Roland Corporation

Roland Corporation
Public (K.K.)
Traded as TYO: 7944
Industry Electronics
Founded Osaka, Japan (April 18, 1972 (April 18, 1972))
Headquarters Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
Key people
 Ikutaro Kakehashi, Junichi Miki[1]
Products Musical instruments, Audio/Video, Electronics, Computer-related products
Number of employees
 3,060 (2013)
Website roland.com
Roland E09 keyboard

Roland Corporation (ローランド株式会社, Rōrando Kabushiki Kaisha) is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972. In 2005, Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. It has factories in Taiwan, Japan, and the USA. As of March 31, 2010, it employed 2,699 employees.[2] In 2014, Roland was subject to a management buyout by Roland's CEO Junichi Miki, supported by Taiyo Pacific Partners.[1]

Roland has manufactured numerous instruments that have had lasting impacts on popular music, such as the Juno-106 synthesizer,[3] TB-303 bass synthesizer,[4] and TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines.[5] In 2016, Fact wrote that Roland "arguably did more to shape electronic music than any other [company] in history".[6]

Origin of the Roland name

Kakehashi founded Ace Electronic Industries in 1960, a manufacturer of numerous combo organs, guitar amplifiers, and effects pedals. He was also contracted by Hammond to produce rhythm machines for the company's line of home organs. In 1973, Kakehashi cut ties with both companies to found Roland.

As with many Japanese start-ups of the period, the name Roland was selected for export purposes as Kakehashi was interested in a name that was easy to pronounce for his worldwide target markets. Rumour has long circulated that he named his company after the French epic poem La Chanson de Roland. In reality, the name Roland was found in a telephone directory. Kakehashi opted for it as he was satisfied with the simple two-syllable word and its soft consonants. The letter "R" was chosen because it was not used by many other music equipment companies, and would therefore stand out in trade show directories and industry listings. Kakehashi did not learn of "The Song Of Roland" until later.[7]

Brands

Roland markets products under a number of brand names, each of which are used on products geared toward a different niche.[8]

  • The Roland brand is used on a wide range of products including synthesizers, digital pianos, electronic drum systems, dance/DJ gear, guitar synthesizers, amplifiers, and recording products.
  • Boss is a brand used for products geared toward guitar players and is used for guitar pedals, effects units, rhythm and accompaniment machines, guitar amplifiers, and portable recording equipment.
  • Edirol was a line of professional video-editing and video-presentation systems, as well as portable digital audio recorders. Edirol also had Desktop Media (DTM) products, more production-oriented, and included computer audio interfaces, mixers, and speakers. Following Roland's purchase of a controlling interest in Cakewalk Software, most of the division's products were rebranded as Cakewalk products or blended with the professional audio/RSS products to form Roland Systems Group.[9]
  • Roland Systems Group is a line of professional commercial audio and video products.
  • Rodgers was founded in 1958 as an organ company and survives today as a subsidiary of Roland, still manufacturing high-quality electric, electronic, and pipe organs.
  • Cakewalk music software company was a long-term partner of Roland’s. In January 2008, Roland announced the purchase of controlling interest in the company. In 2013, ownership of Cakewalk passed from Roland to Gibson Brands.
  • Amdek was incorporated in 1981 "as a manufacturer of computerized music peripherals and as a distributor of assembled electronic music instrument parts."[10] The Amdek brand is best remembered for a series of user-assembled effects pedals and accessories, marketed until 1983;[11] at least 16 kits are known to have existed.[12] Amdek's primary focus was on the potential uses of personal computers to assist musicians, and in 1982 they introduced the DXY-100, the company's first pen plotter, with the intent of allowing users to print out their own sheet music. Soon realizing the printer had a much larger market potential, in 1983 Amdek became the Roland DG Corporation.
  • Roland DG produces computerized vinyl cutters, thermal transfer printer/cutters, wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters, 3D scanners and milling devices, and engravers.[13]
  • At one point, Roland acquired the then-defunct Rhodes name, and released a number of digital keyboards bearing the Rhodes brand. Harold Rhodes had regained the right to the name in 2000 prior to his death that same year. Rhodes was dissatisfied with Roland's treatment of the marque, and had plans to re-introduce his iconic electric piano, but died before he was able to bring it to market.[14]

