This Q&A booklet, which seeks to make operation of the XV-5080 a more enjoyable
experience, offers pertinent information, and answers to questions previously
directed at Roland by the users of its products. While it is hoped that you will read
the relevant sections in the Owner's Manual for information and instructions
regarding the various operations and settings, we believe that, in addition to
referring to the Owner's Manual, carrying out operations and making settings with
a general understanding of the content of this booklet regarding these functions,
about which numerous questions have been asked, will allow you to get much
more out of the XV-5080 for years to come. Let this guide be a handy aid in using
the XV-5080.
* The following typographical conventions are used in the text describing the
operation of the XV-5080.
[ ]: Indicates a panel button to be pressed.
Example: [PATCH]
Press [PATCH] button.
/: Indicates a division between operations.
Example: [PATCH]/[COMMON]
Press the [PATCH] panel button, then press the [COMMON] button.
Q: Are XV-5080 Patches and Rhythm Sets
compatible with those of Roland's JV and XP
Series models?
A: By using Bulk Dump to send Patches and Rhythm Sets
created on JV-1010/1080/2080 and XP Series synthesizers to
the XV-5080, you can then use them as XV-5080 Patches and
Rhythm Sets. However, there may be subtle differences in
the sound output due to sound module control methods, the
makeup of analog circuits, and other such factors. In contrast,
you cannot use Bulk Dump to transmit XV-5080 Patch and
Rhythm Set data to JV and XP Series devices.
Q: Is the XV-5080 compatible with JV and XP
Series Performances?
A: Performance data is not compatible. Bulk data and other
such data cannot be exchanged between the XV-5080 and JV
and XP Series synthesizers.
Q: Can XP-30 data saved to a card from the
XP-30, which uses the same type of
SmartMedia, be used on the XV-5080?
A: While you cannot use Performances, you can use Patches
and Rhythm Sets. However, there may be subtle differences
in the sound output due to sound module control methods,
the makeup of analog circuits, and other such factors.
Furthermore, XV-5080 data stored on cards cannot be used
on an XP-30.
Q: Can the XV-5080 work with the JV and XP
Series using Program Changes?
A: When Bank Select and Program Change messages for
Patches specified in JV and XP Series devices are received by
the XV-5080, Preset Patches in the XV-5080 which correspond
to those for the JV or XP are selected. On the XV-5080,
Patches and Rhythm Sets corresponding to those of the JV2080 are stored in Preset A-D (GM Level 2 Tones are stored
in Preset H ). Due to differences between the XV-5080 and
the JV and XP Series devices, including such factors as sound
module control methods, analog circuit makeup, and so on,
there may be some differences in the sound output.
■ Saving Data
Q: The Performance sounds different than
when it was written.
A: When Patches used in Performances are edited in Part
mode, or if a Performance's temporary Patch is overwritten
by with an external MIDI device, it is also necessary to save
these Patches.
With the XV-5080, if Patches used by a Performance are
edited when the Performance is written, a message asking if
you want to save these Patches is displayed. When Patches
are saved, a PATCH WRITE page is displayed for each Patch
that has been edited; carry out the same write procedures as
used in Patch mode.
Q: Patches sound different than when written.
A: The write operation cannot be used to save Patches as
changed in Patch mode using Control Change messages from
an external MIDI device. Refer to the Owner's Manual (p.
282) for more on the Control Change messages that are
received.
Q: Even though the Power Up Mode in SYSTEM
SETUP is set to LAST-SET, Performance and
Patches sound different than when the XV5080 was last turned off.
A: When the XV-5080 is turned on with Power Up Mode set
to LAST-SET, the XV-5080 starts up by recalling the mode
and the Performance and Patch numbers selected when the
XV-5080 was last turned off, and the Tone data therein is
called up from the SOUND LIBRARY to the temporary area.
Thus, if the write operation is not carried out for settings that
are edited or otherwise changed somehow, the Performance
and Patches are not stored in the changed condition, even if
Power Up Mode is set to LAST-SET when the power to the
XV-5080 is turned off.
