GM 800, Roland GR 55 Tracking Comparison 

You are most welcome. Glad you could use the patches.

Glad it was helpful!

Glad you liked it

Wait for the next video. You can download and expand the tone collection. The GR 55 has 910 tones. from this collection all of the patches or presets are made. The GM-800 has 1247 tones. Once again, from this collection all of the scenes (which are actually presets and patches) are made. What makes the GM 800 stand out is the ability to install more tones. Currently I have downloaded and installed over 1000 more tones. The number of tones I now have is somewhere around 2300. There is a string pack you can add that is better than the tones that come with the unit. Many of these tones come from their flagship keyboard series. The next video will cover this in detail.

That's a video I'll be waiting for. I'm new to the GR55, but it's definitely pretty cool !!!!! Not sure I need to dive into the 800 yet, but maybe somewhere down the road when I get the money and really feel the need for it, or just realize that I need better sounds. But the 55 is pretty impressive ! Thanks for the video !

It always amazes me how different people pronounce Godin. Thank you for your input.

The AD box works great. The tracking is better on the Godin with the GM-800 when compared to the GR-55. My advice is to avoid the GK5 if you decide to upgrade.

@@marcuscurtismusic Thanks for your advise.

You can't do that with the GM 800 because there is no guitar input for your standard pickups . You can do that with the GR 55 but it can be tricky to set up. If you are looking for a synth that does this then your best bet is the Boss SY-1000. It has a standard guitar jack input. It also has better guitar amp models. I should be doing a future video on that synth as a part of this series.

Click on the video description on this page to open it up and then click on the first blue link in the video description. You will go to my google drive. You will see some folders and you will see some files. All the PDFs regarding the GR-55 are in there too. In every graphic of a file or folder you should see three dots to the right. click on those dots and choose download. The most current version of the Floorboard software is in there. Use that to install the patches.

That is a good question. I have not tried that. But I do have a tremolo on the black Ibanez and the Fender Strat with no issues. I can tell you that the strings seem to matter. when I go to light tension or medium tension on the Nylon Godin guitar it does not track as well. When I go to high tension strings for nylon Godin guitar it tracks better. Also when I use a standard set of strings with 010 on the high E string it seems to track better than a set that is 008 or 009. That is just my personal experience. The GK5 pickup is on a guitar that has a set with 009 on the high E string. I am thinking about going to 010. I have been putting it off because when ever I change the Gage I typically need to adjust the intonation too. This is really fun to do on a locking tremolo system. I need to get some time off of work so I can really test this gear.

Me too

I will investigate this. Thank you for the information

Since we are talking full disclosure, I will say I have been testing the GK-3B pickup with my bass guitars. What a waste of money that has been. First, I tried to put the GK3B pickup on my 5-string bass, but the design of the GK3B was so awful that it would not fit on that Bass. Then I mounted it on my 4-string Bass and started running tests. I tested the pickup with my GR-55 and My SY1000. Both synths have bass mode and after switching to bass mode I did not notice any significant improvement in the latency. It did not seem to make a big difference. You are right. The GR-55 Bass patches are cheesy. The bass guitar models worked well, but there were only 3 standard bass guitars to choose from. Nothing great. The latency was terrible in the lower register for the synth patches. The low notes had horrific latency. The SY-1000 was not much better. I tested with the GM800 and got a little better results. but there was still latency. I was going to do a video on it, but the tests I ran did not support any recommendation for a GK bass pickup. A few weeks ago Boss put out a firmware update for the GM800 and this is supposed to improve the latency. I installed the update and tested it with my all my guitar GK pickups and notice big improvements. I have not yet tested it with my GK Bass pickup. Even though the GK5 pickup has improved for the GM800, it is not 100 percent there. I still get ghost notes on certain patches. Some patches that were problematic have improved. Because of the issues I had with the GK5, I was reluctant to buy a GK5B for my bass guitar. That is a lot of money to spend for something that may not even work. Right now, my advice would be to wait and don't jump into anything yet. I need to test my GK3B with the GM800 to see if the latency has improved.

SY-1000 still my favorite synth.

It does not have a pedal set built in. it is just a guitar synth. It is better than the GR-55 when it comes to the guitar synth, but it has no guitar effects or guitar amps. The GT-1000 core is a good option depending on your needs.

