The U-20 is nothing special. It is a digital synthesizer that uses ROM samples of pianos, brass, strings, bass, drums, etc. However it is built for professional use and is truly a quality instrument, even though its sounds may seem like dated-eighties synth pop cheese. It's got nice piano sounds, but they're not the real thing.

The U-20 features 6 part multitimbrality with a 7th drum part, plus 2 direct outputs and 2 stereo outputs. The 30 note polyphony helps if you take advantage of this synths multitimbrality for creating entire performances and ensembles. Digital reverb, chorus and delay effects liven up your sounds. Editing is simple, but there are no filters. With several performance features, the U-20 has a full 61 note keyboard with velocity and aftertouch. There's an on-board arpeggiator, a chord-memory feature and the U-20 accepts Roland SNU-110 sound library cards. It has been used by Prodigy and Astral Projection.

The Roland U-220 (pictured above) is simply a rack-mount version of the U-20. It has all the same sounds and features packaged in a compact single-space sound module.

Sam

January 23, 2011 @ 6:57 am

Hi if any folks in the UK have problems with any synthesizer please send me a msg with the symptoms. I will quote you a rough repair cost I only charge a low hourly rate my repairs all come with a warranty and after care for your synth. I can service repair restore or mod your synth or any other Pro Audio Gear. Sam urbanised@ntlworld.com

zimba

January 14, 2011 @ 7:13 pm

...please for my the last post see previuos Mike VB post.

zimba

January 14, 2011 @ 7:08 pm

I had exactly the same problem with mine and it has been in the loft for several years in its case. I have thought about having it fixed for a while - do you know how much it would cost?

YES ME TOO.It's in the case since 4 years. Any solution please?

socaci romeo

January 2, 2011 @ 4:54 pm

The Roland U20 is very good proffesional sound and also maybe the better balansed tastature.I have now the ultimate new keyboards like Korg pa2x,Korg M3,Tyros,Triton Extreme,but the sound like U20 strings,Ahh Voices,Shakuhaki its better like in most actualy top keyboards :).Belive me pls!!!!!!

sraymar

September 9, 2010 @ 3:06 am

Bought mine new back in 91, still in great shape. Lots of good GM sounds, and FX sounds. I have a few PCM cards for it including Ethnic. If you want an extra timbral part try splitting a drum patch with bass. It has flanger, chorus, delay, reverb and a cool random panning effect. Also some interesting LFO waves and an ASDR envelope. For fun try detuning the drums, tweek the ASDR, add effects for some weird sounds(be sure to use that pitch bend lever!)

It makes for a good sampling source, I run it through Cool Edit and tweek away. It also layers well with other synths.

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