Is the Roland Integra 7 useful in 2024? 

I have one and I will never get rid of it !

People love older mics too… Old stuff sounds great. I love my Roland Integra

I am a guitarist, bassist, drummer and hack engineer. I used to play in this band where we had a Triton running through a garbage amp. I even experimented with drum triggers running an MPC-1000 (so basically, we were covering all the 90' Hip Hop kit) also through crap amps. The band was more on par with a famous (not famous) artist, Nick Cave (or Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds). The long and short of it is, we got amazing sounds in the practice space and from demos done in the practice space. We would do stuff at my home studio, using plug-ins and it always lost when compared to our practice space hardware. Maybe it's the old AD/DA converters, or maybe it's just down to "pushing air". Someone might argue that it is psychosomatic, and the old kit just reminds them of things we knew/know (Bel Biv Devoe probably had our same kit)....but I would argue that, we were not making hip hop or R&B....couldn't be farther away from it. These old hardware units (despite their limitations and cheesy presets) are just filled with character. I also want an Integra 7. The hype would have you believe that the core sounds of the Integra 7 live in the MC-707/101/MV1 series. I have 2 of the 3 and I call "BS!". Love my Triton Rack. Love my MPC1000's...Luke warm on my MPC Live (a small Linux Computer built into a MIDI controller) and Maschine +. Hardware is dedicated. Hardware rules. ps:: my dood....get on board with DI boxes, even with synths.

I would love to see a Yamaha Montage M Rack someday...

I got one and feel you. Its onenof those timeless pieces of gear like the triton that I will never get rid of.

Yeah bro! As a Roland fan I used to want this joint bad as well! Dope!!

Yes I would love to hear some of the integra 7 presets with Studio one in 2024!

This will reignite your creativity.

I have to agree! They still making the Integra 7 for a reason. I was messing with the emulation on Roland Cloud and I love the sounds but I’d much rather have the hardware for sure.

I was waiting to hear sounds lol

Can you demo some sounds and talk more about workflow with studio one thanks love your channel

I used to want the OG Fantom X. Like you. I never scratched that itch. I've come to grips with that I may never. The nostalgia and being a young excited kid still has that pull on me lol like I wanted the real keyboards but never could So I kinda still want them.. on the other hand. Regardless of year of production, these things are now luxuries and not essentials. Practical adult me understands that better now. Once upon a time, there wasn't the options we have today.

I get where you are coming from with old gear. Even though we have massive memory now for samples inside the computer these old romplers were really great sounding…especially the JV and MC series….the Ensoniq MR61 and the Proteus stuff. They got so much done with just 8 or 16 MB of rom. We would have been amazed at the Integra….that was out of reach back then for us mere mortals!

If you learn synthesis, you can create your own sounds with the integra 7.

Yes! Was looking for flagship synth, but was always drawn to the Integra. Got one last year on Black Friday for 1180€. I don’t get the dated sound reference when these sounds are still used. Nobody calls a Moog or a Prophet dated. The Integra is also a capable synth. I wish it got more love from Roland because it’s incredible and I use it everyday in my electronic dance music productions.

I could get the vst app with the Integra 7 to work in Windows 11, Studio One and Ableton Live.

I’d like to hear the Sine & Sync Leads w/some funky solos.

Can we have a demo of the integra 7

Dillio,,,You know I’ve been on a lot of your live streams and expressed numerous times that I’m no fan of Roland. However,,,,,The Integra 7 is a Exception and gets a Super Pass ✅ I’ve played with 1 before and it sounds great. The sounds and the converters where definitely Top Tier. Very clean sound where you don’t have to turn it up much to get a clean sound without Digital Distortion. Some Pedal coming behind it would of been the Dream Work. ‼️👍🏾

Interesting info!! I would like for you to demo this!! 😊🎹🎵🎶🫶🏼

So If I get a Fantom 7EX and layer it with an Integra 7, would you do work with a setup like that? Or should I just stick with the Fantom 7?

Is the Roland MKS-7 synth module still worth it in 2024, or should I upgrade to the Integra 7 ?

The Integra is one of the most interesting synths on the market. An old JV with all the cards will cost you double and then you will have 4x fewer sounds.

I’m curious to know. What controller is everyone using for the integra? That’s my only drawback.

The sound quality from a module is IMO superior to any plugin. Plugs may have more updated sounds but the richness, depth and textures of the tones and reverbs can't be beat.