Timeline of noteworthy products

1970s

1972
  • AF-100 Bee Baa: a fuzzbox with four knobs on the rear panel
  • AS-1 Sustainer: the ancestor of today's compression/sustain pedals.
  • Rhythm 33 TR-33: drum machine intended for mounting underneath a piano or organ keyboard
  • Rhythm 55 TR-55: tabletop version of the Rhythm 33
  • Rhythm 77 TR-77: an update of the Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-7L.,[15] also known as the Hammond Rhythm Unit; essentially an expanded Rhythm 55
1973
1974
1975
  • AF-60 Bee Gee fuzz pedal
  • AP-2 Phase II phaser pedal
  • AP-7 Jet Phase: phaser pedal with four 'Jet' modes alongside two conventional phasing modes
  • Revo 30: the "Revo Sound System" family was intended to imitate the sound of a Leslie rotary speaker system
  • Revo 120
  • Revo 250
  • RS-101 Strings: the first appearance of what would become Roland's trademark Ensemble effect
  • SH-5 Synthesizer: analog synthesizer with innovative features
  • System-100 Synthesizer: Roland's first attempt at a modular analog synthesizer
  • TR-66 Rhythm Arranger: analog drum machine
  • Jazz Chorus-60 JC-60 Guitar Amplifier: 60 watt
  • Roland Jazz Chorus-120 JC-120 Guitar Amplifier: two channel, 120 watt amplifier equipped with two 12-inch (30 cm) speakers, built-in stereo chorus, vibrato, reverb, and distortion effects and a 3-band EQ per channel, renowned for its super-clean sound and durability, it has remained in production for over 35 years.
1976
  • DC-50 Digital Chorus: analog chorus ensemble similar to Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble (which is derived from the chorus/vibrato circuit of the JC-120 amplifier).[15] Because it is a BBD-based chorus it would today be advertised as "analog". May also have appeared as the Multivox CB-50.[16]
  • RS-202 String Ensemble
  • Jazz Chorus-160 Guitar Amplifier
  • System 700 Synthesizer: Roland's first professional-quality modular synthesizer
1977
  • GA-series 20, 30, 40, 60, 120W guitar amplifiers
  • GB-series 30, 50W bass amplifiers
  • JC-60A and JC-120A Jazz Chorus guitar amplifiers
  • DC-10 Analogue Echo
  • RE-301 Chorus Echo: an RE-201 Space Echo with two additional features: sound-on-sound recording (allowing it to be used as a looper) and an analog chorus circuit
  • MP700 Piano
  • MPA100: Amplifier for the MP700
  • VK-6 and VK-9: Hammond-style drawbar organs, predecessors of the clonewheel organs
  • MC-8 MicroComposer: early digital sequencer, Roland's first product to utilize a microprocessor.
  • GR-500 Guitar Synthesizer & GS-500 Guitar Controller: Roland's first commercial guitar synthesizer system.[17][nb 1]
1978
  • Cube 40 guitar amplifier (40W)
  • GA-series 50 guitar amplifier (50W)
  • JC50, JC200 and JC200S Jazz Chorus amps
  • RD-125L Revo
  • RD-155L Revo
  • SB-series 200 bass amp (200W)
  • DC-20 analogue echo
  • DC-30 analogue delay
  • GE-810 graphic EQ
  • GE-820 graphic EQ
  • PH-830 stereo phaser
  • RV-100 reverb
  • RV-800 reverb
  • MP-600 Combo piano
  • MRS-2 Promars monosynth
  • RS-09 Organ/Strings keyboard
  • RS-505 Paraphonic Strings
  • SH-1 monosynth
  • SH-7 monosynth
  • CR-68 Human Rhythm Player
  • CR-78 CompuRhythm: user-programmable drum machine
  • Jupiter-4 JP-4: Roland's first self-contained polyphonic synthesizer
  • Roland VK-09 Electronic Organ: early attempt to emulate a Hammond organ
1979
  • SH-1 monosynth
  • SH-2 Synthesizer: dual-oscillator monosynth
  • System 100-M Roland Studio System: semiprofessional modular synthesizer, fully modular successor to the System-100
  • VP-330 Vocoder Plus
  • SDD-320 Dimension D: rack-mounted stereo chorus effects unit.