Thank you@@marcuscurtismusic ! In terms of instrument emulation, which one do you think it's better? Considering reviews i've watched already, it seems GM-800 has more alternative synths, while GR-55 is more focused on emulating traditional instruments. Is that true? Or with GM-800 I can have the same traditional instruments + alternative synths?

@@ricardoalmeida8611The GM800 is exactly the same kind of synth that the GR-55 is. The sounds come from recordings of real instruments and synths then they are layered in samples. These samples are called tones. The better the samples are, the better the tones will be. In this area, the GM800 is much better than the GR-55. Tracking refers to the delay that happens from the time you play the note until the time you hear the note through a speaker. This is also referred to as latency. Once again, the GM800 is better in this department than the GR-55. Two things make the GM800 stand out. First, it has over 1200 tones. These tones are combined to make the presets you hear. The presets are called scenes. You can layer up to 4 tones. The GR-55 has 910 tones. You can layer up to two tones to make a preset. Second, The latency is lower on the GM800, which means there is less delay between the time you strike the note and the time you hear the note. The processing power is greater in the GM800. This allows you to use the GM800 as a MIDI interface. You can plug it into your computer and use it to control other software synths. You can also use midi to connect into other keyboards. This allows you to use your guitar to play a keyboard. While you can also do this with the GR55, the latency does not make this a great option. There is too much delay with the GR-55 when used in this manner. The GM800 also has the option to expand your tone collection. You can access the Roland Cloud and get more tones for the GM800. Currently, I have over 2200 tones on my GM800. As a synth, the options are far better with the GM800. The GR-55 has guitar and amp modeling, and it is pretty good guitar and amp modeling. You can layer those guitars with the keyboard sounds. It is still to this day a great synth. Those are pretty much all the main differences.

Hi@@marcuscurtismusic ! What an amazing explanation! Thank you so much for taking your time and explaining with so much details. That helped me to understand the main differences and now I few comfortable with my purchasing decisions.

@@ricardoalmeida8611Glad I could help.

Yes, that is frustrating to say the least. This means in order to figure out total cost, you must figure out what everything costs separately. So if you were going to buy a GM800 that would be 750.00. But you would also need a pickup so add another 250.00. You will also need an expression pedal with TRS cable, so add another 150.00. Next you will need to add a remote foot switch (FS7) which is another 65 bucks plus a TRS cable to go with that. So you will be into everything for over $1200.00. So ask yourself this question. What else could you buy for $1200.00? The thing to know about the GM800 is that there is no guitar amp modeling or guitar modeling capabilities built into the unit. It is a much better synth than the GR-55, but it does not have all the features of the GR-55. If I had to get rid of everything and just use one guitar synth then the synth I would keep is the SY1000. It does not have the sax or string sounds. It is an analog synth. But it is the best overall synth in terms of guitar models, amp models, and actual synth sounds.

It's in the video description. Click below the video where it says more and some links will open up. but to make things easier let's just do this. drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hGp_nw8CPiyBLBz-cFnZh9H6d02aOnEt

Thanks for the response. The patches are awesome. There is a patch called Mahogany. Is it a Frank Marino patch?

@@fender54 It could be, but I don't know for sure

yeah, I have the same issues. I have some workarounds, but you may not like them. First, contact support on the Boss website and explain your issues. The more people that complain about this, the sooner Boss will come up with a fix. This can be addressed in a firmware update. In order for me to use this synth, I had to use my older GK3 pickups. Maybe you have a guitar that has an older GK3. If you do, then consider getting the GKC-AD adaptor. This will allow you to use your older Boss pickups with the GM800. The GK3 work just fine with this synth. There are no issues with the older pickups. The GK5 works great with the older synths like the SY-1000. But they don't work very well with their new synth. This tells me that a firmware update is definitely needed. This is O.S. software related issue. At least that is my guess The good news is because you just purchased this, then it is still under warranty. You are entitled to free support from Boss. www.boss.info/us/support/

Thanks a lot for the kind response.I will definitely get in touch with Boss.I reduced the string sensitivity & it did seem to help, except on some lower strings I found the pitch going out of whack & tracking slow. The 'hanging' notes are a lot better now though.I do have a guitar with a GK3.Does the GM 800 work with the GK 2 A? I see the GK2 A option on the GK settings, so I hope it works.WIll grab yjr converter when I get a good deal for sure.Thanks@@marcuscurtismusic

@@MusicChannel-rf5zz the GK2A does work with the GM800. When I set the tracking for each instrument, I like to use the Tone Studio software from Boss. You can get a better measurement for tracking by using the software. Reducing the string sensitivity seems to be a solution for some patches, but it does not work well for others.