Brick home vs stick home basically

Interesting discussion. I never got the Integra 7 but still have my Fantom XR module. The Fantom Rack isn't necessarily my favorite or most used, but it used to get a lot of usage. I think according to my ears/tastes, Roland to me is middle of the road. I think Korg and Yamaha lean more towards certain genres and Roland is kind of center. With that being said, I think in today's age, it is a tough sell for hardware. I think if you are primarily using the equipment for studio usage and not playing live, software is most def more space efficient and often the cheaper proposition. I also think software is quicker to compose with and probably at best, most people that still have hardware are using it in a hybrid setup where they are tracking into a DAW. I would even consider the newer MPC's to be hybrid. You don't really see many people trying to make beats nowadays entirely on workstation keyboards. I think years back, rack modules made sense to get because you didn't need the full keyboard with sampler and sequencer for every keyboard. Now I think it is a matter of taste. I do like having the physical aspect of hardware, but there are more limitations and they take up more space. The sound factor is also subjective, software vs. hardware, analog versus digital, etc. You could get pretty close with software with certain instruments and effects. It comes down to price and personal taste or preference. Ultimately, we are the only ones who care about this discussion. No one is on the dance floor saying the song would have been better if the producer used an Integra 7 instead of software.😅

What's up D, I actually have the Roland I7 as well. Pretty much for the same reasons; and all so the vst/iPad editor. I was blessed enough to have the Kronos first. But I quickly realized how lame the synths sounds are on the Korg versus the I7. The very first piano sound on the I7 quickly became my go-to. Until I got my hands on a Kurweill k2500. As you said, a lot of these older sound modules are surprisingly good and immediate, Compared to vsts. And I've never really found myself needing a thousand layered samples vsts. That level of realism doesn't work well when creating something eclectic. So, having these Hardware units definitely gives a different sauce compared to cracked plugins anyone can download and use. I'd say yes, definitely play some sounds and let people know what it actually sounds like. Some sounds...not all, most certainly stand the test of time. And layering a sound module with software can breathe new life in an instrument patch noone has ever heard before!!!

It's a sound module how would it not be useful when we are using sounds from synths in the 1970s.......?

Is a review without sound exemples useful in 2024?

I have Zenology pro

Talk Talk Talk

Useful for me. I use mine almost every chance I get. I use the MPC, but I don’t like the sounds as much. It’s not that they are bad and you can’t use them. They just often over do the presets with effects. It’s worse on synths. You hear a bunch of arps and will skip those because the creator wants to show what they could make the synth do rather than make something that will just fit in context. When you’re just trying to browse regular normal bread and butter sounds the Integra 7 is perfect. You get some cohesiveness when you start making your own studio sets too. The workflow is easy I hardly ever use the iPad app. Some people say it difficult to navigate…not for me. I have the XV-5080 and JV-1080 too, along with a Fantom. Roland sounds just work for me it’s like everything sounds in its own contained space so when you mix you are not fighting to get things where you want them. I hate that some daws don’t let you use a proper MSB, LSB “Cubase”, but even still with hardware I’d bounce it down to audio too. Also mine shipped from new and unopened from Japan and was marked for 100 watts. Seller warned me I’ll have to buy a step down converter box because USA uses 110 - 120 watts. Did some research. The Integra 7 has a universal power supply that will automatically convert the correct wattage. Point is you can save some money buying elsewhere if you see better prices don’t let the region hinder you from buying it….only customs and Memphis TN.

Demo that

If you really want that Roland sound check out that go keys. $ 350

I heard a RU-vidr say if you want to have that warm sound from back in the day buy the original!!! Want the MPC to sound like back in the day get an XL!!!

The OS matrix on it is super frustrating. They need to update the OS.

It's STILL $2K after more than a decade? Very bizarre. I'll just go for the Cloud. I don't think I would pay more than $1200 for it

I sold mine when I got the Fantom, because it had almost all the sounds except for the SN Acoustic. It has all the PCM expansions and can hold them at the same time. Then Zenology VST came out with the same sounds in it. Before that there was VST versions of the 1080, 5080 and several of the expansions, so there’s almost no reason to get the Integra 7. The 128 note polyphony doesn’t go far. It can only load 4 expansions at a time. It only stores 64 multi patches. It’s lacking a lot of the features of the Fantom and Zenology. Sure it has the Dynamic Drums👍and stripped down V-drum engine👎, RSS surround and ipad app, but the SN acoustic sounds are not going to be that great for anyone with computer sample libraries.

For the cost I’d just buy Omnisphere, Keyscape, and Trillian

Why wouldn't it be useful? Did 6000 sounds go out of style altogether? Or the ability to make your own? Fuck the upgrade trendmill, unless you make EDM it's as useful in 2024 as it was when you bought it.

There’s no way I’m paying $2000 for 30 year old sounds. I’ll just wait to find a JV/XV series module on the used market.