Roland RD 2000 Digital Stage Piano

Roland RD 2000 Digital Stage Piano Overview

The Roland RD-2000 is one of our favourite Stage Pianos that we offer and even members of our staff use/gig with it - what an endorsement?!

It features, one of our favourite actions, the PHA-50. This hybrid wood action has stabilising pins to ensure there is no unwanted side-to-side lateral movement, along with graduated and individually weighted keys. The action has ebony and ivory feel, along with escapement, which enables you to play at softer dynamics mirroring the mechanism on an acoustic Grand Piano. 

The Piano sound is remarkably delicate, due to how realistic and expressive the dynamic range is. The modelled engine also allows you to fully customise and control your piano sound with incredibly detailed sound editing options. This includes modelled full-scale string resonance, damper resonance, cabinet resonance, soundboard type, key-off noise, hammer noise, damper noise, duplex scale, single note tuning volume and character, meaning the sound can evolve and react to your playing. It lives and breathes like an acoustic Grand Piano. We love Roland's fully modelled piano, developed from technology pioneered by the V-Piano. In order to have the most realistic piano-like playing experience, partner with the Roland RPU-3 Triple Pedal Unit (sold separately).

Further to this, Roland's SuperNATURAL Sound Engine is also included. SuperNATURAL has become one of our most-favoured sound engines, and in the RD-2000 it covers more Acoustic Grand/Upright Pianos, vintage/modern electric pianos, as well as a tonewheel organ (with full drawbar controls) sounds. Roland have even included their huge PCM library to cover all the essential sounds needed by a professional Keyboard player.

The Roland RD Series has been a mainstay of the music industry since 1986, since the archetypal RD-1000. The RD Series has been used by musicians elite, most famously by Elton John. As well as covering all the expected modern essentials within the RD-2000, Roland has included the sounds from the MKS-20, making it the perfect keyboard to play some of the most famous patches in keyboarding history. To go even further, the RD-2000 has some world-renown effects built-in, including the CE-1 Chorus, SDD-320 Dimension-D, RE-201 Space Echo, SPF-325 Stereo Flanger and of course some essential modern FX options.

One of the main tasks for a gigging/performing keys player is the ability to cover for instruments that may not be able to incorporate into a band setup. On the RD-2000 you are able to stack/layer/split up to 8 sounds simultaneously. These 8 sounds (Zones as Roland call them) can be made up of internal and external sounds, meaning it can seamlessly integrate into a multi-layered keyboard or studio setup. You can use your favourite patches from any hardware or software instruments you already love. The RD-2000 will even enable you to use the internal effects with external gear, making it the central hub to your live/studio rig.

The RD-2000 is robust and ready for the road, to ensure you have a case that meets its needs, it fits in either the Roland RRC-88W Black Series Road Case or the Roland CB-G88LV2 88 Note Keyboard Bag With Wheels, Large. You can level up your stage presence with the use of the Roland KS-G8B Keyboard Stand. For the best onstage monitoring, check out the Roland KC Range.

For users wanting to use a built-in sequencer and have even more sound options/editability, check out the Fantom Range.

Roland Product Overview

STAGE REVOLUTION

Equipped with two independent sound engines, premium action, and advanced controller features, the Roland RD-2000 delivers unmatched performance on stage and in the studio. Blending evolved piano technologies with extensive modern control, this next-generation instrument takes the industry-standard stage piano series to new levels of inspiration and creativity. Version 1.50 software adds new sounds from Roland’s historic RD stage piano series, joining the latest piano models and RD-1000 sounds already on board.

"I love the fact that each individual note can be adjusted for pitch, tone, attack & sustain, making it possible to go beyond the often clinical sound of other digital pianos. In addition, there are lots of other quality sounds to play with and combine-it's time to play!" Mike Lindup - Level 42.

Performance Powerhouse

The RD-2000 is a dream come true for the performing keyboardist. It features dual sound engines that power our best acoustic and electric pianos ever, plus the finest action we’ve ever put in a stage piano. There’s a massive selection of top-quality ensemble sounds to cover any musical task, as well as two wave expansion slots for adding even more sounds. And with its innovative modern interface, the RD-2000 is the perfect master controller for working with today’s software-based instruments on stage.

Gorgeous Acoustic Pianos Powered by V-Piano Technology

In a word, the RD-2000’s acoustic piano sounds are magnificent. Incorporating Roland’s very latest piano technologies and long-running V-Piano research, the acoustic voice is incredibly natural, responsive, and richly detailed. The dedicated acoustic engine features full-keyboard polyphony, allowing you to realize authentic piano performances without absolutely no compromises.

Historic Electric Pianos

Via a second SuperNATURAL-based sound engine, the RD-2000 gives you access to a wide range of classic electric pianos from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Included are newly developed recreations of the RD-1000 (the very first RD stage piano) and MKS-20 sound module from the 1980s. Driven by Roland’s milestone SA technology, their unique musical voices are instantly recognizable from that era’s hit records. Vintage effects are also on hand for processing your EPs, including the famous BOSS CE-1 Chorus and Roland SDD-320 Dimension D. Visit our special RD history page for more background on these and other classic instruments and effects, plus sound demos of the recreations found in the RD-2000.

