Pros and Cons
Digital pianos designed for live performance often offer more than portable models, such as a greater sound variety and features to handle even the most extensive repertoires. However, this presents a challenge for manufacturers, especially when trying to keep costs low. The Roland RD-08 not only rises to the occasion, but also allows for an optional feature expansion.
The RD-08’s handling is immediately appealing. Weighing in at just 13.5 kilograms, it remains highly portable, yet feels solid and well-built. It even includes built-in speakers that deliver surprisingly good sound—perfect for casual playing at home or small unplugged rehearsals. Well done!
Roland has equipped the RD-08 with the PHA-4 keyboard, the same key action found in the FP-30X, FP-60X, and its predecessor, the RD-88. The slightly textured key surface provides a secure playing feel. Despite the RD-08’s compact size, the keys offer a well-balanced counterweight for precise control. Considering the price range, this is outstanding!
Instead of a proper sustain pedal, Roland includes the DP-2 footswitch. Investing an additional €45 in the optional DP-10, which supports half-pedaling, is well worth it. This is the same situation as with the larger RD-88 and remains a point of criticism for a stage piano in the €1,000 range. A definite drawback!
If you want to integrate an iPad or music laptop via USB audio, you will have to dig even deeper into your pocket. Roland charges a hefty €299 for the software upgrade to unlock full USB audio/MIDI functionality. A major downside!
When it comes to sound variety, the Roland RD-08 likely surpasses any other stage piano in its class, thanks to Roland’s ZEN-Core technology. With over 3,000 “tones” stored in its memory, these are combined into around 100 “scenes” to create the actual sounds.
A fantastic feature with one small disadvantage: The otherwise intuitive operation of the RD-08 reaches its limits here. Navigating the vast sound library and editing options through the sometimes cryptic menus of the small display quickly becomes a challenge.
The SuperNATURAL Piano and SuperNATURAL E. Piano engines provide a solid foundation for live performances, with subtle nuances as well as powerful dynamics. Roland has carefully preserved the natural characteristics of an acoustic piano while ensuring the sounds retain the signature punch of Roland’s stage pianos. Impressive!
If you enjoy playing rich hybrid sounds, the RD-08 delivers. Its presets seamlessly blend acoustic and electric piano elements with expansive soundscapes—one of its greatest strengths. In addition, the RD-08 features the sounds that defined the stages of the ’80s and ’90s, cementing Roland’s legacy in the world of stage instruments.
SuperNatural pianos typically benefit from their rich sympathetic resonance, but unfortunately not the RD-08. While it does respond with duplex scale resonances during staccato playing, adding to the authenticity of the decay, resonances between harmonically related notes are absent. On the plus side, the RD-08’s key-off function allows for more refined sound shaping, particularly in the SuperNatural E. Piano sounds.
The RD-08’s USB-to-host port transmits MIDI data only, providing basic connectivity to computers and mobile devices. If you want more, Roland offers an optional RD-08 upgrade that unlocks additional features, including USB audio.
This upgrade is quite substantial, adding another concert piano from the SuperNATURAL Expansion Premium Series and enabling MainStage support. Apple’s performance software enables seamless integration of RD sounds with virtual instruments, easy zone creation, and more. Musicians using Logic Pro and other Apple-based programs will appreciate the expanded connectivity through MainStage. In addition, the upgrade provides access to two virtual Wave Expansion slots for loading Wave Expansions from the Roland Cloud.
Since the upgrade includes a lifetime key for Roland Cloud, you get full access to Roland’s extensive sound library. A major advantage is that Roland Cloud instruments can be used both as software instruments and within compatible Roland hardware.
This flexibility is a big plus for musicians who perform with a laptop and a stage piano. However, there’s still one drawback: Roland’s software instruments require periodic online registration. If they switch to demo mode due to lack of verification, the audio quality degrades significantly, rendering them unusable. That’s the last thing you want before a live gig, and definitely something Roland needs to improve on.
At the very least, Roland could have included USB audio support as a standard feature, for example, to use a similarly powerful live software like AUM on an iPad. Without the upgrade, users are forced to rely on audio interfaces and adapter cables to route the signal through the audio input.
This limitation is even harder to justify when you consider that Roland’s home and portable pianos—even entry-level models—already offer full USB audio/MIDI functionality.
Right out of the box, the Roland RD-08 works beautifully as a stage piano, although the included mini footswitch is best replaced with a proper sustain pedal. Additionally, two footswitch inputs allow for connections such as a volume pedal. On the left side, you’ll find a pitch wheel and a modulation wheel with relatively short control ranges, but they quickly feel natural to use.
