Roland

The Roland V-Compact TD-4SX just started shipping, so what better time to take an in-depth look at this, the most affordable, all-mesh-head V-Drum set around? That's a rhetorical question.  

Said to be the world's first battery-powered digital snake, the Roland Systems Group RSS S-0808 features 8 inputs and 8 outputs, along with a compact, lightweight design that supports multiple power options, including battery-powered, embedded-powered over REAC, and power over Ethernet.  

Drummer, composer, and producer extraordinaire Omar Hakim was enjoying the lush audio of the Adam Monitors presentations at their AES booth, so we totally barged in on his repose and were all like "hey, be on camera!" Lucky for us, Mr. Hakim was more than happy to oblige.  

Roland was so excited about their newest digital mixing console -- the Roland M-380 -- that when they sent out the press materials, they accidentally attached pictures of the Edirol LVS-800 video mixer! We may have taken the time to find the correct pictures, but that doesn't mean we aren't equally as stoked about this powerful, rack-mountable mixing console.  

Stand back, Julia Child! You're not the only one who can rock the sweet overhead cam how-to show. Our intrepid Roland rep whips up a beat without even pausing to put it in the oven. But with all due respect, if Julia were still around, you just know she would be throwing down some killer French House.  

The laid back, thoughtful blokes from One Eskimo had a recent chat with Patrick Ogle about gear. Drummer Adam Falkner makes enormous use out of a Roland SPDS Pad, incorporating it somewhat seamlessly into the dance that is One Eskimo live.  

Is there nothing that Roland can't do? Does that count as a double negative? These question and more answered in our revelatory news article on the new Roland BA-330 Portable Digital PA System.  

Sampling and additional sound options are not exclusive to the realm of the stationary keyboard instruments. Responding to feedback from V-Accordion enthusiasts, the Roland FR-7x and FR-7xb exhibit features that expand what the accordionist can do.  

Jay-Z might think real grownups don't like chrome, but electronic drums dont get much more grown up than the new Roland TD-20SX V-Pro Series V-Drums, and they're just silly with chrome. Of course, smart-looking V-Head shells and a chrome drum rack aren't the only upgrades on the new TD-20SX.  

The SP-404 is indeed a famous portable sampler from Roland that have given DJs a smile. Bringing in more to the table to cater to the ever expanding needs of DJs and other musicians into sampling, the Roland SP-404SX has been unveiled.  

Digital pianos have been advancing so much that their now just a step closer to acoustic ones. If you haven't got the space or the time to maintain an acoustic piano, the Roland F-110 is your best bet with its space-saving features and functions that come close to piano realism.  

The patented mesh heads of the V-Drums line of electronic drum kits are much loved for their expressivity. Featuring the same technological breakthroughs at an affordable price, the Roland TD-4SX has been introduced and is scheduled to become available this month.  

Emily Wells brought her violin to the show in Chicago, but she can't make the beats without her trusty drummer Sam Halterman. Halterman, in turn, depends partly on the Roland SPDS Pad to get the beats going. Hear how they do it.  

Curt from Roland is back, and he's gonna show us what the deal is with the 1.3 upgrade on the Fantom-G6. Since Curt actually makes music himself, he can fly through those controls like nobody's bidness. So pay attention!  

Curt the Roland rep, the most recent in our steady line of capable product demonstrators, brings us the Roland Fantom G6. This time, it has the new 1.3 upgrade. See the overview in this first of three videos.  

We are back geeking out with Tony Fredianelli of Third Eye Blind, this time about vintage pedals. From the pre-Boss era, Fredianelli's favorite Roland AP-7 Jet Phaser employs "jets" (no, really) to create its signature sound. Sneak a peek into the rest of his pedalboard in this video.  

Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, sounds, size, portability, features, and ease of use are things that you look for in a synth. Lugging around wall-wart power supplies, a string of cables, a heavy synth that feels like a stack of cinder blocks as well as looking for a power outlet are all hassles for the keyboardist who wants to play outdoors, whether in the park, the cafeteria, or in a boat ride at the middle of a lake (though I would not recommend it). The perfect solution for the traveling keyboardist is in the form of Roland Juno-Di.  

Like the Spinets and Virginals of the 17th century, the Roland DP-990R was made to stay out of the way for most of the day, yet is a beauty to hear and to behold. What, you've never heard of a Virginal before? Oh how absolutely gauche!  

Kyle and David from Breathe Carolina are here to dish the dirt -- or, rather, information -- on their bandmate's Roland AX-7. These fresh young fellows talk about Josh Andrew's unique approach to handling keytar effects while his hands are busy with the keys, and his feet are mostly occupied by boinging around the stage.  

If you already own a Roland Juno-G, you're only one download away from owning a Roland Juno-G V.2 with full-on sampling abilities. The upgrade is completely free. . . as long as you sample wisely (now's the time to brush up on your "Fair Use" reading).  

So you want to beat J. Irving-Giles and win one of three new Roland Juno-Stage keyboards in the "How Do You JUNO?" contest? You better get some advice from Paulie Bleeker . . . and I better see an eye doctor about this dyslexia.

By the way -- are we going mad, or did someone photoshop a JUNO keyboard into a photo from a Daniel Craig Bond movie?

 

Samplers sure are fun, but when you're performing as a one-man-band like Willis P. Jenkins is, they're a downright necessity. Learn how the Roland SPD-S sampling drum-pad can help you avoid nearly all human contact.  

Want an idea of how realistic-sounding the new Roland ARX-03 SuperNATURAL Brass Expansion Board is? Imagine that scene at the end of Betelgeuse, except instead of the dead football team appearing behind Wynona Rider, it's Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass. Alternately, watch this Winter NAMM video.  

The Roland VP-770 vocal and ensemble keyboard is not a tribute to new Vice President Joe Biden, but I'm sure he'd have hours of fun with it. It can derive its sounds from your voice, meaning Joe can talk about Scranton, PA and Delaware while doing arpeggiated runs.  

We get a sweet overview of the new Roland TD-4S V-Drums at Winter NAMM 2009, and boy are these things the tops. If you watch this video with your eyes closed, you can imagine that they're real drums.  

Johnny DeMarco -- when he's not wowing trade show crowds with his rendition of the ragtime standard The Entertainer (played two-hand tap-style on guitar)* -- holds down his title as the most entertaining product specialist at NAMM, and he's all Roland, baby. In this video, Johnny shows us the powerful and versatile Roland Cube 80X guitar combo amp.

*all true.  

OK, you can call it a keytar I mean, just look at the sweet, six-string-style moves the Roland rep pulls out with the new Roland AX-Synth slung over his shoulder. Don't just dream of being this cool. . . LIVE IT.  

After updating their V-Guitar system with the VG-99 ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, Roland has finally decided to grace the bass version with the same refinements. Better late than never is the Roland VB-99 V-Bass system, unveiled at Winter NAMM 2009 (sheesh).  

Sure, the new Roland VP-770 represents yet another breakthrough from Roland in Digital vocal synthesis, but what about the masses of blue-collar choir members, barbershop quartetians and tabernaclers who literally sing for their suppers? Does the VP-770 have a family to feed?  

What would Winter NAMM be without the dominating presence of Roland? This NAMM Show, Roland introduces the remarkable V-Piano, where pianos of the past and pianos of the future collide.