Edirol SD-20 vs. UA-25 -- Pros/Cons???

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 31 Oct 2005 2:03 pm

I am considering the purchase of an Edirol SD-20 sound module for use with BIAB. The best price I have found is $269 at MusicSoftwareStore.com. However, I ran across another unit called the UA-25 at their web site that appears to serve the same purpose but is priced at $229. I had not heard of the UA-25. Can anyone tell me the "pros" and "cons" of the two units?

Thanks

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[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 31 October 2005 at 02:04 PM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 31 Oct 2005 2:55 pm

Roy, Here is the link to the Edirol site. http://www.edirol.com/products/synthesis.html

The UA 20 is not a MIDI Synth. http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua25.html [This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 31 October 2005 at 03:01 PM.]

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 31 Oct 2005 9:06 pm

Thanks, Jack. From the brief descriptions I couldn't tell -- especially since this is my first attempt at trying to get better sounds out of my BIAB and laptop "ThinkPad." I see by the Forum that several people are using the SB-20. I have about 50 of my arrangements programmed into BIAB, and I would like to get a more realistic band sound for practice purposes without a lot of expenditure. A friend out in Seattle played some recorded stuff he did using an SB-20 and I was impressed. Would the SB-20 fed by a BIAB signal with the output of the SB-20 straight into a stereo or mono amp be what you would recommend? Another questinon is: would it work to "Y" the left and right outputs to a single mono amp, such as one of my Peaveys? I value your opinion, as you are an accomplished steeler as well as an electronics guru.

If you prefer, you might want to email me -- but I thought others on the Forum might get some benefit from your response.

We aree in the Memphis area again, but will be back in Florida for about 6 weeks beginning about the middle of November, so I hope the club will be meeting in December. It would please me no end to sit in on your December jam.

Regards to Blake, Don and the others.

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Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 1 Nov 2005 5:58 am

Roy I sent you an e-mail.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 1 Nov 2005 7:31 am

I use the Edirol SD-80 with very good results. I like it because it can be rack mounted, which is what I do.
Erv

erik · Post by **erik** » 1 Nov 2005 3:08 pm

Not to confuse things... but before Edirol there was Roland Sound Canvas, of which many models were made. You might be able to pick up one off eBay for less and have full edibilty from the front panel.

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-johnson

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 1 Nov 2005 8:03 pm

Someone just listed a Roland Sound Brush on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ROLAND-Sound-Brush-SB55-Midi-File-Player-with-remote_W0QQitemZ7362518705QQcategoryZ38090QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

With this thing, you could export your Band In A Box files to MIDI files and save them on a floppy disk. The Sound Brush will play the files from the floppy disk.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 1 Nov 2005 8:33 pm

Personally, I would go with a laptop and some softsynths.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 1 Nov 2005 9:55 pm

I've been using an sd-20 for over a year now, I'm happy with it. The sounds are good and it's hassle free.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum SD12U, Carter D10 8/8, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Bob Martin · Post by **Bob Martin** » 2 Nov 2005 3:16 am

Hi Roy, there are 2 schools of thought here Software synths and hardware synths. A few years ago the best way to go was a hardware synth but with the onslaught of more powerful computers software synths are fast taking the lead.

Just a couple of things to consider most of the cheaper hardware synths are not upgradeable ie the sounds that you get will be the only sounds it will ever be able to play.

Software synths are upgradeable and if you get tired of the sounds that you are using you can just get another SW synth or upgrade the one you are using.

The SW synths have evolved so far that they are just unbelievable and sound so good and for the most part I think you will find that they will be a cut above the hardware synths.

Now that being said there are always exceptions to any rule. If you want to spend big bucks for a hardware synth you can get upgradeable synths and very good sounding units.

I have a Korg X5DR that is just killer and it comes with a lot of cool samples and you can add more and they sold for 700.00 or 800.00 bucks back in the 90's now you can find them on ebay for around 150 to 250.00 and you can't go wrong with it and many others are avaliable like the Roland JV series Kurzwiel, Yamaha and others but still they are not nearly as flexible as a sw synth.

Now as far as SW synths go you can find a killer and I mean killer sample playback unit for around 150.00 to 350.00 and some of the samples are so big that they span several CD's. If you want to go a cheaper route and still have killer sounds Coyote makes a SW synth for around 50 bucks that will rival most hardware synths and the acoustic guitars are some of the best I've ever heard.

Just to let you know I have 2 killer hardware synths that cost big bucks back in the 90's and they just set there in a box. I use SW synths exclusivly and I never have looked back. I keep saying I am going to hook them back up because they have some really good unique sounds but as with any hardware equipment they are a hassle to hook up and run the midi cables and the audio cables too.

With the SW synths they are built right in your computer and no wires and no mess. So if you have a computer I'd go with a SW synth if not well you don't have much of a choice. I hope this will help you make your decision.

Bob

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 2 Nov 2005 4:42 am

I see that some like to use software synths for their BIAB using a laptop. Do those who do just run an audio signal out of their laptop to an amp to play their tunes? Or, is it better to save them to a SMF floppy or mini-disc, and use them that way?

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm totally new at this computer based music thing. I've always been "old-school" when it comes to making practice tracks (i.e., lay down a part at a time on a 4-track), but I recently downloaded the demo version of BIAB, and it's already improved my steel playing in just a few days by me being able to program in some progressions and turn-arounds (VERY fast too, I might add), and just looping them non-stop. WAY COOL!

From what I'm reading here, it sounds like all I need to do is find a decent mid-priced laptop to put BIAB in, along with a good sounding software sound program, and I could take it with me for practice on the road, along with my Roland Micro-cube? I like it!

TJW

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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)

Bob Martin · Post by **Bob Martin** » 2 Nov 2005 8:19 am

Well Todd if you want more control out of your practice tracks just use your laptop and run an audio cable to an amp that way you can change keys tempo volume and such.

If you record them to minidisc your stuck with the recording the way it was recorded but if you didn't mind that it's a pretty easy way to go.

Bob

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 2 Nov 2005 10:06 am

Thanks to all of you for the information. Like Todd, I'm new to the whole area of synthesizers, MIDI, etc. While I was in Seattle a couple of months ago, I met a really nice guy named Wayne Franco who demonstrated some of his music created using the SD-20 and got me turned on to the great sounds he produced. Between Wayne and my friend Jack Stoner, I'm getting a rapid "poor man's course in computer music" from these two guys. Since I already have a lot of my own arrangements programmed into BIAB, I like the idea of simply "plug it in and turn it on" -- no learnimg curve at all. I have already found out that the more I learn the more I see out there that I don't know. As I begin to feel my way around thr front end of the related technology, I'm sure I will want to make some changes; I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a bottomless pit.

Again, I appreciate the input.

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erik · Post by **erik** » 2 Nov 2005 4:35 pm

Roy, it IS a bottomless pit. The best thing to do would be to trust your friends with gear they know works. I clicked the link and see that the Edirol is merely an update of the old Sound Canvas products. The SB-20 looks like hardware, which is appropriate for a laptop.

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-johnson

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 3 Nov 2005 2:21 pm

I tried the new Band In A Box 2005 with a software synth a couple of days ago. I used the TTS synth that comes with Cakewalk Sonar 5 Producer Edition. Worked out pretty well. But there is a little latency between start and stop with the softsynth compared to a hardware synth. The delay was hardly a problem though. Maybe 1 second. That would be worth it to me if I was playing tunes with a laptop just to not have to carry around any extra hardware.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 3 Nov 2005 6:26 pm

Gary,

If I recall the specs, the SD-20 weighs less than one pound -- not a lot of hardware to carry around.

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