Roland digital pianos
Pianos aren’t the most portable instrument in the world. And that’s why Roland went to work designing a more travel-friendly version of arguably the most popular instrument in history. Roland digital pianos take the tone and feel of playing a high-quality grand piano and pack it into a lighter, portable size.
At the top of the throne sits the Roland RD-2000 Digital Stage Piano. This thing was built for performing, with 88 keys, hammer-action response, and high-quality rugged materials. If you were blindfolded, you’d think you were playing a full-size grand piano. And since this is a Roland keyboard, it’s packed with a load of amazing features, like software-based instrument voicing, compatibility with your favorite DAWs, and dual sound engines for a completely authentic tone. It’s a dream come true for any performing keyboardist.
Sometimes you don’t need a million features to create your favorite music. The Roland RD88 is designed for pianists looking for something a bit more travel friendly. It features 88 keys, quality build materials, and authentic piano tone with a few soft synth integrations built in.
For musicians on a budget, the Roland FP30X is designed to walk the line between affordability and performance. It fits right in as a home instrument but still has enough power and sound quality to fill any stage with sweet, sweet piano sounds.
Roland electronic drums
Feel the rhythm with Roland electronic drums. The same great feel of a regular drum set without waking the neighbors!
Roland makes several models of electronic drum sets. The most popular is the Roland VAD307 V-Drums Acoustic Design Electronic Drum Set. The shallow shells make it easy to transport and set up in even the tightest spaces. But once you take a seat on the throne, you’ll feel like you’re behind a full-sized set. And with the updated TD-17 module, you can enjoy authentic acoustic drum tones or change things up with preset kits and other sounds.
If you’re looking for a little more space to stretch your legs (and arms), the Roland TD-27KV Generation 2 V-Drums gives you just that. You’ll get the same incredible expressive drum feel and sound but with larger pads all around. Add on the dozens of presets and sound options, recording capabilities, enhanced layer and transient functions, and more amazing features to create the best of the best when it comes to electronic drum sets.
For desktop tappers, check out the Roland SPD-SX PRO Sampling Multi Surface Drum Pad. With just a few square inches of space, you can use the nine integrated touchpads (with colored lights) to create any beat you can imagine. Powered by Roland’s world-class software, you can play with hyper realistic drum sounds or use any of the 1,550 preloaded samples to craft your next musical masterpiece.
Electronic music production equipment
Sometimes samples really hit the spot during a music production session, and that’s where Roland’s line of high-performance electronic music production equipment comes in.
When you’re looking for something simple and straightforward, yet powerful enough to handle any project you might throw its way, the Roland SP404MK2 Sampling Workstation is ready for the job. This compact workstation has all the features you need to create your composition, including 17 velocity-sensitive RGB pads, quick startup and load times, 16 gigabytes of internal storage, and an extensive array of onboard effects — just to name a few of the amazing features.
For a bit more pizazz (and flashy lights), the Roland MV1 VERSELAB Music Production Workstation takes all the lovely features of the SP404MK2 and adds even more! It’s an all-in-one music production workstation complete with Roland’s legendary sounds and plenty of songwriting assistance tools to make content creation easy.
Finally, the ultra-portable Roland MC101 Groovebox allows you to take your music production on the go. With a smaller yet still intuitive interface and an incredible list of features, you can get your groove on and perform and produce anywhere life might take you.
History of the Roland Corporation
Back in 1972, in a rented shed in Osaka, Japan with $100,000 of seed money, Ikutaro Kakehashi officially founded the Roland Corporation. While his competitors at the time like Moog and ARP were aiming for professional and other high-end musicians, Kakehashi wanted to target hobbyists and amateurs. His goal was to create simple, portable, and affordable products that anyone could use to enjoy creating music.
The first product to come out of the Roland shed was a digital drum machine called the TR-77 or Rhythm 77. That same year, they also released two other drum machine models: the TR-33 and the TR-55.
While their drum machines helped put them on the map, Roland was quick to expand to new products. In just one year, 1973, Roland released their first compact synthesizer: the SH-1000. They also created their first non-preset synthesizer with the SH-3.
Expanding on their synthesizer knowledge, Roland created the very first electronic piano with touch-sensitive keyboard in 1974, setting a new benchmark for digital instrument quality. They also released their first spatial effect with the legendary RE-201 Space Echo — an effect that’s still highly sought after today!
As technology developed, so did the Roland Corporation. They kept up with the times and trends, developing everything from guitar and bass amps, modular synthesizer systems, and guitar synthesizers to sequencers, effects pedals, and much, much more.
Today, after more than 50 years of innovation, Roland remains a leader in the electronic music production space. They create some of the most creative and high-quality equipment you can find on the market. Whether you’re looking for a powerful synthesizer, realistic digital piano, portable workstation, or any other piece of electronic music gear you need to create your unique sound, the Roland Corporation has the gear you need.