1980s

1980
  • CR-8000 CompuRhythm
  • VK-1 Combo Organ: clonewheel Hammond B3 emulator
  • TR-808 Rhythm Composer: One of the most popular programmable analog drum machines; its distinctive analog sounds, such as its cowbell sound and its kick drum, have become pop-music clichés, heard on countless recordings.
  • GR-300 Guitar Synthesizer & Roland G-303 and G-808 electric guitar synthesizer controllers
  • SH-09 Synthesizer: small single-oscillator monosynth;[18] reduced-function SH-2
1981
  • VK-09 Electronic Organ: Hammond emulator
  • MC-4 MicroComposer: successor to the MC-8
  • TB-303 Computer Controlled Bass Line: synthesizer with built-in sequencer; manufactured from late 1981 to 1984
  • TR-606 Drumatix: programmable analog drum machine designed to be used with the TB-303
  • Jupiter-8 JP-8: 8-voice programmable analog synthesizer after the hugely successful Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and Oberheim products
  • SDE-2000 Digital Delay: Roland's first digital effects unit
1982
  • Juno-6 Polyphonic Synthesizer: Roland's first synthesizer with digitally controlled oscillators.
  • Juno-60 Programmable Polyphonic Synthesizer: Roland's first synthesizer with digitally controlled oscillators and memory
  • Roland G-505 & G-202: third generation of Roland electric guitar synthesizer controllers. These Strat-style guitars came with the matching GR-700 and PG-200 pedal boards, which also work as a regular guitar effector as well as a MIDI synthesizer bank
  • SH-101: keytar with an optional "neck" modulation attachment
1983
  • JX-3P Programmable Preset Polyphonic Synthesizer: first Roland synthesizer to support MIDI
  • Jupiter-6 JP-6: 6-voice programmable analog synthesiser
  • PG-200: programmer for the JX-3P, MKS-30 and GR-700.
  • DXY-100R Expandable Intelligent X-Y Plotter
  • MC-202 MicroComposer: monophonic analog synthesizer/sequencer similar to the TB-303 and SH-101,[19] featuring 1 voltage-controlled oscillator with simultaneous saw and square/pulse-width waveforms
  • MSQ-700 Digital Keyboard Recorder: world's first MIDI-compatible sequencer
  • TR-909 Rhythm Composer: drum machine popular during the early 1990s. The world's first MIDI-equipped drum machine, Roland's first to use digital sample playback combined with analog sound synthesis
  • CMU-800R Compu Music: controlled by Apple II or C64.
  • CMU-810 Compu Synth: monosynth
1984
  • MKB-1000 and MKB-300: world's first dedicated MIDI controller keyboards
  • MPU-401: interface for connecting MIDI-equipped devices to a computer
  • MKS-80 Super Jupiter: rack-mounted eight-voice analog synthesizer, commonly used with the MPG-80 programmer unit
  • Juno-106 Programmable Polyphonic Synthesizer: programmable (128 patch memory locations), digitally controlled six-voice analog synthesizer, with MIDI and the ability to transmit button and slider information through SysEx
  • TR-707 and TR-727 Drum Machine: The TR-727 was essentially the same as the TR-707, except it had Latin-style sounds
  • JX-8P Polyphonic Synthesizer: one of Roland's last true analog synths; replacement for the Jupiter 8 but featured a sleek, low profile appearance to compete with the popular digital Yamaha DX-7
  • G-707 Guitar Controller and GR-700 Guitar Synthesizer
1985
  • Alpha Juno: Two analog polyphonic synthesizers, the Alpha Juno 1 (JU-1) and the Alpha Juno 2 (JU-2), notable for their 'Alpha Dial' that simplified the user interface, and for their ability to generate the Hoover sound
  • Octapad (Pad-8): A set of visually distinctive electronic drum triggers
1986
  • Super JX Polyphonic Synthesizer JX-10: Roland's last true analog synth, the JX-10 was ostensibly the circuitry of two JX-8Ps in a single synth. However, subtle differences in sonic architecture and electronic components give the JX-10 a slightly different sound than the 8P. Also produced in rack-mounting form as the MKS-70.
  • RD-1000 Digital Piano: Roland's first digital piano to feature their SA Synthesis technology. Featured an 88-note weighted, wooden keyboard with three-band EQ, chorus and tremolo. One notable user of this is Elton John from 1988 to 1993. Also produced in rack-mounting form as the MKS-20.
  • HS-80: Same as the Roland Alpha Juno 2 (JU-2), but with built-in speakers. Branded as "Synth Plus 80."[20][21]
  • S-10 Digital Sampling Keyboard: basic 12-bit sampler and keyboard combo,[22] capable of sampling up to 6 seconds of audio, with sounds stored on QuickDisks. It also had rudimentary analog filtering and ADSR
  • MKS-100 Digital Sampler: rackmount version of the S-10
  • MC-500 Sequencer: stand-alone sequencer and MIDI recorder. 4-track recording in real or step time and 16 midi channel multitimbrality, a dedicated rhythm track, a built-in 3½-inch DS/DD Floppy disk drive with 100,000 note capacity and a large LCD screen.
  • Roland S-50 61 Key, 12 bit Sampler with 16 note polyphony it could sample up to 28 seconds (@15khz).
1987
Roland D-50
1988
  • U-110 PCM Sound Module: Roland's first rompler, a rack module intended to exploit Roland's large library of samples and contained good representations of acoustic instruments. Designed to compete with E-mu's Proteus line, the U-110's successor U-220 found its way into many professional studio racks of the day.
  • E-20 Synthesizer: Roland's first entry into the auto-accompaniment keyboard market, going head to head with Yamaha and Casio. The E-20's descendants include the E-70, E-86, G-800, G-1000, G-70 and E-80.
  • MC-500mkII Sequencer: successor to the Roland MC-500, with Turbo software, 8 tracks of recording, 100,000 note capacity, real-time track muting and more. Storage on 3½-inch DS/DD floppy disk drive.
1989
  • R-5 Human Rhythm Composer: drum machine with velocity-sensitive pads. Similar to the R-8 but has no ROM slot.[23]
  • R-8 Human Rhythm Composer: drum machine with velocity-sensitive pads
  • W-30 Music Workstation: sampling workstation keyboard (DAW)
  • D-70 Synthesizer: 76-key synth. Successor to the U-20. Combined the U-20 ROM with advanced D-50-like filters
  • Octapad II (Pad-80): successor to the Pad-8.

