Roland SDX-330
Dimensional Expander (1994)

 

Digital rack effect full of choruses and complex modulation effects including famous Roland RSS dimensional, a proprietary technology based on psychoacoustic algorithms.

RACKMOUNT 1 unit.
Main panel features a double display, 12 buttons, led peak meter, 1 rotary data encoder and 2 knobs.


Back panel terminal connectors:
- Midi interface
- main signal out
- signal input +4dBu / -20dBV
- bypass pedalswitch input
- control pedalswitch input selects a parameter to edit
- expression pedal input.

 

VOICE main core engine is based on a 16 bits CPU NEC up-D70433 signal is processed at linear 16 bits / 44 kHz and a Frequency Response range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

 

DAC / ADC is an Asashi Kasei AK4501 VSE-1 sub.

 

INTERFACE: basic interface with sub menu, system, quite annoying.

 

EFFECTS all sound patches are based on 16 algorithms by custom DSP TC6088AD:

STEREO CHORUS a single LFO (triangle or sinusoidal) with variable phase and orientation between left and right channel can be selected. STEREO 3D CHORUS same as previous with some extra 3D RSS controls like azimuth height orientation (speakers must be placed in specific positioning). 3D PANNER the sound movess around the listener, also based on RSS technology SPACE CHORUS an emulation of the vintage classic effect SDD320 dimension D. 2-BANDS CHORUS composed by low band (LFO1 tri sin) + hi-band (LFO2 tri sin). Each modulator has individual rate and depth on the frequencies that can be split between 400Hz-4kHz (crossover frequency). 3-BANDS CHORUS created by low band (LFO1 tri sin) + middle Band (LFO2 tri sin) hi-band (LFO3 tri sin) also here modulators are independent. Two Crossover points frequencies at 100Hz-1kHz and 800Hz-8kHz band. 4-BANDS CHORUS 4 bands, 4 LFO: low+low middle+high middle+hi bands. Obviously 3 crossover points frequencies at 100Hz-1kHz, 400Hz-4kHz and 800Hz-8kHz STEREO 8 PHASE CHORUS8 independent LFO (frequency/phase/depth) modulators with 2 possible waveforms: sinewave and triangle. 16-PHASES CHORUS features no less than 16 LFOs, however these cannot be controlled one by one,but macro-edited using 6 different presets chaining modes. DETUNE CHORUS based on 6 real-time pitch-shifter engines; each digital shifter can be set at pitch/panning/level parameters. ENSEMBLE based on 2 independent LFOs for each input + EQ. 6 different mode presets. WAVE CHORUS 6 LFO at same time with advanced waveforms: Sin/Tri/Exp/ocw1/ocw2/ocw3 VINTAGE CHORUSemulation of traditional analogue chorus model. STEREO FLANGER emulation of standard flanger effect composed by a single LFO with variable depth, frequency and 5 different shapes (tri/sin/exp/ofw1/ofw2) ROTARY emulation of a Leslie with classic doppler effect including rotor+horn speed, brake emulation and frequency speed. AMBIENCE CHORUS a special ambient chorus based on modulators followed by a special lowpass Filter (or highpass mode) + a final stage EQ.

 

 

 

MIDI a selected parameter con be controlled using CC# or note triggering in case of a keyboard, in addition it is possible to change the effect number using the program change Midi function.

 

OS is on a single socket EPROM

 

MEMORY:
- 100 ROM patches
- 200 RAM patches.
Memory can be saved to Midi sysex dump.
Battery replacement: standard CR-2032 battery in holder, no soldering.

 

MAINTENANCE typical issues with contact switches that need replacement:

 

 

RELATED FAMILY:

	SDE-330- same series, very similar circuit but dedicated to delay porcess.
	SRV-330 dedicated to reverbs and echoes

 

AUDIO DEMO

demo1 synth pad demo2 flanger demo3 rotary pad demo4 preset demo5 filter modulation demo6 extreme stereo LFO

VIDEO CLIP SELECTION Dimensional Expander- Chorus