Roland JV-1010

This is a hard model to comment on, as the JV1010 has good and bad extremes, it has a 3 digit display for your viewing pleasure, to sellect your patches by number only and a few very basic changes like factory reset and very awkward at that and no patch editing at all, you need a computer for that, but once you've done your editing and saved them in the 127 user spots and sit down and play it, it couldn't be easier, just turn the patch knob to the patch you want and thats it, although remembering what number they are on may take a while.

I get the impression that Roland knocked this one out in a hurry, finished or not, the software editor that comes with it is a chopped down version of emagic's Sound Diver and they give you 22 pages torn out of their 350 page manual, its a joke. I gave up on that and found a freeware editor called WinJV thats so easy to use. As to what can be edited, well just about everything, there is no limit to the sound you can make with it, but you will have to learn how to do it yourself (no help from Roland there). As far a the general Midi side of it goes, I've found it to be not very accurate. If you were to play a good GM file that you had not heard before, you would might think it was ok, but if you play it through a Yamaha MU50, which I have, you will notice what is missing and Yamaha's XG format is even better. For some reason didn't include GS and that is their own format. The unit deals with SysEx perfectly.

Thank God I have come to this part, as I can say something really positive. EXCELLENT ! The only reason to buy this unit, there are about 1100 sounds that should cover almost anything you want, and the samples are a delight, combine that with the editing capabilites and you could play with it till the cows come home. I had an SC88 and it wasn't in the same league at all. The JV1010 is essentialy a JV1080 with all the ound and editing plus the JV2080 sounds plus the Session expansion board sounds and at about 1/3 of the price of a 2080 less the 2080's extra effects etc. So to me, this is what makes this unit.

I have confidence in it. Not old enough to rate.

What support ?? Leave your name and number and they will call you, but only if they feel like it. Then they will probably tell you, its all in you head.

I bought this unit for the sounds and the price. I am satisfied in that respect, but , I feel Roland couldn't care less about supplying you with a decent manual. You get a better manual with a cheap TV. If it were lost or stolen, I might buy a used one, if I could find one for $200 or $300. I have a Yamaha MU50 module, which is much more user friendly and has a decent manual. I find it grows on you , whereas , the JV1010 is the opposite.

Easy access to sound by families. Good

Very good in theory (same as JV-1080/2080).

Good compared with other expanders at the same price. But big problem with the D/A converters.
The sound on my old JV-880 is more precise, warmer, has more presence and details.
Sound in JV-1010 lacks of bandwith. Only medium are well played. There is a lack in bass frequencies.
For example try the waveform ST Strings R in the low octaves : on the JV-1010 it lacks of dtails, it's less warm...
I think JV-1010 has only low-cost 16bits converters : the rom sounds
are probably the same but they are not reproduced well.
The sound is lower, doesn't reproduce all details and the dynamic is
very low compared with the JV-880 (has true 18bits quality converters).

Too recent, but probably good

no

Good for that price, but do not think to replace a JV-880 by a JV-1010 to gain money.
It's not a good idea. The sound in JV-880 has much more details, dynamic,
and is warmer. Keep your JV-880 or change it for a JV-1080/2080.
(I don't know if the other JVs have the good or bad converters)

It's a shame that Roland did say that the JV-1010 has the same sounds as other JVs:
The rom samples data are the same, but the result if far more less good,
due to bad converters.
There is also bugs in SoundDiver editor : many parameters are not changed in real time on
the JV-1010 while editing on the computer. For example we must choose "transmit" after
changing the amplitude enveloppe. So editing becomes very difficult.

I will begin by clarifying that I do not own a computer and even though this unit is designed for use with a computer, I bought it with a specific use in mind. Playing in "fusion" (don't think Jeff Lorber, think Medeski Martin and Wood) jazz bands, I use alot of rhodes, wurlitzer, and clavinet sounds. I've looked around quite a bit at sampled versions of these sounds and the best I've found are on the Roland "60's and 70's" expansion card. I got the JV-1010 specifically so I could have these sounds at my fingertips in a live setting. It was important to have them in a module, because I use various controller keyboards in different situations. The decision not to use a JV-1080 or 2080, which have many obvious advantages, was based on portability. The 1010 weighs virtually nothing and takes up virtually no space. It sits comfortably on top of a keyboard right in front of me during a gig. Its relatively easy to memorize which numbers go with which sounds in the expansion board, and so the primary manipulation is to switch among them during a gig and occasionally adjust the volume. Couldn't be much easier. If I were trying to make any more extensive use out of this unit without a computer, it would be a problem. Even switching among sound banks is difficult, as it entails lining up teeny tiny lines on a rotating nob, an endeavor difficult at best in most stage lighting conditions. So, for the very limited range of use that I currently ask of it, yes, it couldnt be much easier.

The many preceding reviews on this unit adequately describe its features. While the 1010 has all the effects of the 2080, you need a computer to get into all that. Otherwise, you take the sounds as they are given to you in the presets. In my opinion, the reason this unit can work at all in a live setting is because you have SO MANY presets to choose from, its fairly likely that you can find an appropriate variation to suite the situation somewhere among them (though, again, switching among banks can be tricky). As noted above, I essentialy use the 1010 as a source for certain e.piano sounds. I then run those sounds through various effect pedals. This is pretty much necessary for live performance where I will spontaneously choose different combinations of effects depending on various things. Since preprogramming effects to sounds doesn't really work for me, I don't miss the absence of this feature.