1990s

1990
  • 1990 – HP-3700 Digital Piano
  • 1990 – MC-50 Sequencer: dedicated sequencer similar to the MC-500 series, featuring 40,000 note capacity, up to 8 songs, 8 phrase tracks, a 3½-inch DS/DD Floppy disk drive, separate rhythm track and temp tracks, 32 channel MIDI and FSK sync
1991
  • 1991 – SC-55 Sound Canvas: the world's first General MIDI synthesizer
  • 1991 – JD-800 Programmable Synthesizer: digital synthesizer with analog style interface
1992
  • M-160 MkII line mixer
  • MA-7 & MA-20 micro monitors
DIGITAL RECORDERS
  • DM-80 multitrack disk recorder system
HOME/ACCOMPANIMENT PRODUCTS
  • RA-90 real-time arranger
GUITAR SYNTHS
  • GR-1
MASTER KEYBOARDS
  • A-30 MIDIkeyboard controller
  • AX-1 keyboard controller
  • PC-150 keyboard controller
  • PC-200 MkII keyboard controller
PIANOS
  • EP-9
  • HP-2900G
  • HP-3800
  • HP-5700
  • HP-7700 Micro Grand
  • KR-650 Intelligent Piano
RHYTHM PRODUCTS
  • FD-7 hi-hat control pedal
  • KD-7 kick trigger unit
  • MDS-7 drum stand
  • PD-7 drum pad
  • R-70 Human Rhythm Composer
  • R-8 MkII Human Rhythm Composer
  • TD-7 sound module
SAMPLERS
  • SP-700 sample player
  • DJ-70 16-bit sampling workstation and was released in 1992 by Roland Japan. It also had a large back-lit LCD screen, thus DJ sampling music workstation and synthesizer keyboard that also featured the first ever for DJ's a Special (Scratch Dial/Scratch pad). Storage is on 3½-inch DS/DD Floppy disk drive
SEQUENCERS
  • MC-50 MkII Micro Composer
  • MT-200 music player
SOUND CANVASES
  • SC-7 GM module
  • SC-33 Sound Canvas
  • SC-155 Sound Canvas
  • SCC-1 GS/GM soundcard
SYNTHS & HI-TECH
  • CM-300 GS sound module
  • CM-500 GS/LA Sound Module
  • JV-30 16 Part Multitimbral Synthesizer
  • JW-50 Music workstation
  • JV-80 Multi Timbral Synthesizer: A sort of simplified and more user-friendly D-70; spawned a whole family of synthesizers based on its architecture and sample set. The JV-80 also came in a 1U rack spaced unit, the JV-880 Sound Module.
  • SR-JV80 Sample Wave ROM Expansion Boards: the JV-80 and JV-880 could be expanded. These expansion boards could add up to an extra 8mb of wave sample ROM, increasing the number of patches that could be played and accessed. During the next eight years, the SR-JV80 expansion boards would also be integrated and adapted to the JV, XP and XV line of Roland keyboards and sound modules. The boards have been used in many movies, TV shows, plays and popular music during the last two decades - John Williams used various Roland JV products with the SR-JV80 expansions boards; Jerry Goldsmith had a JV-1080 with various SR-JV80 boards. The SR-JV80 expansion boards sample wave ROMs were done so well, that Roland decided to continue to use them in the SRX line of expansion boards well into the 21st century.
1993
  • SC-55mkII: minor upgrade to the Roland SC-55 Sound Canvas. It features increased polyphony (28 voices), more patches (raising the total number to 354 instruments and 10 drum sets), and improved audio-circuitry in the form of 18-bit audio (versus 16-bit in the original SC-55)
  • MC-50mkII: successor to the Roland MC-50. Equipped with slightly advanced features for editing and general use. 40,000-note internal capacity, with the built-in disk drive, you can store approximately 150,000 events on a 3½-inch DS/DD Floppy disk drive.
