Hi Jeffrey, if I lived in your neighborhood, I would bring that D-70 back to life for you at no charge as I am a retired 71 year old electronic service technician with time on my hands, I have here in New Zealand restored keyboards which include in my collection the Roland XP-50 and the Korg 01/wfd model among numerous other well known brands, thanks for this episode on You Tube, cheers.
I have a D-70, although it has been boxed for at least 15 years. When playing it before that people would remark about the big soundscape it produced. The sound was really good, and it seemed there was something special about it. Have to get it out some time to play again.
Very entertaining video, thank you! I worked for the local Roland agents in South Africa in the late '80's and up till the mid '90's, and witnessed the release of the D70. I was the 'product specialist' for the keyboard and hi-tech dept so it was my job to get familiar with the gear and to be able to offer backup support. If I recall correctly the D50 was a true 'LA' (Linear Arithmetic) synth, where short samples formed the attack transients of the sounds, and the body of the sound (decay and release) was more traditional digital synthesis. This was the 'magic' of LA. Following the D50, a series of romplers were released. The U110, followed by the U220, which was just a U110 with effects (reverb and delay, I think). There was a 61 note keyboard version called a U20. As you have astutely observed, I would agree that Roland were trading on the "LA Synthesis" popularity, by playing on the idea that the extra synth parameters which could be applied to the ROM samples on the D70, qualified it as 'Super-LA'. I think a better example of 'Super LA' appeared on the JD800 in 1991, but this label was not used on that synth. The JD800 returned to the more chrystaline sparkly sound of the D50. So essentially, the D70 was really just a rompler, as you mentioned, and had the same waveforms as found on the U220 with maybe some extras. I found it very disappointing at the time. It just seemed to lack sparkle and punch. I used to use a Roland MV30 sequencer/sound module that had many of the same waveforms. It was very usable at the time, especially with some EQ and effects. If I recall correctly all these units (D70, U220, U20, MV30) were compatible with the SN-U110 cards, so I am not sure why yours are not working. Anyhow, thanks for great videos. I am thoroughly enjoying your content. Great edutainment!
In September 2014, I purchased a Roland VR-09, a killer organ/piano/synthesizer hybrid the like of which I had been daydreaming for the previous 9 years. I was dumbfounded to hear one of the piano presets, “SA Piano”, which was the equal of a patch that (I didn’t know then) originated in the RD-1000 and MKS-20, “Piano 3”. That was the inaugural “E. Grand” patch. It wasn’t until the turn of 2024 that I finally learned that the “SA” stood for the “Structured-Adaptive” synthesis technique used for generating sound in those 2 models. I was curious if that SA synthesis method was preserved in this model. It seems big enough to host it, but what does that mean? I’ve been obsessing over that sound since it cropped up in the original Yamaha Motif. I didn’t know until recent to 2024 that it was a Roland signature sound, not a Yamaha sound. Being that the QS6 was my first synthesizer, I think I could pick out all of the sounds you played on it against the D 70. However, I’m more inclined to praise your playing than to pick sounds apart from each other. You’re incredible, Jeffrey.
Surprisingly many of the Alesis QS7's synth sounds are similar to both the Roland D70 and also the Roland JV series, the only D-70 sounds that were obvious to me were 12 string guitar and clickleslie and maybe some of the bell type sounds on the D-70 are recognizable to me. I personally like the D-70's PCM sounds which are based on the Roland U series plus a few sounds from the U series PCM cards but I am more than happy with my Roland U-220, beige CM-32L and CM-32P boxes as well as my Roland JV-1080 and I also have many of those drum samples in my Roland R-8 so apart from the D-70's JV-like engine I don't think I'm missing out on much. If you want those same pianos, basses, strings or saxophones... then just get either a Roland U-110 or a U-220, the U-220 sounds pretty close to the D-70. The keyboard version of the U-220 the U-20 also has the same problem with it's keys and the JV-80 is also known to have that same problem which is partly why I prefer racks over keyboards. Would it have been good if Roland made a rack version of the D-70? Yes but at the end of the day the JV series is a vast improvement over the D-70 plus you could get selected U series sounds on the JV series with either SOPCM1 cards for compatible models or the Super SRJV plugin board which is how I was introduced to some of those sounds and then I later decided to also get a U-220 since I replaced the Super SRJV plugin board but I still use the SOPCM1 cards if I wish to create D-70 like patches. I agree that the reason for any hardware workstation like the Yamaha Motif, Montage or Roland Fantom is nostalgia driven but there are plenty of VST alternatives to modern day workstations like Halion 7 which is based on many of the same samples used in Yamaha Motif and Montage and Kontakt is capible of blowing any keyboard workstation out of the water if you need realistic sounding instruments. I don't think people who use software synth should ever be made to feel "less than" and in this case I think software is far more practical, even something that's 10 to 15 years old is now considered dated. And anyway it's usually people who perform on stage who are more likely to buy something like a Montage or Fantom whereas most people today who simply compose at the computer do everything with VST plugins.
