Discussion:
Roland GR20 and SONAR - Now I'm happy!
(too old to reply)
David
2004-04-05 13:17:39 UTC
Permalink
Being a guitar player, it's always been frustrating seeing all the toys the
keyboard guys got to play with. Now, I must way.. I'm happy to have my 1st
guitar synth. I got the Roland GR20 this past weekend! YEAH!! So far,
allot of the sounds in the unit are very usable.. listen to the "moody sax"
below. Some are not very good.. Bass's are ok.. Organ sounds are very
good.. Horns are half and half.. anyway.. I'm sure I'll be trying out some
softsynths / sounds with this thing.

http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sax_sample.mp3
Roger G. Windsor
2004-04-05 14:29:30 UTC
Permalink
Thanks for the report.

Does Roland have samples on it's website?

I guess the best thing would be to try and find a store that has this unit,
and I could sweep through the sounds . . . .
Post by David
Being a guitar player, it's always been frustrating seeing all the toys the
keyboard guys got to play with. Now, I must way.. I'm happy to have my 1st
guitar synth. I got the Roland GR20 this past weekend! YEAH!! So far,
allot of the sounds in the unit are very usable.. listen to the "moody sax"
below. Some are not very good.. Bass's are ok.. Organ sounds are very
good.. Horns are half and half.. anyway.. I'm sure I'll be trying out some
softsynths / sounds with this thing.
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sax_sample.mp3
David
2004-04-05 14:33:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by Roger G. Windsor
Thanks for the report.
Does Roland have samples on it's website?
I guess the best thing would be to try and find a store that has this unit,
and I could sweep through the sounds . . . .
Post by David
Being a guitar player, it's always been frustrating seeing all the toys
the
Post by David
keyboard guys got to play with. Now, I must way.. I'm happy to have my
1st
Post by David
guitar synth. I got the Roland GR20 this past weekend! YEAH!! So far,
allot of the sounds in the unit are very usable.. listen to the "moody
sax"
Post by David
below. Some are not very good.. Bass's are ok.. Organ sounds are very
good.. Horns are half and half.. anyway.. I'm sure I'll be trying out some
softsynths / sounds with this thing.
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sax_sample.mp3
Roger G. Windsor
2004-04-06 03:56:35 UTC
Permalink
How does the GR20 compare with the GR33?
I went to the Roland website, they've got a lot on the GR20, but not much on
the GR33.
Post by Roger G. Windsor
Thanks for the report.
Does Roland have samples on it's website?
I guess the best thing would be to try and find a store that has this
unit,
Post by Roger G. Windsor
and I could sweep through the sounds . . . .
Post by David
Being a guitar player, it's always been frustrating seeing all the toys
the
Post by David
keyboard guys got to play with. Now, I must way.. I'm happy to have my
1st
Post by David
guitar synth. I got the Roland GR20 this past weekend! YEAH!! So
far,
Post by Roger G. Windsor
Post by David
allot of the sounds in the unit are very usable.. listen to the "moody
sax"
Post by David
below. Some are not very good.. Bass's are ok.. Organ sounds are very
good.. Horns are half and half.. anyway.. I'm sure I'll be trying out
some
Post by Roger G. Windsor
Post by David
softsynths / sounds with this thing.
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sax_sample.mp3
David
2004-04-06 12:15:16 UTC
Permalink
From what I understand about the GR33, it is much more editable. The GR20
has some nice sounds, but is limited in that you can only copy and edit
parameters for patches, but you can not change how the patches are split on
the neck (probably more to it than that). The good thing about the GR20 is
that you can split each string out via the midi out for using with a DAW, so
at least as far as I can tell, the GR20 being used for Sonar is just as
good. Maybe someone with exper. GR33 can chime in?
Post by Roger G. Windsor
How does the GR20 compare with the GR33?
I went to the Roland website, they've got a lot on the GR20, but not much on
the GR33.
Post by Roger G. Windsor
Thanks for the report.
Does Roland have samples on it's website?
I guess the best thing would be to try and find a store that has this
unit,
Post by Roger G. Windsor
and I could sweep through the sounds . . . .
Post by David
Being a guitar player, it's always been frustrating seeing all the
toys
Post by Roger G. Windsor
the
Post by David
keyboard guys got to play with. Now, I must way.. I'm happy to have
my
Post by Roger G. Windsor
1st
Post by David
guitar synth. I got the Roland GR20 this past weekend! YEAH!!
So
Post by Roger G. Windsor
far,
Post by Roger G. Windsor
Post by David
allot of the sounds in the unit are very usable.. listen to the "moody
sax"
Post by David
below. Some are not very good.. Bass's are ok.. Organ sounds are very
good.. Horns are half and half.. anyway.. I'm sure I'll be trying out
some
Post by Roger G. Windsor
Post by David
softsynths / sounds with this thing.
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sax_sample.mp3
David
2004-04-05 14:34:12 UTC
Permalink
samples are here:

http://rolandus.com/products/details.asp?CatID=6&SubCatID=0&ProdID=GR-20&Pag
eMode=15
Post by Roger G. Windsor
Thanks for the report.
Does Roland have samples on it's website?
I guess the best thing would be to try and find a store that has this unit,
and I could sweep through the sounds . . . .
Post by David
Being a guitar player, it's always been frustrating seeing all the toys
the
Post by David
keyboard guys got to play with. Now, I must way.. I'm happy to have my
1st
Post by David
guitar synth. I got the Roland GR20 this past weekend! YEAH!! So far,
allot of the sounds in the unit are very usable.. listen to the "moody
sax"
Post by David
below. Some are not very good.. Bass's are ok.. Organ sounds are very
good.. Horns are half and half.. anyway.. I'm sure I'll be trying out some
softsynths / sounds with this thing.
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sax_sample.mp3
Ricky W. Hunt
2004-04-05 18:15:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by David
Being a guitar player, it's always been frustrating seeing all the toys the
keyboard guys got to play with. Now, I must way.. I'm happy to have my 1st
guitar synth. I got the Roland GR20 this past weekend! YEAH!! So far,
allot of the sounds in the unit are very usable.. listen to the "moody sax"
below. Some are not very good.. Bass's are ok.. Organ sounds are very
good.. Horns are half and half.. anyway.. I'm sure I'll be trying out some
softsynths / sounds with this thing.
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sax_sample.mp3
You played that sax line on guitar? Sounds great.
David
2004-04-05 18:45:37 UTC
Permalink
Yes! It's funny how you change you playing style with the sound... without
really thinking about it.
Post by Ricky W. Hunt
Post by David
Being a guitar player, it's always been frustrating seeing all the toys
the
Post by David
keyboard guys got to play with. Now, I must way.. I'm happy to have my
1st
Post by David
guitar synth. I got the Roland GR20 this past weekend! YEAH!! So far,
allot of the sounds in the unit are very usable.. listen to the "moody
sax"
Post by David
below. Some are not very good.. Bass's are ok.. Organ sounds are very
good.. Horns are half and half.. anyway.. I'm sure I'll be trying out some
softsynths / sounds with this thing.
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sax_sample.mp3
You played that sax line on guitar? Sounds great.
Ricky W. Hunt
2004-04-05 23:10:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by David
Yes! It's funny how you change you playing style with the sound... without
really thinking about it.
Yours sounded much better than Roland's demos. I was turned off from buying
that unit a few weeks back because their demos where so bad. Maybe they
should hire you.
David
2004-04-06 12:18:42 UTC
Permalink
Thanks Ricky! Did you see the NAMM video? The guy doing that was a little
over the top. Kinda like a the oxiclean guy with a guitar. He was
versatile though. I'll give him that.
Post by David
Post by David
Yes! It's funny how you change you playing style with the sound...
without
Post by David
really thinking about it.
Yours sounded much better than Roland's demos. I was turned off from buying
that unit a few weeks back because their demos where so bad. Maybe they
should hire you.
Ricky W. Hunt
2004-04-06 17:45:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by David
Thanks Ricky! Did you see the NAMM video? The guy doing that was a little
over the top. Kinda like a the oxiclean guy with a guitar. He was
versatile though. I'll give him that.
I didn't watch it all they through. I always get bored and drop out of those
type videos. Ones done like a sales pitch. "Wouldn't it be great to be able
to play your guitar like a blah blah blah and after 10 minutes they finally
show a little of what it sounds like. I want them to start off cold playing