  • JD-990 Super JD: A rack-mount version of the JD-800 synthesizer with expanded capabilities
  • JV-90 Expandable Synthesizer: a JV-80 with 76-note keyboard, expandable to 56 voices[24]
  • JV-1000 Music Workstation: a JV-90 with a built-in MC-50mkII so as to be a fully-fledged workstation
1994
  • RD-500: "professional" digital piano with 88 weighted keys, 121 high quality sounds and built-in digital effects
  • MS-1: 16-bit AD/DA conversion,[25] first portable digital stereo phrase sampler, with R-DAC (Roland Digital Audio Coding)
  • S-760 Digital Sampler: 16-bits with resonant filters[26]
  • JV-1080 Super JV 64 Voice Sound Module: Roland's 64-voice Super JV synthesizer module, it used the JV sample set with the JD series filters and a fast RISC processor for very smooth envelopes; four expansion slots
  • AT-70 Organ: Roland's first home organ, "Music Atelier" and its little brother AT-50.
1995
1996
  • VS-880 Digital Studio Workstation: Roland's first digital studio workstation providing recording, mixing and CD-mastering
  • DJ-70MKII: 16-bit sampling workstation and was released in 1996 by Roland Italy. It also had a large back-lit LCD screen. It's the Successor to the DJ-70, with more powerful features, including a DJ sampling music workstation, which featured the first ever for DJ's a Special (Scratch Dial/Scratch pad). It is essentially an S-760 rack mount sampler with a keyboard. Storages on 3.5" DS/DD floppy disk drive
  • MC-303 Roland's first non-keyboard drum machine, sample-based synthesizer, and sequencer combination bearing the now-generic term Groovebox. Featuring a full 8-track sequencer
  • XP-80 Music Workstation, 64 Voice, 4x Expansion: JV2080 with a MRC Pro Sequencer . 64-voice music workstation. 4x expansion instead of the 8x the JV2080 has. This is the pinnacle of the JV Series in Keyboard version
  • AT-90 Organ: the pinnacle of Roland's home organ "Music Atelier" series and smallest brother AT-30
1997
  • VK-7 Organ: groundbreaking Hammond organ clone, which introduced the "Virtual ToneWheel" physical modeling technology
  • JP-8000 Analog Synthesizer: Roland's first virtual analog synthesizer. Its technology was more similar to conventional PCM synthesis, such as in a JD-800, rather than the virtual analog synths of today that digitally model the behavior of analog oscillators
  • V-Drums: digital drums incorporating silent mesh drum heads that realistically reproduce both the natural feel and sound of acoustic drums
  • JV-2080: updated Super JV module This is the pinnacle of the JV Series in module version.
  • AT-80 Organ: top-class home organ in Roland's home organ
  • RD-600: successor of the RD-500
1998
  • SP-808: table-top sampler, multi-track recorder, and effects processor[32]
  • MC-505: successor to the MC-303 with a more powerful synthesizer and sequencer
  • JX-305: similar to the MC-505, but with 61 keys
  • EG-101: "Groove Keyboard"[33]
1999
  • AT-90R Organ: successor models. AT-60R, AT-80R, and AT-30R.
  • XP-30 Expandable synthesizer: simpler version of the XP-50 and XP-80 without a sequencer, comes standard with 1406 sounds.[34]

