Roland R-880

Experimental Hybrid Synth (2019)

Overview

OVERVIEW Rackmount digital effect processor, pretty high level at the time.
The machine is huge and "essential" with minal controls: power switch, knob for line input, button for midi channel selection and a 12-segment input level LEDs for each channel, applicable only to analogue inputs, and channel 1-4 output metering of a similar nature.
The optional GC8 editor allows to edit in depth all the parameters with a graphic user interface.

TERMINAL CONNECTORS
Balance Input Sockets A / B (XLR Connectors)
Balance Output Sockets 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 (XLR Connectors)
Unbalance Input Sockets A / B
Unbalance Output Level Selector Switch
RRC Sockets IN / OUT for optional editor CG-8
MIDI Sockets IN / OUT
RRC – MIDI Selector Switch
Digital Input Sockets COAXIAL / OPTICAL
Digital Output Sockets COAXIAL / OPTICAL
Digital In Selector Switch COAX/OPTICAL
Power AC VDE standard

Sound

SOUND R880 can be used in both full digital or full analog (or in between), with rich connection as illustrated above.
Basically the R880 is organized in two indipendend sound blocks that can be interconnected or used as a 2x2 channel processor (a double stereo unit). First "block" is dedicated to reverb, plate (also non-linear) and second one to equalisation, delay, compressor/gate mixer and chorus.

BLOCK 1 algorithms can be edited and parameters too:
Reverb: Size, Reverb time, Early Reflection level, Brightness (
Plate: Reverb time, Brightness.
Non-Linear: Pre-delay, Gate time, Reverb time.
Each parameter includes also sub-section such as Size, pre-delay, density of the reverb, High damping/freq and Envelope graphic design.

BLOCK 2 EDIT second part offers also many parameters to tweak:
EQ: three-band peak/shelving equaliser
Chorus: Pre-delay, Rate, Depth and phase
Delay: Time and Feedback
Gate: Threshold Level, Attack and Release

Memory

MEMORY if you own the optional GC8 it is possible to save edited sound on standard Roland M-256E or use commercial ROM library which are pretty hard to find. Most famous are:
-Lexicon 480
-Lee Quintana
-George Massenburg
Note: the R88-GC8-1 cards can be booted to update system to OS2.