Thanks for the valuable info.@@marcuscurtismusic

Thanks.Will the converter box work with the GK 2A .On the GC site it says it convert GK3 but does not mention GK 2 A@@marcuscurtismusic

Sorry it too so long to reply. You have successfully voiced a lot of the frustration when using guitar synths. I suspect that the reason why Boss did not include the guitar modeling with the GM800 was because it is already built into the SY-1000. I think the idea is to use both synths as a set. The SY-1000 actually has better modeling than the GR-55. Part of the reason for this is due to the fact that the GR-55 uses the COSM amp models and the SY-1000 uses the AIRD amp models, which is newer technology. The GK5 pickup actually works a lot better with other guitar synths. It is more powerful when capturing a signal. It is just not practical.

@@marcuscurtismusic Lots to think about. And I used to just plug in to a 2 channel amp with just a lead and no effects 😅. Thanks for your reply and thoughts and for the videos!

Yes it does the first video in this series shows how to use the GM 800 with a GK 3 pickup

Thank You. I would rather test things as a customer. I think if I was on the payroll I would be limited to what I could say about the products I test.

Roland and Boss have a habit of doing this sometimes no doubts there. The last update for this was firmware version 1.50. That really added a lot of features.

All Roland/Boss synths have their strength and weaknesses. But for single mono lines, I like the SY-1000 the best. In addition to the analoge synth it also has the flagship guitar amp models that can be found on GT-1000 devices. It also has guitar models that sound better than the line 6 Variax guitars. If I only had one synth that would be the one I would own. That being said the GM800 has a feature that lets you choose between poly or mono playing for each patch. The poly allows you to play notes from all the strings at once. The mono only allows one note to play at a time from one string. The mono eliminates ghost notes, but you are not able to play as fast, so if you are a shredder certain patches may not function as you would like.

@@marcuscurtismusic do you recommend the midi pickup

You can hook them both together and use both pedals at the same time. Very handy to do

Thanks.Not sure how to hook them together.Can you explain a bit pls? Will the latency of GR55 be as good as the GM 800 when putting them together?@@marcuscurtismusic

@@MusicChannel-rf5zz it is actually pretty simple but you will need a few more pieces of hardware. You will need a black box by Roland called GKC-DA. It sells for about $200.00 You will also need another midi chord that uses a GK5 connection. From the synth output located on the GM800, plug into the GKC DA. The GKC-DA has a GK3 13 pin output that goes to the GR-55. This will not have an impact on latency. Both synths together will operate independently. I run the output of both synths into a mixer. I have a video in this series that shows you how to hook 3 synths together at once. We also hook up a GT-1000. Everything is controlled from one guitar. This video should answer any questions about the different ways to hook up these devices. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BeDg9q6jfnQ.html

Thanks a lot for the kind reply.I will check your other video on this too.Glad there's a work around. @@marcuscurtismusic

yes it can and that is the next video I am working on.

@@marcuscurtismusic thks truth be told i have a gr55 gathering dust somewhere hope to see ur tutorial video soon

No, I have not. I don't own an Apple computer. I am not one of these guys that hate Apple computers and I think they're good computers. I just don't own one right now.

I will investigate this further. If I am wrong I will do a retraction. Play feel is no where to be found in the software. When I find it I will retest the GK5 to see if I can get it to track better. Thank you for your input.

@@marcuscurtismusic Like I said it's under menu > scene edit > master and then use the arrows < or > to navigate to other pages. I know it's there on the unit itself because I just looked again when I typed that message above. However I am not sure about the software as I don't use tone studio right now for anything.