Superb Playability

The PHA-50 progressive hammer-action keyboard with escapement is the ideal platform for playing the RD-2000’s responsive acoustic and electric pianos. This innovative keyboard features hybrid keys constructed of wood and moulded materials, combining classic feel with rugged durability. Together with Roland’s advanced sensor mechanism and hammer-action design, the PHA-50 delivers authentic grand piano touch that’s right at home under your fingers.

"Hands down the best feel of any keyboard controller I’ve ever played. No other keyboard even comes close and whenever I randomly ‘sit-in’ on a jam session or on another event where they don’t have an RD there, it’s not a fun night for me." Brian Culbertson - Solo Artist.

Designed for the Stage

With its intuitive interface, navigating the RD-2000 during live performances is a breeze. Eight knobs and nine sliders provide instant control for sounds, effects, and more, and the knobs feature LED indicators for precise adjustment with instant visual feedback.

Zones and Scenes

The RD-2000 features eight assignable zones that allow you to map sounds to different key ranges, or create combination sounds with up to eight layers. And with the new Scene function, you can save 100 different snapshots of the entire keyboard setup and recall them with a quick button touch while performing.

Bender and Wheels

Equipped with Roland’s classic pitch/mod lever and two modulation wheels, the RD-2000 provides expressive options for any performance style. The dual wheels are useful for detailed sound adjustment on external synths and are independently assignable per program.

Powerful Encoder Knobs

The RD-2000’s dynamic encoder knobs bring a new level of control to your live performances. LED indicators show the current knob value at a glance, even on the darkest stages. They also respond to velocity, allowing you to execute precise edits with slow movements and quickly move through tones and parameters with fast movements.

Ensemble Sounds for Every Genre

In addition to its world-class pianos, the versatile RD-2000 includes over 1,100 additional sounds for covering any style of music with just one keyboard. Roland’s SuperNATURAL technology provides highly expressive Virtual Tone Wheel organs, modern and vintage synths, clavinet, orchestral strings, brass, and many other sound types. At Roland’s Axial sound website, you’ll find even more sounds to load into the RD-2000’s two wave expansion slots, including selections from previous RD instruments (RD-500/600/700SX/700GX/700NX). Version 1.50 software supports RD-EXP05 (Virtual Tone Wheel Organ Collection) and RD-EXP06 (Analog/Digital Vintage Synth Collection), both available from Roland’s Axial website. If you’re stepping up from the RD-800, you’ll be pleased to know that all your Live Sets are fully compatible with the RD-2000.

"It's perfect. It's easy to store presets and stack sounds together. Now I have all of my presets on a USB key for when I travel. I always feel bad for my guitar player when I take 12 seconds to be show-ready and he's dealing with all sorts of random troubles." Sean Scanlon - Session Player.

Command and Control

Offering the most extensive controller features of any RD Series piano to date, the RD-2000 is the perfect solution for commanding a large-scale setup.

Connect with DAWs and Performance Software

Via the RD-2000’s USB audio/MIDI interface, it’s easy to integrate software instruments with a studio DAW or a laptop running your favourite host software on stage. You can control soft synths with zones along with internal sounds, and route their audio through the RD-2000 to create a powerful hybrid rig. The interface supports 24-bit audio at rates up to 192 kHz, allowing you to access your highest quality sounds.

Flexible Audio Outputs

With its versatile outputs, the RD-2000 is ready to connect with any stage or studio setup. Main stereo outs are provided on XLR and ¼-inch jacks, and there’s also a sub output that allows you to route internal sounds and USB audio independently.

"The piano is the foundation of most of the songs we write in A Great Big World. The richness and fullness of the acoustic piano sound in my mix every night. Both our band and crew have noticed the difference when we started using the RD Series more consistently." A Great Big World - American Duo involved with Glee.

Built for Professional Performers

Combining the traditional RD-series appearance with elements of the V-Piano, the RD-2000 embodies both tradition and innovation. It’s designed from the ground up with the working pro in mind, with careful consideration of details regarding the interface workflow, sound organization, and physical layout of connectors, switches, knobs, and sliders.

Light and Durable

While the RD-2000’s feature upgrades are significant, its weight hasn’t changed from the previous RD generation. It’s still easy to transport from gig to gig, and the aluminum body is both handsome and extremely durable.

Extensive Foot Control

The RD-2000’s four pedal inputs can be configured for damper pedals, expression pedals, and more. A DP-10 pedal is included for damper pedal operation. The optional Roland RPU-3 Triple Pedal Unit provides a real grand piano pedaling experience, combining three pedals into one compact unit.

Matching Stand

For solid support on stage or in the studio, the optional Roland KS-G8B Keyboard Stand stand is a perfect match for the RD-2000. It features an open design for a sleek look, plus durable steel piping and rigid bracing to ensure maximum stability. The Roland KS-G8B Keyboard Stand folds for easy transport, and its height can be adjusted for sitting or standing positions.