Roland XPS 10 Keyboard (red)

The Roland XPS-10 is a popular and highly regarded “expandable synthesizer” Keyboard that aims to provide a versatile and affordable solution for gigging musicians, hobbyists, and studio producers. It’s particularly known for its extensive sound library, portability, and user-friendly interface.

Key Features and Highlights:

• Extensive Sound Library: This is one of its biggest selling points. The XPS-10 is packed with over 1500 professional-quality sounds, many of which are derived from Roland’s immensely popular JUNO-Di synthesizer. This includes a vast selection of ready-to-play tones covering all music styles:
  • Acoustic and electric pianos
  • Organs
  • Strings
  • Brass
  • Synths (pads, leads, basses, etc.)
  • Drums and percussion
  • Legacy Sounds: It also includes sounds from past Roland classics like the D-50, XP-60/-30/-10, and SRX Expansion Boards, providing a nostalgic touch for experienced players.
  • Ethnic and Local Sounds: A notable feature for various regions (including Pakistan), it includes a wide range of ethnic instruments and authentic local sounds, which is highly appreciated by musicians specializing in specific cultural music styles.
• Sample Import Function: This is a key “expandable” aspect. You’re not limited to just the internal sounds. You can import your own custom WAV audio files (44.1 kHz, 16 bits) via a USB flash drive (up to 32 MB total). These samples can then be mapped across the keyboard, allowing you to personalize the instrument with your own unique sounds or specific local instruments.
• Six Audio Pads: The XPS-10 features six assignable Audio Pads on the panel. These can be used to trigger:
  • WAV, AIFF, and MP3 audio files loaded from a USB memory stick (e.g., backing tracks, loops, sound effects).
  • Built-in XPS-10 rhythms.
  • Loop points can be set for WAV and AIFF files for continuous playback.
  • This is incredibly useful for live performance, allowing you to add dynamic elements to your music with a single touch.
• Powerful Built-in Effects: It includes robust effects processing to enhance your sounds:
  • Three Multi-Effects (MFX) systems: Each with 78 different effect types, allowing for intricate sound shaping.
  • Global Reverb (5 types) and Chorus (3 types): For adding spaciousness and shimmer to your overall sound.
• Intuitive User Interface for Live Performance: The XPS-10 is designed with live playing in mind.
  • Sounds are organized in logical categories for quick selection.
  • Quick-access buttons: For favorite sounds, split, layer, octave shift, and transpose functions.
  • Sound Modify Sliders (9 sliders): Provide real-time control over essential parameters like cutoff, resonance, attack, and release, making it easy to shape your sound on the fly. There are also sliders for adjusting levels for layered and split sounds, reverb, chorus, and the Audio Pad section.
  • Pitch Bend/Modulation Lever: For expressive playing.
• User Scale Function: This feature allows you to customize the keyboard’s tuning, adjusting each scale note in one-cent increments. This is crucial for playing various ethnic music styles that require specific microtonal tunings. Up to nine user scales can be stored.
• Lightweight and Portable: Weighing in at a mere 4 kg (8 lbs. 14 oz), the XPS-10 is exceptionally light and compact, making it very easy for a single person to transport to gigs, rehearsals, or move around the studio.
• 128-Voice Polyphony: This ensures that notes won’t “drop out” even when playing complex chords, layers, or sustained sounds.
• USB Connectivity: It includes a USB COMPUTER port for MIDI communication with music software (DAWs), and a USB MEMORY port for loading samples and audio files.
• No Built-in Speakers: This is common for performance-oriented synthesizers in this class. You’ll need external amplification (headphones or a speaker/amplifier system).

Who is the Roland XPS-10 for?

• Gigging Musicians: Its portability, vast sound set, and live-performance oriented features make it an excellent workhorse for musicians playing various genres.
• Hobbyists and Home Studio Users: It offers a wide array of sounds and functions for music creation and exploration.
• Musicians Playing Ethnic/Regional Music: The inclusion of ethnic sounds and the User Scale function are a major draw for this audience.
• Budget-Conscious Buyers: It delivers a lot of Roland quality and features at a very attractive price point.
• Beginners looking for a versatile keyboard: While not a beginner-specific instrument, its ease of use and wide sound palette make it a good starting point for learning synthesis and performance.