning curve, but it only takes about a week or so of really working with it and watching the included Quick Start tape, and then you're good to go. If you can figure out a computer, you can figure this machine out fairly well.

The small screen is the only major drawback to using it more easily.

I'm giving this section a MUCH higher rating than the other folks only because, while it has a steep learning curve, once you figure it out, it's quick and easy to use. There's nothing wrong with taking out time to learn something new, people. It's what makes the world go around!

The sound quality is absolutely excellent. You really can't beat these Roland Virtual Studios for the money. The sound effects are all excellent and very useful, and I can't say enough good things about the quality of the sound this unit produces. Even with the space-saving compressed settings, it still sounds great. It is completely possible to create fully professional-sounding recordings with this machine.

I've never had a single problem in the 4 years I've been using this product and the backup CD drive. Everything has always worked perfectly and I wouldn't hesitate to use it without backup at a gig. It's well constructed and dependable.

Never had to use it, fortunately.

The features are all great. The Virtual Tracks are an invention of genius and are incredibly helpful and useful. I can't imagine getting by without them. The sound effects bank is incredible, flexible, and fulfills all my needs for any effects wonderfully.

The screen could be bigger, and the routing isn't quite as easy as the 1680, but once you get the hang of it, it's okay. It lacks phantom power and has no XLR inputs, but the useful features this thing IS packed with more than makes up for those few minor complaints.

I use my Roland 1860 exclusively now for tracking and editing, so my 880EX is reserved for mixing down and mastering, but I still regard the 880EX as an excellent machine, and occassionally use it for live work. It's small, lightweight, and quiet.

Overall, it's a great recorder, and I just had to add in my good review to balance out some of these other rather poorly written reviews.

It's very hard to use this machine and you'd better use it regularly to remember any of it. I had the 880 sold it and bought this later, the original was a little easier. I've never used the virtual layers to comp a vocal or instrument, I feel like, why should I? if it's messed up then, rerecord the track or punch in. Well maybe that's one reason I'm an amateur. I use the virtual tracks for bouncing, and that's it. The manual is pretty tough to follow, I didn't think I would ever figure out how to input effects on tracks properly, and I'm still not sure that I do. If someone were to work with this unit daily I'm sure it could be mastered.

The sound is very good, but I have to be careful of effects and how they are used. I use a fender tele mexican, which is a great guitar,and have a fender acoustic f35 circa 76' model, also a mint. I sold all of my amps, and use the VG8ex along with peavy pro fex. between and combined these units give me all I can handle guitar wise.
I use the roland gr09 synth and it's been very good also. My son plays an Ensonique MR 76 keyboard, he inputs drums, bass, piano, and does most vocals. We use AT 33- something condenser, sometimes I get a good sound and sometimes not. The 880ex itself has as good of a sound as we will ever need though. It's fun to burn your own Christmas CD at home isn't it? We tend to play Christian music primarily, though we play a little country, 50's, blues, etc. for jams. Yeah the sound quality is a lot higher than we normally go.

Well, it still works, after 2 years, so I guess it's pretty reliable. If it breaks down I doubt that I can fix it, but it sure is a lot of good machine to be that small. I believe that it will last a long long time.

For home recording use it has been a jewel, and it does have some great builty in effects.

They did try to make it easy for you to learn how to use the 880, but the device is still layered in function. It takes too many steps to change effect settings, especially when you got 4 musicians staring at you while you scroll through all the layers of settings which by themselves are usually subtle. But coming from a computer based recording mentality to non-computer based thinking had it's challenges. I did not try the interface software yet, but I did have to update the operating system on the 880 to 2.0 to get the CD drive to work. That wasn't too hard, it was all done through the midi.

I do get some background sounds from other tracks some how from time to time. For the most part it is very high quality. Running the output through another mixer helped make it easier to get the right band setting.

The CD back up drive that Roland makes has failed about 20 times now. Some times it works other times it does not. I paid $400.00 for it and I am really dissapointed that it didn't last even a year. I didn't drop it or abuse it so I can only blame it on manufacturing. The 880 though is still working.

I have not delved into Roland's customer support yet but plan to soon for my drive. Wish me luck :(

Overall I am pleased with it, it is small and portable and high quality. The hard drive is still operating well, but like I said my backup is dead. It has many features so getting that sound you want is usually always possible, but it does take some bonding on your part to figure it all out. Looking at the pile of partially burned CDRs that were killed by the drive failing in mid backup and the cost of the backup drive I think Roland could figure out something better. They have a DAT backup feature which might be a better avenue for this system.

This is the real problem with the 880-ex. The 1680 has a bigger led screen, so you can actually get a graphic of what you are doing, but the 880-ex has a scroll screen that can leave you in knots for hours. I purchased the ($20) e-magic software to run the 880 on my MAC and it just would not work (I'm not a total illiterate, I have heard of other e-magic/Mac problems). When it works, it's great, but the learing curve is extreme.

Exellent. If you know anything about micing and studio techniques than you can record amazing things on the 880-EX. The internal effects are fully tweakable and professional, I am currently using the unit as a digital mixer into my Mac B&W G-3 where I am runnung Cubase VST24 and the amp simulations and effects are great. Because it's an 8 track and not 16...there is little to no compression.

So far, it turns on and works. (18 months).

I am an ecclectic player of Bass, Guitar, Programming ,and studied classical voice at university. The sounds I put into the 880-EX are the sounds I get out of it. Roland is constantly on the cutting edge, they just get cloudy as to the degree of intuitiveness that the users possess.

Very easy to get a good sound with a good instrument. Just plug in and play. Editing is a BITCH!!!!!!! That's where things go down hill quick. Unless you're a computer geek or have alot of experience with home recording, I would NOT reccomend this unit. The learning curve on this unit is more like a flagpole- straight up!!!!!!

Recording bass direct, using a few amp sims (when I could manage to rout them). Guitar effects are cool as are the guitar amp sims. Just a little too much work involved in routing and especially editing them.

Seems to be very sturdy unit........ if I could just make it hook up to my computer........ but that's another story.......

Tried sending in my registration card...... came back as "Address Unknown"..... What the Hell???????????????? All user groups that I've found are "currently under construction" and have been for the past three months. Again I say "What the Hell?????????" They got to get their collective poop in a group fast.........

I love the ease of use as far as very basic tracking is concerned. Once you get beyond that, it starts to get scary and weird. It's a great package for someone with plenty of previous experience with home recording but definitely not for the beginner. Intuitive is not a word that can be used to describe the 880EX