Roland EM-2000

The standard tones and styles are very good. I have not tried to edit anything yet. There are two manuals (EM-2000 and G-1000). Both are good. The MIDI setup for the arranger part was a bit tricky, but not a problem anymore.

Very impressive, endless posibilities!

I have not yet found a "count-in" function though.

The sound module is fantastic. However the built-in speakers are not so great. The keys are cheap synthesizer style (also not great).

I have struggled with a bad headphone connector, which can suddenly make all sound disappear, and a lot of vibration noise in the disk drives and cabinet. Mine is quite worn, so this explains something.

No problems obtaining spares from the local Roland store.

I compared it to an E-500 and there was quite a difference. I would definetely go for the EM-2000 again.

I use a Roland digital piano which has better keys and amplifier/speakers than the EM-2000. I connect MIDI OUT on the piano to MIDI IN on the EM-2000, then connect STEREO OUT on the EM-2000 to STEREO IN on the piano. This improves both feel and sound tremendously. The package is awesome value !

I often use MIDI files just to hear the realistic sounds on the Roland - very easy to use. Once you get to know the very detailed manual it's a pleasure just to use all of the features with confidence.

The keyboard action is a world apart from my Casio, I had no idea how much difference there is between brands. I just love to pound those keys to get the truer sounds and it feels great to adjust your touch to add the right mood to the songs. The DSP effects can do wonders to any tone if you muck around and generally spend enough time so you can have shitloads of fun!

It all sounds good, realistic, punchy, satisfying etc etc. I play all sorts at home and Rock with a gigging band and it's very easy to set up so you can go on to the next song very quickly and not upset any of the members fidgeting around looking for the right sound!!
As before i mentioned you can pound the crap out of the keys to add expressiveness to any song and add some realism to the song.

Yes its great for dependability, no sign of wear and tear yet, just keeps rockin' on!


i play at gigs with an amp and mixers etc, and gees it sounds bloody good hogging the amp sometimes and showing the crowd just what this baby can do!!!!

I got the manual from them pretty quickly, 'cos it was a demo.

If this was knocked off, I'd put a reward on it's head...
I love its versatility, I hate it's weight (only 'cos i'm small and sometimes after a hard nights' gig it feels heavy)!
I also have a Casio, hmmm I should have just bought the Roland first!
I got this this model because it was reduced from AU $6,000 to AU $2,700 - great bargain for a demo!!!
It has it all.
My music interpretations have greatly improved since purchasing, there is no slowing me now!
I'm trying to hook up a USB to make it easier to record stuff to - dunno how it will go though. Overall it's THE keyboard I've been looking for a very long time!!

- 2nd OS Version
- Excellent bright sounds WAY realistic than PSR9000
- Manual is clear and everything is explained in depth.
- Menu buttons, etc. a bit confusing in begining but get more intuitive with use.

If you read the manual- everything is explained in depth. Well worth the money paid.

This thing is packed with features. I was debating at the time whether of not to by the roland or dish out another 1200$ for the Korg Triton. I am glad I saved my money. The Triton is great...but the Roland does everyhting it does except loading samples and letting you record them.

Sounds are great. There are over 1000. I just wish you could load samples.

I have used this keyboard as my main sequencer and music player when I play gigs. Not only does it have a floppy for midi sequenced files...it has the 100mb ZIP..so I can store 1000's of songs for cue.

You can update the OS by SMF and updates are availbale at the roland website.

Best keyboard I have ever owned for the price paid.

After a couple times of reading the manual, I found it to be a very easy keyboard to figure out. At first I was a little confused with some features, but reading the manual helps.

Sequencer is great. I was able to use it on the first day I bought the machine. The biggest feature I love is the internal 100MB Zip drive and the floppy. Both are really useful and for the price I got a steal. No problems with MIDI and Cakewalk.

Over 1000 sounds and effects are great. I have no complaints about the sound. The D-Beam controller is an added treat.

I thonk this is one of the best keyboards out there. I was debating whether to buy this or a KORG TRITON, but I got the Roland instead because of the features.

This is the best instrument I have ever had.

Seen it demo'ed at Sam Ash. Fairly easy to grasp controls. I compared it to the Yamaha PSR-9000 -$2,999- and must say that I think the roland is the better deal by far. It's all a matter of getting used to and for any good keyboardist that should take very little time.
Knobs for choosing parameters from screen have a better tactile (that *pro* feel that the PSR's almost always miss...) feel and more responsive than on the PSR-9000 in my opinion.

D-Beam controller is quite usefull. Sometimes slowing a tempo is easier with the D-beam than with the wheel.

Piano is full and bright. Very versatile effects.

Anytime. Roland has always been reliable in this category

Bought it as DEMO. Full warranty.

If lost I would see what is out in a newer model (which is due any time now, say OCT, 2000.
Wish it had a sampler and voice harmony.

I have quite a few toys from Roland so I am not as confused as the first
time I tried to edit my GR 30 (guitar synth) or my ME 30 (effects unit).
I also played with it in the store and downloaded a Turbo Start from
Roland. I've had the unit home for about 3 days and have recorded tracks
to my BR-8 already. That's without doing a lot with the manual.

I am not a keyborad player I am a guitarist who wanted some background
beat and a little accompanyment. I got that and much more. I am teaching
myself how to play keys and this unit makes it easy. It has been written
that this unit is semi-pro and the G1000 is a pro unit. The sounds from
this thing are as incredible as anything I've heard. Sounds are easy
to change even on the fly. Styles-likewie. I've hooked it up to my GR 30
and am able to play my guitar with the keyboard sounds and visa versa.
I've gotten some incredible sounds.

Sounds are realistic. Over 400 styles. Haven't done much with the effects
myself but the effects in the styles are very good. Not weighted keys
but seems to respond nicely.

It's Roland. I have yet to have any problem with any of my Roland
equipment. I would not hesitate to use it on a gig.

I have not had to call on this unit. However, any time I've called
on my other equipment I've gotten good service. The trick with customer
support is once you've found someone who expresses a desire to be helpful,
just contact that person.

I got such a good deal on this unit. It was the only one in the store
(except for the demo). It was a close out. The store manager asked me to
make an offer I did and he took it. Not being a keybord player (yet)
I cannot see myself spending the $2000 asking price. But you never know.
If I lost it I would be pissed off for sure.

At first glance the EM2000 looks like the Captain's bridge from Star Trek but upon further investigation the keyboard is easy to use with the tones being selected intuitively by using the 5 knobs under the display. it is easy to create a good sounding composition within minutes of plugging in.

64 Note polyphony, 32 parts multi timberal, 16 track sequencer and 86 DSP effects. also includes a floppy and unusually a Zip drive. Another first is a d-beam controller, an infra red device on the unit which changes paramaters like cut and resonnance, transpose and arranger effects

With 12mb of rom onboard the 1,161 tones sound realistic with the drumkits sounding more active than those on other keyboards I have experienced. The inbuilt styles are more authentic and have a number of variations to keep the musician occupied

Extremely reliable unit - no causes for concern

when I first saw it I fell in love with it. It was #1599 at that point and when my dealer knocked off 300 I just had to buy it. It has all the features I want with a few extras which I wasn't expecting ie a Zip drive and the dbeam controller. when compared to others it excelled in all departments.

This is the first keyboard I have used which allowed me total expression in my playing, having upgraded from a Casio I realised how restricted I was.