Roland ZENOLOGY Pro on sale on Roland's website!

[telecharge]

Thanks, OP!

For someone looking for a basic Rompler that can also do basic VA and has $100 to burn this would be a good deal

Any idea how this compares to IK Multimedia's Syntronik?

[IvyBirds]

Thanks, OP!

For someone looking for a basic Rompler that can also do basic VA and has $100 to burn this would be a good deal

Any idea how this compares to IK Multimedia's Syntronik?

Syntronik is a collection of sampled vintage synth

Zenology Pro has some samples if synths in its factory library but also has a bunch of other things especially bread and butter sounds like piano, orchestral, strings, brass, organs, etc

In addition you can use up to four VA oscillators instead of the PCM samples

Really comes down to what you are trying to do. If you don't already have a good source of bread and butter sounds Zenology Pro can be a good option

Honestly however I think the Korg Triton Extreme Plugin is far better than both for Rompler type sounds. You get a significantly larger sample library with the Triton Extreme as unlike with Zenology, Korg gives you all of the expansion roms

I would however wait until the annual Korg Summer Sale which usually starts in July and everything is half price

[gunark]

Dammit, can’t swap it as one of my lifetime plugins. C’mon Roland!

[mothra]

Hmmm.. Was definitely interested for $100, but I just got an SH-4D a few months ago, and still have my XV-3080 (with the vintage synth card even) so I think I'm covered. Seems like I actually get a bit more with the SH-4D as I've got the 106 and 101 'oscillators' already and anything PCM I might need is well covered by the XV and then some..

Redundant, or does this thing have any 'Zencore' magic that the SH-4D can't already cover?

[Examigan]

Thanks, OP!

For someone looking for a basic Rompler that can also do basic VA and has $100 to burn this would be a good deal

Any idea how this compares to IK Multimedia's Syntronik?

Honestly however I think the Korg Triton Extreme Plugin is far better than both for Rompler type sounds. You get a significantly larger sample library with the Triton Extreme as unlike with Zenology, Korg gives you all of the expansion roms

And no RCM.

[iPlogger]

I am so torn. I have a JV-880 and 1080 and stopped bringing them for live performances 10+ years ago. I have wanted a VST version to replace them, but am not sure if this is the right solution.

There are too many options which is confusing. Add RCM to the mix and not having wi-fi at gigs and I can't be confident my sounds will load.

As for the 880/1080 sounds, it's unclear whether Zenology Pro is the right thing. It has a JV bank but maybe won't sound like the synths I have. To what extent can I edit these sounds? It sounds like maybe buying the individual VST sounds closer to the originals.

I've kept up on the posts regarding RCM and specifically JV synths and I am still left confused and unsure.

If I knew, without a doubt I would never lose access to the VST, I wouldn't be as concerned.

Does anyone have advice or clarity on what is the best route to replacing my 880 and 1080? I am possibly less interested in getting the expansions since I don't have them originally other than the original Dance expansion that was later removed.

[telecharge]

Does anyone have advice or clarity on what is the best route to replacing my 880 and 1080?

I have no basis for comparison, but you might be interested in this free Roland JV-880 emulation - viewtopic.php?t=620542

[N 4 LIFE]

Hmmm.. Was definitely interested for $100, but I just got an SH-4D a few months ago, and still have my XV-3080 (with the vintage synth card even) so I think I'm covered. Seems like I actually get a bit more with the SH-4D as I've got the 106 and 101 'oscillators' already and anything PCM I might need is well covered by the XV and then some..

Redundant, or does this thing have any 'Zencore' magic that the SH-4D can't already cover?

see my post earlier ITT. Zenology does not sound good. The 5080, JV1080, and the Juno plug outs are well done although NONE of the combi modes were included. I am only using Zenology to open the 5080 and JV right now. My rant is earlier ITT if you want more details.

[jdoo]

Ive been looking for a non subscription-based Roland software version to replace my aging FA06, and recently waterfalled JDXA. $99... and 3500+ tones later. This is a fantastic deal imo. Im not hearing the lack of anything major, particularly for the bread and butter tones I was looking to fill my timbre pallet with. I get side-tracked way too easily with these sounds. Integrating into my MainStage environment was a snap. Like i said... was looking to replace bread-n-butter stuff I use from my FA06 primarily... but there is a LOT more here. Did I mention $99 for a lifetime key? No paid subscription. Just an account. If it is dialing home, I havent noticed.

