I just bought a roland-700GX and I wonder what preset any other people have been using. I dont have tone match.I am using a single unbalanced line out in mono as this is the way i work on stage but should i be using left and right balanced?.The problem with the left and right balanced is that I only have 2 balanced inputs on the L1 and one of these is used for my mic. Any suggestions??

Hi free2be,

You could try running two unbalanced lines out from the keyboard to your Power Stand Channels 3 and 4. You may or may not hear much difference.

quote:

I am using a single unbalanced line out in mono

If you are not hearing any line noise (hiss, hum, buzz) using your single unbalanced line, then there is probably little value in using a balanced line. The 1/4 inch inputs on the Classic Power Stand are unbalanced.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by free2be:
I just bought a roland-700GX and I wonder what preset any other people have been using. QUOTE]

free2be,
I use a flat preset (00) with my Roland board with my Classic L1. I prefer not to "color" the tones that the Roland has inherently (I play an XV-88).

Depending on the room, I might adjust the highs,lows, mids slightly with the remote, but I have run a single mono unbalanced into channel 3 or 4 with great results.

Like ST states, it's really hard to hear an appreciable difference between the balanced and unbalanced channels, as long as you aren't getting any hum or noise from your keyboard.

On my particular board, I can't hear a difference between running L mono only, or left and right. So I usually run a single cable into channels 1 or 2, because I like to have a little EQ tweakage if I need it.

Best Wishes,
Jeff

Thanks guys Have to say just started to play around with the board and still looking for the sound that kicks. I had been using an yamaha p200 and it takes a bit of getting used to the change over to roland.Ill try the different suggestions I found with the yahama i always ended up using the single mono line to input 2 and then used the keyboard preset but the roland is a much more subtle instrument and with many more varied sounds so I think the key might be to get the best piano sound right and then the rest should kick in.I was a bit shocked at the way the piano first delivered from the bose because i expected something better but i have found that with a lot of tweaking i can usually draw the instrument the way i want. By the way I also bought a neumann KS105 and i have to highly recommend it. I had been using an audio teknica condenser mic but the neumann really is in a different league. One thing I immediately noticed is that the problem of feedback which can happen in small tight space venues is greatly reduced which is a major bonus. Its an expensive mic but worth every cent. The long time guy in the shop was trying to put me off saying it was unnecessary but boy was he so wrong which just goes to show ya...theres more good advice online from people who are not trying to sell ya anything..I see there is a preset for the neumann 105 so i have started with that but as i always do i will probably run it through every preset to test differences.One question have any people bought tone match module to use with the L1 or does it give any benefit to sound. I saw one in a store demo but i couldnt really hear a major difference but then again the guy there didn't seem to be fully tuned in himself. Any ideas?

Hi, free2be:

Our church has a Roland RD700 (older model, no 'suffixes' ).

I run it mono, flat -- tweaks are done with the on-keyboard EQ controls.

With just the Roland sounds, I like the "piano" sound best that layers an acoustic with a Rhodes ... but it depends on the song and whether other instruments are also playing.

However, my absolute favorite primary piano sound is to midi a GEM piano module to the Roland, use the GEM piano sound into one channel, and then adding a "layer" (using only the "layer 2" on the Roland, turning off the primary layer since the GEM covers that) sound from the Roland (e.g.: a Rhodes, PAD, Strings, ... as desired for the song) into another channel -- both 'flat' (typically into Channel 3 and/or 4 on a Model I).

quote:

Originally posted by free2be:
...One question have any people bought tone match module to use with the L1 or does it give any benefit to sound. I saw one in a store demo but i couldnt really hear a major difference but then again the guy there didn't seem to be fully tuned in himself. Any ideas?

I don't find that the T1, for keyboards, makes a whole lot of difference ... but it does offer a lot more options & effects if you *do* want to tailor the basic sound.

One of the nicest things a T1 can do for you is to have different "scenes" saved for:

different venues (e.g.: parametric EQ notch for a bad room resonance)

different instrumentations (e.g.: piano+voice vs. piano+guitar+voice vs. piano+bass+voice+porchboard, etc.)

different songs (different effects settings particular to some songs)

Keep in mind that you can't "layer" those saved scenes (a 'scene' load "restores" all the settings on all the channels -- except the Trim and Volume knob positions).

