January 22, 2015

New Product: MX-1 Mix Performer

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News 808, AIRA, DAW, EDM, effects, mixer, recording, TR-8, TR-808

The Mixer Reimagined as a Musical Instrument

The Roland MX-1 Mix Performer brings your entire electronic music rig together.

If you’ve been looking for a more powerful and flexible way to mix and control all your electronic music gear live and in the studio, your wait is over—the MX-1 Mix Performer has arrived! Combining a mixer, control surface, audio interface, and step-based effector into one portable device, the MX-1 is the perfect command center for your rig. It seamlessly brings together your AIRA gear, synths, drum machines, loops, DAW tracks, and more into a single performance-optimized mixing instrument that’s ready to be played.

January 22, 2015

New Product: JD-Xi Interactive Crossover Synthesizer

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News analog, crossover, digital, Dorian Concept, Hybrid, JD-Xi, keyboards, Sequencer, Synth, vocoder

Hybrid Synth with Analog and Digital Sound Engines, Vocoder, and More

Roland JD-Xi Interactive Crossover Synthesizer.

If you’re a synth fanatic, the JD-Xi Interactive Crossover Synthesizer is a cool new hybrid keyboard that you’ll love! It features a true analog synth engine for authentic lead and bass tones, plus two digital sound engines that power Roland’s famous SuperNATURAL synth sounds. There are a ton of great drum kits on board as well, plus a four-track pattern sequencer for putting together songs and loops. This compact powerhouse also comes with a high-quality gooseneck mic for exploring rich vocal textures with the built-in Vocoder, AutoPitch, and Auto Note functions.

January 22, 2015

New Eric Johnson Tone Capsule

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Artists, Product News amp, Blues Cube, EJ, Eric Johnson, guitar, tone, Tone Capsule

Mod Your Blues Cube Amp with EJ’s Signature Sounds

Eric Johnson’s style and sound are legendary in the guitar world, as is his meticulous pursuit of great tone. Now, Roland Blues Cube owners can infuse their amps with EJ’s expert tonal sensibilities via the Eric Johnson Tone Capsule. This user-installable circuit re-voices the Blues Cube Artist and Stage amps, changing the sound and response characteristics to provide custom voicings tuned and approved by Eric himself.

January 22, 2015

New Product: BOSS VE-1 Vocal Echo

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News Delay, echo, effects, reverb, studio, vocals

Sound Like a Pro Wherever You Sing

Make your vocals sound great with the BOSS VE-1 Vocal Echo.

Whether you’re a pro stage singer or just singing for fun on YouTube videos, every vocalist benefits from enhancing their sound with high-quality reverb and studio effects. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have a sound engineer with us to dial up great sounds every time we perform. The VE-1 Vocal Echo solves this problem, providing a compact, all-in-one solution that lets you sound your best everywhere you sing.

January 22, 2015

New Product: BOSS BB-1X Bass Driver

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News Bass, DI, direct box, guitar, OverDrive, preamp, tone

A Powerful Tone Enhancer and DI for Bassists

BB-1X_Marquee

With the new BB-1X Bass Driver, improving your bass tone has never been easier. Far more than a typical stompbox, the BB-1X incorporates powerful BOSS technology to make your sound big, bold, and punchy. It functions much like a preamp, allowing you shape your tone without altering the fundamental core elements of your bass and amp sounds. The BB-1X also includes a uniquely tuned DI output that ensures the FOH engineer gets a great sound for delivering your personal tone to the main PA.

November 12, 2014

The Compact BOSS Loop Station Family

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News, Tips & Tricks Acoustic guitar, boss, effects, guitar, Loop Station, Looper, rhythm, Singer 0 Comments

Powerful Creative Tools for Performing and Practice

BOSS compact Loop Station pedals: RC-1, RC-3, and RC-30.

For every musician, looping is a great way to enhance your creativity and have more fun making music. The ability to record yourself on the spot and play along opens up a world of possibilities for not only solo performing, but also for developing ideas and improving your skills. BOSS’ compact Loop Station pedals—the RC-1, RC-3, and RC-30—are the most popular loopers in the world, offering great sound quality and convenient battery-powered operation for on-the-go performing. The feature sets of these Loop Stations vary, with each supporting the unique needs of different types of looping musicians, including guitarists, keyboardists, vocalists, and others. So which one is right for you? Read on to find out…

October 26, 2014

FR-8x V-Accordion Version 2.0 Update

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News Accordion, Coupe Mondiale, FR-8X, FR-8XB, Update, V-Accordion

Player-Requested Feature Enhancements for the Flagship V-Accordion Series

Roland FR-8x V-Accordion Version 2.0

Roland has just announced the release of a major system update for the FR-8x, the flagship series of the V-Accordion lineup. FR-8x Version 2.0 software adds significant improvements and feature enhancements based on input from the world’s top players, making the premier V-Accordions more powerful and versatile than ever. Quick and easy to install via a USB memory stick, the update will be available as a free download for all FR-8x and FR-8xb owners starting on October 31, 2014.

October 2, 2014

New Product: Roland HS-5 Session Mixer

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News Amp Modeling, band practice, COSM, digital mixer, mic, recording, rehearsal, USB, vocals 0 Comments

Headphone Monitoring for Band Rehearsal and Recording

Roland HS-5 Session Mixer.

When you play in a band, practice really does make perfect: the only way to get tight and develop new songs and ideas is by playing together regularly as a group. Unfortunately, rehearsals can be a little hard to bring together sometimes; you need to set up a sound system and all your other gear at a suitable place, and the actual rehearsal time is often limited by your neighbors’ sound tolerance or your budget for a dedicated rental space. Roland’s new HS-5 Session Mixer delivers a convenient solution to these common rehearsal issues, making it simple for your group to practice anytime and anywhere with studio-quality sound. In addition, the HS-5 includes useful recording features to enhance your practice sessions and help you create demos and CD tracks on a computer.

September 3, 2014

New Product: BOSS RC-1 Loop Station

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News boss, guitar, Loop Station, Looper, pedal, simple, Stompbox 0 Comments

Simple and Fun

BOSS RC-1 Loop Station pedal.

Since 2001, BOSS has led the looping universe with a continuous string of innovative, trendsetting Loop Station products. Currently, five different BOSS loopers serve the needs of all types of musicians, from guitarists and other instrumentalists to traditional vocalists and cutting-edge beatboxers. While the more advanced Loop Stations include an enormous array of creative features to choose from, some musicians like to keep things straightforward and simple. If that sounds like you, the new RC-1 Loop Station is your ideal choice, offering streamlined operation that makes it easier than ever to add looping to your rig. More

September 2, 2014

New Product: Roland TD-1K V-Drums

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News drums, entry-level, practice, student, V-Drums 1 Comment

V-Drums Playability and Education Features in an Affordable Entry-Level Kit

Roland TD-1K V-Drums.

Pros, educators, and drum fans everywhere agree—Roland’s V-Drums are second to none in the world of electronic percussion. They sound great, they’re built to last, and they feel great to play, with a musical response that fully supports authentic acoustic playing techniques. Now, the newest member of the respected V-Drums family has substantially raised the bar for entry-level drum sets. Offering true V-Drums quality at an incredible price, the TD-1K brings an all-new level of playability and performance to beginning players, students, and home-based drummers everywhere. More