2000s

2000
  • XV-3080 Sound Module: Essentially a Super JV module updated to 128-voices, and taking SRX expansion boards
  • XV-88 Keyboard: Essentially a XV-3080 module with an 88-key keyboard and 4 expansion slots
  • XV-5080 Sound Module: True next generation synthesizer module and basis for the Fantom series of workstations. New high bit-depth samples, 128-voices, takes SRX expansion boards, and capable of loading sampler data[35]
  • Handsonic HPD-15: First electronic percussion pressure-sensitive multi-pad. Playable with hands and/or fingers (without sticks). Divided in 15 zones, with 2 ribbons controllers, 1 internal sequencer and 1 infra-red sensor named D-Beam
  • VG-88: Successor to the VG-8. Guitar synth with GK 13-pin input that models many guitars, amps, speakers and effects
  • VP-9000 Variphrase Processor: The first sampler allowing realtime time-stretching and pitch-shifting of samples.[36]
2001
  • AX-7 Keytar: Successor to the AX-1. A keytar noted for its aesthetics and design.
  • AT-90S: Successor models. AT-80S, AT-60S, AT-20S and AT-10S.
  • RD-700: Successor of the RD-600. RD-700 is Roland’s first Expandable Stage Piano.
2002
  • MC-909: Successor to the MC Groovebox series and also the flagship to all MC Groovebox series machines, featuring a full 16-track sequencer, SRX board upgrading, Built-in larger LCD Display Screen and built-in sampling. Supports 1 SRX Expansion card.
  • AT-15: Baby of the "Music Atelier" home organ product range. And AT-5.
  • SH-32: A combination of virtual analogue synthesis and groovebox.[37]
2003
SYNTHS & HI-TECH
  • V-Synth Synthesizer: 24-voice analog modeling synthesizer.
EDIROL PRODUCTS
  • UA-20 USB audio interface.
2004
AMPS, MIXERS & SPEAKERS
  • CM30: Cube monitor.
  • Cube 60: guitar combo.
  • CB100: bass combo.
  • DM10 and DM20: digital monitors.
  • DM2100 2.1: monitor system.
  • DS5 DS7 & DS8: digital monitors.
  • Micro Cube: guitar amp.
DIGITAL ACCORDIONS

FR-5 & FR-7

DIGITAL RECORDERS & MIXERS
  • MV-8000 v2 update and MV8 VGA expansion option.
  • VS-2000CD digital recording studio.
  • VS-2480DVD digital recording studio.
  • VS-8F3 plug-in effects expansion board.
EDIROL PRODUCTS
  • DV-7DL Pro and DV7DL video-editing systems.
  • FA-101 Firewire audio interface.
  • LVS-400 video mixer.
  • P1 photo presenter.
  • PCR-1 USB MIDI controller/audio interface.
  • UA-1000 USB2 audio interface.
  • UR-80 control surface.
  • VMC-1 video optimiser & video media converter.
GUITAR SYNTHS
  • GK-3 divided pickup.
  • GK-3B divided bass pickup
  • GR-20 guitar synth.[38]
HOME/ARRANGER KEYBOARDS
  • EXR-3/EXR-5/EXR-7 interactive arranger keyboards.
ORGANS
  • Atelier AT-45, AT-60SL, AT-80SL & AT-90SL.
PIANOS
  • DP-900.
  • F-50.
  • FP-2.
  • HP-101/HP-103/HP-107 digital pianos.
  • HPi-7 digital piano.
RHYTHM PRODUCTS
  • CY-8 trigger pad.
  • FD-8 hi-hat pedal.
  • KD-8 trigger pad.
  • PD-8 trigger pad.
  • PD-105 and PD-125 V-Pads.
  • TD-3 V-Drum module.
  • TD-3 V-Drum kit.
  • TD-6V V-Drum module.
  • TD-6KV V-Tour Series kit.
  • TD-20 V-Drum sound module.
  • TD-20K V-Pro Series kit.
  • VH-12 hi-hat.
SYNTHS & HI-TECH
  • Fantom X6/X7/X8 keyboard workstations.
  • Fantom XR synth module.
  • Juno D synth keyboard.[39]
  • SP-606 Groovesampler.[40]
  • VC1 D-50 card for V-Synth.
  • Fantom-X Synthesizer: Music workstation and professional synthesizer expandable to 1 gigabyte of sounds.
Roland Fantom X6 Top View
  • AT-90SL Atelier: Successor models AT-80SL and AT-60SL.
2005
  • Micro Cube Amplifier: Roland's first portable amplifier. Allowed for AC adapter or battery use. Seven input effects, delay, and reverb options.
  • Fantom-Xa: Entry-level Fantom-X. The A stands for access.
2006
  • MC-808: The latest MC-series, featuring a full 16-track sequencer and 512 MB more memory, and double the polyphony of the MC-909. First MC Groovebox series with motorized faders and built-in sampling, no velocity-sensitive pads, no SRX board as an add-on as seen on MC-909.
  • SH-201: Roland's first affordable analog modeling synthesizer.
  • Juno-G: Entry-level workstation based on the Fantom-X.
2007
  • MV-8800: Successor to the MV-8000. Production station with 24-bit sampling capabilities. Has new built-in color LCD display.
  • VG-99: Successor to the VG-8 and VG-88.[41] Guitar synth with GK 13-pin input, multiple channels and innovative hands free controls that models a huge number of guitars, amps, speakers and effects.
2008
  • Fantom-G: Music workstation with onboard graphical MIDI sequencer.[42]
  • Juno Stage & Juno-Di: Entry-level workstations based on the Fantom-G and the successors of the Juno-G
2009
  • AX-Synth Keytar: A keytar, successor for the AX-7. The most notable change is the addition of an internal synthesizer.
  • AT-900 Organ: the AT-900, AT-800 and AT-900C, the next generation of Atelier organ consoles, successors to the AT-90S and AT-90SL. The full line of Music Atelier: AT-500, AT-300, AT-100, and AT-75 were introduced later on.
  • V-Piano: the first digital piano to rely solely on physical modeling technology.