Q: What about saving GM Mode settings?
A: There are no means for saving GM Mode settings to the
XV-5080 itself. Use MIDI transmitting functions (Owner's
Manual p. 229) to save GM Mode settings to a sequencer or
other external MIDI device.
Q: Is the XV-5080 compatible with the XV3080 and XV-88?
A: The XV-5080 can use sounds created with the XV-3080
and XV-88 (Performances, Patches, and Rhythm Sets)
without any problems.
However, if using a XV-3080 and XV-88 to play sounds
created with the XV-5080 , you will not be able to fully realize
some of the XV-5080's special functions, such as multi-effects
numbered 64 or higher, Performances using two or more
multi-effects, the sample playback function, and so on.
■ Memory Cards
Q: What kinds of memory cards can I use?
A: Confirmed thus far are 5-volt and 3.5-volt SmartMedia
card holding from 2 MB to 128 MB.
Q: What can be saved to memory cards?
A: You can save System, Performance, Patch, Rhythm Set,
and Favorite List data stored in the internal memory, and
3
Q&A
waveform data such as Partials and samples that are stored
in SIMMs. In addition, you can save System, Performance,
Patch, Rhythm Set, and Favorite List data, each as a block, to
the XV-5080 itself. Refer to the Owner's Manual (p. 195) for
more on related procedures.
■ Control the XV-5080 From a MIDI
Device
Q: When the Pitch Bend Range for a Patch is
increased (+48), the pitch does not rise
sufficiently, even when a MIDI Pitch Bend
message is received.
A: While Patch Bend Ranges can be set anywhere between
-48 and +48, when certain Waves in which the pitch is raised
(in the + direction) are used, the pitch may stop rising at a
fixed point, rather than continuing to go up. Although a
value of +12 is ensured for the upper limit of raised pitches,
use caution when setting the range above this figure.
Q: How do I switch tones using a MIDI
keyboard or sequencer (in cases such as when
the sequencer software has no Tone List map,
or with Expansion Boards containing more
than 128 tones)?
A: You can switch tones with a combination of Control
Change 0 Bank Select MSB and 32 Bank Select LSB, along
with a Program Change message.
The XV-5080 holds 1024 tones as Preset Tones (including GM
Level 2 Tones). While Program Changes are used in
switching tones with a MIDI device, Program Change
messages based on MIDI standards can be used only to
switch a maximum of 128 tones. Thus, you need to select
tones by using Control Change Bank Select MSB 0 and
Control Change Bank Select LSB 32, first designating the
major groups divided into 128 tones each, then using
Program Change messages to select the Patch numbers
within each. The Bank Select messages specifying these
larger groups of tones are common to all XV Series devices;
you can also switch tones on SR-JV80 and SRX Series and
other Expansion Boards using this combination of Bank
Select MSB/LSB and Program Change messages. For more
about the relationship between the Bank Select MSB/LSB
and corresponding tone groups, refer to <Table 1: Bank
Select and Program Change Correspondence Chart> (p. 13).
Q: After using a MIDI sequencer to play a
song, sounds stopped playing, and no sound
is played even when Program Changes are
sent.
A: It could be that a Bank Select in the song data that is not
specified by the XV-5080 was encountered in the song. No
sound is played if the tone group is not one designated by
the XV-5080 with Bank Select MSB/LSB. Note that if you
omit the Bank Select, and send only the Program Change, the
tone in the currently selected group that has the specified
Program Change number will play. Try reselecting the tone
using the panel controls. Furthermore, when selecting tones
from a MIDI device, be sure to send the Bank Select MSB/
LSB and the Program Change as a single set for reliable
reproduction. First sending the MSB and LSB (the order in
which these are sent does not matter), followed by the
Program Change. For more about the relationship between
the Bank Select MSB/LSB and corresponding tone groups,
refer to <Table 1: Bank Select and Program Change
Correspondence Chart> (p. 13).
Q: How do I switch Patches and Rhythm Sets
from a MIDI keyboard or sequencer?