I had a U20 and wished I'd bought a D-70 back in the day but I'm glad I didn't now! It succumbed to the red glue. I had extra sound cards, the Ethnic card was a standout, 3rd party sounds, I would detune the drums for odd effects. No one synth does it all but it had its strengths.
My Wavestation EX and AD had that annoying high pitch hum noise coming from the LCD screen. I have to upgrade to an LED screen to eliminate that noise 🙂
Thanks for doing this! Got 11 right, 7 wrong. I was lead to the D70 by Michael Cretu of Enigma & Mags of A-ha. Mags uses it all over the Albums: East of the Sun West of the Moon & Memorial Beach.
Perry Bamonte of The Cure (especially 'Wish' era Cure) after stepping in and filing in for Roger O'Donnell after 'Disintegration' often used the D-70 as the lower tiered synth on his synth stack. Often paired with a Roland JX-8P (I believe) on the top.
That was a very nice demonstration of the D70 with to me so far (almost) completely unknown Roland- quirks. “Da fliegt mir doch das Blech weg” is not just an amazing song by Spliff, but also means that I almost can't grasp it. My WS EX Graffity limited edition's sticky keyboard is already enough to take but those D70 quirks obviously are rather for someone like you with nerves of steel. Since I've neither personal D70 nor QS experiences, the quiz was only 9 right guesses from 18. Hitherto I just experienced Roland after touch issues like JX10, 8P & @JUNO-2. While with JX its just simple corrosion, with AJ2 it's indeed been that Roland often forgot to stick the sensor into its socket what led to the rumour AJ2 has no key pressure. Mine I indeed had to open & to plug the sensor back BUT corossion was already in progress & to press the keys unnormally heavy just to trigger something ain't my style. 🙄😆
I remember i sold one D70 in the music store where i worked..that was to a friend in 1990. He is still my producer colleague i shall ask him what happened to it.
I enjoyed this video as I didn't know anything about either synth in the test. Red glue! Yikes! Same as JD-800 I guess... When I did the listening test, I judged simply on which one sounded more like a Roland synth (which I know), and I got 12 out of 18 correct. Fun stuff. Keep making these videos.
I haven't had much experience with the Z1 interface. I have played the sounds, and for late 1990's modeling, I thought it sounds pretty good. I recall that the EPs and organs were pretty good.
@@JeffreyScottPetro Yeah, the sounds are lovely, especially the more synthy ones. But try to edit the sounds on the hardware is really cumbersome and quite weird. I'm going to try with MOTU Unisyn on a Mac with os9 on if I can find a working copy.
@@peppepop The Z1 sounds remarkable with a Lexicon PCM 80. I think we gotta remember pairings. Since our favorite artists rarely ever tracked synth parts dry. They tracked with a chosen effect or the overall reverb the engineer was using on that song.
My friend bought a D70 new in 1990. After quite a few years (maybe 5 years) it developed the red glue problem. To Roland's credit they replaced the keybed under warranty. Also, I understand your feelings for your old hardware - my ESQ1 developed random issues pretty much weekly, but it's my baby and I won't get rid of it.
This was great.Like you I have had romantic memories of the possibility of what the D70 would have been.I thought it was 2 D50's on a 76 note semi weighted keyboard with additional storage features .More like a studio and stage/concert unit.
Back in the day I had the impression it was quite popular but that was maybe skewed because several people I knew had one. Maybe because it had 76 keys, a good keybed and also a good piano sound for its time. Edit for clarification: I live in Germany.
I've always been intrigued with the D70 but after owning and selling the U20 a couple of times because they were boring in my opinion I dont need to go down the D70 route. On the other hand, I have never seen a D70 for sale were I live and might just by one if they come up for sale. Just for the heck of it! :)
Respect to the D-70 but I have been a fan of the D-50. I didn’t want to seek old hardware so I got a D-05 to scratch that itch. I remember hearing horror stories about red adhesive gumming things up.