Minus': It is an AU / soft instrument ( a plus for DAW integration ), but no standalone for my Mac. Im using MainStage, so not a huge deal - but it's nice to have the option. Also - it isnt every sound, but it DOES bring in 3500 tones. There are Zen-Core expansions that you can pick up...that give you additional integration for their hardware equivelants (if you own them) and additional patches... but I wasnt looking for that. Frankly -- after a couple of days dinking around with the PCMs I was looking for, and some other stuff ( like the Scat tones ).. Im already up to my elbows in usable timbres.
Pluses: There are 3500+ patches. There is rudimentary quick access to 5 real-time MIDI controllable knobs that are just about all I ever use live. So that worked out well.

This isnt a full review. Just a 'hell ya... this is way worth $99 for a lifetime key to 3500+ Roland timbres, to offset some of the (probably valid) complaints above.

Competitor products.. The Korg Collection stuff is fantastic, particularly the recent releases put out by the CA gang. Major props.. particularly and I have/use the Wavestate, Modwave, Opsix, Multi/Poly. But also their ARP2600, Triton's, and others. Fantastic. If you can swing a deal for those .. terrific. Arturia V Collection has been knocking it out of the park recently too. Several of their products I use the crap out of. Syntronik.. mentioned above. Not so much. I jumped on the deals a couple years ago, but found little use, and a lot of wasted disk space. Arturia, Korg and Roland . . all are fantastic.. and do well with hardware or software.

Joe's opinion. $99 for Roland tones. A fantastic deal, for very usable traditionally Roland timbres.

[Examigan]

I'm using RCM anyway to deal with the D-50 and XV-5080 plugins, so I might go for it (for $99) if they added a couple things to round it better: Granular for the oscillator section, and maybe even FM to use with the VA waveforms. Actually...I can't remember if there is a way to do FM with it as-is, if just in a basic way?

I have Synthmaster 3, which already does so much right now, but if they add those two features I'll think about it.

[iPlogger]

Does anyone have advice or clarity on what is the best route to replacing my 880 and 1080?

I have no basis for comparison, but you might be interested in this free Roland JV-880 emulation - viewtopic.php?t=620542

Thanks. Appreciate it. I have been following that thread. Apparently it is an excellent emulation of the hardware sound. Maybe I will check it out. There is a specific sound on the 1080 that I especially want called "Dawn 2 Dusk" which unfortunately is not on the 880.

[N 4 LIFE]

Does anyone have advice or clarity on what is the best route to replacing my 880 and 1080?

I have no basis for comparison, but you might be interested in this free Roland JV-880 emulation - viewtopic.php?t=620542

Thanks. Appreciate it. I have been following that thread. Apparently it is an excellent emulation of the hardware sound. Maybe I will check it out. There is a specific sound on the 1080 that I especially want called "Dawn 2 Dusk" which unfortunately is not on the 880.

Dawn 2 Dusk PR-C 091 on roland JV 1080 in the Roland cloud. Same preset number on the XV 5080 in the cloud. FWIW, I noticed that the cheaper the midi controller, the better the roland plug ins sound. Playing them from a digital piano keyboard isn't usually a match, my cheap M audio Keystation sends a different velocity that helps all the goodies kick in on the Roland modules.

[N 4 LIFE]

Thanks, OP!

For someone looking for a basic Rompler that can also do basic VA and has $100 to burn this would be a good deal

Any idea how this compares to IK Multimedia's Syntronik?

Honestly however I think the Korg Triton Extreme Plugin is far better than both for Rompler type sounds. You get a significantly larger sample library with the Triton Extreme as unlike with Zenology, Korg gives you all of the expansion roms

agreed, KORG bundle is really really good.
And no RCM.

[telecharge]

Thanks to all for the TRITON recommendation/nods. Here's a link for posterity - https://korg.shop/software/korg-collect ... riton.html

[cryophonik]

I'm not too familiar with the Roland software or Cloud and after taking a brief look around at too many terrible youtube reviews I'm finding that it's pretty difficult to get some straight answers and info about Zenology. I have an Integra-7 that, quite frankly, is not getting anywhere near the use that I thought it would and I'm considering selling it. On the rare occasion that I do use it, it's primarily for its classic Roland rompler sounds and its pianos/EPs, but I have plenty of piano/EP plugins (e.g., Keyscape, recently bought PianoTeq), so I'd really only be missing those old rompler sounds if I sell it. Has anybody here made a jump from an Integra-7 to Zenology (or added it)? Anything in particular you think I'd be missing? I'm not interested in the model expansions, but it looks like there are some SRX expansions available for it? TIA.