A: You can switch Patches and Rhythm Sets without
switching Patch and Rhythm modes by sending a
combination of Bank Select and Program Change messages.
In Performance mode as well, you can switch any Part to a
Patch or Rhythm Set by sending Bank Select and Program
Change messages to the targeted Part.
For more about the relationship between the Bank Select
MSB/LSB and corresponding tone groups, refer to <Table 1:
Bank Select and Program Change Correspondence Chart>
(p. 13).
Q: The Modulation or other controller is
always on.
A: Check the Matrix Control settings.
The XV-5080 allows you to use the Matrix Control to control
Patches in real time. The Matrix Control functions as the
control source for the Control Change and other MIDI
messages received by the XV-5080, and makes changes to the
various Patch parameters based on these messages.
Depending on these settings, the XV-5080 may be responding
to MIDI messages sent from external MIDI devices, and may
result the Patches sounding different than intended. For
more detailed information on the Matrix Control, refer to the
Owner's Manual (p. 146, 223).
Q: I want to use external MIDI messages to
control CutOff and Pan.
A: You can control these with Control Changes.
The XV-5080 can send a variety of Control Change messages
and control these parameters in real time. For more on
Control Changes possible with the XV-5080, refer to the
MIDI Implementation in the Owner's Manual (p. 282).
4
Q&A
Q: Using the Matrix Control or other such
means to control the LFO results in noise when
the Pan is changed suddenly.
A: Lower the change in speed (LFO Rate).
Due to the specialized processing used for the Pan, which
alters the volume level in each of the left and right sides,
sudden Pan movements causing rapid changes in these
levels creates large changes in volume, and noise from this
may be audible as a result.
■ Playing Back Data with MIDI
Sequencers
Q: Performances are sluggish, or have
interruptions.
A: Problems of sluggish and interrupted performances can
crop up very easily when the sequencer or sound module
used for the performance has to handle heavy data loads.
The following outlines some common reasons for this.
• Are more than 128 voices playing simultaneously?
Reduce the number of voices.
The composition of XV-5080 Patches is such that up to
eight Waves may be used for one Patch. When using
such Patches, even though only one sound may be
heard, it is actually eight sounds that are being played
simultaneously. In addition, with certain sounds like
continuous sounds with long releases, even though the
actual sound may not be audible to you, processing for
playing the sound is still underway, so in these cases as
well, the performance data can differ from the actual
number of voices being played.
You can find out how many sounds are actually being
sounded in the Part
Information page.
• Are you using a Patch that uses a lot of LFO? Try
changing to a different Patch.
LFO processing invariably places a big load on the
machine, so heavy use of the LFO slows down
processing for the XV-5080 overall, which can end up
having affecting the expression of sounds themselves.
• Is the data concentrated at the beginning of the beats in
the sequence data? Avoid overlapping data with the
same timing by setting an offset of 1-2 ticks instead.
Data may easily become concentrated at the beginning of
the beats in the song data when, for example, the song
data is input using Step Recording, or if the data is
quantized after being input with a keyboard in real time.
Because of this, large amounts of data are sent to the XV5080, and the processing for expressing sounds becomes
bogged down.
• Is there a Program Change at the point where the song
performance is sluggish? Change the position of the
Program Change.
When Program Changes are inserted in songs,
processing time for switching patches increases, which
may then cause the performance to become sluggish.
• Is there a System Exclusive message at the point where
the song performance is sluggish? Move the location of
the data.
System Exclusive messages contain large amounts of
data, thus placing a heavy burden on sequencers and
sound modules. Try repositioning data and changing
System Exclusive messages to Control Changes for any
data for which Control Changes can be substituted.
• Is there an Aftertouch or other such large Control
Change at the point where the song performance is
sluggish? Move the location of the data.
In some cases, when using a keyboard that features
aftertouch to input data, you may end up inputting huge
amounts of data before realizing this is happening. Such
large amounts of data can place an excessive load on
your sequencer and sound module.
■ Issues Common to All Modes:
Performance/Patch/Rhythm Set/GM
Q: What are the differences between
Performance, Patch, Rhythm Set, and GM
modes?