L1&trade Wiki

Does the Roland have an actual true mono piano?? Other wise it is that whole stereo phasing thing.

Thanks guys i spent the day trying out different settings etc. Now one of my main problems is setting the sweet setting on the overall amplification the keys through the Bose.When i was working before with my older Yahama i had this sorted but I find the roland seems to be a much more sensitive instrument.Currently I have jacked the bose into input 1 and used the keyboard preset 50 and i also have tried the flat 00 preset.I set this output to 11 as there was no sign of any clip.Then this is where I seem to run into trouble because I normally set the volume control on the keyboard to about 75% and then alter the signal output on the hand held controller of the bose usually at about 12 0 clock. high mids and lows are all at 12 o clock 2. the problem seems to be that when i crank up the volume output on the handheld the Roland delivers a really heavy thumpy boomy trampoline type bounce to the sound..certainly not as clean and as tight as i would like it to be. Now i know everyone has there own ways and means of getting to the sweet sound but I guess i still haven't quite got there..I think too that as i work up the keys lots of the clav sounds start to sound sharp and lack the warmth that you get towards the middle clef.Now listening through a high quality pair of cans this dosent happen. So whats the solution does the bose L1 not have the body to hold this instrument when it comes to all the layers basses etc or even on piano itself...Has any body got some setting they would like to recommend or am i digging too deep on this one ?

Hi, again, free2be.

You didn't indicate above if you have 1 or 2 B1's with your L1.

At the volume settings you are describing, I would venture that a 2nd B1 will help, if you currently only have one. Particularly with the 'trampoline bounce' to the volume you are describing. The L1 will 'limit' its output to the B1 to prevent damage ... and with a single B1, that level can be easily reached.

I do find the Roland sounds in general tend to be rather 'bright'; the L1 reproduces that 'brightness' quite accurately. You might try turning down the hi-EQ on the keyboard a bit. I sometimes will turn up the Roland's low-EQ a bit, too (e.g.: to one-o'clock, rather than the neutral 12-o'clock).

quote:

Originally posted by Kramster:
Does the Roland have an actual true mono piano??...

Using a single connection to the "Left/Mono" output from the Rolands tends to be fine.

Hi Dan thanks for that actually i have 2 bass modules but its probably my lack of experience with the roland sound that is taking me the time to get the sound i am looking for .I will try the suggestions with the eq and see how that works. I wonder do you leave the handset for the bose all set at 12 oclock when you are playing..what signal out setting are u using?

It's a little hard to correlate directly with our "normal" setup, because there are "mixers in the mix" ... the RD700 goes to a mixer, which then goes to the L1.

When used in this "default" environment (the worship space), I've been leaving the Remotes disconnected. However, whenever used elsewhere, I always use the Remotes.

I can't recall what might have been set when the Roland goes into Channel 1/2; I typically put it into Channel 3/4, with the associated Trim knob between 9-10 "o'clock". At that setting the on-keyboard volume control is typically only about 1/3 up -- sometimes up to 2/3 max.

I also have a 'continuous foot switch' (a.k.a.: volume pedal) connected to the Roland (switch input 2; input 1 is standard damper pedal) and configured to operate the volume, so that I can adjust downward from that maximum with my foot.

FYI: "Ear expectations"
Part of the issue is what the ears are 'expecting' to hear.
I can play the Roland piano sound, then the GEM piano module sound, and some people won't hear any significant difference ... and most certainly would have little opinion as to which is 'better' -- both sound "fine" to them.

To my ears, there is a world of difference -- and no tweaking of a simple 3-band EQ can make one sound like the other.

But that's true of any instrument: drummers tweak e-drums kits endlessly; guitar players try out every guitar in the store, comparing the subtle differences that most of the rest of us don't hear.

