Roland RD-2000 Review

Are you ready to take your performance to the next level? Look no further than the Roland RD-2000.

This professional stage piano offers high-quality sound and unparalleled integration with both software and hardware, making it the perfect choice for both performers and studio musicians.

With two iconic sound engines, SuperNATURAL and V-Piano, and a realistic-feeling keyboard, this instrument is an industry favorite. In fact, over 85% of touring keyboardists have been seen using it!

Get ready to create music with unprecedented fidelity and vintage effects that will wow your audience. The Roland RD-2000 is the perfect addition to your setup.

Key Takeaways

  • The Roland RD-2000 is not beginner-friendly, but it is great for performers.
  • The RD-2000 features two iconic sound engines: SuperNATURAL and V-Piano, providing a wide range of sounds.
  • The keyboard of the RD-2000 has a realistic feel with progressive hammer-action and simulated ebony/ivory feel.
  • The RD-2000 offers a user-friendly layout with assignable controls, expansion slots, and software/hardware integration.

Overview

You’ll be impressed with what the Roland RD-2000 has to offer. It’s a professional piano designed for stage performance and studio use, and it has been tested and praised by experienced players.

Pros include its SuperNATURAL and V-Piano engines, assignable zones, expansion slots, realistic feel, and intuitive controls.

However, it’s not beginner-friendly, so be sure to read up on user reviews before making a purchase.

Sweetwater and Amazon have the best prices for the RD-2000.

All in all, this is a great option for those who are looking for a reliable keyboard with plenty of features.

Sound Quality

When it comes to sound quality, the Roland RD-2000 stands out with its two iconic sound engines: SuperNATURAL and V-Piano.

The SuperNATURAL engine provides over 1100 non-piano sounds, with a maximum polyphony of 128 voices.

The V-Piano engine offers a full-keyboard polyphony and captures subtle nuances. It also features tonewheel organ voices and cinematic sounds with up to eight layers.

Comparing sound engines, the SuperNATURAL engine provides more variety, while the V-Piano engine offers more realism.

Pros and cons of the V Piano engine include high polyphony, realistic feel, and nuanced expression, but it isn’t beginner-friendly.

Ultimately, the RD-2000 is designed for professional musicians and producers, allowing users to create music with high fidelity.

Keyboard Feel

Second, the Roland RD-2000 has a realistic-feeling keyboard with PHA-50 progressive hammer-action and hybrid wood/molded construction that provides a simulated ebony/ivory key texture. It offers the most realistic playing experience of any stage piano due to its natural feel.

The keyboard also has a max polyphony of 128 notes, making it suitable for performers with complex musical needs. Additionally, Sweetwater has a recommended article on the best-feeling 88-key keyboards, which further underscores the quality of the RD-2000’s keyboard feel.

All in all, the Roland RD-2000’s keyboard is a great choice for those seeking a professional-grade, realistic playing experience.

Features & Layout

Building on the realistic keyboard feel, the RD-2000 packs two independent sound engines, SuperNATURAL and V-Piano, and over 1100 non-piano sounds.

Eight velocity-sensitive encoders and nine faders provide customizable controls, while its intuitive layout allows for an incredibly user-friendly interface.

Create your own sound by splitting and layering sounds with the eight assignable zones, or add vintage effects and wave expansion slots for additional sounds.

To ensure you don’t lose your settings, the RD-2000 features 100-scene memories for user-defined settings.

It also comes with a built-in 24-bit/192 kHz audio/MIDI interface, MIDI in/out/thru ports and rhythm machine and Rainlink for software instrument control.

All this makes the RD-2000 the perfect choice for professional musicians and producers.

Connectivity

Your RD-2000’s connectivity capabilities make it perfect for integration into a variety of setups. It features MIDI in/out/thru ports, as well as a built-in 24-bit/192 kHz audio/MIDI interface for easy integration with your existing setup.

The MIDI integration ensures seamless communication between the RD-2000 and other MIDI-compatible devices, while the audio/MIDI interface allows you to record your performances directly into your DAW.

Additionally, the RD-2000 supports multiple software instruments via Rhythm Machine and Rainlink. All these features make it a great choice for performers and studio musicians alike.

Comparison

When it comes to comparing the RD-2000 to other stage pianos, it’s hard to beat.

For starters, the RD-2000 has two independent sound engines, SuperNATURAL and V-Piano, with over 1100 non-piano sounds.

Against the Yamaha YC88, the RD-2000 has superior hardware/software integration compared to the YC88’s focus on tonewheel organ sounds.

The Yamaha CP88 is similar to the YC88 but without the organ focus, but the RD-2000 still stands out with its integration.

The Korg SV-2 is less advanced than the RD-2000, but it offers a vintage look and sound with minimal fuss.

Best Suited For

So, who’s the RD-2000 best suited for?

This professional-grade stage piano is designed for the most demanding performers and studio musicians. With its SuperNATURAL and V-Piano engines, assignable zones, expansion slots, realistic feel, intuitive controls, and software/hardware integration, the RD-2000 provides performance versatility and top-notch sound quality.

It’s especially suited for those who work with software and hardware, allowing them to create music with high fidelity. Additionally, its extensive feature set makes it perfect for professional musicians and producers who need a reliable instrument for their live shows or studio recordings.

Thanks to its versatility, the RD-2000 can easily be integrated with various setups, making it a great choice for any serious musician.

Conclusion

The Roland RD-2000 is an impressive, powerful instrument that’s an ideal choice for performers and producers alike. Its two sound engines, SuperNATURAL and V-Piano, offer high-quality sound and realistic keyboard feel.

With assignable knobs, faders, and zones, it’s easy to customize the sound to your liking. The user-friendly layout and vintage effects make it even easier to create stunning sounds that will take your performances to the next level.

If you’re looking for a professional, reliable stage piano, the Roland RD-2000 is a great option.

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