I read the comment below in which the commenter says he loves the sounds on the 60's and 70's board, but doesn't like the phantom noise he gets with this card through the 1010. I agree with the former but not the latter. The rhodes, wurlitzer, and clav sounds on this expansion board are warm and authentic -- pretty darn close to the real thing. Since I covet these sounds, I have looked far and wide for the best. Some of the sounds available on the fancier Korg keyboards (trinity, triton, trident, whatever) are about as good, but personally I don't need that whole package. I also like the EP sounds on the Kawaii MP9000, which number exactly 3. But with the Roland expansion card, you get a very impressive array of variations. It seems like there is something for every situation and, with the 1010, you just have to remember which corresponds with which number (not too difficult after you work with them awhile), and spin the knob. In my opinion, while the epiano sounds you find on other Roland products (e.g., the RD-600, the Session board, are good, they are not as good as those on the 60's and 70's board. A few of the rhodes patches come with a high level of background noise, sounding as if they are running through a fairly noisy analog stompbox. Its a bit annoying, but wouldn't necessarily stop me from using them. The commenter below who complained about severe phantom noise must have some kind of defect on his hands. The organ sounds on the 60's boards are quite good, putting aside the leslie simulation, which, no surprise, is not terribly authentic. But I need to have drawbars at the ready, so I generally don't use these. Elsewhere on the 1010, the synth patches are surprisingly good, though here as well, I'm not much interested in using synth sounds absent real time controls. I love the synth bass sounds on the 1010. Again, not easily manipulable, but there's a good variety and they're all excellent for being digital fascimiles. A big problem with using the 1010 the way I do, and other commenters have noted this, is the sometimes dramatic differences in volume level. However, among the epiano sounds, the levels are fairly consistent. Differences exist, but within a range that can be dealt with in live situations. I can't stand digitally reproduced acoustic piano and never use it. With a bias such as this, I shouldn't even comment.

I've owned lots of Roland gear through the years and have found it to be about the most reliable stuff you can find in the world of electronics. The 1010 is a sturdy, compact little unit. Quality control is a major reason by itself to keep coming back to Roland.

Have never dealt with the company. Never been a fan of their manuals, but probably no need for piling on Roland in that respect. You'd think that, if they were paying attention, it would have made a difference by now.

I'd buy it again because it works beautifully for my simple needs. I'm not tech-oriented and I don't have much patience for programming anything more complicated than a toaster. Basically I look for quality vintage sounds and the ability to manipulate them in real time. The 1010, with the 60's and 70's expansion board, is fitting the bill as a source of excellent vintage epiano sounds which are then run through a series of effect pedals for the "real time" aspect. I'm also using a Voce V-5 and an Access Virus, which work wonderfully to bring in authentic Hammond and vintage analog synth sounds, respectively. Until about 6 years ago, I did not consider digital fascimiles of analog keyboards to be convincing enough to displace the real thing, and I was still hauling and hassling with the real thing. The bottom line for me is, do the sounds inspire you to play your best or near it? For a long time, digital reproductions failed miserably in this regard (and piano still does). In my opinion, we've crossed the threshold where digital sounds are good enough to merit leaving your dinosaurs in the home studio when you hit the road, shedding several hundred pounds and a world of maintenance concerns in the process. But, you know, all that old school analog logistical stuff, it does build character . . .

If you are using a PC or MAC, then the supplied soundiver software in a must to do any decent editing. I am of the philosophy that ALL units should be able to be programmed from the front panel even if it involves manufacturers building full rackspace units with LCD displays which cost a bit more. I own a Korg TR Rack and whilst it can't do any serious patch editing from the front panel (refer to my review under it's section) at least it is a full rack space unit with an LCD display which allows you to at least get into effects routing and setting up combinations and multis without needing a computer. Whilst I use a computer, I'm a muso 1st!!!!! This means that I resent being forced to rely upon hooking my gear to a computer to make it work properly!!!!!!!!!! Anyway enough of my carryon- If you use Soundiver than getting around this module is OK. If not, Forget it!!! It's only good for selecting patches and even this is a pain in the rectum because of the small LED (NOT LCD) display. The manual is typically Roland- SHITHOUSE! Everything that you need to find is there but it is not logically laid out. The preset patches and drumkits (over 1,000 of them!) are on the whole fantastic- JV1080/2080 quality sounds afterall. My rating is for using it without Soundiver.

64 note polyphony (4 oscillators down to 16 notes). Same synthe engine as JV1080/2080- Very flexible with 10 different oscillator structures, great sounding multiband filters and excellent effects. 3 effects units- 1 reverb, 1 chorus, 1 multi-fx with 40 different programs. I like the midi syncable phasers and flangers the most but the Roland choruses are as always excellent. You can expand it with one of the Roland expansion boards and all the sounds from the session expansion board are supplied which is great- these are great sounds particularly the Acoustic piano, strings, solo sax and nylon guitars- check them out. It is 16 part multi-timbral and responds to all midi controllers and it has a general midi bank. No onboard sequencer- OBVIOUSLY!!!!!

