KVR Audio

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri May 29, 2020 8:55 pm

Thanks. Think I'll do that soon.

Still hope that they do the JP-8000 one day though...

ramseysounds · Post by **ramseysounds** » Sat May 30, 2020 10:09 am

so tempted with this now

EnochLight · Post by **EnochLight** » Sat May 30, 2020 2:13 pm

ramseysounds wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 10:09 am so tempted with this now

Right? For the first time since Roland Cloud appeared, it’s actually worth it IMHO. Took them long enough!

Echoes in the Attic · Post by **Echoes in the Attic** » Sat May 30, 2020 2:25 pm

What's changed in the value of the subscription from a year ago? If anything it seems to be much worse value now since you don't get the permanent license rewards anymore.

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Sat May 30, 2020 2:40 pm

Funkybot's Evil Twin wrote: ↑Fri May 29, 2020 1:08 pm Do you need to leave some Roland Cloud software running on your machine so it can check in every 7 days to check for authorization? I think so.

It's not checked every 7 days anymore. It's more like 30 days now. But yea, you will need to periodically login to revalidate the license.

tq · Post by tq » Sat May 30, 2020 2:47 pm

I had an XV5080 back in the day, so I am somewhat tempted buy the software version... However, I heard the Zenology includes the exact same sounds minus the reverb? Is that true - and if so, does this require the Wave Expansions (and which ones)?

Sorry if I sound clueless, but I do not really understand the various Roland synths, and how they incorporate previous versions. (For example, why buy a soft JV1080 if you can have the XV5080, which does include the JV1080 sounds, if I am not totally mistaken?! And why buy the 5080, if Zenology includes the 5080? So Zenology > XV5080 > JV1080 - or am I missing something here?!)

EnochLight · Post by **EnochLight** » Sat May 30, 2020 3:48 pm

Echoes in the Attic wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 2:25 pm What's changed in the value of the subscription from a year ago? If anything it seems to be much worse value now since you don't get the permanent license rewards anymore.

Well, for me - I already had a sub before the changes and will be getting 2 more lifetime keys. But the fact that there’s several tiers now and a clear path to purchase lifetime keys from the start is a massive improvement. That didn’t exist a year ago.

Examigan · Post by **Examigan** » Sat May 30, 2020 6:11 pm

tq wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 2:47 pm Sorry if I sound clueless, but I do not really understand the various Roland synths, and how they incorporate previous versions. (For example, why buy a soft JV1080 if you can have the XV5080, which does include the JV1080 sounds, if I am not totally mistaken?! And why buy the 5080, if Zenology includes the 5080? So Zenology > XV5080 > JV1080 - or am I missing something here?!)

That's what I was thinking. They are the same price too, so why buy the JV-1080 when you can get the XV-5080 for the same price?

About the full version of Zenology; AFAIK it is included only with a paid Pro or Ultimate subscription. At least you can buy the XV-5080 and not pay monthly.

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Sat May 30, 2020 7:04 pm

After googling and reading on the differences between the JV & XV hardware, the one thing I'm finding are the filters? Supposedly the JV had more bottom end. Maybe the software emulates this as well?
I'm also trying to find the sample and presets lists in the software to compare with both and the SRX series. But haven't been able to find them yet.
I'm definitely one of those that have no interest in anything that's a subscription.
But to have lifetime keys on everything would have to be presented as a no-brainer bundle sale.
(I also don't trust the word "lifetime" when it comes from the mouth of Roland.)

PAK · Post by **PAK** » Sat May 30, 2020 7:49 pm

BBFG# wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 7:04 pmMaybe the software emulates this as well?

No. They're all using the same engine, with the difference being the skin and bundled presets, and additional samples in the SRX expansions. There's no special converter emulation etc, so the 1080 plugin will actually sound more like the 5080 and Fantoms of the period, rather than the original 1080 hardware. There's not really much reason why you'd go for the 1080 plugin with the 5080 available.

However, along with the free "lite" version of Zenology, Roland do a $3 per month version of Zenology which gives you all of the base 5080 sounds, minus the reverb and one or two other features (they've been mentioned previously, I think in this thread, but don't impact many sounds - whereas the missing reverb is more than a bit strange.. ) Along with that you can buy all SRX expansions at a reduced price for Zenology.

Zenology Pro gives a more full featured editor and access to future synth engines (JP8, JX8P etc) within the Zenology Pro plugin, where you're limited to the 5080 content with the $3 per month version. Plus it throws in the 808 and D50 plugins. Ultimate is the same, but it includes all of the standalone plugins.

It seems that, even if you choose the $3 option, it will give you the full Ultimate version for your first month.. though Zenology Pro won't be available until later in the year.

So it's quite smart by Roland. They're effectively giving you the 5080's sounds for $3 per month. Which is a low enough amount that people, who don't otherwise like subs, might be tempted

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Sat May 30, 2020 8:51 pm

As I said, subscriptions are the stupid way to go (IMO). Especially with Roland's history of abandonment.

tq · Post by tq » Sat May 30, 2020 9:26 pm

Thanks to PAK for the explanation - that's super helpful. So the price of the to-buy plug in would give me 50 months of sub - 4 years. Hm, that's certainly tempting, especially considering Zenology having more features (minus the reverb... what the f...?!). The only issue is that I hate subs, and I am more into hoarding...

Examigan · Post by **Examigan** » Sat May 30, 2020 10:35 pm

Zenology Pro (the one I would be interested in besides D-50, XV-5080 and maybe the Jupiter-8) and the model expansions are only with Pro and Ultimate subscriptions and you can't get that separately like many others (D-50, XV-5080, etc.).

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Sat May 30, 2020 11:34 pm

Examigan wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 10:35 pm Zenology Pro (the one I would be interested in besides D-50, XV-5080 and maybe the Jupiter-8) and the model expansions are only with Pro and Ultimate subscriptions and you can't get that separately like many others (D-50, XV-5080, etc.).

You can't get it all yet tbf as it's not ready so maybe they will advertise (a probably very high) lifetime license price when they do actually release it. No-one knows yet.

Examigan · Post by **Examigan** » Sun May 31, 2020 9:43 am

Echoes in the Attic wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 2:25 pm What's changed in the value of the subscription from a year ago? If anything it seems to be much worse value now since you don't get the permanent license rewards anymore.

The Roland support wrote me back early this morning (not sure which time zone they are in?). I had asked if they still offer the free plugin after 1 year of membership...and they said "Yes, the loyalty program is still in effect if you purchase an Ultimate level membership."