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Description
The Roland U-110 is a classic sound module that has been a staple in many musicians' setups since its introduction. Designed for versatility, this module is packed with a rich array of sounds, making it an ideal choice for both studio sessions and live performances. Whether you're a keyboardist seeking to expand your sonic palette or a producer in need of high-quality, diverse tones, the U-110 delivers with precision and clarity.
Featuring 128-voice polyphony, the U-110 allows for complex layering and textural soundscapes. It includes a wide range of onboard sounds—from realistic acoustic instruments to lush synth pads. Additionally, the module supports PCM sound expansion, allowing you to customize your library with additional sound cards. With its intuitive interface, musicians of all levels can easily navigate and tweak their sounds, ensuring that every note is exactly how you imagine it.
The Roland U-110 also offers MIDI connectivity, providing seamless integration into your existing setup. Its robust sound library and expandable architecture make it a timeless tool for any music creator looking to enhance their production capabilities with authentic, vibrant tones.
Key Features:
- 128-voice polyphony for rich, complex arrangements
- Wide selection of onboard sounds, including acoustic and synth tones
- PCM sound expansion capabilities for custom sound libraries
- Intuitive interface for easy sound navigation and editing
- MIDI connectivity for integration with other gear
- Ideal for both studio production and live performances
Product specs
| Brand | Roland |
| Model | U-110 PCM Sound Module |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1988 - 1990 |
| Made In | Japan |
| Categories | Digital Synthesizers, Rackmount Synths |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through |
| Polyphony | 31 Voices |
FAQs
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What type of sounds can I expect from the Roland U-110?
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The Roland U-110 is a PCM sound module featuring a variety of high-quality digital samples, including orchestral instruments, pianos, drums, and synth sounds, making it versatile for different musical genres.
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How many voices of polyphony does the Roland U-110 support?
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The Roland U-110 supports 31 voices of polyphony, allowing for complex arrangements and layered sounds without voice stealing.
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Does the Roland U-110 have MIDI connectivity?
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Yes, the Roland U-110 is equipped with MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and MIDI Through, enabling integration with other MIDI-compatible gear and DAWs.
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Is the Roland U-110 suitable for live performances?
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The Roland U-110 is a rackmount module, making it ideal for studio setups, but it can also be used in live performances when integrated with a MIDI controller or sequencer.
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Can I expand the sound library of the Roland U-110?
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The Roland U-110 allows for expansion through PCM cards, enabling users to add new sounds and enhance their sonic palette.
Videos
AudioPilz
Roland U-110 - Yet Another Boring 80s Synthesizer???
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland U-110.
Features and functionality
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Owners note the lack of filters and hidden sound editing parameters, which only became accessible with the U-220 model.
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The Roland U-110 is praised for its remarkable sample quality, fitting superb sounds into just 1 MB of compressed memory.
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The U-110 is primarily used as a MIDI metronome due to its limited features, with only about 5 patches deemed worth using by some owners.
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User experience
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The interface and manual are described as infuriating and akin to navigating a “phone book,” typical of late-80s Roland products.
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Setup and maintenance
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It's advised to change the battery to avoid potential board damage from leaks.
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Comparisons
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Despite its limitations, the Roland U-110's samples are still considered superb, even compared to modern standards.
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Software and compatibility
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Instrument definition files for the U-110 can be found online, specifically at a GitLab repository, which helps align logical patch names in DAWs.
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Voice names and patch names on the U-110 differ, but the basic voices closely resemble whatever modifications were made to create their patches.
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Critic Reviews
3.5 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 7 Ratings
Artist usage
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From the July 1990 issue of Sound on Sound, a list of instruments used by Vangelis:
Akai S900 Akai S1000 Direct Sequencer Emu Emulator II Korg DSM1 Korg M1 Korg Symphony Kurzweil 250 Roland D50 Roland Juno 106 Roland MKB1000 Roland MKS20 Roland MKS70 Roland MKS80 Roland S50 Roland U110 Sequential Prophet VS Yamaha DX7 II Yamaha EMT10
"I adored Roland's U-110 rack module. Until then, I had composed with FM sounds, so the change to PCM was a shock. I was like, 'Wow, I can hear the piano!'"
Mentioned in a May 2002 Keyboard magazine article by Hardy Fox.
For the Cube-E tour in 1989, they used the Drumkat, Roland D-50, D-10, U-110, D-110, and a Roland sampler, all run with a Mac II and Opcode Vision.
I had an Akai weighted motherboard on the bottom, and then a Roland A-50 I think, which was a non-weighted controller. I had two controllers that didn’t make a noise going into a Roland U-110 module. I also had a Roland S-770 sampler because I liked the sonics of it, as well as a few other modules.
In a photo posted by Offworld Records on Instagram, Ludovic Navarre, also known as St Germain, is shown in his basement studio in 1995 with several racks, including a Roland U-110 sound module.
Kenji Kawai is confirmed to use a Roland U-110, as it is listed on his official website under the profile section.
In this instagram post Carlos Nilmmns mentions aquiring the Roland u-110 unit. its stacked with a u-220 and a super JV1080.
The instrument appears on the list of instruments on official artist's website (http://olszak.pl/).
Included in his studio are synthesizers such as the Roland MKS-70, two MKS-50s, a MKS-80 and D-50; Yamaha TX-81Z; four Oberheim Matrix 1000s, E-mu Orbit and Morpheus, and a Casio VZ-10M. Sample players include Kurzweil 1000AX+, Roland U-110, Oberheim DPX-1, E-mu Proformance Piano and Proteus (as well as the Proteus 2 and 3), Alesis NanoBass and samplers, including a Casio FZ-10M, two Akai S-1000s and three Akai CD-3000s. He also turns to E-mu Procussion, Roland R-8M, Alesis DM-5, Roland BD-1 and a Roland SPD-11 for drum sounds.
STRUMENTI E VINTAGE KEYBOARDS Pianoforte YAMAHA C3 CONSERVATORY mezza coda (Disklavier) Piano elettrico FENDER RHODES 88 tasti Piano Digitale YAMAHA P-60 HAMMOND B3 – HAMMOND C3 – HAMMOND T-500 – LESLIE 122 – LESLIE 147 Basso elettrico GIBSON RIPPER Chitarra elettrica GRETSCH BATTERIA PEARL con rullante LUDWIG e piatti PAISTE e ZILDJIAN CONGAS – PERCUSSIONI di vario genere VINTAGE KEYBOARDS MINIMOOG KURZWEIL K250 KURZWEIL RMX 250 KORG M1 KORG Trinity ROLAND D50 Linear Synthesizer ROLAND D550 Linear Synthesizer YAMAHA DX7 FDII ENSONIQ SQ80 Analog Sinthesizer ROLAND D-110 ROLAND U-110 EMULATOR III EMULATOR III XP 2 EMULATOR IV E6400 OBERHEIM Matrix 1000 KAWAI K1m BOSS Drums Machine YAMAHA RX5 Drums Machine
(All from the website)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Roland U-110, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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