U-220 OS was the same way. Not intuitive at all. About the backlight, AJs did that too (whine). AJ-1s also suffered from fragile keybed circuit board traces. The generation after this was proper. I have a JV-1000 with the Vintage Keys expansion and LOVE it ! (But, it still had red glue. What a mess). Oddly enough, I have no GAS for D-70.
Thanks such a fan of some of the amazing patches unique to this synth but can’t justify ( another😊) big , unreliable old keyboard, I know roland did software version (the closest in hardware is the MV30 but it will only load D70 sounds not full patches) .But it’s rom must be so tiny 😄 it’s shame Roland hasn’t added a D70 mode to their plug in or boutiques ( unlike the D50😢)...ps. Yes it does read some but not all of the U110/220 cards.
I hope they do too, add the D-70 vst emulation. The issue may be the OpAmps. They are special inside the D70. Hard to emulate them, maybe with TAL Sampler in post, we'll see.
My D-70 does not have the sound on the LCD, I changed it for a better one. But is one of the easiest keyboards to put apart. I just learned after fixing FOUR OF THEM so much.
It sounds nothing like the D-50, it sounds close to the JD-990. I have all of them. I think the problem was the 76 keys, too big to carry around. And it can not beat the M1.
Hi Jeffrey, if I lived in your neighborhood, I would bring that D-70 back to life for you at no charge as I am a retired 71 year old electronic service technician with time on my hands, I have here in New Zealand restored keyboards which include in my collection the Roland XP-50 and the Korg 01/wfd model among numerous other well known brands, thanks for this episode on You Tube, cheers.
Thanks, Barry. I appreciate the offer.
What do you think about the KORG 01/w PRO-X?
I have a D-70, although it has been boxed for at least 15 years. When playing it before that people would remark about the big soundscape it produced. The sound was really good, and it seemed there was something special about it. Have to get it out some time to play again.
Thanks for sharing.
The first synth I really learned on ... glad you actually have one!
I've read the D-70 was supposed to be called U-70. Apparently, U50 is even present on some circuit boards.
Very entertaining video, thank you!
I worked for the local Roland agents in South Africa in the late '80's and up till the mid '90's, and witnessed the release of the D70. I was the 'product specialist' for the keyboard and hi-tech dept so it was my job to get familiar with the gear and to be able to offer backup support.
If I recall correctly the D50 was a true 'LA' (Linear Arithmetic) synth, where short samples formed the attack transients of the sounds, and the body of the sound (decay and release) was more traditional digital synthesis. This was the 'magic' of LA.
Following the D50, a series of romplers were released. The U110, followed by the U220, which was just a U110 with effects (reverb and delay, I think). There was a 61 note keyboard version called a U20.
As you have astutely observed, I would agree that Roland were trading on the "LA Synthesis" popularity, by playing on the idea that the extra synth parameters which could be applied to the ROM samples on the D70, qualified it as 'Super-LA'.
I think a better example of 'Super LA' appeared on the JD800 in 1991, but this label was not used on that synth. The JD800 returned to the more chrystaline sparkly sound of the D50.
So essentially, the D70 was really just a rompler, as you mentioned, and had the same waveforms as found on the U220 with maybe some extras. I found it very disappointing at the time. It just seemed to lack sparkle and punch.
I used to use a Roland MV30 sequencer/sound module that had many of the same waveforms. It was very usable at the time, especially with some EQ and effects. If I recall correctly all these units (D70, U220, U20, MV30) were compatible with the SN-U110 cards, so I am not sure why yours are not working.
Anyhow, thanks for great videos. I am thoroughly enjoying your content.
Great edutainment!
Thanks for sharing.
In September 2014, I purchased a Roland VR-09, a killer organ/piano/synthesizer hybrid the like of which I had been daydreaming for the previous 9 years. I was dumbfounded to hear one of the piano presets, “SA Piano”, which was the equal of a patch that (I didn’t know then) originated in the RD-1000 and MKS-20, “Piano 3”. That was the inaugural “E. Grand” patch. It wasn’t until the turn of 2024 that I finally learned that the “SA” stood for the “Structured-Adaptive” synthesis technique used for generating sound in those 2 models. I was curious if that SA synthesis method was preserved in this model. It seems big enough to host it, but what does that mean?
I’ve been obsessing over that sound since it cropped up in the original Yamaha Motif. I didn’t know until recent to 2024 that it was a Roland signature sound, not a Yamaha sound.