it so I can hear what it sound like. If it sounds bad, goodbye! Your stuff
sounded great. How does it pick what samples to play? Those were real
(compared to each other) that it would have to be either it knowing how to
pick the samples (to play like a sax would for certain phrases, but I don't
see how that could happen in real-time) or YOU are doing it somehow. Did you
play a special way to get it that realistic? Do you also play sax in real
life? I'm trying to determine what was the reason for it's success: Roland
or YOU?
David
2004-04-06 18:18:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by Ricky W. Hunt
How does it pick what samples to play? Those were real
(compared to each other) that it would have to be either it knowing how to
pick the samples (to play like a sax would for certain phrases, but I don't
see how that could happen in real-time) or YOU are doing it somehow.
Well.. I'm not sure I completely under stand what you're asking. but,
I just used the "moody sax" (single) patch and recorded the audio output
from the unit. I think the patches are velocity sensitive to the point that
the
sound is effected by your playing to some degree. Also, that patch has
some nice vibrato added to the end of it, so if you hold the note, you get
that effect. In fact, the only pedal I pushed was the hold on the very last
note just to get it to sustain a little longer. I haven't experimented too
much
with the bend (glide) pedal yet.
Post by Ricky W. Hunt
Did you
play a special way to get it that realistic?
I think as you play the guitar and use different patches, you automatically
adjust
you playing style to what you are hearing. Like this patch is a breathy sax,
so
I played slow and longer notes. Also, I think a sax is normally played more
vertical than a guitar.. so I guess I tried thinking like that.
Post by Ricky W. Hunt
Do you also play sax in real
life? I'm trying to determine what was the reason for it's success: Roland
or YOU?
No, I don't play sax.. but I listen to allot.. I love the old blue note
stuff from
the 50s and 60s. I wish I could play like those cats! I'm spending
most
of my time just playing with the thing and getting used to different sounds.
Most challenging so far is organ parts for comping. The single note stuff
comes easier for me.. I think for comping, play 2 or 3 note chords sounds
the best so far.
David
2004-04-06 18:25:50 UTC
Permalink
Post by Ricky W. Hunt
How does it pick what samples to play? Those were real
(compared to each other) that it would have to be either it knowing how to
pick the samples (to play like a sax would for certain phrases, but I don't
see how that could happen in real-time) or YOU are doing it somehow. Did you
play a special way to get it that realistic? Do you also play sax in real
life? I'm trying to determine what was the reason for it's success: Roland
or YOU?
Hey Ricky, I think the patches (at least some) are velocity sensitive, so
your playing does effect the sounds to some degree, but that was just one
patch. As far a playing a special way.. I think you automatically adjust
your playing to what instrument you are hearing. I don't play the sax..
thanks though! Lately I'm trying to get convincing B3 playing out of the
thing. I think playing 2 and 3 note chords may be the answer.
Ricky W. Hunt
2004-04-06 22:15:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by David
Hey Ricky, I think the patches (at least some) are velocity sensitive, so
your playing does effect the sounds to some degree, but that was just one
patch. As far a playing a special way.. I think you automatically adjust
your playing to what instrument you are hearing. I don't play the sax..
thanks though! Lately I'm trying to get convincing B3 playing out of the
thing. I think playing 2 and 3 note chords may be the answer.
Nice. Let me know if you get anymore songs up.

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