« roland d2 »

it sounds very good,unlimited editing functions(but all controls are in sub-sub-sub menus),using d field to edit patterns is similar to tb303(note-rest-tie very boring),but you can use a midi keyboard after setting auto channel on(but to perform your sequences you have to reset auto channel off-very boring)
d field allows you to apply arpeggio,accent,reverb,delay,compression and other interesting process to your sound
if you want to use one i recommend to buy a real good controller(it's important to
have a lot of assignables knobs,to control at least 8 part levels,delays,minimum cutoff/resonance/rate/other filter options on one or two parts)
the quality of the keys or pad is not so important since once you get experienced
you'll prefer using d field to input notes
the structure of d2 is similar to mc series(505) but has no control knobs,all is
expanded in sub-menus
the first part (drum section)it's very nice,all iconic roland kicks,snares,etc from the great rythm composers of the past,but remember it's different from controlling a real tr808 due to the lack of editables parameters(only about drum section)
fortunately roland provide you preset section d that contains all tr's sampled sounds,setting a sound on each part of d2 you can play better than a real tr
(you can control gate,velocity,compression,delay etc for every part)
i think that it's also great as a midi sequencer(better than a sequentix for the
price)infact it can transmit a lot of data via midi,the manual is detailed and comprehensible about midi implementation
the sequencer is a little bit static,you have to write it,stop it,turn to play mode,start it,stop it,turn to rec mode,start it,and so on....
as mc serie roland give you a rehearsal mode but it apply only on real time recording,if you want to use it live buy other gears
megamix function is funny but useless for a composer,it allows you to mix and change the position of presetted iconic riffs and sounds to create an iconic
nothing
all sounds are fundamentals for electronic music(juno jupi tb vocoder organ vangelis string etc) but in c preset section also acoustic instruments are sampled
i bouth it brandnew from a roland dealer in orange colour(speak&spell look),i think there's also in black colour
the rear connections are rca left and right output,mini jack earphone,midi in/out/thru option in main menu,power plug(ac adapter included),and that's all