Roland D2 Groovebox
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.
- Specifications
- Polyphony - 64 voices (8-part multitimbral)
- Oscillators - Sample-Driven
- Sequencer - 150 patterns, 8 tracks, 96 ppq resolution, 40,000 note capacity, tempo: 20-240
- Arpeggiator - 43 presets, 10 user
- Effects - Reverb: 6 Delay: 2 Multi-Effects (MFX): 25
- Memory - Sounds: 600 presets, 256 user
Rhythm Sets: 30 presets, 20 users - Keyboard - None, 8 Trigger pads
- Control - MIDI (IN/OUT)
- Date Produced - 2001
- Resources & Credits
Images from Roland-US.
Reviewed August 2008.
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I sold the D2 already, because of too much gear and not enough time. Also I felt I got stuck in a midi and audio cable clutter, it was the right time to purge my synth collection.
But the D2 still is a nice synth for the money.
I've done a couple panels using Ctrlr. I'd like to see what you got done so far and maybe try to add more to it..
I build a CTRLR panel for the D2 with the midi CC list from the manual and sysex code from the MC505, now I have access to all the parameters the MC505 has knobs for on the interface (but not yet arpeggiator and groove, can't find the sysex code).
The MC505 editor (v2) is also very handy, and Sounddiver had an excellent MC505 environment for deep synthesis editing.
I figured out the arpeggiator so I could play a keyboard into the D2, trigger the arp and have it drive another sound module.. like my Roland MT300. WOW! I didnt think the MT had the ability to sound so freaking cool!
This is one of those units that not everyone has caught onto yet that it's a great piece of gear at a great price right now.. $100 for 600+sounds with 3 great FX engines, the arp, plus all the sequencer goodies.. = awesome!