Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 15:26:47 -0400 From: steven dubofsky To: analogue@hyperreal.org Subject: [AH] Got a DR-202 Hi Ho Mr. UPS man gave me a Boss DR-202 today and so far i think it's pretty damn nice. Loads of useful sounds, decent filter and easy as pie interface. The unit's buttons are not velocity senstive but it recieves velocity just fine. I was quite pleased to discover that it responds to pitch bend. Hmm, what else? Oh yeah, bastards at Roland do not include a PS but do give you batteries to get you going. I haven't even cracked the manual yet but am already having a blast with this thing, it's very easy to get around, nothing at all like the MC303. Setting up kits is a breeze as is editing sounds. It has some useful bass sounds in there as well, these can also be edited and tweaked in real time and respond to the normal controllers ie; PB, modulation as well as assorted CCs. The internal sequence is a three track affair. One track for drums, one for bass and one that can drive an external midi device, pretty handy. I'm going back to play. If anyone has any questions I'll be glad to try and answer. hidey ho steve d -- AH Compilation Tape Info Synth Crap Gear For Sale Music Marmoset Recipes http://users.nac.net/skullsaw This is my synth. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My synth is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it, as I must master my life. Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 16:25:02 -0400 From: steven dubofsky To: analogue@hyperreal.org Subject: [AH] More on the DR-202 I successfully recorded some stuff into my MMT8 and sure enough them knobs send out CCs, very nice. Some more random info: 207 drums 49 basses Assignable footswitch can start/stop, cont/stop or trigger sounds. Audio output? pair of RCAs...sucks but I can live with it 10 reverbs including delays 4 flanger presets Effect have a few editable parameters...reverb length, delay time, flanger rate. Select knobs which determines which instruments are affected by the other knobs. Can be set for individual drums, all drums and all instruments. Now for the sounds. I think there's something for everyone in this box. Plenty of 808, 909, 606 to tight jungle, drum and bass to industrial bashes all the way to standard meat and potato kits. Editing features give a lot of variety to the sounds, just tweaking down the decay can make some snappy little snares and such. The 808 and 909 toms don't cut it as is. The 808s aren't as round as the real deal and the 909s sound dead, like drums with felt on the heads, maybe tweaking can improve it, don't know. I've found plenty of snappy snares and punchy BDs. Nice distorted 606 kick. I have no complaints about any hats or cymbals, I like the way they sound, subjective opinion to be sure. The claps are a weak point, can't put my finger on it they just don't sound right to me. Overall, plenty of good usable sounds. The basses are usable and respond to mod and pitch bend. The "303" stuff comes alive when you twist the ole filter and resonance knobs. No it won't fool anyone but I just consider the basses to be a bonus. Deep sine basses could come in handy. A couple of sore points: 1. Noisy output IMO, hisses even worse when the flanger is cranked. No big deal, it gets buried once audio is output. 2. Double triggering now and then from the nonvelocity pads. The one I test drove at GC did this too. 3. RCA jacks...'nuf said. I haven't yet tried using it as a drum machine, I prefer sequencing so I can't comment on that. I also can't comment on any of the "grooves" as I still haven't pressed the start button. It cost me $355 delivered and thus far I am happy. that is all steve d -- AH Compilation Tape Info Synth Crap Gear For Sale Music Marmoset Recipes http://users.nac.net/skullsaw This is my synth. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My synth is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it, as I must master my life.