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There are many stage pianos available on the market today, but not all of them live up to their claims. With its amazing array of top-of-the-line features, the Roland RD-2000 is definitely not in that camp.
From its piano sounds, V-Piano and SuperNATURAL sound engines, excellent playability, personalization, and vintage emulations, the Roland RD 2000 really is worth the hype and the price tag that comes along with it.
In this detailed Roland RD 2000 review, we do a deep-dive into the RD 2000’s specs, features, pros & cons, and (as they say in late-night infomercials) much more!
Overview of Roland RD-2000
The Roland RD-2000 consists of 88, fully-weighted keys that you’ll find in an actual acoustic piano. It features the top quality Progressive Hammer Action (PHA-50) key technology that gives the player the actual feel of a professional piano. Hammer Action keys imply that the sound of the keys gets lighter as you progress across the keyboard. If you’re looking for a stage piano that not only offers an enhanced professional piano playing experience but also produces a sound similar to that of an actual professional piano, the Roland RD-2000 is what you should get!
Despite being a professional-level stage piano, the Roland RD-2000 can be classified as a portable piano that ensures that the user doesn’t have to struggle while carrying it all the way to their performance venue. It is equipped with a variety of controls on its panel that might confuse a beginner but not someone who’s well-accustomed to the keyboard controls and functions.
What sets the Roland RD-2000 apart from all other pianos is the presence of two sound engines, each with distinct features. It comes with three different classes of sound installed on it. Ranging from the sound of an acoustic piano to electric piano to numerous other instrumental sounds, the player can incorporate any sound they like to their performance.
Roland RD-2000 is a next-generation keyboard that features the latest technologies and an extensive set of modern controls. The latest software that the Roland RD-2000 combines the sound of the historic stage pianos by Roland and the modern sound of the latest Roland keyboards, resulting in the production of a truly professional sound.
Apart from the numerous sounds that the Roland RD-2000 is equipped with, it comes with slots for two wave expansion that allows the user to add more sounds as per their liking and preference.
In short, the Roland RD-2000 comes with endless music possibilities for professional stage pianists. With all the necessary controls that the user might need and a lot more than that, it is one of the finest releases by Roland in the stage piano series.
Roland RD 2000 Video Overview
Roland RD 2000 Specs
The specifications of the Roland RD-2000 are listed below:
Specification | Description |
|---|---|
Keyboard | 88, fully-weighted keys with PHA-50 keyboard technology |
Sound Technology | Two distinct sound engines, Acoustic and SuperNATURAL Sound Technology |
Polyphony | 128-note polyphony, V-Piano Technology |
Built-In Tones | 1,100 |
Rhythms Patterns | 200 |
Onboard Recorder | Yes |
Accessories | Owner’s manual, Damper pedal, Power cord |
Dimensions | Width: 412mm, Depth: 367mm, Height: 140mm |
Weight | 21.7kg |
Who The Roland RD-2000 Is Most Suitable For
Roland RD-2000 is made for professional stage performers who’re looking for a keyboard that has a wide range of sound options and a variety of functions. It features 88, fully-weighted keys with the latest Hammer Action technology (PHA-50). It won’t be wrong to say that the PHA-50 is the best hammer action technology that one can at this price point. The Roland RD-2000 has two distinct sound engines, with one featuring the sound effects of an acoustic piano while the other being the SuperNATURAL sound technology of an electric piano. The control panel has multiple buttons and controllers. The panel has LED lighting.
Despite being a professional-level keyboard, the Roland RD-2000 is highly portable.
All in all, the Roland RD-2000 is the most suitable for professional pianists, stage performers, and music creators. The number of controls and functions on the control panel are just too much for a beginner or novices. Only a professional who has ample knowledge and know-how of keyboards will be able to make their way around the complicated control panel.
What’s Included With The Roland RD-2000
The Roland RD-2000 comes as a complete package. You don’t really have to worry about having to buy any necessary tools separately. It comes with a detailed owner’s manual, a power cord, and a damper panel. You can start creating great music as soon as you get your hands on your Roland RD-2000.
Roland RD 2000 Features Summary
The Roland RD-2000 is packed with powerful features that make it stand out among other keyboard options in a similar price range. It consists of all the features that a musician would want to have in their stage piano! Let’s take a quick dive into the features of the Roland RD-2000.
