Trend price : 50-100€
Rackmount version of the famous U-20 classic early rompler keyboard.
Overview
(weight: 4.5 Kg) 1 unit. The main panel features a 24 x 2 lines display, 12 buttons and a volume knob.
Terminal connectors:
-
Midi interface,
-
2 main out
-
4 stereo aux outputs (no effects)
- 2 card slots
- headphones out
Voice
system handles 30 digital voices polyphonic based on subtractive synthesis RS PCM Resynthesized Pulse Code Modulation. The RS concept resynthesizes and rebuilds new harmonics using a custom sample interpolation, but it badly lacks a filter structure. The RS could be mistaken with older L.A synthesis implemented in the later D-550 model, but sadly RS is more like a plain rompler than a true synthesis system.
Wavetable
PCM ROM is organized in 2 sound groups:
-
acoustic samples: piano, bell, guitar, string, organ, brass ...
- precalculated basic waveforms: pulse, saw and generated harmonics.
Edit
A tone which is composed by either 1 or 2 samples (reduces polyphony) out of 128 tones available (drum is apart) with no edit. The upper level is the timbre composed by a single tone that has some editable parameters including: volume,detune and vibrato
Performance
module manages up to 6 timbres (+ 1 drum part) and individual settings:
-
split zones
-
pan position
-
volume
-
voice priority
- analog out routing
Envelope
a single 4-stages amplitude EG.
LFO
1
modulates only the amplitude with variable depth, delay time and 9 waveforms:
Effects
- reverb: 9 presets including hall, delay, room and gate
- chorus:
5 presets including chorus, flanger and delay
Memory
-
64 patches
-
64 performances
-
4 rhythm sets
Audio demo:
Video Clip:
Review
OK: cheap / classic module
NOT : waveforms / no filter / edit
Maybe the best of the U series, save-spacer,: more features and no dead keys from U20. Sound is really limited, but ok if you like those 90 preset - solid sounds
Text , review, special demos copyright polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci