Roland E-20

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The Roland E-20 is a keyboard instrument introduced by Roland in 1988.

Described by Roland as an "Intelligent Synthesizer", the instrument was the first product of Roland Europe SpA, which had been set up after a takeover of the SIEL company of Italy the previous year. The new venture was a strategic move by Roland to enter the lucrative home keyboard market which had hitherto been dominated by both Yamaha and Casio.

Featuring auto accompaniment, and built in speakers the E-20 used the advanced LA Synthesis system as used on the legendary Roland D-50 its core sound engine. The E-20 set a new standard for the amateur keyboardist, with high-quality sounds, innovative drum patterns and backings which were widely recognised as being a jump ahead of Yamaha's competing PSR line.

As well as the E-20 itself, the cheaper E-5 and E-10 were subsequently launched as "cut down" versions, while the enhanced E-30 debuted in 1990. There was also a modular version (the RA-50 Realtime Arranger), and the Pro-E Intelligent Arranger, which was basically half an E-20 minus speakers with only the arranger and drum unit.

Roland would go on to dominate the home keyboard market in the 1990s with subsequent generations of the E-series line, and would later introduce the closely related professional G-series line (the G-800, G-1000 and later, the G-70) as auto accompaniment began to gain acceptance and recognition within the high-end user community. However, all of these products retain the same basic architecture of the E-20.

[edit] Generations of Roland Home Keyboards

  • First Generation (Produced 1988-1991)
E-5, E-10, E-20, E-30, RA-50, Pro-E Arranger
  • Second Generation (Produced 1991-1993)
E-15, E-35, E-70, RA-90
  • Third Generation (Produced 1993-1996)
E-16, E-36, E-56, E-86, RA-95
  • Fourth Generation (Produced 1995/6 - 1998)
E-28, E-68, E-96, G-800, RA-30, RA-800
  • Fifth Generation (Produced 1998 - 2001)
EM-2000, EM-50, EM-30, E-500, G-1000
  • Sixth Generation (Produced 2001 - 2005)
VA-3, VA-5, VA-7, VA-76, EXR-3, EXR-3s, EXR-5, EXR-5s, EXR-7
  • Seventh Generation (Produced 2005 - today)
E-50, E-60, E-80, G-70