AM/FM GOSSIP DID YOU KNOW THAT.. BY TOR-EGIL BRASETH *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  I'd like to say a few things in this first issue. As you may discover, this edition of "Gossip Corner" is quite full of Roland news. This mainly comes from one thing: I myself is a dedicated Roland-fan and since Roland has this neat, free magazine called "Roland Inside" I pick up a lot of handy news from there. I'll try to keep up to date as much as possible, but if there's a lot you already know then please have patience with me. *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  And here we go! Did you know that... ...Roland has released a sound module with the name "SC-55"? It is the first module with the new "GS-Standard" which will probably make MIDI a lot more user-friendly (read about that in a future issue of AM/FM). It has 315 built-in sounds, both synthetic (LA) and samples (RS-PCM). There's also 9 built-in drumkits, both electric and acoustic, so the "SC-55" should satisfy every need. The amount of voices on this little beauty is 24. *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  ...Roland also has released a MIDI file-recorder called "SB-55"? It stores MIDI data in MS-DOS format on 3.5 inch disks, and is very handy in live situations. You can have the "SB-55" record while you play realtime too. That means you have a little sketchbook at service if you suddenly get hit by a lightbolt of inspiration. A quite handy little box for the travelling musician, and it even comes with a remote control. *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  ...MindScape will soon release a program called "Miracle Piano Teaching". As the name suggests, the program will attempt to teach the users how to play the piano and keyboard. The price will be £249 - which includes the software, a book and a master keyboard. The software consists of 360 lessons of increasing difficulty. *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  ...Yamaha has released a new synth in the SY-series? "SY-99" is the name of the "beast", and it has the enormous amount of 8 MB memory packed with sounds. The onboard sequencer has been expanded and the keyboard has gotten more keys. And a new option called "Sampledump" has been included too. It has the possibility of having samples dumped to memory from a lot of different samplers like Akai S-series, Roland S-series, Emulator etc. *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  ...E-Mu Systems has released a percussion sound module called "Procussion"? It's got 4MB of sounds (approx. 600 sounds in all), the possibility of having 128 different drum kits (64 user, 64 preset), multi outputs (6 in all), 32 voices and a lot of other features. It has all the sounds you'd ever imagine, and all this in one 19" box. And all styles too; from hip-hop to acoustic jazz sounds. How's that for a snack? *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  ...Yamaha has released a little all-in-one box called "QY10"? It has an 8-song and 8-track sequencer, 28 voices, sampled instruments, sampled drums sounds and preset patterns, and it even comes with a little keyboard. And all this in the size of a VHS video tape. *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  ...Roland has released a keyboard called "JX-1"? This neat little synth has 61 keys, 24 voices, 64 preset sounds, built-in effects like reverb, chorus and delay and 4 sliders for manipulating different parameters. The effects can be turned off in case you already have an effect box. The "JX-1" has got a memory for your own sounds too. You can store up to 32 sounds that you have fixed to fit your own needs. Full MIDI is of course implemented. *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  ...Roland has released a rythm composer called "CR 80"? It has got 64 of the sounds from another Roland rythm composer, namely the R-8. It's got built-in effects and 36 preset rythms. You can add extra rythms by purchasing a rythm card from Roland's E-series. Excellent for the practising guitar player. *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  ...Roland has released a stunning synth called "JD-800"? The thing that's so stunning about it is that it's got A LOT of sliders for editing the sounds, just like you had to do with analog synths a long time ago (well, 8-9 years at least). This is a lot easier than going through dozens of different parameters, like we have to do nowadays. With the "JD-800" you just move a slider and you'll hear the change in the sound immediately. It's got 24 voices and built-in effects. It's 6-part multitimbral (nobody dares to release a synth which isn't these days :-). Look out for a test in one of the next issues of AM / FM! *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  That's about all there is... see you in the next edition of AM / FM! *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************