V-Drums World Championship 2 winners at the Frankfurt Musikmesse

During the recent 2013 Musikmesse music fair in Frankfurt, Germany, Roland held the international finals for the V-Drums World Championship 2. From a field of top drummers representing 16 different countries, Issah Contractor from Canada grabbed the crown with a masterful performance blending impressive drumming chops and a thorough command of the modern technology in Roland’s electronic percussion products.

The V-Drums World Championship 2 Explained…

Roland’s annual V-Drums World Championship gives drummers everywhere a unique opportunity to showcase their skills and compete against other Roland electronic percussion players. This year’s contest was the biggest yet, with nearly 5,000 participants competing during national preliminary rounds in countries around the world. The grand finale took place on April 11, 2013 at the prestigious Südbahnhof music club in Frankfurt, with well-known German drummer Dirk Brand serving as the host for the evening. The event was also streamed live to Internet viewers around the globe on the V-Drums World Championship international website.

The night featured inspired drumming by players from the United States, Sweden, Italy, Mexico, Hungary, Switzerland, China, Turkey, Brazil, the Netherlands, Japan, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Spain, and Canada. Each earned a trip to the finals by winning national V-Drums competitions in their home countries. In Frankfurt, every finalist played an original drum performance using the TD-30KV V-Pro® Series V-Drums, OCTAPAD® SPD-30 Percussion Pad, and SPD-SX Sampling Pad.

A group of seven judges assembled for the finals included noted drummers Brand, Craig Blundell, Tommy Snyder, and Florian Alexandru-Zorn, plus music journalists Mark Van Schaik, Rich Chamberlain, and Axel Mikolajczak. They scored the contestants’ performances in areas of technique, style, stage presence, overall creativity, and creative use of technology.

See the V-Drums World Championship 2 slide show

V-Drums World Championship 2 winner: Issah Contractor

Naming a winner was a tough call, as all the players delivered jaw-dropping displays of drumming prowess. When the smoke had cleared, Issah Contractor came out on top with a performance that featured looping on the SPD-30, sample playback from the SPD-SX, multiple meter shifts, impressive double-kick chops, and unique playing of melodies with the V-Drums’ pads.

V-Drums World Championship 2 runner-ups Jaime Edwin de la Rosa & Lars Nijman

Second Place went to Jaime Edwin de la Rosa from Mexico, while Third Place went to Lars Nijman from the Netherlands.

In an interview after his win, Issah talked about how he’s excited to use the powerful technology in V-Drums to forge a new melodic direction in drumming. “One cool thing about the TD-30 is the step sequence function,” said Issah. “I believe that can be utilized very uniquely in the future. I’d like to see if I can push that boundary. It could be really something that is groundbreaking. Although there are notes on the drums, it feels a little devoid over the harmony aspect, and I think the V-Drums would be awesome for trying to put that forward.”

If you’re a drummer based in the United States and want to enter for the V-Drums World Championship 3, check the V-Drums contest page at RolandUS.com.

Check out our V-Drums World Championship 2 playlist on YouTube to see final performances from all the contestants, plus interviews with the top three players.

V-Drums World Championship 2 Performances

Do you agree with the judges? Tell us who you think the winner should be.

Related links and articles:

• Pat Kennedy V-Drums Training Camp
• Brendan Buckley Judges V-Drums Semi Finals
• Meet the V-Drums U.S. Finalists
• The Benefits of Electronic Drums

Roland FP-80 Digital Piano

Roland has revamped its popular FP-series lineup with two all-new models, the FP-80 and FP-50. Compact and stylish, these instruments feature the acclaimed SuperNATURAL® Piano sound engine for superior tone and 88-note Ivory Feel keyboards for the authentic touch and expressiveness of an acoustic grand. Both pianos are equipped with built-in sound systems, with the FP-80 incorporating multi-channel Acoustic Projection technology for an even more natural sound.

Roland FP-50 Digital Piano in white finish with optional KSC-44 stand

The FP-80 and FP-50 are extremely versatile instruments that are ideal for a variety playing situations. Available in black or white finishes, their attractive looks and sleek styling are perfect for modern living spaces, while the compact design makes them easy to transport for gigs and rehearsals. In addition to great acoustic piano tones, the FP-80 and FP-50 are equipped with a wide selection of additional sounds, including SuperNATURAL-based electric pianos, organs, strings, synths, and more. Via Roland Wireless Connect, you can also enjoy the FP-80 and FP-50 with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

From home enjoyment to the music classroom to the performance stage, the FP-80 and FP-50 digital pianos deliver Roland’s top-level tone, touch, and versatility at affordable prices.

Learn more about the FP-80 and FP-50 at RolandConnect.com.

Related links and articles:

• New Product: RC-505 Loop Station
• New Product: BK-9 Backing Keyboard
• Roland Connect

Roland FR-8x and FR-8xb V-Accordions

Packed with features requested by the world’s top accordionists, the new flagship FR-8x (piano-type) and FR-8xb (button-type) V-Accordions take the digital accordion to an all-new dimension. With extremely natural playability thanks to newly developed Dynamic Bellows Behavior technology, more convenient battery charging, an expanded sound set, four multi-effects engines, an onboard looper, and much more, the FR-8x and FR-8xb bring players the most powerful V-Accordion experience yet.

