Cheap additionnal sound module

[nic cue]

Hello,

I’m looking for a good but cheap rack module with decent analog synth type sound to complete my NE4, just for fun at home. But in addition, and because NE 4 has not split between organ and piano section and sometimes I could need it in live situation, it would be nice if it had some decent B3 organ sounds.
I was thinking of E-MU Proteus 2000 or Roland JV1010, in a low price on second hand market (under 100€). What do you think of that, or alternatives ?
Thanks!

Regards

[Quai34]

Hi,
I have a proteus 2000 but I've never seen them that low, more around 250$...As for the JV1010, it could be in your price range, I had a JV1080 one time in the past, sold it because I bought the XV5080. All 3 of them are good sound module but if I were you, I would save to be able top spend more for the Proteus or the JV1020.
Bye

[anotherscott]

If you happen to already own an iPhone or iPad, you could get a lot of nice "sound module" functionality out of it for under 100€. And especially since it's just for home, you could consider using your computer, too.

[harmonizer]

I have a Roland XV-5050, which was a follow-on the JV. I would *not* expect to find a decent B3 sound in the JV, because it was the XV's lack of a decent organ sound that was the main reason I supplemented it with an Electro. The acoustic piano sound in the base XV is serviceable in a rock band gig situation, and it actually sits ok in the mix even in mono, but it will not impress anyone in a standalone situation.

The split capability on the Roland XV is very good - 16 parts per "performance", with no limitations on how you assign patches, transpose, layer, or establish the lower and upper point for each part. I even do creative things with a midi footpedal controller with my XV-5050, like firing off chords by pressing one key with my foot while my hands are occupied playing the sax. They will need to rip my XV out of my cold dead hands.

Roland does not provide device drivers for newer versions of Windows with their XV synths, and I would guess the same is true for the older JV as well. I had to do a workaround to get my XV synth to work with Windows 7. I have read this workaround can also work with Windows 8. I have not read anything about whether it is possible to get the JV working with newer versions of Windows.

The Roland Fantom was the follow-on to the XV, but the only Fantom module was pizza box size. The Roland SonicCell was the follow-on to the Fantom, and probably has all the same split capability, better sounds, and perhaps more modern device driver support (not sure).

[shark]

I swear by the JV1010, nice USEABLE sounds. Great strings, pads and brass; decent pianos. Very portable, sturdy and easy to connect and use. They go for around €50.

[nic cue]

Hello
thank you very much for your replies.
In fact, I don't need split on sound module, 'cause I have a secondary midi keyboard. I just want to compensate the lack of split on the Nord by sound module + keyboard.

I already have PC with VSTi plugins, but I don't like using mouse. If there are a lot of good free or cheap plugins I prefer tweak potentiometers and buttons!

For the Proteus, in France there are several offers for it under or near 100€. But I was not really conviced by the demos of Hammond type sounds that I have listened. Synth sounds seem to me OK. I'm also wondering if I could easily tweak filters or other parameters on the Proteus. I will listen others demos.

Have a good day

[cEgws]

I agree that one of the half-rack JV or XV modules would be a good choice to add a pad or extra tine or a "MIDI'd Grand" atmosphere with the NE4. The size is great and you'll especially appreciate this if you have the NE4D. I thought about picking one up but enjoy my MKS-70 Super JX for this purpose (although it's about 8x the size & weight…).
Here's a great reference for the JV/JD/XV family: http://www.donsolaris.com/?p=404

[cEgws]

Also, FWIW, I used to have an E-mu Morpheus and although it looked good on paper it just didn't do anything for me.

[anotherscott]

I already have PC with VSTi plugins, but I don't like using mouse. If there are a lot of good free or cheap plugins I prefer tweak potentiometers and buttons!

If you're saying that you prefer hard controls, keep in mind that small modules typically don't give you much in the way of hard controls either. But I agree, using a mouse doesn't feel very "musical." That's an advantage of the iPad/iPhone... less capable than PC VSTs, but if you find things that do what you want, the touchscreen approach seems a little more direct and interactive. As for separate modules, I'll agree with those who have said that the JV1010 is a very nice sounding little box. Presumably so is its successor, the XV2020, though I've never played one of those. Another to look at would be the Korg 05r/w. It's been a while since I've played either, but my recollection is that the Roland is stronger for the bread-and-butter instrument emulations (EPs, strings, brass...), and the Korg is better for the synthier stuff. I also seem to remember being able to do more from the Korg's front panel. I think you needed to use computer software even just to re-arrange the order of your patches on the Roland, software that doesn't run on anything these days.

IFor the Proteus, in France there are several offers for it under or near 100€. But I was not really conviced by the demos of Hammond type sounds that I have listened.

The JV1010 does have some nice organ sounds, but don't expect anything that really rivals your NE4, it's still just a rompler and not a true "clonewheel."

[nic cue]

The JV1010 does have some nice organ sounds, but don't expect anything that really rivals your NE4, it's still just a rompler and not a true "clonewheel."

Yes, thank you! I know that i can't expect the quality of a dedicated clonewheel module or keyboard from a cheap general sound module. But for organ, finally I just need a mellow hammond sound (simply a "88800000" sound with slow Leslie), to follow piano on some ballads and slow blues.
I keep listening demos...
Thank you again!