Roland RD 2000 Review

We rated the Roland RD 2000 a 10/10. The RD 2000 is an 88-key digital piano with dual sound engines and 8-track recording. It has PHA-50, the newest and most advanced action on the market today. The 8-track internal recording will satisfy composer and songwriters, and the onboard effects simply excellent. The audio interface is equally as impressive. With 9 sliders and a direct line in to your DAW, recording is made easy. I would highly recommend  this stage piano!

In this Roland RD 2000 review, we will be delving into a high-quality stage piano. According to the maker, the Roland RD 2000 is ‘A dream come true for the performing keyboardist’. 

Here is the sneak peek we get of this instrument package from the Roland page.

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 an 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 joining the latest piano models already on board as well as historic RD stage piano series available from Roland’s Axial website.”

The Roland RD 2000 first came out in 2017. While it premiered a few years back, it is still the flagship RD piano. 

Roland RD Pianos: A Bit of History

Roland RD pianos are all stage pianos. The first RD, the Roland RD 1000, came out over thirty years ago. This 1986 model’s largest selling point was its SAS. SAS stands for structured adaptive synthesis, which means that the keyboard could be split up into zones. This new technology allowed timbres to become more accurate, thus creating one of the most accurately and realistic pianos from the 80’s. 

Just a year later, in 1987, the RD-250 and RD-300 were released. Over the years the piano action changed and improved, and the sound banks and sampling technology expanded greatly. By 1994, Roland had come out with a model that had over 100 sounds, and a lighter build.

The next large innovation in the RD line was the RD 500, which added transmit. This allowed players to ‘transmit’ their music to MIDI. Fast forward to the RD-700’s, and we finally see Rolands trademark SuperNATURAL sound engine emerge. 

Finally, Roland came out with the RD 800. The RD 800 is the predecessor to the model we will be checking out today. The RD 800 is lighter than all the digital stage pianos that came before it. With the addition of a tone color knob, PHA-4 action, and a lighter-than-ever build, this keyboard set us up for the most advanced Roland stage piano today: The Roland RD 2000. The rest of this article will be focused on the specs and features of the RD 2000.

Roland RD 2000 Features

A Sleek Board / Audio Interface

The Roland RD 2000’s interface looks modern and is easy to use. It has 9 sliders instead of knobs or buttons, which I personally love. Speaking of interfaces, this model has a built in USB/MIDI audio interface. It has a line-in for you DAW (digital audio workstation), so it makes it easy to produce music with. 

Dual Sound Engines

There aren’t a lot of instruments that have two sound engines, but the Roland RD 2000 is one of them. This model boasts the following when it comes to sounds: 

• Two SuperNATURAL sound engines
• Roland’s newest acoustic piano sounds, as well as other keyboard voices
• Over 1,100 non-piano voices (Brass, organs, strings, and more) 
• A second sound engine with 128 note polyphony and more electronic pianos
• Roland’s classic piano sounds: the RD-1000 and MKS-20

8-Track Internal Recording

With up to eight assignable zones, there are a lot of possibilities for composers and producers. You can combine both internal and external voices, including those from software like your DAW. 

Excellent Effects

The following effects are available on this instrument: 

• Resonance
• Reverb
• Delay
• Tremolo
• Amp simulator
• A compressor 

Version 1.50 Software

I’m a little relieved to see that this instrument has had a software update. Since it came out in 2017, that put Rolands flagship stage piano over 5 years old now. However, this new update keeps the piano relevant. 

This version 1.50 software added new voices to the sound engine. With this update, you get 7 new grand piano sounds. You also get a rotary effect, which you can add to instruments voices such as organs. 

11 Metronome Patterns 

With 11 metronome patterns available, this keyboard makes practice time entertaining, to say the least. Keep your beats groovy with the RD 2000! 

PHA-50 / Progressive Hammer Action Keybed 

You’ve probably heard of PHA-4…But have you heard of PHA-50? PHA-50 is now the newest key action on the market. The big difference between the PHA-4 and the PHA-50 is the material inside of they keys. Many players have reported that the PHA-4 feels…plasticy. That’s likely because the keys are indeed, made of all plastic. With the PHA-50, however, there is real wood inside every key. This improves the feel by making the keys heavier.

