Roland E-80 - Manual (Page 4)

Features
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E-80 Music Workstation
Features
A comprehensive arranger instrument
The E-80 is quite simply a superlative instrument with
the most advanced and best sound generation technol-
ogy Roland has to offer. It combines Roland’s Virtual
ToneWheel technology (derived from our successful VK
series) with a superb internal sound source (based on
the acclaimed Fantom-X series) and the possibility to
expand your sound arsenal using one or two wave
expansion boards of Roland’s SRX series.
New interface concept
The E-80 was designed from the ground up to put its
massive array of functions at your fingertips. The full-
color touch-sensitive screen and the large number of
front-panel buttons usually provide direct access to the
available functions, thus doing away with the need to
wade through countless menus.
Parameters that belong together from a musician’s
point of view are usually located on the same or adja-
cent display pages, while setting them has been greatly
simplified with respect to earlier arranger instruments.
Cover functions and Makeup Tools for Standard
MIDI Files and Music Styles
Reorchestrating existing Standard MIDI Files and Music
Styles has become a breeze thanks to high-quality Song
and Style Cover presets and an intuitive, instrument-
based, set of MAKEUP TOOLS parameters that allow you
to “revoice” your songs and Styles without spending
hours editing single events.
The structure of Standard MIDI Files can be changed in
real-time thanks to four programmable MARK & JUMP
memories, which allows you to play extended versions
of prerecorded songs.
Adaptive Chord Voicing technology
The E-80’s Arranger not only boasts a new structure
(with 4 accompaniment levels, 4 Intros and 4 Ending
phrases) but also relies on a more musical real-time
conversion of the chords you play into meaningful
accompaniment phrases. Roland’s patent-applied-for
ACV technology can indeed transpose Music Style parts
in such a way as to eliminate unnatural jumps of
strings lines, piano chords, etc.
Guitar mode
The E-80 features a Guitar mode that allows you to play
super-realistic electric and acoustic guitar parts. Those
parts can be used both alongside the Arranger (live
applications) and recorded using the E-80’s 16-track
Sequencer/Recorder and the Style Composer.
A multitude of effects
The E-80 provides a host of effects processors for all
parts and sections. There are three separate multi-
effects processors (MFX A~C) for songs and Styles that
can be set independently from the MFX that is available
for the Keyboard parts. Furthermore, each part and
instrument has its own 3-band equalizer. Even the
drum instruments of Standard MIDI Files and Music
Styles (i.e. the kick, snare, HiHat, toms, etc.) can use
their own individual equalizer.
Viewer
The E-80 incorporates a VIEWER function you can use
to display texts (e.g. song lyrics) or BMP picture files on
the internal display or an external screen. There is even
a PAGE TURNER function that turns the “pages” of the
selected text file or creates a slideshow of several pic-
tures.
2 slots for SRX-series expansion boards
The E-80’s sonic arsenal can be expanded with two
optional SRX-series wave expansion boards (the same
boards that can be installed in the synthesizers of
Roland’s Fantom-X series). Some boards contain audio
loops (“grooves”) that are automatically synchronized
to the song or Style tempo, allowing you to add audio
to your sequencer or style data.
Amplification
The E-80 is fitted with the finest amplification system
Roland has ever developed for its arranger keyboards.
On top of that, the Keyboard and Song/Style sections
have their own set of Mastering Tools effects, while
there are also a Speaker Simulation and an adjustable
Digital Bass Enhancer function for minute fine-tuning
of the E-80’s overall sound.
A convenient switch allows you to switch off the inter-
nal speakers when you don’t need them.
Professional Vocal Harmonist
Another highlight of the E-80 is its Vocal Harmonist
that adds automatic harmonies to your singing, com-
plete with several modes for transforming your (or
someone else’s) voice.
This implies, of course, that you can connect an
optional (Roland DR-10 or DR-20) microphone to the
E-80. Other signal sources (synthesizers, etc.) can also
be connected. Note that a separate EXTERNAL AUDIO IN
part with its own effect section is also provided, allow-
ing you to add external line-level signals (of a sound
module, CD player, etc.) to your playing.
The signals generated by your singing and/or the Vocal
Harmonist can either be added to the signals of the
MAIN OUTPUT sockets, or transmitted directly to one or
two mixer channels (or additional amplifiers) via the
dedicated VOCAL HARMONIST OUTPUT sockets.