A: The XV-5080 features four modes, Performance, Patch,
Rhythm Set, and GM, each of which is best suited for the
particular applications for which it is used.
Patch Mode: This mode is selected mainly when the XV5080 is used as a stand-alone instrument, as well as for
creating tones; messages can be received on only one MIDI
channel.
Rhythm Set Mode: This mode is selected mainly when the
XV-5080 is used as a stand-alone Rhythm Set, as well as for
creating Rhythm Sets; messages can be received on only one
MIDI channel.
Performance mode: Messages can be receive on up to 16
MIDI channels, with each channel used for playing a
different tone. This mode is used mainly for playing
ensemble performances featuring multiple instruments.
Furthermore, you can also create whole new tones by
playing multiple Patches superimposed in a single MIDI
channel (Layer).
GM Mode: This is selected when using the XV-5080 as a GM
Level 2 sound module. While this mode also allows
performances of up to 16 tones, it is exclusively for playing
back commercially available GM and GM Level 2 song data,
and creating GM-compatible song data, so there is a limited
number of tones that can be selected.
5
Q&A
Q: Is it possible to restore the USER area to the
condition it was in when the XV-5080 was
first purchased?
A: Yes. Please refer to p. 206 in the Owner's Manual. Note,
though, that executing this operation completely wipes out
all user-created Patch and Rhythm Set data. Save any data
you wish to keep to memory cards or other such media.
Q: What happens to edited tones when the
XV-5080 is turned off?
A: They are lost unless the write operation is used to write
them to the XV-5080's USER area. When you want to save
edited tones, carry out the write operation before switching
tones or turning off the power to the XV-5080.
The XV-5080 uses a separate area to which internal Patches,
Performances, Rhythm Sets, and other data are moved
during performances and editing. This area is referred to as
the Temporary Area. The existence of area allows restoration
of Patches and other data to previous conditions, even after
they have been edited; System Exclusive messages and other
data is also sent to the Temporary area from MIDI devices,
allowing performances of compositions without destroying
data in the XV-5080's internal USER area. This temporary
data is overwritten when tones are switched, meaning any
tone in the process of being edited is lost. Furthermore, any
data held in the Temporary area when the power is turned
off is lost.
The write operation is the operation used to write this data to
the USER area, where it is not erased even when the power is
turned off.
■ Issues Related to Performance
(Mode)
Q: I set the Key Range in Performance mode,
but sometimes the range is smaller than the
value set.
A: Key Range settings can also be made for each individual
tone used in a Patch. With this function, when a Patch in
which the Key Range is set by the Patch is used in a
Performance, both the Performance's Key Range and the
Patch's Key Range are in effect, and this may result in
differences between the Key Range value set by the
Performance and notes played in the actual key range.
Q: What happens if the Performance's control
channel is the same channel used for receiving
the Performance's Parts?
A: When only a Program Change message is being received,
the Performance's control channel takes priority, and the
Performance is switched. Other MIDI messages are treated in
the same manner as Parts. Furthermore, using a combination
of Bank Select and Program Change messages, you can also
set it up so that the XV-5080 is able to distinguish on the
same MIDI channel whether the channel is to be used for
switching Performances or Patches. Refer to <Table 1: Bank
Select and Program Change Correspondence Chart> (p. 13).
Q: Although the same Patch is selected, it
sounds different when I listen to it in the
Performance.
A: Tones selected for Patch sounds may be further modified
in Performance mode by parameters in each Part of the
Performance, Pan and Octave settings, Filter Cutoff settings,
and so on. Thus, Patches in a Performance may sound
different than they do when heard in Patch mode. To return
these settings to their initial conditions, select the Patch after
pressing [UTILITY] to execute "Initialize Temporary" for the
Performance.
Additionally, although a Patch may comprise tones created
with the use of the multi-effects, the multi-effects used in the
Performance may differ from the multi-effects selected by the
Patch. Check the Performance's multi-effects. Also do the
same for the Chorus and Reverb settings.