Here’s a quick rundown of just a few of the great new features in the FR-8x and FR-8xb:

• True acoustic accordion feel—Roland’s new Dynamic Bellows Behavior varies the resistance of the bellows depending on the register and number of notes played, delivering the familiar and comfortable playing feel of an acoustic accordion.
• Simple battery charging—The onboard battery can now be charged easily with the included AC adapter, with no playing interruption during the charging process.
• A wide range of new sounds and effects—In addition to accordions from around the world, the FR-8x and FR-8xb give you instant access to a ton of versatile sounds, including organs, strings, brass, synths, acoustic and electric guitars, and even drums! On top of that, four powerful multi-effects engines provide a huge selection of studio-quality sound sweetening options, with independent processing for Accordion, Orchestra 1, Orchestra 2, and Orchestra Chord sections.
• All-new user interface—A large, recessed color display, logical panel layout, and three programmable chin switches make operation simple and intuitive.
• Built-in looper—This much-requested feature allows you to layer the many different onboard sounds to create instant accompaniment for backing and improvisation.
• New button-type keyboard in the FR-8xb—The redesigned button-type keyboard provides improved response, an authentic look, and lower noise.

And that’s not all—this just touches on what these powerful new flagship instruments can do! To explore these new V-Accordions in full detail, visit RolandConnect.com.

Related links and articles:

• New Product: BK-9 Backing Keyboard
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Roland BK-9 Backing Keyboard

If you’re looking for a premium auto-accompaniment instrument that’s easy to carry and simple to use, then check out the BK-9, the all-new flagship backing keyboard from Roland. The latest addition to the popular BK lineup is truly a powerhouse performer, with over 1,700 professional sounds, a 16-track sequencer, USB recording/playback, and much more. It’s also filled with full-ensemble accompaniments in almost every musical style imaginable, letting you lead the world’s most versatile backing band as you play. Perfect for solo/duo performers, songwriters, and casual hobbyists playing at home or social gatherings, the BK-9 puts inspiration under your fingertips.

Check out just a few of the BK-9’s top-level features:

• Over 1,700 sounds and 70 drum kits, including 22 of Roland’s acclaimed SuperNATURAL® sounds and 500 all-new tones
• 540 rhythm accompaniments, remastered with the BK-9’s superior tones and effects
• Studio-quality effects, including five independent multi-effects engines and dedicated mastering effects
• A simple user interface designed for performing, with dual displays, an intuitive panel layout, onboard mixing with faders, favorite tones, music assistants, and much more
• 16-track sequencer for song composition and Rhythm Composer for creating and customizing accompaniments
• Audio playback and recording via USB flash memory
• XLR mic input and video output for displaying lyrics and photos
• Free iPad apps for displaying lyrics, managing tones, and more

And that’s just the start! Learn all about the BK-9 Backing Keyboard at RolandConnect.com.

Related links and articles:

• Roland Connect Main Page
• New Products: FP-80 and FP-50 Digital Pianos
• New Products: FR-8X and FR-8XB V-Accordions

BOSS RC-505 Loop Station

BOSS has just introduced the RC-505 Loop Station, a new breed of looper that’s perfect for beatboxers, singers, club performers, and DJs. With its compact, tabletop design and powerful yet simple interface, the RC-505 gives you fingertip control of five simultaneous stereo loop tracks, a variety of recording and playback options, amazing real-time effects, and much more.

The RC-505: A New Concept in Loop Stations

Fueled by BOSS’ industry leading Loop Station products and annual Loop Station World Championship competitions, the live looping movement has exploded over the last few years. From the start, Loop Stations have been incredibly popular with guitarists, singer/songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists. But recently, increasing numbers of solo vocalists have been discovering the amazing potential of live looping as well. With just a microphone and a Loop Station, beatboxers and singers can perform in a highly creative and dynamic new way, using the incredible expressive range of the human voice to deliver jaw-dropping soundscapes, intense rhythmic onslaughts, and beyond.

Until now, Loop Stations have been designed mainly for floor use, so that instrumentalists and vocalists can operate them with their feet while performing. However, most vocal loopers prefer to use them at table height so they can manipulate the controls with their hands. The RC-505 is ideal for these modern performers, offering a powerful, dedicated device built for easy fingertip operation and maximum expression.

With its five simultaneous stereo loop tracks and up to three hours of recording time, the RC-505 is also well suited for DJs and club performers. Via USB, you can load up the RC-505’s tracks with WAV audio files consisting of everything from sound effects to entire songs, then trigger, mix, and manipulate them sampler-style with the front-panel controls and effects.

BOSS RC-505 Loop Station—front view

Effects, External Control, and More

Powerful INPUT FX and TRACK FX make it easy to enhance or mangle live sounds and loops as you perform, with quick-access buttons for effects selection and dedicated knobs for real-time tweaking. Multiple inputs (all available simultaneously) include an XLR mic jack with phantom power, mono/stereo instrument jacks, and a mini-jack for hooking up a smart phone or music player. 99 phrase memories allow you to save your loop creations instantly, including all five tracks plus effects and playback settings.

BOSS RC-505 Loop Station—rear panel

The RC-505 can be operated externally via optional foot switches, an expression pedal, or MIDI devices, providing extended control for vocal performers and instrumentalists. The RC-505 also functions as a USB audio/MIDI interface, so you can integrate with your favorite DAW for audio recording, MIDI sync, and more.

Learn more about the amazing RC-505 Loop Station at RolandConnect.com.

Related links and articles:

• Roland Connect Main Page
• BOSS Loop Station World Championship 3: International Finals
• Loop Station World Finalists 2013 Part 1