2010s

2010
  • MPX-90: desktop metal printer strikes metallic surfaces with a precision diamond-tipped stylus
  • Juno-Gi : The older brother of the Juno-Di
  • SH-01 Gaia : Analog modeling synthesizer[43]
2011
  • Jupiter-80: Flagship performance synthesizer, combining Roland's SuperNatural acoustic modeling technology with a virtual analog engine.[44]
  • ATELIER Combo AT-350C: A Combo version of the "Music Atelier" home organ product range. Can be coupled with any of Roland's MIDI pedal keyboards to make it a complete organ.
2012
  • Jupiter-50 Synthesizer: A reduced Jupiter-80 with three parts instead of four and a smaller non-touch screen.[45]
  • Integra-7 Sound Module: A sound module that's a rack version of Roland Jupiter 80-50 and which contains sounds based on their new SuperNatural technology and all of the sounds of the XV-5080 sound module.[46]
2014
  • FA06/FA08: The new & affordable Fantom music workstation with sounds derived from Integra-7 sound module.[47]
  • Aira TR-8: Rhythm Performer, based on the drum-sounds of the TR-808 and TR-909.[48]
  • Aira TB-3: Touch Bassline, based on the bass-sounds of the TB-303.[49]
  • Aira VT-3: Voice Transformer.[50]
  • Aira System-1: Plug-Out Synthesizer, based on the System 100, System 100M, and the System 700.[51]
  • RD-800: successor of the RD-700 series
2015
  • JUNO-DS61 and JUNO-DS88 versatile, intuitive and highly mobile synthesizers
  • Boutique: line of small modern representations of classic Roland Synthesizers, consisting of: JU-06, JX-03 and JP-08. The series are in module form, and are able to slot into an optional keyboard K-25m, which features 25 velocity sensitive keys.
2016

On September 9, 2016, Roland celebrated 909 Day, in honor of the TR-909 drum machine. During this 24-hour event they debuted new products and held artist performances from different cities around the world.[52][53]

  • System-8 Plug Out Synthesizer
  • TB-03 Bassline Synthesizer
  • TR-09 Drum Machine
  • VP-03 Vocoder
  • BOSS Katana 100/212, Katana 100, Katana 50 and Katana-Head Guitar Amplifiers
  • V-1SDI HD Video Switcher
  • DJ-808 DJ Controller, DJ-99 DJ Mixer and TT-99 Turntable
  • TD-50K, TD-50KV and TD-1KPX V-Drum Kits
  • TD-50 Drum Sound Module, KD-A22 Kick Drum Converter, PD-140DS V-Pad Snare, CY-18DR V-Cymbal, MDS-50K Drum Stand, MDS-50KV Drum Stand
  • EC-10M Ej Cajon Mic Processor
  • BOSS GT-1 Guitar Effects Processor
  • AE-10 Aerophone Wind Instrument, a wind controller synthesizer with saxophone fingering
  • GP-607, FP-90, DP-603 and RP-501R Digital Pianos
  • FR-4X and FR-4XB V-Accordions
2017
2018
  • BOSS Katana Artist Guitar Amplifier

Notes

  1. ↑ Roland was an industry latecomer to guitar synthesizers. However, Roland persistently continued development long after other makers left the market,[17] and in the late 1980s, its GK interface became the de facto standard.