THE SOUNDS ARE AWESOME- I already own 2 Jv-1080's filled with, the orchestral, bass&drums, vintage, keyboards of the 60s&70s, hiphop and techno expansion boards. I bought this more as a sound expander to these modules than anything else. The stock JV sounds are mostly great. Check out the bank E sounds- some of the sythe effects and pads are to die for! The session sounds as previously mentioned are great. I find the drum sounds much less useable than those in my Korg synthes (TR Rack, Triton). This of course is just a matter of taste obviously! The session drumkits are quite good however and so are some of the kits on the expansion boards (check out my reviews on their pages). I can't stand the stock acoustic pianos however and please Roland, stop redoing all the old D50 sounds! Most of us are sick of them. I must say however, that overall the sounds of this unit are great for most styles of music and they sit very well together in a multi timbral peeformance.

NOTE- I NO LONGER BUY PIECES OF GEAR WITH EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLIES- NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY SOUND!!!!!!! Some of you might think that I am a complet and utter dickhead uttering such a remark but I really mean it. If my half rack space MOTU Micro Express MIDI interface can use an internal power supply, why can't the Roland JV1010? Now that I got that off my chest, I never had a problem with this unit.

Roland Australia have been very good to me when I have dealt with them.

I wouldn't buy it again- I actually sold mine, not because I hated it's sounds (I love them) but because I resented having to have it constantly hooked up to a computer to use it properly. I know that this is to make the unit cheaper but Roland could have made it a full rack space with an inbuilt power supply, LCD display with at least 4 outputs (only 2 outputs on such a multi-timbral device stinks). Also whilst they were at it, they could have given us at least a couple of more expansion slots (obviouly with more space on a full rack space unit). If you are using it with your PC and MAC then I feel that this is a very viable alternative to the much more expensive Jv1080 or 2080. However, I wouldn't bother looking at it if you only want to use it on it's own- you are better off hunting down a 2nd hand JV1080 or XP50. As for myself, I co-own a midi based studio with a number of Korg and Roland pieces. I think that Korg and Roland sounds compliment each other very nicely- they are quite different to each other. I contacted Roland as I wanted the JV1010 to power up with the last selected patch or performance (like the JV1080 can do). Sadly it doesn't allow you to do this and this was probably the last straw before I sold it. Please don't let my ranting put anyone off this unit however because if used as I described above (with PC or MAC) and Soundiver, it is a killer sounding module (even if it has got an external power supply! Have I already mentioned how much I hate them??????) My rating is using it without a computer.

I was quite impressed with the sounds in the store,and still am with many of them.I love the drums,especially the kicks and the piccolo snare.I wouldn't rate the basses as high as other modules I've heard.the strings merit an honorable mention.Overall sound quality is high and sequences well.I went into this purchase with full understanding that the interface was amputated to attain a certain price point,and that's fine with me 'cause I really wanted the unit to enhance my timbral pallette already in place (Alesis QS4,Korg N1R),and in spite of the lack of easy programmability I still feel I got a high bang-for-buck factor.The preview feature is cool. The manual got me up to the level of functionality I require,so I would also rate it favorably.

64 note polyphony.FX are very good for the price.I wish it were easier to assign them,but this is where the price/performance ratio comes into play.Can be expanded,although personally I've got enough to keep me going for a while as is.

Any box that has only 2 or 3 velocity X-fades for acoustic instrument samples will leave SOMETHING to be desired,but for Pop music sequencing or song demos this unit is more than sufficient.I found the slap Bass to be lacking in,well,BASS,and here the lack of individual outs to EQ separate sounds is felt,but the mantra remains,bang for buck... I write pop songs and in this genre I find the overall level of sounds to be high and pleasing to the ear.

I have owned the unit since 6/99 and no problems have as yet surfaced.I don't gig with it, I only use it for sequencing.

Every time I've spoken to a Roland person has been a very positive experience.I have always had my questions answered fully,clearly,and promptly.I own a few other pieces of Roland "kit" as the Brits say and they have on occasion sent me stuff free (data in floppies) I probably should have had to pay for.

If lost or stolen I would replace it.I've been playing music for 34 yrs. I have a VS-880EX, a Mackie 1402VLZ,4 guitars, 2 basses, guitar and bass amp Digitech 2101 and valve fx, Studio Vocalist Behringer compressor,Midiverb 4 etc. I LOVE: the sound,the size,the price. I HATE: people who complain that it isn't as easy to use as something costing 2-3 times as much! You get what you pay for! Yes,it helps me make music.As an expansion to a home studio setup I recommend you check it out.

Editing on the machine itself is very limited. It sucks. Sounddiver is ok, could be a bit more logical,
but I can't seem to get it to work together with cubase vst. Anyone have ideas on this?

64 voice, very nice DSP effect section, nice filters. Works very nice with the serial interface connected to a laptop, so that you
can use it on the road.

The sounds are so good that I was a bit dissapointed: it is so easy to make a new age tune
or dance with this machine. The filters are cool, you can set them to extreme values so that
they start to whistle. A killer for your speakers. Incredible large collection of sound, great drums,
great synth sounds, nice strings.