Review GM-800 Parameter Guide Page 9 SYSTEM PARAMETERS for Global Low Velocity Cut, Play Feel , etc - its separate from Guitar to MIDI

From the looks of it on screen (kind of blurry) it does look like your ibanez sensitivity is set high which will cause cross-talk and hanging notes. I set my prs around 50 to 60 and works great. Also you never showed the sensitivity on your godin, so I wonder what it was set too for it? I'm confidence if you lower the sensitivity some for your gk-5 and mess with the low vel cut, you'll find the right balance. Another reason it can't be an issue with the pickup is because I don't have that issue or else everyone would have that issue, and all things point to the user getting the right adjustments made via sensitivity / low vel cut etc.. to make it work better.

@@BrockDavisson The sensitivity of the Godin is set around 40 per string average. Same with the GK5. If I go lower then that on the sensitivity with the GK5 it barely registers. I want to say that I really do appreciate your input. Maybe I can get this GK5 working after all. When I get time I hope to dive into a troubleshooting session. I have always tried to do everything from the software. Thanks to you I just discovered that there are detailed settings on the unit that are not available in the software. My mistake is assuming that the software had access to all the same settings the hardware unit has. It was easier to use the software because I could see it better. I was looking under menu in the software but it is different than menu on the hardware unit. Many of the same settings are there but there are some settings like play feel that are not there. Thanks again for your help.

What is a global pickup setting boom? I googled it and nothing came up describing what that is. I plugged directly into the GM 800 using the GK 5 pickup and the dedicated Boss cable. My installation of the pickup exactly mirrors one of the ways Boss describes on their website. There are a few ways to install it. Another way is to use the included double sided tape. There is no input built into the GK5. That hole is a quarter inch output. It plugs into the quarter inch hole on the GK5 that is labeled GK in, which is an input. If I use a different guitar with a GK3 pickup then I gain access to additional buttons that can be used to change patches. I also get a volume knob on the guitar for the synth. The two buttons can be used for CTL functions as well. This is something the GK5 does not have. The tracking problems are not uniquely my own as I have heard from several people who struggle with the same issue. It is true that there are people who do not have this problem but many people do. The GK3 has an input but that is only for the guitar pickups. This allows you to blend the pickups and the midi together. That is not needed on the GM 800 so the input is bypassed when using the grey box. there is an output on the grey box that passes the guitar pickup signal along to something else like an effects pedal board.

lol watch out for the hairy arm of doom...dang italians... I did a search on how to pronounce this guitar and nobody seems to know. My sister in law is french and she said it is a french word which is pronounced go-deen but judging by her accent it may be go-den. I still don't know. www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130026

For people like me who don’t play in live cover bands there is still a lot of use for the GM-800 and the responsiveness, the organ and the electric piano sounds alone make it worthwhile for me - but each to their own.

This video is not meant to be a comparison of every feature found on each unit. This video is only meant to cover Tracking and that is why it is called Tracking Comparison. Tracking is a reference to the latency that happens between the time you play the note and then hear the note. Like it or not, the tracking is better with the GM-800. The GK5 pickup is a bad design and the GK3 pickup is better. But the GK3 tracks better on the GM-800. That is the only point of this video. Now it is true that all the VG guitar stuff was stripped away but that does not make this a toy. In a recording studio the GM 800 is far superior to the GR-55. It can be used as a midi interface and there are several other features that make it great for studios. In a live situation you use it as a keyboard not as a guitar amp. This thing is great for playing in a band that does original music. I don't need to find a keyboard player because I am the keyboard player. It works well on covers too except my covers tend to be Jazz covers. No need to find a Jazz piano player. now it may not fit your situation or needs but that does not make this a toy.

@@marcuscurtismusic Very well said - I couldn’t agree more!👍

Je possède le GR55 depuis longtemps et je l’utilise très souvent sur scène. J’ai créé mes propres patches qui me satisfont pleinement. Ces discussions sur le GR55 m’intéressent beaucoup. Je m’abonne ! 🎶🎸🎶❤🇺🇸

Well, I hate live cover bands...so I'll probably love the GM-800 ❤

You can find the pickup for 250.00 but if you already have a GK-3 you can use that instead. You will get better results this way. The box that converts the GK-3 so you can use it with the GM-800 is only $200.00 (sarcasm in the word only) In the end you are right. Ridiculous.