Being that the QS6 was my first synthesizer, I think I could pick out all of the sounds you played on it against the D 70. However, I’m more inclined to praise your playing than to pick sounds apart from each other. You’re incredible, Jeffrey.
Surprisingly many of the Alesis QS7's synth sounds are similar to both the Roland D70 and also the Roland JV series,
the only D-70 sounds that were obvious to me were 12 string guitar and clickleslie and maybe some of the bell type
sounds on the D-70 are recognizable to me. I personally like the D-70's PCM sounds which are based on the Roland
U series plus a few sounds from the U series PCM cards but I am more than happy with my Roland U-220, beige
CM-32L and CM-32P boxes as well as my Roland JV-1080 and I also have many of those drum samples in my Roland
R-8 so apart from the D-70's JV-like engine I don't think I'm missing out on much. If you want those same pianos,
basses, strings or saxophones... then just get either a Roland U-110 or a U-220, the U-220 sounds pretty close to
the D-70.
The keyboard version of the U-220 the U-20 also has the same problem with it's keys and the JV-80 is also known to
have that same problem which is partly why I prefer racks over keyboards. Would it have been good if Roland made a rack
version of the D-70? Yes but at the end of the day the JV series is a vast improvement over the D-70 plus you could
get selected U series sounds on the JV series with either SOPCM1 cards for compatible models or the Super SRJV
plugin board which is how I was introduced to some of those sounds and then I later decided to also get a U-220 since
I replaced the Super SRJV plugin board but I still use the SOPCM1 cards if I wish to create D-70 like patches.
I agree that the reason for any hardware workstation like the Yamaha Motif, Montage or Roland Fantom is nostalgia
driven but there are plenty of VST alternatives to modern day workstations like Halion 7 which is based on many of
the same samples used in Yamaha Motif and Montage and Kontakt is capible of blowing any keyboard workstation
out of the water if you need realistic sounding instruments. I don't think people who use software synth should ever
be made to feel "less than" and in this case I think software is far more practical, even something that's 10 to 15 years
old is now considered dated. And anyway it's usually people who perform on stage who are more likely to buy something
like a Montage or Fantom whereas most people today who simply compose at the computer do everything with VST
plugins.
I had a U20 and wished I'd bought a D-70 back in the day but I'm glad I didn't now! It succumbed to the red glue. I had extra sound cards, the Ethnic card was a standout, 3rd party sounds, I would detune the drums for odd effects. No one synth does it all but it had its strengths.
Thanks for sharing.
My very first synth along with an Ensoniq EPS sampler.
My Wavestation EX and AD had that annoying high pitch hum noise coming from the LCD screen. I have to upgrade to an LED screen to eliminate that noise 🙂
Thanks for doing this! Got 11 right, 7 wrong. I was lead to the D70 by Michael Cretu of Enigma & Mags of A-ha. Mags uses it all over the Albums: East of the Sun West of the Moon & Memorial Beach.
Very interesting. I was unaware of this particular model.
Lucky you. It's been a world of frustration for many. Appreciate the comment.
Perry Bamonte of The Cure (especially 'Wish' era Cure) after stepping in and filing in for Roger O'Donnell after 'Disintegration' often used the D-70 as the lower tiered synth on his synth stack. Often paired with a Roland JX-8P (I believe) on the top.
Didn't know that. Appreciate the comment.
That was a very nice demonstration of the D70 with to me so far (almost) completely unknown Roland- quirks. “Da fliegt mir doch das Blech weg” is not just an amazing song by Spliff, but also means that I almost can't grasp it. My WS EX Graffity limited edition's sticky keyboard is already enough to take but those D70 quirks obviously are rather for someone like you with nerves of steel. Since I've neither personal D70 nor QS experiences, the quiz was only 9 right guesses from 18. Hitherto I just experienced Roland after touch issues like JX10, 8P & @JUNO-2. While with JX its just simple corrosion, with AJ2 it's indeed been that Roland often forgot to stick the sensor into its socket what led to the rumour AJ2 has no key pressure. Mine I indeed had to open & to plug the sensor back BUT corossion was already in progress & to press the keys unnormally heavy just to trigger something ain't my style. 🙄😆
I remember i sold one D70 in the music store where i worked..that was to a friend in 1990.
He is still my producer colleague i shall ask him what happened to it.
Fun fact: the lead sound from Liquido's 'Narcotic' comes from a Roland D-70.
