Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards ROLAND RD-800 USER THREAD

I think you'd actually be surprised how much of the current supernatural engine actually is Modelling vs. PCM. It surprised the heck out of me.

Jay, I recently picked up the RD800. Can you confirm which of the sounds is supposed to be the "Studio Grand" sound from the NX? I'm getting confused by this. Regards. G.

Patch number 034. It's the Studio Grand. Not my favourite but useful for many situations. There's a few variations on that tone.

Here's the tone list for download if you need it:

http://www.roland.com/support/article/?q=manuals&p=RD-800&id=63073815

Do the alternate piano patches have as many layers as the primary piano? I just got the FP-50, and there are not many pianos to chose from, so I would like to know if one uses one of the high number piano sounds, or for me, pianos in the 'Other' bank, if they are as good in quality of implementation and have the extras like string resonance?

Hope this is a general enough question that I am not redirecting this thread, Cynthia

On the RD800 there are 33 total Supernatural Acoustic pianos on board. All based on an 88 key 4 level multi sample, with Modelling filling in the gaps for 128 total levels of expression. There are 3 total variations of the SuperNatural Acoustic Pianos on the FP-50.

SuperNatural Acoustic Pianos are the patches with the most tonal variation, The higher number (generally GM2 and PCM based patches) don't have the tonal variation that the SuperNatural instruments have.

Jay

I had no idea that the SuperNATURAL Acoustic Pianos were sample based, with modelling filling in the velocity level gaps, I thought they were entirely modelled based on the sample.

Hi there.

This thread is a really good idea.
I'm looking for tips to the RD-800.

Here is my question:
The RD-800 Upright piano has a too little sustain for my opinion.
What can I do to last the tones longer to get a more realistic Upright sound?

Thanks
Martin

Hi Martin and welcome!

Im not in front of my RD800 at the moment but try this:

- go to Upright Piano
- Enter
- go to Sympathetic Resonance
- go to Depth
- Default will be around 52 crank it all the way to 127 and play something. then dial it down to a number you like.

Also, turn on Modulation FX and tool around with the pitch shifter a bit. It just might sound like a realistic upright when slightly off pitch +/-2cent.

Im sure there are many other tweaks, but try that for starters. I will look into it more tonight.

Marko

It was a total oversimplification of what the modelling tech actually does, but at it's core yes that's what SuperNatural does. Also, all the resonances (String, Hammer, Key-Off, Duplex Scale, etc etc etc.) are also controlled and changed dynamically by SuperNatural. There's more, but I hope this clears it up a bit.

Jay

Thanks Jay, there's obviously a lot going on under the hood!

Been fiddling since February to get the perfect Piano, as I found the default settings for 'Concert Grand' just a little to mellow.
Tried changing the character (which is what 'Bright Concert' does at +2), but found it a little too hard.

Then opened the lid (Menu > Tremolo/Amp Simulator) from 5 to 7, and wow, so much more 'open' in the mid range.

I wonder if 7 equates opening the lid fully on a concert grand, or actually removing it?

My default pianos in the live sets are now;
'Concert Grand' with lid at 7, and
'NX Concert Grand' with lid at 7.

On the home series that had graphics corresponding with the lid adjustment. 7 was in fact pictured as off.

Whether or not that meant off, not sure. but yeah the sound opened up greatly.

I like a darker mellower tone so I usually hover around 3 or 4.

I'll post some patches on the Roland Canada Blog soon with some Grand, Upright and E. Piano customizations. When i do so, I will make sure to share here. I have to get a road trip in Alberta out of the way first though.

Jay

I would absolutely love it, if customizations could be posted to this thread. There seems to be so many ways the RDs can be voiced. And so many different *nuance types* etc... not to mention the EPs and Organs. But I remember once getting a pretty involved customization to an EP on the RD700GX - that was so much better than the stock selections. So please Jay, if you hear some compelling mods - please post them!!

I do like my RD-800, but the more I use it, the more I get the feeling that 'System Programming' wasn't fully developed before release...

When selecting an E.ORGAN from 'Tone' bank 5, with the exception of the 10 'Tone Wheel Organs' (255-264), all the remaining (265-322) have the 'Tremolo/Amp Simulator' setting on '[1] Normal' instead of '[5] Rotary' and ON.

This means that you have to change the setting to get to what should be the default, and then save it off to a 'Live Set', which I think is crazy!

Speaking of organs, I rarely use organs but RD800 has been inspiring me! I must say the the RD800 organs (SN and non-SN) sound pretty incredible. I was just playing something easy and popular from the Animals, so popular that the RD800 already has preset for it: #282 "Rising Son" I love making it a little just a bit gritty with Amp Sim drive. Also, just started messing around with A Whiter Shade of Pale. I would really love to try something like Greg Allmans's slow version of Whipping Post with my band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-B9ijxkhaA

I object to your characterization of my posts regarding the RD800. At no point did I provide any explanation for why anything was taken out. I provided an alternative for what could be done with the features that do still exist. And said that I would inquire about some others. No spin there.

I just saw these comments. Completely unwarranted and completely false.

Jay

Roland's official notice released with options and gifts for us owners:

http://www.rolandus.com/go/rd-800/

Gifts; which one are you going for?

That's ok. It's a decent gesture and I think it will just about retain the goodwill they could have lost.

I'm not an owner - but I'd take the pedals. I had them with my FP-7F and they are pretty nice quality. Not sure most gigging people will want the pedals though.

My comments written after a feature was not included on RD800, was not directed related to the RD800. Removing that feature and how you explained it, brought up my feelings about the newer versions of the FP4, a piano I held dear to my heart and thought about upgrading to newer versions only to find that Roland removed most insert effects and on/off switch for internal speakers, etc.

It's the general sense I get from Roland, that these decisions are made without the best interest of the players who purchase your products, which is why I commented. I'm seeing a pattern and maybe I'm wrong, but like everyone here, it's my opinion, which, I agree, don't mean that much.

I'd quite happily take the pedals for gigging. Assuming they can be custom assigned for things like stop/start fast/slow on an Organ. Handy for the early buyers, not so much for those that waited patiently for a re-release (or those outside of the US, if it is US-only).

Pleased for you.

Is this nonsense really necessary? Do I have to install it in order to "legally" sell or trade-in my RD800?

Here'e the remedy kit and instructions.

http://www.rolandus.com/go/rd-800/images/RD-800_Installation_Instructions.pdf