PHA-50 keyboards have three sensors inside. Pianists have said that this keyboard feels lighter than other, older key actions. Players have also noticed that the black keys seem slightly smaller on the RD 2000, and that the white key spacing is slightly different than on keyboards with PHA-4. I highly recommend trying this PHA-50 keyboard out for yourself. 

Other Features

Other notable features on the Roland RD 2000 include: 

• Vintage analog FX
• Roland’s pitch and mod level
• Assignable wheel controllers
• On-board knobs with LED indicators
• Handy-Scene snapshots (which allow you to recall your keyboard setup)
• Access to sounds on Rolands Axial website
• RAINLINK velocity control 

Specifications

• Weight: 47.14 pounds
• Dimensions: 55.6 x 14.5 x 5.6 inches
• Keyboard type: Digital stage piano 
• Audio Inputs: 1 x 1/8″ (aux in)
• Audio Outputs:2 x XLR (main out), 2 x 1/4″ (main unbalanced), 2 x 1/4″ (sub out)
• Headphones: 1 x 1/4″ (headphones)
• USB: 2 x Type A, 1 x Type B
• MIDI I/O:In, Out, Out/Thru
• Pedal Inputs: 2 x 1/4″ (foot controller), 1 x 1/4″ (damper), 1 x 1/4″ (external)
• Pedal Included:DP10 Damper
• Expansion: 2 x internal wave expansion slots via USB port
• Display:Graphic LCD
• Power Supply:Standard IEC power cable

Roland RD 2000 Price

The Roland RD 2000 price is around $2,899.99, though I have seen it as high as $3,699.99. Given all of its features and voices, this price range is more than fair. 

Who Is It Suitable For?

The Roland RD 2000 is suitable for keyboardists who are intermediate players and up. The Roland RD 2000 is a professional-grade instrument, so it’s not really ideal for younger piano students. 

Musicians Who’ve Played on RD2000

From Elton John to Mike Lindup, hundreds of musicians have found themselves favoring the RD line of instruments. Mike Lindup (keyboardist from Level 42) has played on the RD2000 in live performances. According to him, this Roland piano has a great attack and sustain. 

You can see Berenice Scott (Musician and composer) performs on the RD2000 here.

Myron McKinley (director and keyboardist of Earth, Wind, and Fire) did an artist’s impression of the instrument in the following video.

In the video, Myron says that he has always loved the RD pianos. He really values how this piano has a large sound bank, which can fit any genre. 

The Roland In Action

Let’s hear the Roland RD 2000 being played a bit more. This all-playing, no-talking video shows off some of the organ, synth, and electronic piano keyboard sounds from the SuperNATURAL soundbank. 

As I was listening, I noticed how responsive the PHA-50 keyboard sounded. From synths to organs to rich classical pianos, the realism of this instrument is unmatched, given its price range. 

Amazon Reviews

The Roland RD 2000 was rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon. 

Here is what the customers liked:

• The sound quality
• The value for the price
• The complexity of the instrument 
• ‘Good enough to score a feature film with’
• It is a great investment
• It works really well for jazz fusion artists
• The keyfeel is ‘fabulous’

Throughout the many 5-star reviews that I read, I noticed how many players commented saying that they love the instrument, but that it is not a good choice for beginners. 

Here was the only negative review that I saw:

• The lowest reviewer rated it 2.5 stars, for beginners

It’s pretty obvious to us, at this point, that this is not a good instrument for beginners. It has far too many bells, whistles, sounds, and effects! This is a upper-intermediate to pro level piece of equipment. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The RD 2000 is a high-quality instrument
• It has not one, but two sound engines 
• This instrument is compatible with Roland’s Live Sets
• It has controller features
• The RD 2000 has new Roland sounds, as well as classic ones
• The piano sounds simulate acoustic pianos extremely accurately 
• Its hybrid wood build makes it an extremely sturdy instrument 
• It is fully weighted and has a full-sized keyboard

Cons

• The Roland RD 2000 does not have built-in speakers
• There don’t appear to be any other color options for this model

We can look at this two ways. The fact that the Roland RD 2000 doesn’t have speakers to its quality, makes it a pro in a sense. On the other hand, beginning pianists may not want to have to purchase extra amplification just to use their new instrument 

For those who value the rosewood and or white instrument aesthetics, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. The Roland RD 2000 comes in the same variety of colors as the first Ford vehicles did- Black, and black. 

