Roland E-300

The Roland E300 isn't all that complicated, then again, that's my point of view. I've had the keyboard for nearly seven years and I've only just recently discovered its full potential! It's fanatastic! It came with an instruction manual but I try to avoid it as much as possible as I'm one to experiment; not read. On the other hand, it's always good to have the manual for support.

The E300 has a range of DSP effects that are able to be used in any instrument. Effects include Rotary, Overdrive, Distortion, Enhancer, Delay, Stero Chorus, etc. I think the Roland is able to expand memory and all that jazz, but I'd have to refer to the manual to be absolutely sure. I've connected the Roland to a computer for MIDI purposes. I used the Cakewalk series for Software...it worked. The Roland does have a (16 track) sequencer. One of the best parts I would have to say.

When I went searching for a keyboard, I made sure it had a proper accordion sound and the Roland Keyboard/Synth series was profound for such things. The sounds are very realistic indeed but I've since heard better in the Roland G-70. The E300 is ideal for jazz in particular. Newer brands are better for the more modern types of music, though. You can adjust aftertouch by function> key touch.

I can most certainly depend on it. It's a one-man band easily.

I've recently had a minor problem with internal vibration which has caused the start/stop button go totally frantic but I love my E300 too much to let anybody touch it, let alone repair. But I've come up with a temporary solution for the problem. But hey, seven years so far. I'm expecting at least another three years out of it.

I'd cry for days on end first! Seriously speaking, however, I'd try to find another E300, but I'm currently eyeing off a Roland G-70 :). It wouldn't be worth $3000 Aus. today, mainly because technology has vastly improven. Bigger, better things. But it was worth it in 1999. So, again. Seven years. I love the 16 track sequencer but I hate the lack of modern styles. Pretty self-explanatory I guess. Old.

I compared it to the V series and the G-70. I have to say the G-70 is the better keyboard. Again, I wish it had more modern styles, but I'd also like USB connectivity. Helps make music, depending on what music, though.

TO ALL ROLAND OWNERS: TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE FLOPPY DRIVE. PRESERVE YOUR WORK PEOPLE! USB IS JUST AS GOOD!

Bought this 1998 (1995) instrument in 2001. The presets sound great and the sequencer is handy for musical ideas. You do not need the computer all the time.
The german manual however is so bad - it's sad: someone (who?) created this instrument and then they do not care anymore.(They discontinue).

Its 64 polyphony and that is even now, 2004, not so common.
The dsp effects in the beginning are fascinating but they wear off rather fast. Sadly no ADSR, but that is common in arrangers.
Id like to have a loop generator and an arpeggiator and a display which shows the notes ...: who will build that ? a magic little box.

Piano is good an acoustic guitar. lots of organs. It reacts good to velocity. One cannot add new rom samples.

Ok.

They discontinued the series. The manual, as I already mentioned, sucks. (they ve got some wrong notes in When the Saints ... the example to show the arranger ...).
WHY? Why do they care so little?

Id by a new medium arranger (with arpeggiator...) I choose it because of the expressive piano sound, which still is nice to have. (compared to casio und yamaha).
As soon as one start to try to make something more difficult, eg. styles it gets in the way. Little things, which is so annoying, like the metronome keeping on clicking after the recording has stopped, or that ever blinkin tempo light (had to put something on it).

Easy of use? Well... Very easy! The display is wonderful, with all the info you need to know! The sounds are Good: Drum kits are "Dated", but they sound pretty good. Some Instruments sound real, like the Piano, Oboe, French Horn solo and others, Some synths are good, some Organs too. The Manual is a Calssic Roland!

64 Voice Poliphony.
There is some God FX, like Distotions, Rotary and other very good and The Classic Roland Reverbs and Choirs, they are very easy to use.
The 16 track sequencer is like a dream and is very easy to use. The Midi capability are Powerfull, and very easy to use!
There is classic 128 "sound canvas" Sound Plus 270 Sound in Expansion Mode (They sounds very good!).
MIDI File Player (You can play all kind of files, ) 0, 1, If you have text on your midifile (Karaoke) it will show up on the display, so you can sing along with the song. I Like the Option "Play before Loading", You can listen to a Style before load that in the memory!

The Piano is very good! There is some instruments that sounds "realistic". I'm not crazy about the sax, it's good, but could be better like G-600, G-800.
The Touch (Specially on the Piano) Is Good.
I Play all Kind of Music with this, maybe it's not good for "Acid" and "Techno", but who cares? You can Save Your Job on a disk and then edit the song on a computer, if you wish!

Well... I never Had Problems! Always good... I Like this. It's a good Keyboard for Everybody, it's good for Play Midi files, but also for Composing and also just for play and for Fun!
I Love It! I had others Keyboards. I'm a Keyboard Player since 1989, Well, I've Had Korg and others: Maybe some sounds in other keyboards sounds better, but I'm very happy with this One. I'm looking for Others keyboard (like Roland VA or Korg Triton) but I will keep this one!