References

  1. 1 2 "Taiyo Pacific Partners Supports Management Buyout by Roland's Executive Team". Thomson Reuters. May 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Roland Corporate Data". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  3. ↑ "Blast from the past: Roland Juno-106". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  4. ↑ Hamill, Jasper. "The world's most famous electronic instrument is back. Will anyone buy the reissued TB-303?". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  5. ↑ Reid, Gordon (December 2014). "The history of Roland: part 2 | Sound On Sound". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "The 14 drum machines that shaped modern music". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. 2016-09-22. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  7. ↑ I Believe In Music, Ikutaro Kakehashi with Robert Olsen, 2002. p. 64
  8. ↑ "Brands and Business Domains". Archived from the original on 2014-02-17.
  9. ↑ "Roland rebrands for the future". Archived from the original on 2012-05-07.
  10. ↑ "The Milestones In the History of Our Company".
  11. ↑ Hughes, Tom (2004). Analog Man's Guide to Vintage Effects, p. 100. For Musicians Only Publishing. ISBN 0-9759209-0-1.
  12. ↑ "All musical AMDEK devices (by Roland Digital Group)".
  13. ↑ "A History of Innovation Worldwide".
  14. ↑ "Biography of Harold Rhodes".
  15. 1 2 Sound On Sound Magazine – The History of Roland (Part I)
  16. ↑ MATRIXSYNTH: Multivox CB-50
  17. 1 2 "Roland GR-Series". Sound On Sound. August 1999. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  18. ↑ "Roland SH09". Sound On Sound. March 1995. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "Roland MC202". Sound On Sound. August 1995. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  20. ↑ "Harmony Central's Keyboard And MIDI Reviews for the Roland HS-80". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  21. ↑ "Sonicstate.com HS-80 Synth". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  22. ↑ "Roland S-10 Sampling Keyboard". Sound On Sound. November 1986. pp. 22–4. ISSN 0951-6816. OCLC 925234032.
  23. ↑ "Roland R5 Human Rhythm Composer". Human Rhythm Composer. 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  24. ↑ "Roland JV90 & JV50". Sound On Sound. March 1994. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  25. ↑ "Roland MS1". Sound On Sound. March 1995. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  26. ↑ "Roland S760". Sound On Sound. February 1994. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  27. ↑ "Roland XP50". Sound On Sound. June 1995. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015.
  28. ↑ "Roland JS30". Sound On Sound. June 1995. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  29. ↑ "Roland GI-10". Sound On Sound. June 1995. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  30. ↑ "Roland VG8". Sound On Sound. March 1995. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "Roland VG8". Sound On Sound. May 1995. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  32. ↑ "Roland SP808EX". Sound On Sound. August 2000. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "Roland EG101". Sound On Sound. February 1999. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  34. ↑ "Roland XP30". Sound On Sound. May 1999. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  35. ↑ "Roland XV5080". Sound On Sound. November 2000. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  36. ↑ "Roland VP9000". Sound On Sound. June 2000. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015.
  37. ↑ "Roland SH32". Sound On Sound. May 2002. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  38. ↑ "Roland GR20". Sound On Sound. January 2005. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015.
  39. ↑ "Roland Juno-D". Sound On Sound. March 2005. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  40. ↑ "Roland SP606". Sound On Sound. April 2005. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015.
  41. ↑ "Roland VG99". Sound On Sound. December 2007. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012.
  42. ↑ "Roland Fantom G". Sound On Sound. January 2009. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015.
  43. ↑ "Roland Gaia SH01". Sound On Sound. August 2010. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015.
  44. ↑ "Roland Jupiter 80". Sound On Sound. August 2011. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015.
  45. ↑ "Roland Jupiter 50". Sound On Sound. August 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  46. ↑ "Roland Integra 7". Sound On Sound. February 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015.
  47. ↑ "Roland FA08". Sound On Sound. August 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015.
  48. ↑ "Roland TR8 Rhythm Performer". Sound On Sound. April 2014. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  49. ↑ "Roland TB3 Touch Bassline". Sound On Sound. April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015.
  50. ↑ "Roland VT3 Voice Transformer". Sound On Sound. May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015.
  51. ↑ "Roland System 1". Sound On Sound. October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015.
  52. ↑ "Highllights From Roland's #909DAY First-Of-Its Kind Streaming Festival, "The Future. Redefined."". Roland.
  53. ↑ "Roland Announces #909day Celebration With 5 New Synths, DJ Gear & More". Synthtopia.
  54. ↑ "Roland SE-02". Sound On Sound. October 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
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