A Private Virtual Roland D-70 for Linux! | Sound Demo

video upload by PixelWings

"I’ve always loved vintage Roland synthesizers and wanted a D‑70, but concerns about dealing with the dreaded maintenance nightmares the D-70 is known for kept me from buying one. Eventually, I decided to make my own software recreation: D‑70v.

This is a private, completely unofficial hobby project running on Linux, created for the pleasure of exploring and playing the wonderful D‑70 sounds. The GUI interface was drawn from scratch in GIMP, inspired by the original keyboard’s front panel, with functional buttons, sliders and a data wheel. The aim was to recreate not just the sound, but the experience of operating the instrument -but optimized for a computer screen as well as being able of running on an absolute potato. The core application is approximately 450 KB, excluding the required ROM data, and CPU usage is extremely low.

This video brings together a selection of my favorite D‑70 factory patches. I spent some time playing through the factory bank and later edited my favorite moments into this demonstration. It is simply an opportunity to enjoy the sounds and share my excitement about bringing this instrument into software. All instrument sounds and effects heard in this demonstration are generated by D‑70v itself. No external synthesizers or effects were used; the clips were simply selected, edited and faded together.

This is not an official Roland product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Roland. It is purely a demonstration, not a software release. The project uses original Roland ROM data, and I am keeping it private. Neither the software nor the ROM data is being distributed, so please don’t request a copy.

Above all, this is a celebration of the D‑70 and an era of digital synthesis that I love. I adore vintage Roland, especially their legacy of late 80s and early 90s instruments, from the pro range to the "DTM" products. I hope you enjoy the demo, and please excuse my lack of playing skills."