Sometimes the serial interface would freeze if you reboot the computer. Apart from that, I would use it on a gig.

Haven't called them.

I am very happy with the machine. It has got a lot to offer in a single machine. I use it with a casio vz-1,
cubase vst, yamaha sw60xg and a boss dr660. Very inspiring, and unbeateble vallue for money.

What makes this box so difficult to use is the lack of editing features on board.
The front panel controls are very easy to use, but many have complained about using it in the performance mode.
I have not had any problems with that aspect, simply because I use it in home studio enviroment only. I user Digital Performer
and what I've done is taken the 2080 in the patchlist manager in Freemidi and renamed it JV 1010. Then I rearranged the patch names
to in the user bank to correspond with the 1010. They are the same patches in the user bank, just in different order.
The rest of the presets are exactly the same. Sorry if the above info doesn't relate to everyone, but Performer users might find it helpful.
Incidentally, I have the Freemidi patchlist to the Orchestral II card if anyone is interested.
The unit does sound great though, despite its low output. The 1080 and 2080, even the 880 has a more powerful amplifier. This is my biggest gripe so far.
The Soundiver software is complete but has a strong learning curve.

Having 64 note polyphony and over 1000 patches plus a card expansion, makes this box worth the price alone.
Having only two analog outputs makes it more difficult to mix professinaly but there are always workarounds, especially with digital audio nowdays.

The sounds are great, almost all of them, especially the Session board with its nice pianos, strings and various guitars. I added an orchestral 2 board and I'm happy.
I would also recommend buying the Patchman patches which you can get on line for $40.00. They have wonderful breath controll patches and new patches for all the JV units.

I had one problem when I had and audio surge that seem to knock the wind out the JV 1010 and caused to freak and not play.
After a few minutes it reset itself and has been fine ever since.
No other problems.

The Roland support people should be rated individually. They should rate from very helpful to total assholes on the loose.
I shant call them unless I need to.

I would probably buy a 2080 next time because of the 8 card slots it provides

Oh my gawd! I read Alex Fraser's October 5th review of this unit in these very pages and thought "this guy's just saved me from submitting a long and castigating review because he's written almost exactly what I would have a few days ago". Since then a long (and expensive) chat with a very helpful Roland techie has modified my view a smidgin. Basically this unit is a synch to operate if you want to access only the patches, and a complete dog if you want to see action from the performances. Roland advised me that this unit is not meant for those people without a computer, so an ease-of-use mark would be 9 for patch use, and a round zero for performances.
One other glitch in the ease-of-operating department, is the fact that the volume levels differ so widely between the patches.

See Alex Fraser's review.
Also, with the somewhat turgid 'SoundDiver' software editing potential is enormous. (So with 4000 hours of free time to spend you should be in good shape)

Some truly fabulous sounds here, like guitar, piano (surprise), (both from the session board), and many others. I imagine the dance crowd would be well pleased too. It is very expressive on the whole, with varying timbral responses to different velocities, albeit with fairly useless aftertouch for the presets (some of those 4000 hours wqould be well spent reassigning and tuning the aftertouch).

I think Roland gear is pretty sturdy, generally.

The first support person I spoke with must have been having a baaaaad day because he was unfriendly to the point of recalcitrance, and generally behaved like a first-rate wanker. The second was pleasant but didn't seem to understand my questions too well (of course, it may have been that I didn't understand my questions too well either); the third was helpful and had a firm grasp of this unit's operation (by now, I expect that Roland staff have logged 4000 hours or more dealing with questions about this machine, and the answers probably trip off the tongue quite readily)

I would think hard before buying this unit again. I have only just got off the phone with the helpful techie, and if everything he says is true, my feelings will be mollified. It seemed to me that one could not get a 'performance' out of this machine without a computer unless your controller sent the right msb, lsb bundles [Which mine doesn't], but I have been assured that the unit will land on performance 1 when turned on [which I had not, hitherto, found to be the case]. If this is true, then one can edit everything you need into a user performance, using SoundDiver, and hey presto, you have action. Still, this unit is likely to induce severe rectal distress in anyone wanting to use it in a live setup. For sequencing on a computer I imagine it would be fine (once you've spent some time getting aquainted with the editor).
I did compare it with other products, and sonically it was way ahead of anything else in its price-range - and higher. The 1080 would be a better bet, but costs twice as much with the Session board (which is excellent).
I wish this unit had $100 worth of user more-friendly interface.
I use a Fatar controller with Kurzweil micropiano, Korg 05R/W, and, of course this little gem, the JV-1010, all put through a Mackie 1202VLZ.
I've been playing piano and keybords my whole life and have been making my living from music since graduating from college.
Right now this unit gets in the way of my making music, but I do expect that to change, and if it does, it will be a big asset.

