January 25, 2018

Roland Announces Version 2.0 Update for the JUNO-DS Synthesizer Series

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News, Tips & Tricks 88-key, 88-note, DAW, editor, Ivory Feel, JUNO, JUNO-DS, JUNO-DS61, JUNO-DS88, keyboards, multisample, pads, Piano, piano action, recording, sample, Synthesizer, USB, weight-action

Multisample Support, JUNO-DS Tone Manager, and Other New Enhancements for the JUNO-DS61 and JUNO-DS88

Roland JUNO-DS synthesizers.

Lightweight, mobile, and filled with high-quality sounds and hands-on controls, Roland’s JUNO-DS61 and JUNO-DS88 synthesizers are ideal for both pro players and up-and-coming keyboardists. The just-announced Version 2.0 update brings many enhancements to the popular instrument series, including multisample support, expanded performance features, and the powerful JUNO-DS Tone Manager software for Mac and Windows. The software provides an all-in-one environment for editing patches, performances, and samples, and also includes a librarian for backing up sounds and organizing setups for different playing situations.

January 24, 2018

New Version 1.10 Update for the Roland DJ Series Announced

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News, Tips & Tricks AIRA, crossfader, dance music, DAW, DJ, DJ Controller, drums, EDM, keyboards, platter, Production, recording, Roland Cloud Academy, Serato, Serato DJ, Serato Intro, turntable, vinyl, vocals

Feature-Packed Firmware Update for the DJ-808, DJ-505, and DJ-202 DJ Controllers

With the new DJ series Version 1.10 firmware update, Roland’s acclaimed DJ-808, DJ-505, and DJ-202 DJ Controllers are now more powerful than ever. The update adds a host of features, including many based on requests from DJ series owners. The added features are specific to each model, and include enhancements like new TR-S drum sounds, more kits, new effects, enhanced performance controls, and more.

December 20, 2017

Attention DJ Series Owners: Download Your Free Roland TR-S DJ Sample Packs for Serato DJ

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News, Tips & Tricks AIRA, DAW, DJ-202, DJ-505, DJ-808, Drum Machine, recording, rhythm composer, sequencing, Serato, Serato DJ, Serato Intro, slicer, TB-303, TR-606, TR-707, TR-8, TR-808, TR-909, turntable, vocals

High-Quality Samples, Ready to Use with Serato DJ and the DJ-808, DJ-505, and DJ-202

Roland DJ Controllers: DJ-808, DJ-505, and DJ-202 (left to right).

Offering intensive real-time control and deep Serato DJ integration, Roland’s DJ-808, DJ-505, and DJ-202 DJ Controllers unlock exciting new approaches to music performance. To enhance your creative flow, we’ve created four free sample packs for Serato DJ that work seamlessly with your Roland DJ instrument. Each pack contains eight high-quality WAV samples newly created by Roland that are ready to load into Serato Sampler, expanding your performance options with sounds from popular genres that can be sequenced and mixed into your DJ sets.

December 19, 2017

The Revolutionary Roland Aerophone, Now Available in Two Colors

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News alto sax, bari sax, baritone sax, breath control, clarinet, DAW, MIDI, oboe, reed, soft synth, soprano sax, SuperNATURAL, Synthesizer, tenor sax, virtual instrument, VST, wind control, woodwind

Choose Between Original White and New Graphite Black Finishes

Roland Aerophone AE-10G (top) and Aerophone AE-10.

Roland Aerophone AE-10G (top) and AE-10.

Roland’s Aerophone is a groundbreaking digital wind instrument that opens a new world of expressive possibilities for saxophonists and other wind players. First introduced in late 2016, the standard Aerophone AE-10 features a handsome white finish that really stands out on stage. While this model continues to be very popular, some players have requested a darker look for a more understated appearance. With the Aerophone AE-10G, that option is now here! Aside from its sleek graphite black finish, the AE-10G offers all the great sounds and playability of the original AE-10 model, which remains available as well.

April 28, 2017

Free DJ-808 Training from Roland Cloud Academy

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Tips & Tricks AIRA, dance music, DAW, DJ, EDM, keyboards, platter, producer, recording, Serato, Serato DJ, TB-303, TR-606, TR-708, TR-808, TR-909, turntables, vocals, Voice Transformer

Pump Up Your DJ-808 and Serato DJ Skills with Live Interactive Video Sessions

Roland Cloud Academy is pleased to offer a great new support opportunity for all DJ-808 owners. Through an ongoing series of free live training sessions, you can learn all about the DJ-808 and its tight integration with Serato DJ software. Hosted by expert instructors, the in-depth sessions cover everything from basic concepts to advanced performance and production techniques. Read on to learn more about the training and how to register.

April 19, 2017

Aerophone Editor App for iOS and Android Now Available

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Tips & Tricks alto sax, bari sax, breath control, DAW, keyboards, recording, reed, saxophone, soft synth, soprano sax, SuperNATURAL, Synthesizer, tenor sax, virtual instrument, VST, woodwind

Free App for the Aerophone AE-10 Lets Users Customize Sounds, Create Tone Lists, and More

Aerophone Editor

Attention Aerophone AE-10 players: we’ve just released a great new app that unlocks even more expressive possibilities with your instrument! With the Aerophone Editor, you now have access to many parameters not directly available on the Aerophone AE-10 itself. This enables you to create your own multi-layered sounds, adjust breath, bite, and thumb control assignments, and more. You can also edit MIDI control assignments, making the instrument even more powerful for playing software-based instruments on a computer. In addition to its editing features, the app also provides the ability to organize sounds into tone lists for different playing situations.

Read on to find out more about this must-have app for all Aerophone AE-10 owners.

January 18, 2017

New Product: Roland RD-2000 Stage Piano

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News AIRA, controller, DAW, electric piano, grand piano, keyboards, Mainstage, MIDI, Organ, Piano, recording, soft synth, SuperNATURAL, Synth, Synthesizer, USB audio, USB MIDI, V-Piano, VST

The Most Powerful RD Stage Piano to Date

Roland RD-2000 Stage Piano.

For 30-plus years, Roland’s RD-series instruments have been the world’s leading stage pianos, used by everyone from local nightclub musicians to arena-level megastars. Just introduced at the 2017 Winter NAMM Show, the Roland RD-2000 takes the series to an all-new level, combining three decades of piano research and advanced controller features into one amazingly powerful and versatile instrument. Simply put, the RD-2000 is our best stage piano ever, and you really need to check it out! Read on to find out more about the latest evolution of the historic RD series.

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.

May 1, 2013

VS PREAMPS Truly Capture Your Performance

Robin Kelly [Roland US] Product News Audio Interface, DAW, Mac, OCTA-CAPTURE, QUAD-CAPTURE, recording, STUDIO-CAPTURE, VS-PREAMP 3 Comments

Preamps are the Ears of Your DAW

Roland VS PREAMP

When choosing an audio interface, preamps are often overlooked despite the significant role they play in determining what a recording actually sounds like. A well-spec’d audio interface with bad preamps will result in a bad recording. Why? Because preamps are the ears of your DAW. How well a preamp performs determines the sound quality of your recording. More