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Adrien B « Excellent keyboard, sturdy, well-balanced and credible sounds »
Published on 02/08/11 at 17:57USE
The keyboard is one of the RD 700's strengths. It features true hammer action (which was something pretty new for stage keyboards back then) and it's sturdy (having used it for years, I have never had a mechanical problem and the response of the keys has always been the same, due to the hammer action).
The manual is clear enough: The INC and DEC system to increase or decrease the parameters (which is typical of Roland) is a bit confusing at first... The use of more buttons would've been easier, wouldn't it?
The overall configuration is easy enough, keyboard adjustment is quite precise and fine.
SOUND
The acoustic pianos were very good back in the day but they have gotten a bit old. Especially regarding the sustain because it's really awful compared to a modern digital piano: Sounds don't last long enough... You usually expect notes of a piano sound to last longer, not to be attenuated so fast! That said, one of its main strengths is that the attack, the "biting," of the piano sounds is incredibly real, so fast jazz solos sound very realistic, which makes the delight of the pianist. It comes perfectly through in a mix, the sounds are balanced, round and detailed.
The expression is rather good, it's a wonderful piano to play live. The dynamic response is excellent. Rhodes sounds are also noteworthy, very well-achieved, with a good tremolo. The strings and pads are just as good and the effects are credible, even if a bit obsolete nowadays.
OVERALL OPINION
I've been using it for live gigs several times a month for 8 years and it's always a pleasure! I have tested other models and back then it outclassed the Yamaha P200 and the P80, as well as the Kurzweils of the day... It was very popular until recently, when the RD 700 GX arrived, with its new keyboard and sounds, which actually bring about new things. The Nords are also better now.
Today, I'll keep it as a master keyboard and invest on a nice virtual piano to control with the RD 700 (I can't make up my mind between the Ivory II and the Garritan Steinway).
I would buy it again without hesitation because it will become a very good master keyboard for years to come!
The keyboard is one of the RD 700's strengths. It features true hammer action (which was something pretty new for stage keyboards back then) and it's sturdy (having used it for years, I have never had a mechanical problem and the response of the keys has always been the same, due to the hammer action).
The manual is clear enough: The INC and DEC system to increase or decrease the parameters (which is typical of Roland) is a bit confusing at first... The use of more buttons would've been easier, wouldn't it?
The overall configuration is easy enough, keyboard adjustment is quite precise and fine.
SOUND
The acoustic pianos were very good back in the day but they have gotten a bit old. Especially regarding the sustain because it's really awful compared to a modern digital piano: Sounds don't last long enough... You usually expect notes of a piano sound to last longer, not to be attenuated so fast! That said, one of its main strengths is that the attack, the "biting," of the piano sounds is incredibly real, so fast jazz solos sound very realistic, which makes the delight of the pianist. It comes perfectly through in a mix, the sounds are balanced, round and detailed.
The expression is rather good, it's a wonderful piano to play live. The dynamic response is excellent. Rhodes sounds are also noteworthy, very well-achieved, with a good tremolo. The strings and pads are just as good and the effects are credible, even if a bit obsolete nowadays.
OVERALL OPINION
I've been using it for live gigs several times a month for 8 years and it's always a pleasure! I have tested other models and back then it outclassed the Yamaha P200 and the P80, as well as the Kurzweils of the day... It was very popular until recently, when the RD 700 GX arrived, with its new keyboard and sounds, which actually bring about new things. The Nords are also better now.
Today, I'll keep it as a master keyboard and invest on a nice virtual piano to control with the RD 700 (I can't make up my mind between the Ivory II and the Garritan Steinway).
I would buy it again without hesitation because it will become a very good master keyboard for years to come!