Never Had Problems! But I know They Are good!

I will keep this forever!
I Love this little thing!
I Usually Composing music with a software sequencer on my computer, but I Put down the fisrt Idea on the E-300 Sequencer.
Well... Very good keyboard!

This is a really easy keyboard to just start using. I would recommend this for an intermediate keyboardist because you won't be going overboard, but it gives you the freedom and professional sound to do quite a bit. I never really had to refer to the manual very much, and when I did, I found what I was looking for. My one issue with this keyboard is the way you access the sounds. There's like ten "Tone Banks," each with a button, and then you can access related sounds onscreen. However, those don't constitute all of the sounds. The rest are located in the utility button menu and then you just have a giant list of 270 sounds to scroll through~!!! That's annoying, cuz then you have to create user styles to acess them quicker. It makes getting some sounds a bit of a clumsy process. Other than that it's great, and I love the sequencer, although you can't change time signature within a song, only at the beginning.

64-voice polyphony! That's pretty damn good...hell, even the Triton only has 64 (which is annoying; i have one), but for this board, it's quite ample. Also, when using the piano, it has intelligent note dropout; i.e. if you're holding a low note and playing a lot of high notes quickly, it will only drop out notes in the middle, *not* that low note that you need held. Also, there are like 60-80 effects you can through on sounds, which isn't too shabby for a little board like this. There aren't really expansion capabilities, but...if you're buying this keyboard, you're probably not at the level yet anyway; I wasn't when I got it. It's great for working with general MIDI. The 16-Track Sequencer is a breeze to use, but still gives you lots of room to work with. And, the floppy drive is quite useful.

The sounds are probably what I like most about this keyboard. The piano kicks total ass, but there are also great electric pianos and organs. One of the things that I found this keyboard great for was playing in a church. I got a gig working for this little church every week, and I would use the sequencer and just find little choral arrangements of hymns and play them into the e300 using woodwind, brass, string sounds etc. The "real instrument" sounds on this board rock, esp. the woodwinds. Plug this sucker into a PA system and it sounds like you've got a little chamber orchestra. However, I've also used this keyboard in my rock band, and found that there were some good synth sounds on there, too. Plus, I use the piano, string, and organ sounds the most anyway, and they leave nothing to be desired. The only problem with this, and I don't know if it should be in this section or not, but the keys are a little short. Like...they should be longer in length. Granted, they're not fully weighted, but that's not the problem. Sometimes you just feel cramped cuz the keys aren't quite fullsize lengthwise. It's not that big of a deal, though. OH! Also, the piano is great because you can change the tone by raising or lowering the lid on the little piano on the screen. It's just like having a grand piano in your keyboard!

I have NEVER had a problem, and I've extensively used this and gigged with it for more than 2 years. I have complete faith in it--it's never screwed up on me live.

I've never even needed support. I imagine it would be good, but I don't know.

I really like this keyboard. Now, my main axe is a Korg Triton Pro-X, but I wouldn't sell this keyboard ever. It's too useful! The sequencer is awesome, and I prefer to use it to write music and just get ideas down. Granted, the Triton has a more powerful sequencer, but this one is much easier to use. I never feel like the keyboard gets in my way when I'm trying to create a song. Also, the fact that it has two 6W built in speakers is nice, cuz sometimes you don't need all the power of an amp or PA, you just want to play in a room or something--that makes it much easier. For instance, I'm a college freshman, and I brought this, not the Triton, simply because it's smaller, doesn't need an amp, and lets me put down ideas for songs quickly that I can let my bandmates hear later. It's such a helpful keyboard; it's too bad it's kind of disappeared from the market. Try to find one used, cuz they're really cool. And the screen is cool. This is an overall great keyboard, even for a professional or semi-professional looking for a not-that-expensive but still great board. BOOYA!

Sound? Sax is good but can be better (like G-800/1000)
Manual is userfriendly

polyphony 64 - i need ever more..
effects good

Problem! I can NOT find free styles on the net. This instrument need stiles MSA format. Can you send me addresses for download?? metsasarv@hot.ee
I have maked 1 upgrade. It works. Rating for this keyboard 8,5-9, but styles-MSA can i not find... I rate 7

I hate MSA format! Can not find these styles.

It is easy to use and follow the manual except the composer session. The manual does not teach how to create a new styles or compose a new song in detail

Enough features to be used.

Sounds are very professional including GM and GS.

No problem at all except the RAM memory sometimes it cannot load
a new style when too many styles have been selected and played from
floppy disk.

Very good

It is good keyboard for a beginner but especially for professional musician.
You can create/compose songs, styles...with good professional. E-300 and E-500
are similar in functions and features. It plays GM and GS midi files. Musicians
can obtain midi files and use on this keyboard as one-man-band with incredible
sounds. I really enjoy and love my E-300. Compare to Yamaha PSR5xx, PSR6xx,
and PSR7xx, Roland E-300/E-500 has little bit less features and functions such
as built-in styles and easy-to-use, but Roland sounds are real and better.