From void@slip.netThu Aug 3 11:27:52 1995 Date: Thu, 3 Aug 1995 11:08:30 -0700 From: M To: Mark Hughes , analogue@hyperreal.com Subject: Re: Info request - Roland MKS series At 11:14 AM 8/3/95, Mark Hughes wrote: >I recently purchased an MKS-50 and PG-300 from a kind AHer and I'm now >looking for (of course) multitimbral analog capability. I'm happy >with the sound of the MKS-50 and would snap up a second one if one >were to become available, but I would like to also consider other MKS >units. Would someone please tell me what the differences are between >the MKS-50, 70 and 80? I'm interested in subjective sound qualities >as well as architecture differences (keep it simple, please, I'm an >analog neophyte). Well, I can tell you about the MKS-70. It's bi-timbral, and has the same voice architecture as the JX-8P - 2 DCO's with 3 kinds of sync, 2 envelopes, 1 LFO. It can be used as two 6 voice synths (separate outs for each), or one 12 voice synth. The basic voice is pretty flexible as far as modulation routings go - wherever something can be modulated by an envelope, you have a choice of which envelope, as well as it's polarity. Velocity control is limited to three variations plus 'off' - a little weak in my book. Both EG's are keyboard scalable (alas, only to three positions plus 'off'). As far as my subjective opinion on the sound - great!. The filter is pretty typical of Roland gear from that era, and sounds especially bristley full open. The DCO's and sync can be used to get digital sounds as well. The box does a good variety of patches, from fat analog bass to bright digital E-pno stuff, and gnarly ring-mod bells and percussion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- V O I D I F D E T A C H E D M Stevens void@slip.net