The small graphic display is especially helpful for live performances, as it clearly shows sound names in plain text. Moreover, the backlit buttons with status LEDs improve visibility and navigation on stage.
With the four endless rotary encoders, you can control multiple functions simultaneously. By default, they adjust the volume levels for Upper 1, Upper 2, Lower, and Mic/Line. However, pressing the Reverb or EQ buttons quickly give access to those settings as well.
Creating split or layered sounds is quick and straightforward, and you can even add a third “Lower” part. Standard digital piano functions like transpose, tuning, and scale types are also available.
For more advanced control, such as editing sounds or assigning MIDI channels to different zones, the interface becomes a bit less intuitive. However, Roland has struck a good balance here: Spontaneous access to essential live performance features is definitely in the foreground.
A particularly unusual but practical feature for a stage piano is the built-in metronome, which even offers practice patterns. A great addition for use in rehearsals and practice sessions.
The Roland RD-08 offers high-quality acoustic and electric pianos as well as a wide range of sounds for live performances, convincing with great sound and playability. The SuperNatural pianos are particularly impressive. For rehearsals, the built-in speakers provide enough amplification for warm-ups, and the extensive sound selection covers a broad spectrum of live performance needs.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks: USB audio is only available via a paid upgrade, and the included footswitch as a sustain pedal substitute seems out of place on an instrument with professional aspirations.
Release date: March 2024
Keyboard: 88 keys, PHA-4, Ivory Feel, let-off simulation
Polyphony: n.s.
Sound engine: ZEN-Core, SuperNatural Piano, SuperNatural Digital Piano
Piano app: –
Included: Power supply, sustain footswitch
Optional accessories: RD-08 upgrade incl. USB audio (€299)
Manufacturer/Distributor: Roland
No. The supplied footswitch only works as an on/off switch. However, the RD-08 supports continuous control, which allows half-pedaling. At around €45, the optional Roland DP-10 is a worthwhile upgrade and highly recommended if you need this feature.
Yes, the let-off simulation replicates the subtle resistance felt when pressing the keys lightly, which is particularly beneficial when playing quiet passages. The let-off point is clearly noticeable yet easy to overcome. Thanks to the triple sensor system, the keyboard delivers precise response even during fast repetitions. The Ivory Feel surface on all 88 keys provides a secure and comfortable playing experience.
→ Find out more about let-off simulation, Ivory Feel, and the triple sensor system.
ZEN-Core is Roland’s proprietary sound engine, used in both the brand’s digital pianos and synthesizers. It stands out for its cross-compatibility within the Roland ecosystem, allowing sounds to be used in both hardware instruments and as VST plug-ins in a DAW.
With a vast library of 3,000 tones, ZEN-Core includes iconic sounds from Roland’s synthesizer history, featuring legendary names like Juno, Jupiter, and JX. Although authentic, these sounds feel rather rudimentary to adjust during live performances with the four knobs and the mod wheel. The organ sounds, derived from Roland’s extensive sound collection, integrate seamlessly into live setups.
The RD-08 features a surprisingly efficient internal speaker system, making it enjoyable for practice sessions and smaller unplugged performances. While the low-end frequencies don’t fully develop through the 2×6-watt speakers, they still serve well as a personal monitor for your playing. A key feature is the ability to turn the speakers on and off as needed.
USB audio is a valuable feature for musicians who want to use a laptop or mobile device alongside their digital piano. The key advantage is that both MIDI and audio data can be transmitted simultaneously using a single USB cable—eliminating the need for additional audio connections to external devices.
Yes, the RD-08 has a built-in song player that allows playback from external storage devices via USB-to-Device. However, the RD-08 does not include a recording function.
The RD-08 features a mini-jack input for connecting external audio sources, such as a smartphone, iPad, or another sound module. Additionally, singer-songwriters will appreciate the dedicated mic input, which supports dynamic microphones, making it easy to integrate a classic vocal mic into the setup. The RD-08 also applies its global reverb and chorus effects to the microphone input.
*Affiliate link. These “advertising links” help us finance our website. If you buy a product through such a link, we receive a small commission – at no extra cost for you. The PIANOO.com team says thank you for your support!
Pros and Cons
Ralf Willke
...a stage piano with excellent acoustic and electric pianos and solid features for the price. Less appealing, however, is the fact that USB audio requires a paid upgrade.
RD-08 : 849,00 €
TO THE OFFERYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information