I enjoyed this video as I didn't know anything about either synth in the test. Red glue! Yikes! Same as JD-800 I guess... When I did the listening test, I judged simply on which one sounded more like a Roland synth (which I know), and I got 12 out of 18 correct. Fun stuff. Keep making these videos.
12 out of 18 is pretty good. Thanks for the comment.
Would be nice to hear your thoughts on the Z1. Talk about convoluted interface 😂
I haven't had much experience with the Z1 interface. I have played the sounds, and for late 1990's modeling, I thought it sounds pretty good. I recall that the EPs and organs were pretty good.
@@JeffreyScottPetro Yeah, the sounds are lovely, especially the more synthy ones. But try to edit the sounds on the hardware is really cumbersome and quite weird. I'm going to try with MOTU Unisyn on a Mac with os9 on if I can find a working copy.
@@peppepop The Z1 sounds remarkable with a Lexicon PCM 80. I think we gotta remember pairings. Since our favorite artists rarely ever tracked synth parts dry. They tracked with a chosen effect or the overall reverb the engineer was using on that song.
@@Ambientnauts I have a roland srv 330 somewhere, will look for it and see :)
@@peppepop Very cool. Oh man I love the sound of that one! Rich plate and so many other nice settings there.
My friend bought a D70 new in 1990. After quite a few years (maybe 5 years) it developed the red glue problem. To Roland's credit they replaced the keybed under warranty. Also, I understand your feelings for your old hardware - my ESQ1 developed random issues pretty much weekly, but it's my baby and I won't get rid of it.
Thanks for the comment.
This was great.Like you I have had romantic memories of the possibility of what the D70 would have been.I thought it was 2 D50's on a 76 note semi weighted keyboard with additional storage features .More like a studio and stage/concert unit.
Indeed. Two D-50's with a 76-note keyboard, kinda like the DX5 version of the DX7, that would have been a killer synth.
Back in the day I had the impression it was quite popular but that was maybe skewed because several people I knew had one. Maybe because it had 76 keys, a good keybed and also a good piano sound for its time.
Edit for clarification: I live in Germany.
Thanks for the comment.
i got one in many pieces in my closet, maybe its time to put it back together, the key goop sux though!
Good luck with that. If you get it working, I'd like to hear back from you.
I've always been intrigued with the D70 but after owning and selling the U20 a couple of times because they were boring in my opinion I dont need to go down the D70 route. On the other hand, I have never seen a D70 for sale were I live and might just by one if they come up for sale. Just for the heck of it! :)
Good luck with the D-70 and thanks for the comment.
Why was the test between D-70 and QS 7? They are almost a decade apart, not that close really..
Respect to the D-70 but I have been a fan of the D-50. I didn’t want to seek old hardware so I got a D-05 to scratch that itch.
I remember hearing horror stories about red adhesive gumming things up.
Red glue issue is not limited to the D-70 but affects also at least the JD-800 and probably other Roland gear from this time.
U-220 OS was the same way. Not intuitive at all. About the backlight, AJs did that too (whine). AJ-1s also suffered from fragile keybed circuit board traces. The generation after this was proper. I have a JV-1000 with the Vintage Keys expansion and LOVE it ! (But, it still had red glue. What a mess). Oddly enough, I have no GAS for D-70.
Appreciate the comment.
Thanks such a fan of some of the amazing patches unique to this synth but can’t justify ( another😊) big , unreliable old keyboard, I know roland did software version (the closest in hardware is the MV30 but it will only load D70 sounds not full patches) .But it’s rom must be so tiny 😄 it’s shame Roland hasn’t added a D70 mode to their plug in or boutiques ( unlike the D50😢)...ps. Yes it does read some but not all of the U110/220 cards.
I hope they do too, add the D-70 vst emulation. The issue may be the OpAmps. They are special inside the D70. Hard to emulate them, maybe with TAL Sampler in post, we'll see.
My D-70 does not have the sound on the LCD, I changed it for a better one. But is one of the easiest keyboards to put apart. I just learned after fixing FOUR OF THEM so much.
The problem with the CPU happens again with the Roland JV-90, is a nightmare, is supposed to be a JV-80 but the JV-80 didn't have that problem.
It sounds nothing like the D-50, it sounds close to the JD-990. I have all of them. I think the problem was the 76 keys, too big to carry around. And it can not beat the M1.
Have not torn apart my D-70 yet, but I suspect the Op amps are the same in the JD-800 / JD 990 line. Such a dark harmonic richness there.