TECH system based on a Intel P8098 CPU which handles 30 voices polyphonic subtractive synthesis RS PCM Resynthesized Pulse Code Modulation.
RS concept resynthesizes and rebuilds new harmonics using a custom sample interpolation, but it lacks a filter structure in fact RS can be mistaken with older L.A synthesis implemented in Roland D50 model.
U20
SOUND STRUCTURE sound hierarchy is a bit confusing: the lowest level is a tone which is composed by either 1 or 2 samples (2 samples tone reduces the whole polyphony) out of 128 tones available (drum is apart) with no possible edit. The upper level is the timbre composed by a single tone that has some editable parameters: volume, detune and vibrato LFO.
Finally 6 timbres make a patch for performance.
WAVETABLE Pure rompler synth: 3MB ROM (6X 512 kb ROM) is organized in 2 sound groups:
1-
acoustic samples eg: piano, bell, guitar, string, organ, brass [...]
2- precalculated basic waveforms eg: pulse, saw and generated harmonics.
Hear the PIANO PCM
PERFORMANCE synth manages up to 6 timbres (+ 1 drum part) and individual settings:
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split zones
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stereo panning position
-
volume gain
-
voice priority
- analog out routing
- aftertouch which can be assigned to LFO, pitch and volume.
ENVELOPE a single 4-stages amplitude EG.
LFO modulates only the amplitude with variable depth, delay time and 9 shapes: triangle, sinewave, square, saw up, saw down, trill (x2) and random (x2).
Special AUTOBEND function is a basic modulation for a pitch-warp effect, so it should be considered as another simpler LFO.
EFFECTS there are 2 main FX sections with limited edit parameters:
- reverb: 9 presets including hall, delay, room and gate
- chorus:
5 presets including chorus, flanger and delay.
ARPEGGIATOR & CHORD PLAY a basic arpeggiator system with no sync Midi clock:
up / down / updown / random.
A chord can be assigned to each key, allowing you to play chords with a single finger. Since a different chord can be assigned to each key C, C# - B, you can perform using diatonic chords or harmonies in thirds. Up to 8 sets of chords can be stored in the U-20 (diatonic, Sus 4, octave, power)
MAINTENANCE and REPAIR there are 2 common reported time issues worth to check out:
-
tact switch may need cleanig or direct replacement (better solution)
- dead keys (TUTORIAL)
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.
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(upper) contact strip
MEMORY:
-
64 patches
-
64 performances
-
4 rhythm sets.
RAM is doubled if RAM card model Roland m-256 is fitted.
EXPANSION the ROM can be expanded using special PCM cards.
Here's the list of available models:
| SN-U110-01 Pipe Organs & Harpsichords |
INFO |
| SN-U110-02 Latin and FX Percussion |
INFO |
| SN-U110-03 Ethnic |
INFO |
| SN-U110-04: Electric Grand and Clavi |
INFO |
| SN-U110-05: Orchestral Strings |
INFO |
| SN-U110-06: Orchestral Winds |
INFO |
| SN-U110-07: Electric Guitar |
INFO |
| SN-U110-08: Synthesizer |
INFO |
| SN-U110-09: Guitar and Keyboards |
INFO |
| SN-U110-10: Rock Drums |
INFO |
| SN-U110-11: Sound Effects |
INFO |
| SN-U110-12: Sax & Trombone |
INFO |
| SN-U110-13: Super Strings |
INFO |
| SN-U110-14: Super Ac Guitar |
INFO |
| SN-U110-15: Super Brass |
INFO |
| Musitronics Akkordeon (ID: 25) |
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| Musitronics Analog Synthesizer |
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| Musitronics Voices (ID: 22) |
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| Musitronics Eldek (ID: 21) |
|
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U-20 EDITOR here is a list of available software editors for the synth:
- U20 patch editor (PC freeware ) PIC
- Sounddiver (out of business)
- LIB-220
(PC Sharewave) PIC
- Motu Unisyn (MAC commercial)
- Patchmeister (Amiga) PIC
- U220 / U20 editor - (Atari ST ) PIC)
- Soundquest (MAC/PC commercial) pic below
RELATED FAMILY:
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U110- first model, noisier circuit but more PCM slots card- also smaller internal ROM.
U220- more or less the U20 rackmount version
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VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION there are some free and commercial samples set:
| |
name |
price |
demo |
 |
Martin 78 |
FREE
drum sample pack |
n/a |
AUDIO DEMO
Country: Japan
trend price : 150€
original brochure
SPECIAL AWARDS:
