The XP-80 has a 76-key semi-weighted keyboard. A smaller 61-key variant, the XP-60 was introduced shortly afterward. The synthesis engine is capable of 64-voice polyphony and 16-part multi-timbrality. The XP-80 includes the 128 General MIDI instrument set, as well as 384 additional preset instruments, for a total of 512 preset patches. Additional user memory is provided for making copies of up to 128 patches, allowing the user to edit patch parameters and save them in memory. There are 8 preset percussion instrument combinations and 2 user configurable rhythm sets. The XP-80 includes 64 preset combinations of up to 15 existing patches and 1 rhythm set. These patch and rhythm set combinations are referred to as "performances" in Roland parlance. There are an additional 32 user memory locations to store user configurable performances. There is a built-in backlit LCD display of 320 by 80 pixels. The onboard sequencer is capable of storing up to 60,000 notes of recordedmusical performance and has a clock resolution of 96 parts per quarter note. It's capable of storing up to 100 patterns and 1 song at a time in memory, but can also load and play music sequences directly from floppy disk using the built-in floppy disk drive. The XP-80 includes 4 user accessible expansion slots. Each slot can accommodate one SR-JV80 expansion board. A total of 21 SR-JV80 expansion boards were released by Roland. Nineteen were sold, while 2 were given away as demonstration expansion boards for various promotions. A built-in 3.5" floppydisk drive provides removable data storage for up to 1.44 MB of music sequences, sequence chain-play playlists, groove quantize settings, additional patch, rhythm set, performance and system settings storage. External connections include 2 unbalanced 1/4-inch "MIX" and 2 unbalanced "DIRECT" TS connector jacks. Sounds are normally routed to the MIX outputs but can instead be routed to the DIRECT outputs when required. There is a 1/4-inch stereo headphone jack, a 1/4-inch jack for the sustain pedal and a 1/4-inch jack for sequencer click output, useful as a metronome when playing along with the sequencer. Four 1/4-inch control pedal jacks have configurable functions, including the ability to adjust patch volume, patch cutoff frequency, effects levels, organ speaker rotation simulation, stepping through patches, and so forth. There are three 5-pin MIDI ports. The waveforms and presets of the XP-80 are made by sound designerEric Persing. This product is no longer in production. Similar capabilities can be found in newer Roland Fantom series music workstations.
Its family of XP synthesizers consists of the first released XP-10 in 1994 and XP-50 in 1995. Later joined by the XP-80 and XP-60 in 1996 and lastly the XP-30in 1999.