I've owned the JV 1010 for a couple of months now.
I'm no newcomer to the world of music technology - I've used enough
gear in my time, and the JV1010 has been the hardest to learn.
Out of the box, like so many have said, the 1010 appears to be a doddle
to use...if you are only selecting patches to play around with.
Throw the 1010 into a studio application, and the design flaws are
painfully obvious. The display is uninformative, being simply a three
figure LED. Selecting sounds in performance mode is a challenge at best.
This is mainly due to the knob rotation method of selecting sounds.
Many times have I selected a sound for one part, selected another previously
used part, only to have the sounds changed because of the knob's
current position. Sounds hard to comprehend in words, but play
with the 1010 for five minutes and you too will find out the hard way...(!)
Making other performance settings also defeys simple logic. To enter
performance edit mode, for example, the user is required to push
the volume knob in, (causing the module to burst into song- the volume knob
is also the sound preview button...) and the mode select knob.
The user is then required to use the sound selection dial to access
the parameters using a diagram printed on the top of the module, again
highly usefull if your JV happens to be in a rack...
Add to this that the LED displays "r-=" in the process, or some
other informative diagram to show where your sounds are being
routed to. Help. You get the picture - I could go on.
OK, the Roland comes with a special version of SoundDiver - a patch
and performance editing piece of software, but this has a steep
learning curve if you want to do more than just edit presets.
However, its reliable, and does the job.
The JV1010 manual is the worst I have ever seen.
Beginners to the world of music technology - you're knackered.
Some aspects of the unit's operation are not even covered in the
manual. There is a CD-ROM with the product, but finding the information you need
in this online version is a task in itself. SoundDiver has a reasonable
manual, assuming you have Adobe reader....Roland assumes a lot when you buy the JV 1010.
Those without a PC are in for a tough time..

The JV1010 features 64 note polyphony. Good enough for most uses.
It also features a descent FX chip, with a good selection of Chorus,
Flange and the like, as well as more unique effects for a synth, such
as the compressor (I did read the manual right..?)
The option to install an expansion board is nice, and there is an very
usefull computer connecter on the rear of the module, which attaches itself
to the serial port of your computer. The cable cost me a fiver, so this is a cheap
enough feature to take advantage of, considering the amount
of information that will be flowing between your PC and JV1010.
I was sorry to see that the 1010 only had a single pair audio output -
my cheaper Roland GS-64 has four in total.
Still, if you want more outputs, I guess Roland want you to buy the
JV1080.

The sounds on the JV1010 are the reason I brought the module.
They are very, very good, and I can see the synth becoming
a well used workhorse soundwise in the near future.
It doesn't appear to be geared towards any type of music in particular,
though the sounds of Rolands sought after early dance synths seem to be well
represented. If you like that sort of thing.
Of note, the pianos are the best in my collection of gear, and some of the
string sounds are fantastic. Also, the synth pad sounds are imaginative
and could be used in real-world situations - a departure from the
usual wooshy sweeps with thirteen layers of sound FX that you often
find on these things - no use in most people music.

I've had no cause for complaint, though I did lose the midi output
once for no apparent reason. Maybe I pressed the wrong button..

I havn't had the need to contact Roland support.

The sounds are great. The features you get for the price are staggering.
Remember, this module has all the sounds of the JV1080, and JV2080, plus
it is expandable. But it's pain to use. Peroid.
There is so much to get out of the little box, but you need a degree and
a willing PC to get the most out of it.
It seems that Roland set out to produce a cut-down version of the
JV1080 and 2080, and I can't help feeling that the costs have been cut
far too much. I wouldn't mind paying more for a descent display for
starters - how much does a two line LCD display cost nowadays?
The O/S is rubbish. Sorry Roland, I like your products. I just feel it could have been
done a lot better.
But to sum the module up: Every time you turn the module power off, you lose the
memory. Everything - user patches, performance settings..it would appear the works.
Correct me if I'm wrong though (and don't worry, I'll be your friend!)
Again, you need that PC..
I have a five year-old Korg 05r/w, and there are sounds in there which I made
when I first brought the module. A memory backup battery would have
been a great idea for the Roland...
Get the 1080. I wish I had.

If your just going to play the presets live from a master keyboard the JV-1010 is easy to use. Just turn a knob to pick a bank and then use the another knob to select the patch. It's a whole other ball game if you try and get the thing to respond on separate MIDI channels using an sequencer. The included Soundiver program is fairly robust but has a bit of a learning curve. The interface to Soundiver IMHO is convoluted and not very straight forward. The manual for the JV-1010 is typical for any technical product. Awful!

64 Voices of polyphony. Over 1000 sounds including all sounds from the Jv 2080, 1080 and the Session Expansion Card. One expansion slot. Soundiver editing software. MIDI in, out and thru. Computer port for direct connection to a Mac or PC.

The reason I bought the JV-1010 was for the extra polyphony and the Session sounds. (I already own an XP-80 and a Korg NS5R.) I love the Roland sound. Very warm and rich. Great strings and piano. The on board effects are OK. The Session sounds are incredible. I traded in a Proteus 2000 for the JV-1010 because I was dissapointed with the Proteus's strings. Now I kind of regret this decision because the Proteus had cooler drum sounds and was a way easier to work with. The output on the JV-1010 is incredibly weak (volume wise) compared to the rest of my gear.

Hasn't failed in the first couple of months. Roland stuff is usually pretty stable.

Although the support guys are very nice they seem to get annoyed if you don't understand what they're explaining. This would be acceptable if everything they said actually worked. I've been on the phone with them numerous times trying to get my XP-80 and JV-1010 to work together as I need them to and have had little success. I'm sure most of it's user error but why does all this stuff have to be so freakin' hard. Especially the fact that the XP-80 and JV-1010 are both made by the same company. The manual isn't much help either. I've been getting better advice from users on the WEB. (Thanks Guys!)

