I have searched the threads here and am therefore aware that the R-880 is useless without the GC-8 remote, but as I have an option to buy an R-880 without a remote at a ridiulously low price, I have a question or two please.
Does the R-880 itself keep anything in memory when powered down and then back up, or is EVERYTHING stored on the GC-8 and cards?
I ask this because I am hoping, at an extremely long shot, that I could buy this thing, take it along to a very friendly and willing owner of a complete unit, "load up" a decent patch and then take it home in the hope of at least having a single patch available until I can get hold of a second unit with remote of my own --- at which point I guess I would keep this one as a spare OR use two if them with the single remote, which I believe you can do?
Thanks for any pointers.

I have sold my R-880 so I´m not able to check this out for you but I do remember that you could turn off the remote and it was still doing its thing. I used to do that because the remote kept making an annoying noise (mechanical, from the display I beleive).

So I guess it would be possible for you to borrow a remote, power it up at your own place, select a program you want to be stuck with, power down and disconnect the remote and never turn the power off on the 880 again.

Surely you can control it via midi program change and sysex,no ?
It's got quite a comprehensive sysex spec.

Yes and no. The sysex implementation is a complete mess. There's no simple way to 'dump all patches' or 'load all patches' via sysex. Plus they use the handshaking method that was also employed on the MKS-80 and some other gear from that timeframe, so a simple tool like MIDI-Ox doesn't work with it.

So, *if* if powers up w/o the remote (not sure about that since the OS is on a card that's loaded in the GC-8 remote) and you write your own software to talk to it, then the answer might be Yes.

Uh-Oh ... I just downloaded and read the user manual and I think my worst case scenario is going to dampen my hopes here, as it states at one point that if you turn either the GC-8 ... OR ... the R-880 off, then you must have the ROM card in the GC-8 before turning either back on.

Well, at the price this one is going for I will reckon I will take it anyway, so I guess this puts me in line to own 2 x R-880's at some point

Only problem is (and I will be searching both here and Google for this, but perhaps someone can chime in) I believe there are two versions and that V2 is the preferred due to card options.
Is there ANY way for me to tell what version the R-880 I am about to buy is WITHOUT having a GC-8 to check this out beforehand?

AFAIK everything is stored in the GC-8 cards ROM/RAM cards.

there is solution for manage R-880 with out GC-8 controller:
880SRC Project

Hi. I was trying to contact with 880SRC Project team but with no luck. Does anybody knows are they still in business?

I'm interested, too, i'm now an owner of TWO R-880...

And now the page is gone......

WT

But here is the new page.

https://sites.google.com/site/880srcproject/

WT

Although a bit pricey at $250 I think I'll give it a try since it looks easier to program than having to do with the GC8 and at the same time you get rid off the remote's noise
R-880 is a great reverb unit and if this software finally works then it makes sense in spending that kind of money.
Btw has anyone bought or at least used this editor ?

Remember that in the price of $250 you get an interfacebox from USB to RRC. It is not only an editor you get.

I haven´t tried it since I have 2 working GC8´s

WT

https://sites.google.com/site/880srcproject/

This project probably dead. I was trying to contact them several times.

That sucks....

WT

hi
i face a problem with my r880.
Gc-8 cannot keep the internal presets and even after i lost the presets i cannot copy any preset from a card to the internal memory.
my system is a v.2 system.i replaced the battery and the problem remains,,

can anyone provide me the service manual of the r880 and the gc-8?thanks in advance

Which battery did you swap ? iirc there's a battery in the R880 as well as in the GC8.

WT

thanks for your reply..my technician changed the battery in the gc8..what is the r880 battery for?

Perhaps the link needs to be kept alive from both ends for it to work. That unit is pretty archaic in many ways. As well as being big and heavy and hot! And I miss it more than the Lexicons, TC's, and the rest of them I've had. Certainly holds it's own for high end reverb.

..anybody who can helps with gc8 and r880 service manuals?

Now I need a remote.....I wished the developer would answer his email about this project.

if you are interested,i have 1-2 gc8 controllers fs

I PM'ed u.

Hi,if it's not to late I am interested to buy gc8 controller.I have unit Roland r880 without controller.Or anyone else can help for substitute replacement for gc8 any help appreciated.

Hi,I am interested to buy Roland GC8 controller,I have unit Roland G880 without controller.Or anyone can help about substitute replacement info about I will appreciate any help.

Hi.. I think that I still have this controller availiable. Let me check it out. Send me please a pm

Hi,did you check for remote like we spoke?Thanks

Hi.. Unfortunately it is not availiable