Roland D-20

Roland D-20 Image

The D-20 makes a great budget or alternative D-50. It's more closely related to the D-10 and D-110 synthesizers but adds an 8-voice sequencer with a rhythm track. The D-20 is a digital synth that employs linear arithmetic synthesis (LAS). It's a confusing synthesis / editing method composed of tones, partials and timbres. Basically it all boils down to tricky programming which, if you know what your doing, can have interesting and unique results. Reverb effects and internal / external memory storage are also available on the D-20. Definitely worth a listen.

73 Visitor comments
Johannes
January 8, 2011 @ 7:20 am
If there is someone you know who sell Roland D-20 please let me know. Mine was stolen in 2004 and I have been hunting for one around and I can't seem to be lucky. I am here in South Africa and I prefer if international people can use eBay, Paypal and let me know.
Parl
December 29, 2010 @ 9:23 am
My first real synth. A great one, with a unique sound ! Great sequencer : i have made songs with only the D20. I will never sell this one !
JB Lapree
September 11, 2010 @ 7:59 pm
One Great Synth. A workstation for its day. I was deeply into my D-20. You were only limited by its polyphony. You made your own rhythm patterns and sounds. You set each volume of every drum and cymbal in your pattern. You set the pan on each one. You could raise or lower the pitch of you drums and cymbals. You could extend the time your cymbals rang. You produced with this synth. You could fatten sounds by adding partials or de-tuning a partial. You could mix sounds together for new sounds. You could edit sections of a track. Then quantize and save it. This is a testimony to what I know this synthesizer is capable of doing. Some of the posts about this synth make me laugh. The Roland D-20. One hell of a synthesizer.
Pug
September 1, 2010 @ 8:22 am
Basic LA synth, i had one for a few years. Its a low cost D50 but it does sound ok. The synthesis is typical LA. it will not make fat sounds and the analog emulation is very old fashioned. The sequencer is very basic (no copy/editing/paste of sections of track). It records and deletes and thats about it!.
Any soft synth out shines this now sonically. but you have a synth and a bit of history.
At the time it was a poor man's Korg M1.
Michael
July 6, 2010 @ 6:32 am
Just thought i post this is a Vid of a song i did on the Rolands Sequencer to like prove how good it is or somthing lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1tXpta-ih8
 
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  • Demos & Media
  • YouTube Thumbnail
    Video 1
    - Roland D20 demos part1

    YouTube Thumbnail
    Video 2
    - Roland D20 demo part2

    Manual - Roland has made manuals for most of their products available as free PDF downloads.

  • Specifications
  • Polyphony - 32 voices
  • Oscillators - Digital LAS (Linear Arithmetic Synthesis) & ROM Samples
  • Effects - 8 Effects
  • Multitimbral - 9 parts
  • Drums - 1 kit, 63 sounds
  • Memory - 128 preset patches, 64 user patches 128 performances
  • Keyboard - 61 keys with velocity
  • Control - MIDI
  • Date Produced - 1988

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