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Pick Your Poison – SPD-SX versus SPD-30

As we head into this year’s V-Drums World Championship U.S. Finals it’s worth mentioning that every finalist has to incorporate the use of either an SPD-SX or an OCTAPAD® SPD-30 into their sets. Upon winning their semi-final competition, each contestant had a choice between these two units as their winning prize with the caveat of having to integrate it as part of their finals performance. Both units have tons of features that appeal to their legions of users.

Here are a few videos by Michael Schack demonstrating the SPD-SX and the SPD-30, Michael is Netsky’s touring drummer and also a Roland product specialist, demonstrator, and overall drum enthusiast. More

Meet the V-Drums Finalists

The Roland V-Drums World Championship U.S. Finals is only two days away. Meet this year’s finalists and watch the videos that got them here. Tell us what you think about their drumming chops and share with us your contest predictions. Think you can do better? We encourage you to start working on your video for next year’s contest.

Join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #vdrumscontest.

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“Roland LIVE” at the GRAMMY Museum Experience

“Roland LIVE” at the GRAMMY Museum Experience

The new GRAMMY Museum Experience—featuring a hands-on “Roland LIVE” exhibit—is now open at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. Open to the public, this is an ongoing opportunity for teachers, students and music lovers of all ages to experience music making with Roland and BOSS products in an interactive, educational and inspirational environment.

Roland Nominated for Multiple TEC Awards

Roland Nominated for Multiple TEC Awards

Roland’s GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer, RH-A7 Headphones, and R-26 Field Recorder have all been nominated for 2012 Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards in the categories of Outstanding Technical Achievement for Musical Instrument Amplification & Effects Technology, Headphone/Earpiece Technology and Recording Devices respectively. TEC Award Nominees are determined through a multi-step process comprising more than 200 prominent professionals from all areas of the audio industry. Members of various professional organizations and qualified subscribers to leading pro audio publications may register online and vote for the TEC Awards using a secure online ballot during the month of November. Visit http://tecfoundation.com/tec/voting.html to learn more about how you may be eligible to vote.

Artist Relations Update – Michael “Nomad” Ripoll

Meet Michael “Nomad” Ripoll, our newest addition to the family. Michael is a music veteran with credits and experience that spans decades. As a professional guitarist, he has worked and played with many of the most respected artists in the music world. He remains committed to pushing the envelope and has broadened his career by seeking and securing opportunities in other facets of the industry such as operating as Musical Director for world renowned artists such as Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, composing for film & television, and teaching guitar. More

V-Drum World Championship U.S. Finals 2012

U.S. National Finals

Live Performances by Thomas Lang an Johnny Rabb

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Pasic – Austin Convention Center – Exhibit Hall 5 – Austin, TX

  • Doors at 6pm
  • Event at 7pm
  • Free and open to the public
  • All ages welcome

Enter for a chance to win a free V-Drums kit an other prizes, or tune in here for the live webcast and follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #vdrumscontest. In the meantime check out these four videos that Roland put together of last year’s event and previous performances by Thomas Lang and Johnny Rabb.

2011 Highlight Reel

More videos

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Loop Station World Championship 3 U.S. Finals Judges

Lisa Harriton

Lisa Harriton became the touring keyboardist and back-up vocalist for the Grammy-award winning alternative rock band, The Smashing Pumpkins, in 2007. Harriton appears in the videos for “Tarantula” and “That’s the Way (My Love Is)”.  Since her work with the Pumpkins, she has toured/performed with Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) Adam Lambert, Ke$ha and Natalia Kills, opening for the Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, and Bruno Mars. Also a singer/songwriter, Harriton serves up a soulful blend of Alternative Electronic music in her band, “Elle Rae”. Using the Boss RC-300, “Elle Rae” incorporates live looping with her vocals and Roland keyboards. Harriton will release her debut “Elle Rae” EP in Winter of 2013 on Broadstroke Records. She is currently the Chair of the Keyboard Technology department at Musicians Institute, Hollywood.

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Behind the Scenes at Rock Camp

Sebastian Bach

Sebastian Bach jams with campers at Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp‘s in-ear equipped recording studio on the casino floor of the  MGM Grand in Las Vegas and then gives his advice to campers.

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