Q: Is there anything I should note when using
Patches from the User Memory, memory
cards, or Expansion Boards in a Performance?
A: In a Performance, information designating the number for
the kind of Patch or Rhythm Set assigned to a Part is stored
in form of a Group number. Even though Patches in the User
Memory and on memory cards may have identical numbers,
since the Patch data may be overwritten, even if Patches with
the same number are used in a Performance, the content
(sounds) may differ. You need to be careful when using data
from such areas, in which data can be overwritten and
moved in a Performance.
■ Issues Related to Patch (Mode)
Q: The sound cuts off when I switch Patches in
Patch mode...
A: Although you can apply a wide variety of multi-effects
with the XV-5080's multi-effects, switching the Patch also
switches the type of multi-effects used.
In such instances, discrepancies between the sound being
produced and the multi-effects type can arise, which may
result in sounds being different than intended, so sounds
produced when Patches are switched may be muted when
factory settings are in effect. In certain situations, such as
when not using multi-effects that have a great influence on
the sound, or when switching pairs of Patches set with the
same type of multi-effects, remembering to set Patch Remain
([SYSTEM]/[General]) to "ON" allows you to switch Patches
without sounds being muted.
6
Q&A
Q: Sometimes, when playing legato, the pitch
won't rise. Why is this?
A: Let's say you have the Legato Switch set to "ON," and the
Legato Retrigger set to "OFF." When you try to sound a
legato (by pressing a higher key while a lower key is held
down), the pitch may sometimes not be able to rise all the
way to the intended pitch (stopping instead at an
intermediate pitch). This can occur because the limit of pitch
rise, as determined at the wave level, has been exceeded.
Additionally, if differing upper pitch limits are used for the
waves of a Patch that uses multiple tones, it may stop being
heard in MONO. When making large pitch changes, set the
Legato Retrigger to "ON."
Q: When switching Patches in Patch mode, the
volume and other parameters set with Control
Changes end up being reset.
A: Set Patch Remain ([SYSTEM]/[General]) to "ON." Even
once they have switched Patches, Control Change messages
that have been received are carried forward, so even when
switching a Patch whose level is turned all the way down by
a Control Change volume message, the level remains
unchanged.
Q: The sound stops when the internal Wave
0887:DC is selected as the Wave for the Patch.
A: Check the structure of the Patch in STRUCT ([PATCH]/
[Common]/[Struct]).
Wave 0887:DC is a Wave composed only of DC constituents.
When this Wave is selected for an initialized Patch and then
played, after an initial click sound at the beginning, the is no
sound.If this Wave is used for W2 in Structure 2 or later, the
Wave level set for W1 is raised by W2, causing the upper
limit to be exceeded. As a result, the sound may cease.
Q: If the Tone Delay time value is set to the
note, then does the delay time not change
beyond a fixed length when the tempo is
slowed down?
A: The Tone Delay time has an upper limit, so if the upper
limit of a value set to the note is exceeded when the tempo is
retarded, that upper value cannot rise any further.
Q: Even when I set the Pan for a Patch
completely to one side, sound still comes from
the other channel...
A: The XV-5080's internal effects are in stereo, so if you have
effects applied to a Patch, even if the Pan is set all the way to
one side, you will still be able to hear sounds of the effect
component from the other channel.
■ Issues Related to Rhythm Sets
Q: Can I use two or more Rhythm Sets in a
Performance?
A: With the XV-5080, there is no limit on the number of
Rhythm Sets that can be used in Performances. You can also
use Rhythm Sets in all of the sixteen Parts simultaneously.
For more information on how to make these settings, refer to
the Owner's Manual (p. 162).
Q: What Note Numbers can be used with
Rhythm Sets?
A: MIDI Note Numbers 21 through 108; or, using Key
Numbers, the 88 Keys A0 through C8.
Q: I want to apply an effect to a specific
instrument sound.
A: You can do this with the output settings for the Rhythm
Tones assigned to each key to determine whether or not the
multi-effects are used and setting the Chorus or Reverb send
level for each instrument sound. Refer to the Owner's
Manual (p.114).
