ROLAND U-20 RS-PCM 61 Key Synthesizer Keyboard - $325 (alameda)

ROLAND U-20 RS-PCM 61 Key Synthesizer Keyboard 1

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This Roland U-20, which was a top-of-the-line synth when it came out (its years of production were 1989~1992), has been stored well and doesn’t appear to have been played much. It’s in excellent condition cosmetically, powers on normally, and the menu comes up on the backlit screen as expected. **It has not been play tested.** This synthesizer, which was roundly praised for its beautiful piano sounds at the very least, certainly enjoyed an enduring popularity — even 15 years later in a fast evolving industry, it continued to be held up as “an amazing synth for the money” and a “hidden gem.

In Roland brand parlance, the U-20 is a 'RS-PCM keyboard,’ where ‘RS’ stands for ‘Re-Synthesized,’ meaning that the sound-engine can play back a modified version of stored Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) samples. This synthesis technique, developed by Roland, takes digitally recorded sound samples and then refines and resynthesizes them using advanced signal processing.

The U-20 has standard 64 patches which can be doubled with an optional RAM-card (Model N° M-256E). The keyboard has 61 aftertouch- and velocity-sensitive keys. It’s also equipped with a built-in arpeggiator, a Chord Play feature which plays back a full chord with a single touch, two assignable sliders, and a pair of extra slots for ROM PCM-cards to expand the number of available sounds. (This model is compatible with the SN-U110 and SN-MV30-S1 series of soundcards.) Hence with one U-20 it's possible to produce a reasonably complete orchestration.

While the U-20 is not a subtractive synthesizer—it has no filter capability—sample playback can be customized to some degree by editing a given ADSR envelope and applying DSP effects, like reverb or chorus.

And though editing sounds on the device itself is somewhat constrained by the small (2 line, 24 character) backlit display and menu layout, there is plenty of software available to edit sounds on a computer via MIDI, or by adding new sounds to the device. There are also hardware presets in programs like Cubase allowing easier communication.

In preparing this posting, I came across an exceptionally helpful review from 2014 that goes into enthusiastic step-by-step detail about how to successfully program this device well beyond what the user manual (which is befuddling) would indicate it’s capable of. The review in question can be forwarded upon request.

Features:

• 128 different voices (additional ones may be supplied with ROM/RAM cards)
• Programmable DSP unit offers reverb, delay, chorus effects
• 3 demo songs
• 61-key keyboard with note velocity and aftertouch abilities
• Left-hand control: MIDI + 2 data-sliders
• MIDI in/out/thru DIN connectors
• Phone output, mix output (L/R) and direct output (L/R) jacks
• Powered by external 110-230 V AC source

Device comes with an oblong Sound Patch Chart printed on card stock. A copy of the user manual in PDF format can be made available for download. Neither a carrying case nor cables other than the built-in power cord are included.

Dimensions: 38 ¾ x 12 x 3 ¼ in

Weight: 22 lbs

$325

post id: 7891758553

posted: 2025-10-28 07:44

updated: 2025-10-30 12:09

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