If it were lost or stolen I wouldn't buy the JV-1010 again. I'd would defintely buy the Session card for my XP-80 though. The JV-1010, again IMHO, is way to difficult to deal with setting up the MIDI channels. The Soundiver program is not very intuitive and lacks a decent manual. I'm sure that some of my frustrations are due to the XP-80 and how it works. Maybe I should have spent more dough and bought the JV-1080 or JV-2080. At least I wouldn't have to involve another piece of electronics (computer) in the whole mess. (Sorry, ex drummer!)

It is very easy to use right out of the box and make some terrific sounds, BUT: Once you start to use it in real applications, the design flaws become glaringly obvious. I own a JV1080 and an XP30, so I have the sounds covered, I mainly was interested in the portability so that I could just take it and my Roland AX-1 midi-controller for a quick easy-to-pack setup. I was already using the Sound Diver software so it was easy to configure the user presets. However, even though I knew the display only showed a number and had handprinted a patch list to use live, it was still a crap shoot if I was on the right bank/patch combination. There is no way to tell what the patch is without a cheatsheet. I would've paid an extra $100 for a great display (like on the Korg module for example). When you change user banks, the lines are very close together and don't always line up right with the knob so BE CAREFULL! ALSO, there is no way to copy a patch to the user bank live (without the software). I am constantly re-arranging my sounds right before (or in the middle of) a show. Lastly, even when you find the right string patch and piano patch etc., once you change banks, the patch changes to Number 1 of the new bank. Way too many wildcards to use live (which is why I got it - very tiny unit). And like I said - I've got the patches covered at home, so I'm returning to store today. I love Roland products (I also have an MK80 and a VK-7 which I LOVE) and I will purchase again if they make a version this size with a useable display and a tad bit more functionality.

An extra expansion slot would be nice, but I've already gone on and on about its problems.

I'm used to the patches from my other Roland gear, but for some reason, some of the patches sound different through the 1010. For one thing, the output signal is WAY TOO Weak. It is not up to the level of the 1080. Also, some of the keyboard sounds seem as if they have a tap-delay process going on that I don't get with the same patch on the 1080 or XP30. Plus - there is a great disparity in the level of sounds. You have to be very careful when switching between instruments and drop the volume between changes. However, if you get past all these other things, the basic sounds are quite complete and well done. Especially the pads and guitars.

Like I said - I don't trust it on a Live Gig. Patch changes are too risky. ALTHOUGH, I've NEVER had any problem with any Roland gear and have some that's 10 years old.

Never needed it.

I'm returning it, but will keep my eyes and ears open for its replacement with 1) more informative display (even just the patch name would be enough improvement to re-purchase), 2) User bank write/copy function without hooking up to computer, and 3) fix output signal/level disparity. If these items don't apply to you (you just need a small, inexpensive module to play with at home) then this is probably the one to get. But I'll wait.

Couldn't be much simpler to use. Has four knobs, volume, channel, value, and category. To select a patch just choose the category (piano, guitar/bass, synth, etc...) and the patch number. There's only a LED display so you'll have to remember or write down the numbers of you faves. The manual has patch lists though. Some global settings such as fx levels, tuning, and panning, are all editable from the unit. All other editing must be done using the supplied editing software Emagic's SoundDiver. I've only used it a couple of times so far but it's relatively user friendly, if you've ever used an editor program before. I was editing patches without having to even glance at the instructions or help files. I use a simple joystick port MIDI cable and had no problems at all with data transfer.

Polyphony is 64 voices which equates to 16, 32,48, or 64 note polyphony depending on number of voices used in each patch. There are over 1000 presets available, and oddly almost all of the patches from the category settings are duplicated in the Preset A-E banks. Preset D is the GM bank, although GM operation can be selected. Three effects can be used per patch, reverb, chorus, and one of 40 different effects such as rotary speaker, ring mod, tremolo, and auto wah. The Session board is built in and it can accept 1 JV series expansion board. 16 part multitimbral, one MIDI out/in/thru and computer serial port jack with Mac/pc switch. Stereo 1/4 output jacks, and headphone jack.

Most of the sounds are excellent, such as the Session piano, orchestral sounds, acoustic guitars, and many of the synths, while many stink like electric guitars, electric pianos, and many of the synths. My biggest complaint about this unit is the complete lack of a true harpsichord sample. I play classic pop music like Jellyfish, High Llamas, Left Banke, Monkees, Beach Boys kinda stuff and use harpsichord quite a bit and was really disappointed to find this out. I was going to sell my P-55 but I'll have to keep it now until I can get the Super Sound set exp board that has awesome harpsichord samples. The effects and filters are pretty good, especially the leslie sim and reverb.

I've never had a problem with Roland stuff in the past and don't expect to with this either.

I'm not sure if Roland has customer support, they didn't have any warranty info with the module.

All of the sounds of the JV-1080/2080 plus Session board in an easy to use expandable half rack module for just over $400. That's a pretty good deal if you ask me. Especially for one on a low budget. If I could have afforded the 1080 or 2080 sure I would've gotten one of those, but for the price I'm glad to own this module. I love the high quality sounds but don't like having to edit with a computer and am pissed at not getting a harpsichord sample, but all in all it was well worth the money. I can't wait to get the 60's and 70's keys and Super Sound Set expansion boards.