Quick View 

A Second Package Option

While the first Amazon listing doesn’t come with many extra accessories, the following listing includes the stand and 3-pedal unit for the same price ($2,899.99). 

Roland RD 2000

Comparable Instruments

• Yamaha CP88 $2599.99 
• Yamaha MODX $1099.99 
• Nord Stage 3  
• Nord Piano $3,499.99 
• Nord Grand $3,699.99 
• Korg Grandstage $2,229.99 
• Kawai MP11SE $2,799.99 
• Roland RD88 $1,499.99 
• Roland Fantom 8 $3,999.99

The Yamaha CP88 is the keyboard that is most often compared to the Roland RD 2000. It is within a very similar price range. That being said, a big con when comparing it to the Roland is that it only has 57 voices.

The Yamaha MODX is technically a synthesizer rather than a stage piano. I included it on the list because it has a higher amount of polyphony, a good amount of internal recording space, and two sound engines. 

It is half the price, so if these specs sound like they match up with your ideal piano, consider one of Yamaha’s MODX’s instead! 

The Nord Stage 3 is significantly more expensive than the RD 2000. That just comes with the territory of this brand name. That being said, this package includes a full set of accessories. The on-board interface of this digital stage piano is much more complex than that of the Roland RD 2000. In addition to this, it has 2 gigs for internal storage for Nord Library sounds, as well as an excellent organ sound engine.

The Nord Piano 5 is both a studio piano and a stage piano. While it is less costly than the Stage 3, it is still more than the RD 2000.  This instrument has less polyphony (120 notes), but more in the way of production (crossfades, synth sounds, effects, etc).

The Kawai MP11SE is a stage piano with wooden keys. Some of its selling points are: Harmonic imaging sounds, triple sensors and let-off in the keybed, and vintage effects. 

Now, onto Roland. The two Roland instruments that are most comparable to the RD2000 include the Roland RD88, and the Roland Fantom 8. The Roland RD88 is much more economical of an instrument, and would probably best suit a gigging musician who wants a lighter, more simple keyboard. The Roland Fantom 8 is the only music workstation on this list. Like the RD 2000, it has the newest keybed action (PHA-50). The big selling point for me on this one is that it has multiple mic inputs. 

Overall, there are a lot of big-name contenders on this comparison list. 

In addition to all of the above, Amazon also compares the Roland RD 2000 to the following instruments, in a chart.

• Roland VR-09-B $1,029.99 
• Roland JUNO D-561 $ 899.99
• Roland F-140R $1,199.99
• Roland FP-30 

The VR and JUNO models are 61-key instruments. The JUNO is also available in 76 keys. They are both velocity-sensitive instruments. If you want a more economical and portable piano with SuperNATURAL sounds, consider one of these two. 

The 140R and FP-30 models include internal speakers, so they may be a better fit for the beginner to early intermediate range of players. While these two have significantly fewer tones, they still have a great build and 88 full-sized hammer-action keys. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Roland RD 2000 is a high-quality stage piano that I would personally recommend. This piano is sturdy, has a ton of great features, and has a gorgeous soundbank. This instrument suits the needs of many players, intermediate and up.

Come back next week for another review! 

Music Quote of the week:

“You write to become immortal, or because the piano happens to be open, or you’ve looked into a pair of beautiful eyes.” 

– Robert Schumann

10Expert Score

We rated the Roland RD 2000 a 10/10. The RD 2000 is an 88-key digital piano with dual sound engines and 8-track recording. It has PHA-50, the newest and most advanced action on the market roday. The 8-track internal recording will satisfy composer and songwriters, and the onboard effects simply excellent. The audio interface is equally as impressive. With 9 sliders and a direct line in to your DAW, recording is made easy. I would highly recommend this stage piano!

PROS

• The RD 2000 is a high-quality instrument
• It has not one, but two sound engines 
• This instrument is compatible with Roland’s Live Sets
• It has controller features
• The RD 2000 has new Roland sounds, as well as classic ones
• The piano sounds simulate acoustic pianos extremely accurately 
• Its hybrid wood build makes it an extremely sturdy instrument 
• It is fully weighted and has a full-sized keyboard

CONS

• The Roland RD 2000 does not have built-in speakers
• There don’t appear to be any other color options for this model