Product: Roland MKS-80
Price Paid: 700 (Australian (lucky!)) used
Submitted
11/28/2000
at
04:25am
by
Matt Lord
Email: droltam<at>hotmail dot com
Ease of Use
:
8
Well, Well..... with a programmer A DREAM!!!!
Without... A Nightmare!!!!
Presets?? Who wants 'em....
With a MPG-80 it is the synth of yester-year.
Features
:
6
Sought of SUX. Midi that is. All Sysex... Why roland ever,ever,ever decided on sysex instead of controllers beats me. I know its an advantage in some ways ( like send a programme change and thats the sound parameters) but it STILL SUX. The biggest problem is with a MPG-80 when its switched to Programmer mode it mirrors everthing (EVERYTHING!!!) coming in the midi in and throughs it out the out.
The point is I can get around this with my sequencer setup but its a big pain in the ASS!
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
8
Ive owned a JUPITER8 (with a Groove electronics Midi interface) and the MKS is nothing like it. Sure its 8 note poly, sure you can split it ,BUT....Its not a Racked JUPITER8. The MKS is way more expressive. Yes I could control all parameters via midi on the jupiter8 but it was just is so polite. Not the MKS. It kicks hard. Great for self osc, sync or just plain stomach wrenching bottom end.
Reliability
:
10
Reliable because of less boards. Less to go wrong. Mines from the US running on a 110>220 volt transformer. Its obviously travelled half the world and the only problem I have is working 9-5 and not having enough time to play with it.
Customer Support
:
8
Support???
Yeh right. Its not virtual analog. What ? you say. It seems I have to pay for a manual.
Overall Rating
:
9
Simple. If you dont own one. Get ONE. It really is something to hold on to. Ive owned alot of shite, but this does have a genuine character. Its a part of my sonic arsenal.
Product: Roland MKS-80
Price Paid: $1800 (Australian) used
Submitted
05/24/2000
at
12:56am
by
Genic Boy
Email: BVincent at nat<dot>propertyoz<dot>com<dot>au
Ease of Use
:
9
Man once this thing is hooked up with the programmer it is the beast everyone talks about. The presets are straight forward to use with the programmer, as there are so many sliders and buttons to hone your sound. The manual is a dog but hey. Try reading SOS synth secrets for more intimate knowledge than any manual.
Features
:
9
Polyphony is 8 voice and there is no keyboard. Who needs another set of keys in the studio anyway. The beast is velocity sensitive and can transmit tweekings to your sequencer - HOT.
So many knobs and sliders
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
9
Come on its a Jupiter 8 in a box. Its sound filth.
Reliability
:
7
The VCOs can go out of tune over time but there is an auto-tune button.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
9
The best analogue with the full Midi spec
Product: Roland MKS-80
Price Paid: US $2800
Submitted
05/01/2000
at
04:23am
by
JIM
Email: JIMHOLLAND99<at>PRODIGY dot NET
Ease of Use
:
No Opinion
VERY HARD TO USE
Features
:
No Opinion
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
No Opinion
I GOT ONE NEW WITH THE PROGRAMER. WHAT A PILE OF JUNK. I NEVER DID LIKE IT AND GOT SICK OF IT QUICKLY. FOR1500.00 IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE SHOP. WHY DO PEOPLE WANT THIS THING. I LIKE MY JUNO 106 MORE
Reliability
:
4
Customer Support
:
10
Overall Rating
:
3
JUNK