Easy to use if you only want to change between sounds: two knobs. Editing patches is only possible with the software, provided on a cd-rom. I have looked at this software briefly, and I must say it didn't look very inviting. I couldn't use it because the programme kept messaging me there was a faulty midi-in-signal. It's my old Kawai K1, that every now and then has a midi hick-up. For the last ten years, no other equipment or softare had any problem with it, but here is progress for you. To my relieve some system settings, like tuning, can be edited using the front panel.

64 voices, 3 effects simultaneously (chorus, reverb and any one of 40 FX). Room for one expansion card while another card (the Session) is built in. Just one midi in/out/through set and a computer interface. You can use the editing software thorugh the midi bus, so you do not need to buy the special cable this extra interface needs.

Never had a Roland wavetable synth before, so the sounds are new to me. Not too bad at all, although some of them can be found better elsewhere. Flute, french horn, Stratocaster and acoustic guitar, to mention just a few that I compared more thoroughly, are more convincing on my Yamaha TG500. I bought the 1010 along with a Keyboards of the 60's and 70's card (all right, I am a dinosaur!). There are (among others) so many slightly different versions of Fender Rhodes piano's and Hammond B3's that there is definitely a number of them that come very close to what you are looking for in this family of sounds. No need to tweak them. On the other hand, having found these few, the rest of the card is less usefull because many sounds are so similar. Together with the very realistic rotary speaker effect this unit gives more than I expected. But this expansion card has a BIG problem, I will tell you about it further on. I like most of the other sounds I often use, that are in the standard JV1010 (acoustic piano, strings, a bit of trumpet here, some tubular bells and timpany there) that I probably need no other sound module but this tiny one to carry around.

Seems rugged enough. I just hope that the knobs, especially the one that dials the patch number in a bank, will hold.

In my opinion, the sounds in the not-expanded JV1010 are not the very best in their field. I think there are units with better piano's, other units with nicer wind instruments, and so on. But those units are not as all round as this one. That's it's strength. Add the very small casing, it's expandability and ease of use (for simple tasks) and you have a very interesting instrument. A few words on the negative side. There are differences in volume of various patches. Just tuned your amplifier to the acoustic piano? You'll blow the audience out of their chairs when you change to an organ without modifying the volume. Playing very fast on a piano and holding the sustain pedal down for a long time (what kind of music that is? Well, I just mean to comment on the technical aspects) seems to puzzle the software: some later pressed keys are not sounding, some are popping up very loud. It should simply put off the 'oldest' notes to free it's resources for the 'new' keystrokes, like other units do.
And then there is, like I said, a BIG problem with the Keyboards of the 60's and 70's card. I don't know if it's only this card, or every expansion card (although the built-in Session card is ok). And it might be that the problem dos not appear in a 1080 or 2080. But I have read similar remarks in a review of the XP30. The problem is: very, very nasty and loud 'phantom noises'. Playing the Rhodes-alikes I began looking around: did it start raining outside? Did the harddisk in my pc run suddenly twice as fast? I stopped playing, and shortly after the notes faded out, the high pitched singing/hissing sounds disappeared too. It is simply in the samples! Might be aliasing or something like that. In the B3 samples the same effect makes you think there is always an extra drawbar pulled, higher than the highest you'll find on a Hammond. It is masked in patches with bright registers, but in the darker and rounder ones, there is always this skreeky sound. In the organ samples it is less disturbing, because it resembles a very slight clipping (it does not matter how the extra harmonics are added, by clipping or by aliasing) which usually becomes these sounds, but on the electric piano's it's really very disturbing. After many years I finally found a synth that gives me the Rhodes sounds I was looking for, but then this. Like I said, it may be the card, the 1010 or simply the combination of them. For use in the studio and/or soloing I have to rely on the Rhodes-patches that are in the standard JV1010: these are clean, but less authentic.

For such a minimal interface, the 1010 is actually very easy to get around on. The PatchFinder functionality is great - I've used a 1080 for a year, and wish I had this capability.
I haven't yet got SoundDiver up and running, but this is an industry standard, and I'm certain that it will make editing a breeze.

64-voice Poly, lots of ROM, Flexible effects, and fully compatible with the 1080/2080 synths! Everything a 2080 can do, this can. Many features are accessible with just the front panel, but you really need SoundDiver to make the most of it. This machine really IS a 2080 with just one expansion in a half-rack - the sound, to my ears, is identical.
Simply amazing.

I love the "Roland Sound" - some find it too brittle, but it really works for me. So I give it a 10, but that's my taste. I played it very loud, and did not hear any of the "artifacts" that one reviewer was so vocal about in this XP-30 review. It sounds as good as my JV1080. The Effects are fairly flexible.
I use this for Dance/Techno, as well as Jazz/Classical arrangements. I rely on Roland for much of my commercial work, and this box fits right in.

I've never had a problem with a single piece of Roland gear. The only thing keeping this from a 10 is that the bank select knob was not glued on, and can be easily pulled off....
Roland keeps parts around for gear over 15 years old! I bought tapes and felt pads for a 1979 Tape Delay from them direct last year...

