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Average rating:
4.2 out of 5
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I've been after one of these for ages and recently managed to get one for a bargain price.
I was a bit unsure at first, since I've read quite a few rather scathing reviews, but I was very surprised at how good this board sounds.
The pads are fantastic and even some subtle tweaking (using the buttons/sliders only - not going in and actually editing the sounds) resulted in even better sounds...
The "SpaceDreams" patch can be gently massaged to sound almost exactly like a Fairlight CMI. The filters are also great and can produce some very analog-sounding strings and pads.
The keyboard action is also excellent - not too light and very responsive. All-in-all an excellent synth.
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I have had this incredible gem of a synth since I bought it new in 1990. It set me back $3000.00. However, this board blew me away with its still phenomenal sounds, good effects, nice keys, huge display and powerful controller functions. I was originally going to buy a JX-10, but it didn't compare sonically. I saw many folks wishing they could have bought a D-70 back then, as they fell in love with its incredible strings etc.. Speaking of the sounds. I currently have mine plugged into a Edirol UA-101 and all I can say is OMG!. My buds can't believe this board still sounds so awesome. I also own a Triton Extreme 88 and Motif-8 and my D-70 easily sounds warmer bar none!. The piano samples on this baby still shine (even my jazz purist dad still craves them). This work horse also has a powerful DLM (Differential Loop Modulation) feature that deserves far greater attention for those who like to program their own sounds (I easily could go on for a while about its limitless sound shaping features). It also boasts a cool "analog feel" function that simulates old analog synth wild pitch deviations. I also have an ethnic sound card and 512 ram card. As for problems, mine has had the common issue relating to some keys failing to respond (This was fixed with a new contact board) and the LCD backlight is now out. I haven't had any issues with the MIDI, and still use it as my main controller. Yes this synth could have been better, yet for its time, it had no equal. It took years for the other manufacturers to try and rival it. Even the newer Rolands have trouble recreating these sounds!. I won't sell mine and please buy one for what it is. You will be glad you did!.
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I originally purchased my D-70 in 1990 so have lugged it around from gig to gig and from house to house moves for the past 18 years. Although I am no longer playing professionally, I did at one time have an extensive gig schedule in which the D70 was my primary board for live performances. To this day it is still operational although it requires a good cleaning which I have yet to get around to. There is no doubt that this keyboard deserved all the hype it received in 89 when it was released. The only issue I have had over the years with the keyboard is the keys. Maybe I just got one that was tempermental or I was particularly hard on the board.....but I have had to have several keys replaced or repaired due to the springs breaking on them. (keys would drop and become unplayable) Currently I have a couple of key sensors that do not register when the key is struck. Having said that, although an inconvenience never detered me from loving this board for its sounds. Rich tones and incredibly realistic for its time. Strings and Piano was always one of my favorites that really sounded like an orchestra and a piano player playing live together! The synth sounds were also very good, ( not cheesy like some of the older synths of its time ) and fairly easy to tailor to suit any taste. Programming sound adjustments was a bit of a pain. Anyway in closing, I would certainly recommend, if you find one sitting in someones closet or the pawn shop that you haggle for one. Although I would not pay an arm and a leg for it today ( I already did that it 1990! ) it would certainly be worth a couple of hundred bucks. Don't call me for mine though........I am keeping it!
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Hi there fellow D-70ists. Does anyone out there know how to get the keyboard back to factory settings. Totally stumped on this one. Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks alot and merry christmas.
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For years I've read of the mystique surrounding the D70. I finally bought one four months ago in a pawn shop that still had the sales sticker on and is in almost new condition. Easy decision since I paid $250 US for it. I have owned Roland Juno 6, 60, JV-880, SH101,have two 106's now, and a JD-800, and use them in my studio. The MIDI controller stuff doesn't interest me as I manage MIDI on the computer, and I don't play live very often, and would be especially careful with this synth because of it's age, even though it is built well. The great thing about this synth is no mystery at all, it sounds clean, rich, and professional, period. Even the cheesiest sounds on this synth still sound surprisingly thick and clear, and the sounds track well sonically across the keyboard. For example, strings don't get muddy in the low registers. The best piano has that funny mod sound to it and is good for the time, but doubtless others out there that are better. The stringy pads, analog synth things, bass synth, these are very good and usable. The key action and build quality is very good. The interface is a bit stuffy, but it's not difficult to figure out. This is a professional instrument. The on-board reverb is good too.
I noticed that most of the people that wrote reviews have had theirs for a while, and I intend to keep mine strictly based on sound quality. I usually expect to see amateur musical types saying "it sucks compared to synth X" which always annoys me. Any keyboard, even the bad ones, have some musical capability if you 1) are musical, and 2) approach an instrument for what it can do. Too many kids today don't even learn how to play and yet insist on playing armchair critic with gear. It doesn't work that way because the music is not in the gear, it's in your heart.
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