Furthermore, by connecting any of the six separate OUTPUT
jacks to an external effects device and setting the output of a
specified instrument sound to that jack, you can add effects
from the external effects device to a specific instrument
sound.
Q: Can I use samples (wave data) loaded from
a sampler library or other such source to the
Rhythm Set?
A: Yes.
■ Issues Related to Effects
Q: How can I control a Performance's multieffects using a MIDI keyboard, sequencer, or
similar device?
A: Some of the multi-effects parameters can be controlled
using MIDI messages, such as Control Changes, in real time.
However, the parameters that can be controlled are different,
depending on the multi-effect.
The MIDI message to be used in controlling the parameter is
selected as the "Source" for MFX Control ([PERFORM]/
[EFFECTS]/[MFX Ctl])—whereas the parameter to be
changed is selected through "Destination," and the amount of
modification is determined using "Sens."
Q: What MIDI channels can be used for control
of the multi-effects in Performance mode?
A: Setting the multi-effects Source (MFX SOURCE
([PERFORM]/[Effects]/[General])) to PART 1-32 enables
each Part's MIDI Receive channel, and when Source is set to
7
Q&A
PERFORM, you can control the multi-effects using MIDI
messages on the MIDI Receive channels set in Performance
MFX Ctrl Channel ( [PERFORM]/[Effects]/[[MFX Ctl]).
Q: Can different Patch Chorus and Reverb
Send level settings be made, one set for when
multi-effects are used, and one for when they
are not used?
A: You can set two values for Patch Chorus and Reverb Send
levels, one for use with multi-effects, and one for use in other
cases. Since in many cases sounds are not passed through the
multi-effects when Patches are used in Performances, using
two Chorus and Reverb Send settings, one to use when
sounds are passed through the multi-effects and one when
not, allows you to get the optimum settings for each of the
Performance and Patch modes. The settings values for
Chorus and Reverb parameters shown when you switch
Output Assign ([PATCH]/[Effects]) between multi-effects
and other setups.
Q: Even though the Chorus/Reverb Send level
is raised in each of the Performance's Parts,
it's difficult to get the effect.
A: Although you can make Send level ([PERFORM]/
[Effects]/[General]) settings to the Chorus and Reverb for
each individual Part in a Performance, these values only set
the upper limit of the Chorus and Reverb Send levels for the
Patch used. Accordingly, even when the value is set to the
maximum of 127, if the Send level is lowered in the Patch
being used, there will be no effect. In addition, different
Patch Chorus and Reverb Send level settings can be used
according to whether or not the multi-effects are used.
Q: Does "x" ever appears in an effects device
settings window?
A: This means that the internal effects Master Switch is set to
"OFF." Press the [EFFECTS ON/OFF] button on the panel to
set the Master Switch to "ON."
Q: If the multi-effects "TRIPLE TAP DELAY" or
other delay time value is set to the note, and
then the tempo is slowed down, does the
delay time not change beyond a fixed length?
A: Such Delay time settings have an upper limit, so if the
upper limit of a value set to the note is exceeded when the
tempo is retarded, that upper value cannot rise any further.
Q: How many types of Multi-effects are there
altogether?
A: There are 90 types.
Q: Three Multi-effects processors can be used
in Performance mode, but can they be used in
series?
A: No.
In Performance mode, the outputs of the Parts are input to
the three Multi-effects in parallel. For example, you could do
something like setting the output of Parts 1 and 2 to M-FX A,
the outputs of Parts 3 and 4 to M-FX B, the output of Part 5 to
M-FX C, and connect the other parts directly to the outputs,
bypassing the Multi-effects.
Q: With the Multi-effects, can I add rotary to
distorted sounds, such as those from the
distortion effects?
A: Yes. You can use the "Rotary Multi" multi-effect. The
example cited in the previous question was made with the
image of the Rock Organ tone in mind, but the XV-5080's
Multi-effects features the following internal Multi-effects
which consist of a number effects connected in series that are
perfect for such tones (instruments).