Roland MKS20
The Roland MKS-20 is a
Features
MKS-20 rack unit
Roland's structured adaptive synthesis (SAS) has been explained as a "...sophisticated re-synthesis technique which involves a highly accurate computer analysis of 'real' sounds, from which a near replica can be synthesised."
The MKS-20 has 16-voice polyphony, which means that 16 keys can be pressed at the same time. It has eight presets for piano and other keyboard instruments (electric piano, harpsichord, vibraphone, clavinet), with 56 variations. The first two piano sounds have been likened to a German grand piano sound; the third has been called similar to a Yamaha CP-70 or CP80's piano sound.[3] The unit responds to velocity (hard or soft playing) when a MIDI controller keyboard that outputs velocity data is connected to it. The MKS-20 has a "voice preserve" feature which can be turned on or off. When voice preserve is on, the player can play a note or chord, and then while holding the notes down on the keyboard, switch to a new synth voice. Even though a new synth voice was selected, the original voice is sustained as long as the player holds down the original note or chord. Subsequent notes or chords use the newly selected voice.
It has three onboard
The back also has a three-position output level switch which only affects the unbalanced 1/4 outputs. The high level output is for recording applications. The low or medium level are for
RD-1000 keyboard
The RD-1000 has the same electronics and sound features as the MKS-20 mounted in an 88-note weighted MIDI controller keyboard, along with a keyboard stand and a floor unit to house the sustain pedal and a soft pedal. [5] The keyboard alone is 95 pounds; the floor pedal unit is 18 pounds, and the heavy duty stand is another 29 to 39 pounds, depending on which stand is used. The settings offer keyboard touch response changes, which are called A, B, C and D. B is the default value, under which the shift in dynamics and harmonic structure increases in a linear way with the amount of velocity applied to a key. With setting A, there is a more subtle increase in volume and less change of timbre. With the settings C and D, the changes are more dramatic.[6]
Rhodes MK80
Following Roland's acquisition of the Rhodes brand in 1987, the company released the Rhodes MK80 in 1989. This instrument was derived from the MKS20/RD-1000 architecture but with a large emphasis on its Rhodes emulation patches. Harold Rhodes himself was disparaging of the instrument which was released without his approval (who had lost the rights to his own trademark) and therefore the MK80 is not considered part of the classic canon of Rhodes pianos. Roland went on to release several digital pianos and synthesisers under the Rhodes brand.
History and reception
When Roland introduced the structured adaptive synthesis system, Sound on Sound says musicians viewed it as a "revelation".[7] In 1986, pianists seeking a digital piano sound often used sampled pianos. While an individual note on a sampled piano might sound realistic, the samples might not include different dynamics and articulations. The MKS-20 offered "...more than 30 keyboard 'zones' differentiated not just by pitch and brightness, but also by individual formant structures and string enharmonicities", creating a piano sound that was "...far superior to any straightforward sample-replay system" available in 1986. Musicians found that they could "...recreate acoustic and electronic pianos on a range of stage instruments".[8]
Digital instrument versions
In 2016, Fait Clic released a Windows-based
In 2017, VGSG Music released a digital version called iKS20 that makes MKS-20's sounds available on Yamaha's MOXF, MOTIF XF, MONTAGE and MODX synthesizers. These Yamaha keyboards need a 1GB USB flash drive to load the iKS20 file. Additional requirements include the installation of the Yamaha FL1024M 1GB Flash Expansion Board for the MOXF and MOTIF XF. And 1GB of free space for the MONTAGE and MODX's onboard Flash RAM.[10]
Keyscape's Collector Keyboards, a virtual instrument, includes a digital recreation of the MKS-20 in its list of over 500 sounds, 36 instrument models and hybrid “duo” patches. The Keyscape virtual instrument uses multisampled sounds and requires 77 GB to download or the purchase of boxed USB drives. The MKS-20 patch includes controls for effects.[11]
Loot Audio produces a digital version called RP-86. It has two MKS-20-inspired piano sounds, which can be used in Native Instruments' Kontact 5 system. It is not a sample; instead it is a re-synthesis which resembles the original. The MKS-20 sounds are bundled with a number of other 1980s-era sounds. [12]
Notable users
- Tony Banks uses an MKS-20 piano module to duplicate his Yamaha DX7, with chords played on a Kurzweil 1000PX.
- Thomas Dolby uses the Roland MKS-20 piano module along with a Fairlight Series III and a Roland Super Jupiter synth.[13]
- Sleeping With The Past(the instrument is directly credited on the latter album)
- Mike Lindup from Level 42 uses an MKS-20 alongside a range of other Roland gear.[14]
- Brent Mydland from the Grateful Dead used an MKS-20 as his primary digital piano from 1987 to 1990, controlled through a Kurzweil Midiboard
- Paul Sidoti (Taylor Swift)[15]
- Joe Phillips used the MKS-20 for Barney & Friends.
- Annie Hogan used a RD-1000 on Marc Almond The Stars We Are LP.
References
- ^ Graham, Nick (September 1986). "Roland Digital Piano Systems RD1000 (Keyboard Version) & MKS20 (Racked Module Version)". In Tune (Jun 1986). EMM: 33–34. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Structured Sound Roland RD1000 Piano by Dan Goldstein.EMM, 1986
- ^ Graham, Nick (September 1986). "Roland Digital Piano Systems RD1000 (Keyboard Version) & MKS20 (Racked Module Version)". In Tune (Jun 1986). EMM: 33–34. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Roland MKS-20 user reviews and comments @ Synth Site - home of synth reviews".
- ^ Graham, Nick (September 1986). "Roland Digital Piano Systems RD1000 (Keyboard Version) & MKS20 (Racked Module Version)". In Tune (Jun 1986). EMM: 33–34. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Structured Sound Roland RD1000 Piano by Dan Goldstein.EMM, 1986
- ^ "The History of Roland: Part 3".
- ^ "The History of Roland: Part 3".
- ^ "Fait Clic releases MKS-20Vst digital piano instrument". rekkerd.org. Rekkerd. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "VGSG's MOTIF Gospel Sound Pack". vgsgmusic.com. VGSG Music. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ "Keyscape - Collector Keyboards: MKS-20 Digital Piano". www.spectrasonics.net. Spectrasonics. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "RP-86 - Roland MKS-20 - Kontakt".
- ^ Goodyer, Tim (June 1988). "The Dolby System (MT Jun 1988)". Music Technology (Jun 1988): 56–59.
- ^ "What Roland keys are being played on the Level 42 tour? - PowerOn | Roland UK". www.roland.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-11-21.
- ^ "Artist Profile: Paul Sidoti".