roland d-20 synth

i'm about to buy a roland d-20 synth
http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/d20.php



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

anybody here is using it with the mpc?
do you got any advices for me?
thanks

I've got a D50, it's really annoying to program, but it has some good sounds. Does that D20 have anything like the D50s joystick to move between the various tones? I can't really see in that picture.

scoobylol wrote:I've got a D50, it's really annoying to program, but it has some good sounds. Does that D20 have anything like the D50s joystick to move between the various tones? I can't really see in that picture.

no joystick

Hmm that's half the fun of the D50 really, you can morph between the tones/partials whatever annoying name Roland gave them, in real time.

I'd probably hold out for one if you're serious about getting those sounds/style of synthesis.

thanks for the advice

@ scooby

http://www.rolandus.com/support/downloa ... l_apps.php
MT-32 to General MIDI
This file contains a self-extracting archive that will rewrite the sounds of an MT-32 compatible device to the General MIDI sound arrangement. This file is compatible with the Roland MT-32, D-5, D-10, D-110, D-20, CM-32L, CM-64, LAPC-1 and other MT-32 compatible devices. This file also contains instructions in Microsoft Write format.

do you know i i have to install this on my pc to send/receive midi data from the d-20?
and...
it is the d-20 compatible wiht the mpc midi interface? i mean i can use it like hte microKORG to send/receive midi notes from the 2000?

i've read this advice here:
http://www.sonicstate.com/synth_reviews/rolandd20/46/
Tip: Download the GM file from the Roland US website and your D-20 is GM compatible.

anybody knows that shiet?
thanks a lot in advance

I have no idea wtf that file is about mate, I'm on Mac anyway so I have no idea if it would even apply to me. It certainly shouldn't stop the D20 sending MIDI data as normal, but I may be wrong. I don't use MIDI though to be honest.

Can't see any reason why it wouldn't work with the MPC as normal, as long as it has the regular DIN connections.

Does the D20 have aftertouch on the keys?

i don't know if it has aftertouch, i think it has velocity only
but i know that when the d-20 receive an external aftertouch midi signal it crashes and there is no way to re-animate it even if you turn power off and re start it. you have to put off the internal battery which is on the synth case (many screw to take out like someone said in the sonicstate.com comments)
why do you ask this?

Because aftertouch is f*cking sick, and makes me feel like Vangelis when I play my D50.

oh, ok
got it

yo
they are talking about re-arranging the internal sound so they make GM layout.

you don't need to worry about this unless you are trying to play back commercial midi files from yer pc to yer synth...basically it's so you can replace your internal midi synth with an external one.

you don't need it.
midi will work 100% out of the box.

thx wrote:@ scooby

http://www.rolandus.com/support/downloa ... l_apps.php
MT-32 to General MIDI
This file contains a self-extracting archive that will rewrite the sounds of an MT-32 compatible device to the General MIDI sound arrangement. This file is compatible with the Roland MT-32, D-5, D-10, D-110, D-20, CM-32L, CM-64, LAPC-1 and other MT-32 compatible devices. This file also contains instructions in Microsoft Write format.

do you know i i have to install this on my pc to send/receive midi data from the d-20?
and...
it is the d-20 compatible wiht the mpc midi interface? i mean i can use it like hte microKORG to send/receive midi notes from the 2000?

i've read this advice here:
http://www.sonicstate.com/synth_reviews/rolandd20/46/
Tip: Download the GM file from the Roland US website and your D-20 is GM compatible.

anybody knows that shiet?
thanks a lot in advance

^
ok, thank you

i got it in front of me
cool synth