Roland's D2 Groovebox is a compact, performance-oriented Groovebox (sequencer/sound module)--sort of a smaller MC-505--designed entirely around Roland's D-Field Controller technology. This touch-sensitive pad makes it easy to program and modify patterns, sounds, effects and more simply by touching the surface. It has all of the 505's sounds and a similar sequencer with 150 all-new patterns including the latest 2-Step and R&B styles.

The D-Field controller at the heart of the D2 (also featured on the V-Synth) offers three distinct modes: SOUND makes playing patterns and sound effects easy by touching the D-Field; XY provides simultaneous control over two parameters (e.g. filter cutoff + resonance); SPIN creates turntable-style effects by tracing the pad in a circular motion.

The D2 has more than enough sounds inside, with 600 Preset patches and 30 Preset drum kits from the MC-505. These dance-oriented sounds include ultra-fat bass and lead synths, screaming TB-303's, dance piano and strings, plus 30 floor-pounding drum kits. Phrase/Groove loops are also plentiful with 150 patterns plus 240 RPS (Realtime Phrase Sequence) patterns. There is a new Step Recording method using the D-Field and 32 LEDs as well. Separate Reverb, Delay and Multi-FX sections with Groove-oriented algorithms add space and effects to your sounds & grooves. And with the D2's Megamix function, it's easy to remix patterns into your own creations using the D-Field or Value dial.

The D2 is an awesome concept in terms of hands-on, real-time performance control. However the hidden menus and overall navigation can cause some headaches. If you want to edit your own sounds, you may want to connect a MIDI Controller to tweak all the sounds you want and save into one of the 256 users patches. The D2 is definitely designed for the electronica, dance and hip-hop musician on a budget. It is not as complete a Groovestation package as the MC-505 or MC-909, but its D-Field controller is very novel and fun to use. Because the D2 is fairly cheap, it does make a great toy to add to your arsenal if manipulating beats and grooves in real-time and at the touch of finger is what you're in to.

10 VISITOR COMMENTS

Alex

September 25, 2011 @ 7:28 pm

what happened to roland :( toy machine nothing more

Bill Hemp

April 9, 2011 @ 1:48 pm

Also used by Dymaxion Vehicle

Sam

March 8, 2010 @ 9:23 pm

If you're going to fool around with a groovebox, you might as well have fun. Somehow, even with the "D-Field", this manages to be the most user-friendly one out of the bunch (as far as Roland goes). Good sounds, good effects...oh, did I mention the fact that it's cheap, cheap, cheap! If anything, use it as a glorified drum machine.

Wich

December 27, 2009 @ 3:47 pm

This is indeed a hand little box! I've never really found a use for the preset patterns....I use it mainly as an 8 part multi-timbral sound module, and sometimes as a sequencer. All the synth parameters can be controlled by MIDI CC - which includes 3 ADSR envelopes! (Amp/Filter/Pitch I believe...)

There's gobs and gobs of useful sounds - poppy/techno stuff - and there's lots of fun to be had tweaking them in realtime.

You probably wouldn't want to use this as your main module - the overall sound is a little thin - but it works extremely well mixed in with other synths.

A fun box!!

RawBC

October 10, 2009 @ 10:40 am

I love the D2, it is a sonic swiss army knife with a dash of vitamin C. This little box always makes me smile. I use it quite a bit still, and I am a big fan of the "Hold" button because if you do it right, you can hold multiple sounds in a loop. Even the effects are cool. Cleverness yields great results, trust me, this box rules.

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