Never had to deal with a "problem" with them. But when I've ordered manuals or parts for older gear, they're always very helpful.

This really is a JV2080 in a half rack. You give up the UI and some expandability, but you get great sounds, great waveforms, killer polyphony, sounddiver... I could go on. I'm blown away by this value. Suffice it to say, I had been considering a Proteus 2000 or a Trinity Rack, and wound up buying TWO JV1010s instead.

Sure it doesn't have much in the way of controls. What did you expect for a sub-$500 JV-2080 sound-alike? The PC software is from emagic and is not really intuitive to use (sort of Macintosh-ish looking).
To actually use the module and select patches, etc. works OK, but be prepared to memorize numbers and groups for your favorite patches. This pain is worth the low price.

All the bells and whistles of the JV-2080 are here in this little module. With the PC software, you can get to everything. Effects are top notch and varied. With over 1000 patches available you might be inclined to get lost, but you won't. The 'group by sound' knob allows you to scroll through all the pianos or all the pads, etc. There is even some nifty displays to show you where a section in a group begins (like the electric piano section under pianos) or which patch you are listening to by Bank (A,B...) and number. I find the preview feature a big plus. I'm a guitarist who is looking for mostly pads. I can quickly make a list of favorites without playing the guitar-to-midi ditty for 1000+ patches.
A new feature for Roland products that comes with this module is a GOOD manual! The manual has all you need to know well articulated (no more translations from Japanese). On the CD-ROM there are HTML versions of the detailed manuals for patch editing etc.

Great warm Roland sounds. I have an Alesis QS8 keyboard for comparison. The Roland sound is warmer but more synthetic. I LOVE Roland's pads. Since I am using this module with a Godin LGX-SA guitar and Axon midi converter, I really need good pads. Harpsichord or trumpet played by guitar would sound funky so I don't really care about the 'realism' of orchestral sounds and such.
I do find the Rloand sounds VERY expressive overall. The effects unit adds great nuances to the patches.

I just bought it so I don't know. It looks sturdy. It even has a strain relief clip to keep the 'Wall Wart' connected to the module even while tripping over the cord.

Time will tell. Roland's web site looks pretty complete so I'm comfortable.

For $469 this is a great buy. It beats the pants off the Proteus in my opinion for sound/dollar. If you really edit patches and don't have a PC you might consider a JV-2080 for over twice the price. I did lots of listening to all the modules from all the manufacturers. The Roland pads sound the best to go behind my guitar. I hooked the module in place of my QS8 and preferred the Roland sound overall for pianos and electric pianos. I still prefer the Alesis organs and classical instruments.
I have been playing guitar for 25 years. I dabble in keyboards. I just bought a Godin LGX-SA guitar and will use the JV-1010 with the Axon AX-100 guitar-midi converter to add synth layers behind the acoustic and electric pickups this guitar has.

After playing the JV-2080, and JV-1010 in a music store I was thinking about picking one up. I bought the JV-1010 without hearing it first. There is not much of a audible difference. The sounds do seem a little bit more lush out of the JV-2080. I haven't set up the patch editor yet- the CD Rom that ships with the unit. There is a bank of 128 user patches. The manual has plenty of diagrams and seems strait forward- to be honest I haven't even read it cover to cover. I have been going over the 1000+ presets. One bonus is that I am using a Kawai K5000s as the midi controler and have all the knob and button controls over the JV-1010 such as Arpeggiator, Portamento, Resonance, etc.

Polyphony is the same as the JV-1080. The effects are dedicated to the patches but you can re-route them. I have not really explored the effects editing. The unit has 1 expansion card-I wish it was 2 because I am in a bind on what to expand it with. If there was 1 thing that I would have to pick as being the worst aspect of this unit it would be that there is only 1 expansion slot. There is a Midi in, out, and thru-too bad there isn't a second midi in. The module responds well to midi messages.

The presets have that distincitive Roland Sound and will work well for most styles of music. In the past I owned a Sound Canvas and this unit blows that away with reguards to the presets. In order to make the most of this unit you must connect it to a computer-wich I havn't done yet. I will update my review in the future.

Since I bought this unit for my home studio I can only speculate that this unit problably would not be a giger's main instrument but certainly is on that you could take along. Its small size-1/2 rack can fit in a briefcase. I have owned Roland Equipment in the past and never had a problem-(SC-55, and XP-10). I am expecting the same kind of performance from the JV-1010, but who knows?

I have dealt with Roland in the past, and they seem to go out of there way to make it difficult for the end user to obtain person to person support with them. Although I should point out that over the years I only needed to contact them once or twice.

If this unit were lost or stolen I would buy it again. I would buy 2 of these units only to have an additional expansion slot available. I've been playing for 15 years and also have an Alesis QS-6 with vintage Keyboard, and Vintage Synthesiser Q-Cards, a Kawai K5000s which I use as the controller for the JV-1010, and a Korg 05 R/W. To wrap up: I like the overall sounds, and ease of use of this unit, I dislike the only one expansion card slot- I wish for more. This unit will give me a lot of tonal flexability in my original compositions. I will update my review when I connect the computer software.