FEATURE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
Keyboard | The Roland RD-2000 features 88 fully-weighted keys with hammer action technology. Thanks to the hammer action keyboard that you get to enjoy the feel and performance of an acoustic keyboard. The Roland RD-2000 is equipped with the top hammer action technology, the PHA-50. Developed to perfection, the PHA-50 keyboard ensures that the sound produced feels and sounds as natural as possible, unlike other keyboards that produce quite an artificial sound. The hammer action technology of the Roland RD-2000 mimics the most-demanded escapement feature. It implies that the passages in which quick repetitions are required can be performed fairly easily on the keyboard. You aren’t required to let the keys of the keyboard bounce back to repeat a certain note. The keys of the keyboard are made from plastic and wood. The surface of the keys has an artificial ivory top to provide the user with a better grip on the keys and an enhanced feel. |
Design | Like all other Roland keyboards, the RD-2000 has an excellent build and quality. The quality of the chassis and body is quite impressive. It weighs 21.7kg. Although it feels a bit heavier, it still is portable. The front panel of the Roland RD-2000 is built according to the idea of hands-on-control. It offers the best controllability. It has numerous faders, knobs, and buttons on its front panel that are laid out across the front face. It gives the user direct and convenient control over the various parameters without having to dig into the manual every now and then. The buttons of the control panel have an excellent feel to them. They offer great tactile feedback, and the knobs work great, too, further contributing to enhancing the overall user experience. |
Sound Quality | With RD-2000, Roland has taken a step ahead in terms of sound quality. Instead of one, it features both of Roland’s sound engine packed in one instrument; the V-Piano sound engine and the SuperNATURAL sound technology. The result is exceptionally good sound quality that will leave you stunned! The V-Piano sound engine is based on modeling entirely. It means that no samples are involved. It produces really good sound. The sound shaping options of the Piano Designer allow the user to edit the sample files to match their requirements. The SuperNATURAL sound engine technology focuses on the sound of an electric piano and uses sampled workstation tones, including strings, bass, synths, and pads. Apart from this, the Roland RD-2000 comes with 128-note polyphony. This keyboard also allows the user to layer as many as 8 voices simultaneously. Not only this, but the Roland RD-2000 also features more than 1,100 tones. It means that the user will have a lot of room to create exciting music! The Roland RD-2000 is a highly flexible instrument. Based on the SuperNATURAL sound engine, the keyboard includes a few dozen acoustic piano sounds. The sounds based on SuperNATURAL sound engine have a longer decay and a more natural sound. While the V-Piano sound engine lacks this part, it is better with band-based songs. So, with the Roland RD-2000, you get access to the best of both worlds! This is not all. The Roland RD-2000 is equipped with built-in rhythm patterns and sounds of various musical instruments. As a stage performer, the Roland RD-2000 has everything that you can ask for to produce high-quality sound! |
Splitting and Layering | While splitting and layering features are common in many keyboards, Roland has gone extra in RD-2000. It features splitting and layering functions, each up to 8 zones. In layering function, you can select as many as 8 instrument sounds to be played at a time. As with the splitting, you can decide your custom split points, up to 8 zones at maximum. Now, this something you won’t find in other keyboards. |
USB Audio Interface | The Roland RD-2000 has USB MIDI connectivity, which is a common feature that you can easily find in almost every keyboard. What makes the Roland RD-2000 different than others is the USB Audio Interface that allows the user to integrate their DAW of choice into their programs and performances. All the user needs to do is download the drivers necessary from the official website of Roland and select the driver in their software. That’s it! |
Audio Recording and Playback | The Roland RD-2000 features a USB Memory port that allows the user to store their files as high quality sounds on their memory. It is specifically helpful for songwriters who wish to revisit their performances and creations repeatedly. |
Connectivity | The RD-2000 by Roland comes with numerous connectivity options. It has main outputs for stereo. It also has another pair of unbalanced stereo jacks, which allows the user to send sounds through separate outs and boosts the versatility of the instrument. It is also equipped with a jack that allows the connection of headphones. The Input jack makes it possible for the user to connect the keyboard to external sound sources. As if all of this wasn’t enough, it also has 4 pedal jacks that allow the users to connect all the necessary pedals to their Roland RD-2000. Other than this, it also has a USB Memory slot, USB to Host port, MIDI ports, and a USB for Update port. |
Pros & Cons of Roland RD-2000
PROS |
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cons |
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Roland RD 2000 YouTube Tutorial Videos
To be better able to understand how to use the Roland RD-2000 and navigate around the massive control panel, you can take help from the YouTube video tutorials listed below:
Roland RD 2000 Manual
You can access the official user’s manual on Roland’s official website on the following link:
Roland RD-2000 vs. Roland RD-800
The Roland RD-2000 and RD-800 are both professional stage pianos. Let’s see which one of the two is a better option.
KEYBOARD
Both the Roland RD-2000 and RD-800 feature 88 weighted keys with PHA-4 technology. Both have an artificial ivory feel on the keys, which ensures that the user gets to enjoy enhanced keyboard playing experience.
BUILD QUALITY
The build quality of the Roland RD-2000 is superior to that of RD-800. The Roland RD-2000 has an aluminum chassis, whereas the RD-800 has a plastic chassis.
SOUND QUALITY
The Roland RD-800 is equipped with the SuperNATURAL sound engine, whereas the Roland RD-2000 comes with two engines; the V-Piano engine and the SuperNATURAL sound engine. Therefore, the RD-2000 stands superior in terms of sound quality. Both these keyboard models have the same polyphony as well, that is, 128 notes.
DISPLAY
The display screen of the Roland RD-2000 is very small whereas, the Roland RD-800 has a larger and clearer display.
USB Audio Interface
The Roland RD-2000 is equipped with the USB Audio Interface, which the Roland RD-800 lacks, thereby limiting the creativity of the user to a certain extent.
Power Consumption
The Roland RD-2000 has a higher power consumption of 23W as compared to 12W of RD-800.
Merriam Music's Roland RD 2000 Review
Conclusion
By simply looking at the quick comparison, we can clearly say that Roland RD-2000 is surely one of the finest stage pianos that you can invest in. It comes with everything that you can think of and a lot more!
Roland RD 2000 (click image for more info)
