issue3
EMUSIC-L DIgest Volume 7, Number 3b
Today's Topics:
Roland D-20 Manual (3 messages)
Roland D-series synths (2 messages)
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Date: Thu, 17 Aug 89 15:01:36 EDT
From: "Mark Edward Toomey "
Subject: Roland D-20 Manual
I purchased a Roland D-20 last December and have as yet to have made
any substantial progress in utilizing it's potential. As a forward let
me state that I am primarily a guitarist who enjoys composing on the
keyboard and yes, I know that the D-20 is a bit noisy, has no after-
touch sensitivity,etc. but the price was right:-).
What I NEED! is an understandable manual i.e., in English...not the
pseudo-Japanese-translated-english the bundled manual contains. I haven't
seen as poor an example of technical writing since my college classes on
how NOT to produce technical documentation. Thanks in advance.
Mark Edward Toomey
Computer Services Specialist
University of Georgia
BITNET: MTOOMEY@UGA
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Date: Thu, 17 Aug 89 13:06:00 PDT
From: Willis Dair
Subject: RE: Roland D-20 Manual
If your music store carries the Alexanders series of books, they
publish a D-10/D-20 manual. It is pretty easy to understand and
explains things in simple terms. It is quite pricey though; I think
it is $27.95, but I think it is worth it if you want to get more out
of you D-20. If you can't find the book in the stores, take a look
at a Keyboard magazine. The Alexanders publishing people frequently
run ads there and other synth-type magazines.
BTW, I have a D-10 and have contemplated getting rid of it. Everytime,
I pull it out I fall in love with it. I enjoy using the D-10 as a composing
tool also. There are enough useful sounds to experiment with when arranging
a piece of music.
Have fun-
Willis Dair
System Programmer
Academic Computing Center
Santa Clara University
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Date: Thu, 17 Aug 89 16:17:38 EDT
From: "Mark Edward Toomey "
Subject: RE: Roland D-20 Manual
Many thanks for responses re: D-20 manual..especially Mario Vergona
and Willis Dair. Hopefully I'll be moving from consternation to
composition soon. :-)
"What is the sound of one tine on a tuning fork ringing?"
- Mr. Ed
Mark Edward Toomey
Computer Services Specialist
University of Georgia
BITNET: MTOOMEY@UGA
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Date: Fri, 18 Aug 89 15:36:55 CDT
From: "David M. Stowell"
Subject: Roland D-series synths
Well, kids, my resistance has broken down...a little. I find myself
being drawn toward the Roland D-series, which involves both analog
synthesis and (eeeck!) PCM samples. So, I need some guidance.
Would the Roland experts explain the details of Roland's method (I
already know the skeleton) and specifically, enumerate the differences
between the different D-series instruments?
Thanks (blush...)
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| David M. Stowell | I'm the one that's doing this, |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | Keep the enemy out of it; |
| BITNET: U30422@UICVM | I'm a child who's taking charge...|
| Internet: U30422@UICVM.UIC.EDU | |
| | |
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Date: Mon, 21 Aug 89 13:37:15 BST
From: Nick Rothwell
Subject: Roland D-series synths
18 Aug 89 15:36:55 CDT <4042.8908190616@lfcs.ed.ac.uk
Well, the Roland D-series "involves" analog synthesis in that the DSP
hardware provides a simulation of an analog synth. This isn't the same
as a real analog synthesiser, of course; for example, you can't drive
the filters onto self-resonance, and the sound isn't nearly as rich. A
"bare" D-series patch sounds pretty uninspiring as a result, hence the
on-board effects processing.
I'm not sure what you want to know other than the "skeleton". I
think the machines basically split into the D-50 (/D-550) and the
10/20 machines. The '50 has on-board EQ, chorusing and so on. More
importantly, the voice architecture is more sophisticated; upto 6
LFOs, TVF/TVA/PWM/pitch modulation, and so on. The 10/20 machines
only have pitch modulation. So, I think the D-50 sounds much richer
and more interesting than a D-10/20/110; but the 10/20 machines have
an excellent multi-timbral spec. though, the D-50 (sans 3rd-party
mods) being bi-timbral. (hence I have both.)
I don't know too much about diffs between the 10/20 machines;
things like sequencer, drum programmer, disk drive etc.
Before going for a D-series, check out the Roland Super-JX
rackmount (MKS-70) as well. This is a true analog unit, 12-voice,
smooth as silk and quite capable of the bright sounds associated with
digital instruments, like metal chimes, electric piano, and so on.
Only bitimbral, although a more versatile spec. than the D-50. Going
for peanuts at the moment, especially for you lucky folks in the US.
Nick.
--
Nick Rothwell, Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science, Edinburgh.
nick@lfcs.ed.ac.uk !mcvax!ukc!lfcs!nick
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
Fais que ton reve soit plus long que la nuit.
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Date: Mon, 21 Aug 89 18:44:16 EDT
From: "T. Shawn Johnson"
Subject: Hi, I'm new here
Hey people :
This is all incredibly fascinating to me ! Although
I dont understand a lot of the terminology , I can get the 'jist of
what everyone's saying with the limited background that I do have :-) .
I'm sure with reading AND my course in electronic music in the fall ,
I'll certainly have the knowledge I need to progress . Now , I have a
bit of a concern/anxiety : You all talk about your Juno's and your
Rolands and stuff :-) . Well , being a student , I dont have the resources
to really afford all the good stuff , although I do have access to our
electronic studio at school , still I dont know what kind of equipment
they'll have , and it would be nice to play with something at home :-) .
So.... I have two basic questions for you :
1. Here's what I do have :
-one of those nifty casiotones with enough
keys to keep me happy . It's Midi compatable , but
has only pre-set sounds (quite a few actually) .
Its equiped with those wonderful rythms and one
finger touch chord functions , that I really could
care less about . I can make my own chords thankyou :-).
I can provide more detailed info later ... like make no.
etc....
-a Tandy Colour Computer 2 . I've seen Midi
Packages available for it in its magazine : Rainbow.
-a smaller casiotone that has mini keys and
a sampling ability , and a very simple synthesizing
ability based on overtones and a selection of ADSR
waves to choose from .
question: what great things can I do with that , and/or
what can I do to upgrade this stuff at minimal costs ?
(ok , so thats two questions in one .... stand by for
number 2)
2. What equipment could I get that would be satisfactory
to start with ... what could it do .... how much would it
cost (hopefully reasonable) ... and where could I go from
there ?
I'ld really appreciate help here :-) I'm sure I've sent to the
right place . In the mean-time , prior to my enlightening personal
and classroom studies , I hope you'll all have the patience to put
up with my inadequacies in jargon and understanding :-) . It
shouldnt be too long though :-) Give me a month or so :-)
-bye for now
-T. Shawn...
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