Roland MKS-20 Digital Piano

The Roland MKS-20 Digital Piano is a digital rack-mounted synthesizer module, released in 1986, one of the first dedicated to piano and keyboard sounds. It stored 8 different sounds including grand piano, electric piano, harpsichord, vibraphone and clavinet plus chorus and reverb effects.

Tony Banks' Roland MKS-20 Digital Piano
The MKS-20 module was part of Tony Banks' studio and onstage rig for keyboard sounds from 1986 to 1992 (at least), which he liked the sounds of. He'd used the MKS-20 for some of the sequenced piano parts on Bankstatement, such as the 'frantic' piano part on "Diamonds Are Forever", the line underneath the vocal. His main piano, however, has been the Yamaha CP-70, although he obviously wasn't able to use it for sequenced lines, which he could do with the MKS-20 module. He also preferred the relatively fast attack of the MKS-20, allowing very precise playing.

Peter Gabriel's Roland MKS-20 Digital Piano
The MKS-20 Digital Piano module is perhaps amongst the least known of Peter Gabriel's gear. He used it to blend with the Yamaha CP-80 electric grand piano for a thicker sound, which was likely achievable via MIDI. It was present in his touring rig during the This Way Up tour (1987 concerts only) and the Secret World tour (1993-94). Presets-wise, he noticeably used the 'Piano 3' setting, which is often likened to the Yamaha CP-70/80 sound anyway albeit with a noticeable digital edge. In terms of studio work, it probably appears on the Passion soundtrack and the Us record.