Thanks again Dan. part of my problem is that I always have split the keyboard before when playing the Yahama and I am basically just using combos of piano + acoustic bass or piano + electric bass or electic piano + electric bass and sometimes organ + electric bass. Our music is mostly blues based with a doors/ early clapton type sound.I also put my vocals through the L1. In fact its a simple enough set up to date but now this keyboard offers me way more options and combos which i find need a lot of delicate balancing or else maybe i have just to readjust my whole playing style. At the moment I dont have full control of the keys to get the sound I am after and I can see from your reply that you also are particular about getting good sound. i think when i get control of the levels I might be more happy so i will continue to try with your tips. I notice that the output level for this keyboard is very powerful compared with the yahama i used to play and also when I am layering that some sounds can be far more dominant over others. Is this my imagination but does the middle c scale up sound seem more muddy to high c than the other scales in either direction. I just notice a lack of note definition when i am playing a combo or splitting keys.? Any way for now I will try your volume levels as suggested.

From a related discussion:

quote:

...It is really noticable when I split the keys into Bass and piano..One particular bass called 'Fingermaster' which happens to be one of the best sounds really booms at high output level much more than other bass sounds...

You *do* have separate volume control for each voice when you split or layer sounds. So if one 'voice' (e.g.: Fingermaster) seems much louder, just pull down it's separate volume on the Roland.

For example, when I layer a Piano with the "Pad" on the Roland, I like the blend best when the Piano (e.g. on "Upper") is fully up while the Pad (on "Lower") is only about 1/3 up.

Likewise, when I use the Drum kit channel (which is rare), I find that the Drum channel is rarely more than 1/2 up (if that much) to balance the other "voices" on the Upper, Lower, and/or Bass settings. Yes, when I do use the Bass split it *is* often much less than "max" on that individual Bass volume.

As Mike-Z suggested in that other thread:
I "gain stage" with the maximum output ... I use the "DEMO" built-in recording to do that (the DEMOs tend to maximize the outputs!), with the Master Volume on the Roland at about 1/2 ... or even slightly less. That leaves sufficient adjustment range for "live" playing and balancing the individual Roland voicing channels without having to "max" all the individual channels.

From a similar thread on this same topic:

quote:

yep ive tried all the suggestion but it seems the tone sound from the roland in the lower range octaves is very extreme and deep sounding. I am seriously giving up on this keyboard. i never had these problems on a yahama p 200 stage piano.. i also notice when i am using layers i can actually lose volume on one of the sounds its incredible imagine that happening in a live show.Ive altered touch sensitivity etc. Is there a good filter or effect i could use to make the bass sound more defined to cut through the sound ..especially on the secon to third octave up..spent all night at this again its a night mare. roland are startin to sink in my estimation its not the bose

Perhaps it is the particular individual keyboard, rather then something generic to the whole model line?

All of my comments/experience above relate to using an older RD700 (~7 years old at this point).

Oh dear...now I am worried. I have a Yamaha P90 stage piano and I am considering trading it for a Roland-700GX that I can use with our 3 piece rock band.

I'm looking to split the keyboard and need independent volume controls. The left hand takes the place of the bass guitar and the right does the synth/piano part. Our band uses L1 Model II's - and normally I am the bass player.

I am a guitarist and have learnt the piano for the last two years. I'm not too familiar with keyboard/synth features and capabilities, and therefore much of what I read in this thread does not make sense to me ....yet.

Now from what I am reading in this forum perhaps the Roland-700GX is a bad choice? Is there another brand/model I should be looking at?

Help would be appreciated.
Cheers

I believe you'll be very happy with the Roland 700GX, and I think you'll find the sounds richer than the P90.

Just make sure to pan the bass all the way to one output, and the synth/piano to the other output. Assuming you've got a T1 or some sort of mixer, you can then run the Roland into two channels and tweak the bass volume and EQ separately from the other voices.

(As Dan notes, this can also be done directly on the keyboard, but it can be less convenient than simply grabbing a knob on the T1.)

Hey i ended up changing the roland for a yahama Cp33 so much easier to handle a really good rhodes sound the split is good and the action is excellent and for weight its very light eaqsily carried to gigs... the roland was a great instrument but for me where im out in the front line at the gig i need a simple setup. The yahama has very limited sounds but we play all blues rock so it does the job...but is there better out there?